Page 81 of The Court of Thorns and Wings

When I reached him, I touched his arm and pushed my magic toward him before it dried up.

“Lira’s nonanswer is bad. That’s her habit when she knows I’ll be pissed,” Eiric answered. “Someone better tell me what happened to my sister.”

My stomach dropped. She wasn’t letting this go, and I couldn’t blame her. If I were in her wings, I’d want to know the same damn thing.

“She escaped and fought with some of our people,” Tavish answered, causing a warning sensation to course down my back. My magic vanished, along with most of my energy. Dammit, I hadn’t healed Caelan enough.

I spun around to find Tavish with his head lowered, staring at the floor. Normally, he was composed and confident, but at this moment, he appeared broken.

We wouldn’t do the thing where he took the blame and let Eiric hate him, so I interjected, “When a prisoner goes against the rules, the punishment is to have all the prisoners fight each other. If Tavish hadn’t called for it to happen, they would’ve killed me on the spot. At the end of the last game, Tavish interfered and saved my life, which is why I’m standing here today.”

“Youbastard.” Eiric bared her teeth at him, and Nightbane growled.

He inched in front of Tavish, his eyes glowing as he stared at my sister.

“I’m not sure what ‘bastard’ means, but given the hate with which you said it, I agree.” Tavish straightened, regret clinging to him like a second skin. “I should’ve done something before then, and I wish there was a way to go back and do it now.”

I had no doubt he would let Eiric hurt him as punishment, but we wouldn’t do that.

Pushing through so I stood between Eiric and Nightbane, I faced my sister. “I’m fine, and we need to focus on a way to get out of here. He’s beaten himself up over it enough. Let’s leave the past behind.”

Eiric gritted her teeth. “Fine, but when this is over, this conversation isn’t. Do you understand?” The way her emerald-green eyes hardened told me there was no negotiation. The question was merely a formality with one acceptable answer.

“Fine.” I patted Nightbane’s head.

A groan had me spinning around to find Caelan slowly climbing to his feet. His swollen eye had healed some, making it look an even deeper black, and his lip had a scab.

“I wish I could’ve done more.” The injury to my wings had reversed any recovery I’d made since passing out in the woods. “But—”

Caelan raised a hand. “I’m a lot better. Believe me. It doesn’t hurt to breathe anymore.”

“What in blighted abyss happened when we left?” Finnian asked.

“A few hours after you left, the snow melted, and the sun came out fully. Eldrin flew in front of the castle doors, proclaiming he was the new ruler and that Tavish had died.” Caelan sighed. “Me and the guards who knew tried to tell everyone you were alive, but Eldrin is convincing, and we had no way of knowing if you’d died while at Cuil Dorcha. Eldrin beatme to a pulp in front of everyone, proclaiming me a traitor, and had me thrown in here. I’ve been here since you left.”

My chest constricted.

“They haven’t been feeding me or giving me water, so I’ve been growing weak.”

“The same blasted thing the Seelie did to us.” Finnian’s eyes narrowed.

Which meant they would be doing the same to the rest of us. That was why they’d crammed us in here together—to ensure we had no room to sleep comfortably.

Silence hung around us, and the tension could’ve been sliced with a knife. We were in a horrible situation, and I doubted we’d be getting out.

“Everyone, think.” Tavish leaned against the cell wall. “There has to be something we can do.”

No one spoke for a long time. My legs cramped from standing, but I didn’t want to sit on that nasty floor. I had no clue how long we stood there, but it felt like hours. My only comfort was having Tavish’s arm around my waist.

“Please tell me someone’s figured out a strategy by now.” Finnian sighed as the sound of footsteps headed our way.

I turned so my wings couldn’t easily be seen, and I partly hid Eiric. She was Seelie too, and I didn’t want her to be mistreated like I had been before.

The steps were slow and unhurried… like they were letting us know they were coming.

It had to be a scare tactic, and unfortunately, it impacted me, even if I didn’t want it to.

Eldrin and Lorne rounded the corner, and Eldrin’s heartless silver eyes focused on Tavish. “Dear cousin. I hope things aren’t too cramped in that cell of yours.” He grinned.

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