Page 85 of The Court of Thorns and Wings

My breath caught, and I jerked toward them. A fae never apologized or thanked anyone.

“Not good enough.” Tavish swung the sword, the blade so sharp that it sliced clear through Bran’s neck. Black blood squirted everywhere as his head dropped. His body continued to stand for a second longer before it followed suit.

Something wet slid down my cheek. I touched it and pulled my hand back to see smeared blood. “Really? You couldn’t have just stabbed him?”

Tavish lowered the sword to his side and grinned. “I don’t even feel bad. You wearing the blood of our enemy is blasting sexy.”

My body warmed despite the dire situation, but my human side surged forward enough to make me feel guilty. I bit my bottom lip, conflicted, and turned to find Eiric’s face all wrinkled as if she smelled something bad.

“Fate no.” She shook her head and moved so I could reach her lock. “Never talk like that in front of me again.”

When her wings were free, Finnian took the keys from me and said, “This is nothing. Just wait. He ruined a chessboard over me helping her before.”

“She was practically naked.” Tavish marched out into the hallway, but he stumbled before regaining his balance.

My chest tightened as I followed after him and linked,Are you okay?Usually, he was more graceful than me.

Just a little off balance between not being fully healed from my time in Seelie and having my wings chained. I’ll be fine.

Nightbane raced to my side with Eiric, Finnian, and Caelan hurrying after us.

I wanted to push him for more because something didn’t seem right, but the chill of Tavish’s darkness covered us, hiding us from anyone who might look down the hall. The entire castle was blanketed in shadow, and even the flickering lanterns dimmed for those who didn’t harness shadows to see. I didn’t want to distract him, not when we needed to get out of here quickly.

No sounds of the battle in the holding cell reached us, and we all hurried there to find Lorne standing over Malikor, removing his sword from the dead man’s neck. More worrisome was that Eldrin wasn’t there.

Tensing, Tavish readied to attack. I caught his hand and connected,Don’t. He helped us. He turned against Eldrin to free me and all of you. He gave me the keys. He’s our ally. He played along until he couldn’t. You could use him on your side.

I still don’t like him, but I won’t kill him… yet.Tavish pulled some of the darkness back and asked, “Where’s Eldrin?”

Head jerking up, Lorne sighed. “He used the shadows and left. He has to be calling for reinforcements. You all need to leave and come back with the Seelie if you can. That’s the only way you will take back the kingdom.”

Anger swirled through Tavish. “Absolutely not. I will kill Eldrin and prove I can take back my kingdom on my own. Otherwise, the people will never respect me.”

Lorne bowed his head slightly. “That’s what I thought you would say. Then I would like to fight alongside you.”

“Don’t make me regret this.” Tavish raised the sword. “Lira trusts you, but I don’t.”‘

Caelan exhaled. “We don’t have time to bicker. Guards will be here any second if Eldrin went to get them.”

“We should go outside so they can’t find us as easily.” Eiric pointed to the window we’d flown through. “I see about twenty heading our way right now.”

Everyone turned toward the window, where Eldrin flew in front of several guards. He could sense Tavish’s magic now that it was freed, so Eiric had a point.

“Let’s move.” Tavish waved his hands, indicating that Lorne should follow us.

“Nightbane,” I rasped. I didn’t want to leave him. Not after what I’d seen them do to him.

“Don’t worry about the beast.” Finnian placed a hand on my arm.

Tavish snarled, and he dropped it quickly, taking a few steps back. “I’m not touching her anymore, so don’t turn feral on me.” He lifted both hands like I was the wild animal. “Nightbane can teleport anywhere on the island without a leash as long as he leaves before someone uses their magic on him.”

Good to know. Maybe that was how he’d located me when I tried to escape that night.

Eldrin and the guards were only fifty feet from us and flying quickly.

“I’m done waiting. I’ll go.” Eiric flew toward the window, and the rest of us followed.

As soon as she reached the window, something crashed into her.

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