Page 90 of The Court of Thorns and Wings

When Tavish closed his eyes, I didn’t need our connection to know the turmoil he was enduring, wanting to give in to my request but also feeling that, by doing so, he’d be exposing me to harm.

“If we release the illusions from your father, will you promise not to scream or cause us problems?” I lifted a brow and squatted next to her. “We were told you might have weapons you’d be willing to give us so we can protect ourselves.”

Nightbane hunkered down at my side, ready to attack. He didn’t snarl, but he clearly saw the girl as a threat.

She placed her hands on her hips and scowled. “You came to our house and attacked my father. What do you have to say for yourself?”

I mashed my lips together, trying not to laugh. Struan might be a douchebag, but he’d raised a brave and smart girl. “You’re right. That’s why King Tavish will release both your father and Lorne from their nightmares.”

Eiric headed back to the window to keep watch.

“I suggest we depart before releasing our enemies.” Caelan hovered over Struan, who was breathing raggedly on the floor.

“Wait.You’reKing Tavish?” Isla’s jaw went slack, and she glanced from me to him. “And you’re the sunscorched from the gauntlet.”

“The one and only.” Finnian winked at her. “Ever since Lira returned to Ardanos, none of us have been bored.”

Isla’s brows furrowed. “Then why are you hurting Father? He has always been in King Tavish’s favor and always proclaimed that the king was a decent man to those who followed the rules.” Her body stiffened. “But I don’t agree with him now.”

Shock filtered to me from Tavish, and Finnian rocked back on his heels. “Decent man? Not sure if that’s how I’d describe him.”

The magic rumbling through our connection faded as Tavish swallowed loudly. “Is that the truth?”

Struan inhaled quickly and straightened. “It is, Your Majesty.”

“Then why did you tell us we shouldn’t be here?” Tavish tilted his head, assessing every reaction.

“Because of my daughter.” Struan gestured toward the little girl. “Lorne should’ve come alone and not brought all of you here. Eldrin is tracking you.”

Satisfied that Struan wasn’t an imminent threat, I moved back and threaded my fingers in Nightbane’s fur to ease his worry.

“I… didn’t…” Lorne gritted. “Have… a… choice. They need weapons.”

The longer we remained here, the bigger the threat was to their family.We need to get out of here. Eldrin will punish the little girl as well as the others.

I had so many questions. Struan had seemed extremely loyal to Eldrin during my time in the gauntlet.

“Where are the weapons? We’ll arm ourselves and leave.” Tavish pulled his wings into his back as the last bit of his magic fizzled into nothing, releasing both men from their nightmares.

Isla spun on her heels and waved for us to follow. “They’re in my room, back here.”

“Her room?” Caelan’s eyebrows rose.

“Please tell me the weapons aren’t those toys Lira brought with her from Earth.” Finnian shook his head. “They wouldn’t even reach the heart.”

Even in a dire situation, my pocketknife was a joke to him. In the human world, you could cause some damage with it if you caught someone off guard, but apparently, even toddlers here in Ardanos were trained with bigger knives.

“Yes, herroom.” Struan stood and tugged on his gray tunic. “No one would expect me to hide weapons there because her room is across the house from mine. If they questioned my loyalties, they’d expect anything I’d hidden to be nearme.”

That made sense, but Eldrin was smart. Things would’ve been a whole lot easier if he weren’t.

“Come on.” Isla gripped my hand, dragging me down the hallway. A small bathroom sat on one side, and her room was across from it.

Luckily, she’d taken the hand she hadn’t bitten because my injured one still smarted from her bite. I glanced down, noticing that some of my blood had dripped onto the floor. I pressed my hand against my shirt to keep more blood from spilling.

Nightbane ran in front of me, scoping out the area with Tavish at my back. When we entered Isla’s room, a sharp ache shot through my chest.

Her room was bare, with only a small mattress set against the wall and a closet with a few outfits and one other nightgown. She had one pair of boots, and I realized how truly dire the people’s situation was here. One small window allowed her to see outside.

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