Page 73 of The Court of Thorns and Wings

The fae I’d saved and had been paired with during the gauntlet and who’d assisted in saving my life a couple of times. I thought we’d worked out some mutual respect between us, but clearly, I’d been wrong.

A sour taste filled my mouth. His loyalty to Eldrin stung like betrayal.

“You should’ve never come back.” Eldrin bared his teeth. “And Tavish should’ve allowed you to die in the gauntlet.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Eiric’s brows furrow. She had questions, but she knew better than to ask now.

“I should’ve never allowed her to enter into it in the first place.” Tavish tensed even more. “Lira is my fated mate, and subjecting her to any sort of mistreatment, especially the gauntlet, was the biggest mistake of all time.”

A few Unseelie gasped like they hadn’t expected to hear Tavish say that. A lump formed in my throat, so large I couldn’t swallow. Eldrin was leading the conversation to get Tavish to say everything he needed the Unseelie to hear.

I love you for everything you’re saying and doing, but your people need to know what you’ve done for them. Not what you wish you would’ve done for me.

My people need to know how important you are to me; otherwise, they’ll continue to despise you. They need to see that I won’t tolerate any negative or harmful actions toward you.He lifted his chin, ready to fight everyone on my behalf.

The stark change in circumstances from coming back to Unseelie territory with him this time versus last time would have been inconceivable if I hadn’t been involved both times. He was the same person, but his actions were the exact opposite toward me.Thorn, trust me. The Unseelie need to view me differently through my actions and words, not through your threats of violence.

I could feel his turmoil. He wanted to respect my wishes like the caring mate he was, but his possessive and protective side wanted to bulldoze anyone who threatened me. I loved both sides equally, but if I wanted the Unseelies’ true respect, I had to earn it.

I was my own person.

“The people saw Tavish receive a fatal blow fromSeelieglamoured to look like us.” Eldrin flicked his wrist. “This could be another Seelie trick to confuse our people.”

Dread sat heavy in my stomach. Eldrin had allowed people to believe that Tavish was dead. No wonder they hadn’t fought against him stepping into power, and he was using that to manipulate them now. Not surprising, but I could easily turn that back around on him. “That alone is telling.”

Eldrin’s neck corded. “What do you mean?”

“Tavish felt my Seelie power when it came back, and my father immediately identified Tavish upon his arrival in Gleann Solas. Yet, you can’t confirm this is your cousin. I find it interesting. Is your power so much weaker than theirs, or are you lying?” I batted my eyelashes to come off innocent.

Finnian laughed freely. “I hadn’t considered that, but you’re correct. Which one is it, Eldrin? Though I suspect the real answer is both.”

Frowning, Eldrin took in a ragged breath.

“Allow me to ease everyone’s minds.” Tavish held out his hands. The sky darkened to the color it’d been before the Seelieattack. Dark clouds gathered and snow fell, landing on the dry, dark ground.

“ItisKing Tavish!” a female exclaimed from below. “He’s not dead after all.”

“That changesnothing,” Eldrin spat. “He will ruin all of us if you continue to follow him. Remember the reason for the gauntlet.Sheescaped and had the cù-sìth assist her in killing some of your own people.” Eldrin’s mouth dropped in fake horror, and he clutched his chest. “Those actions led all the prisoners into the gauntlet, and now our resources are more scarce because the prisoners we lost were working the lands to keep up our food resources.”

When Eldrin’s malicious gaze landed on me, a shiver ran down my spine, and the horror of him attacking me while I was naked in the tub flashed through my memory. I hated how weak and vulnerable he’d made me feel and, worse, how it still affected me.

Tavish edged in front of me, blocking part of me from Eldrin’s view, and I knew he was sensing the emotions that raged through me. His own fury spiked.

“That may be true, but I know Lira, and she would never attack anyone unprovoked.” Finnian straightened his shoulders, showing not only his support for Tavish but for me as well. “If anyone attacked her, she deserved to defend herself, the same as anyone here.”

My chest expanded uncomfortably. Even though Finnian liked to give people hell, he’d be receiving a hug from me later.

“Andyouorchestrated the games and the rules this time.” Tavish karate-chopped the air. “I didn’t interfere. At your request.”

Eldrin laughed bitterly. “But you did interfere multiple times, even ending the last game before she died.”

“Even though I understand you’d never favor me in any situation because I’m Seelie, there is a more prominent reason that you wanted to ensure I died as quickly as possible.” Not wanting to be seen as a coward, I flew around and hovered beside Tavish. “Something both Tavish and I might have found rather interesting if I’d regained my memories before I perished.”

His face blanched, and I clenched my hands to prevent myself from raising my fist upward in celebration.

“Guards, capture them and take them to the prison cell.” Eldrin gestured at Tavish and me, making sure the guards understood exactly who he meant. “Do not kill any of them. We need fresh prisoners to man the lands since all the others died during the gauntlet.”

When none of the guards moved, some of the cold tendrils of fear loosened within me. I’d expected them to obey Eldrin, but their inaction validated what Tavish knew: the Unseelie would follow him. My doubt had been unwarranted.

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