Page 77 of The Court of Thorns and Wings

Lorne was a vicious bastard. No wonder he’d been friends with Eldrin before getting placed in jail for rising against Tavish. His loyalties changed as often as Nightbane shed fur, which was daily.

A few of the guards chuckled as Lorne led them away.

He didn’t glance back as they left the prison area.

“I vow to you, Lira. I will make everyone who turned against us suffer.” Tavish moved beside me, touching my wing.

A sharp sting shot through my wing and a deep ache shot into my muscles. I was trying to keep them stationary to avoid further damage.

Nightbane tried to stand beside me again, but he whimpered and flopped back onto his stomach. I could only imagine the agony he’d been in as he’d tried to protect me when I entered the cell.

“Let me look,” Eiric said, and she carefully stepped around Nightbane while not trampling Caelan.

The cell barely fit two people, but the guards had forced all four of us in here with Caelan and Nightbane. We wouldn’t be able to sleep comfortably, but at least we were all together.

Let me change places so she can take a look at my wings.Eiric didn’t have expert healing knowledge, but our parents had taught us basic first aid.

As I shifted my weight to walk around Tavish and not step on Nightbane, the muscles in my back moved, and the woundaround the arrow stretched apart. A tear trailed down my cheek before I could stop it, and I groaned faintly.

We should never have come back here.Tavish’s guilt weighed on our bond.We should’ve stayed in the Unseelie underground house.

I took his hands, enjoying the electric jolt that shot between us as I faced him. Eiric stepped into the opening in the corner, and Finnian hurried to Caelan. My wings were in Eiric’s view, and my heart hammered.

We had to come back. Your people need you.I wanted him to realize that this was an opportunity for mercy and not fear. Fear didn’t drive loyalty. He had to see things more clearly.Besides, we’d be miserable living underground and never feeling the wind in our wings.

“Did you see who shot you?” Eiric asked.

My breath caught. “Yes, but I’m not sure why that matters.” The woman had done what she’d been taught to do, hate Seelie and kill them whenever she could.

“Because the bitch lodged that arrow perfectly, and I can’t wait to repay the favor.” Eiric huffed dramatically. “She hit your wings almost directly in the center, meaning each flap will cause further damage.”

“We’ll put her in chains and hoist her so every Unseelie can see her withering in pain with an arrow in the exact spot as Lira while we let her starve and bleed to death.” Tavish’s body tensed as he cupped my cheek and whispered, “So tell us, sprite. Who did this to you? Describe her for me. I will get retribution for you.”

I bit my bottom lip as warmth surged through me. I cherished how much he loved me. “Don’t encourage him, Eiric.” I tried to chastise him, but the words came out breathless.

A deep, low groan came from Caelan. “Finn?” he asked groggily. “Is that you?”

Thank Fate he was awake.

“We’ve returned.” Finnian’s forehead lined with worry.

“You need to leave…” Caelan opened his eyes, and he clutched Finnian’s hand. “Before—” His gaze landed on us, and he stopped.

Caelan’s loyalty made my heart expand, and I could feel Tavish’s relief from hearing his friend speak and knowing he’d tried to warn us.

“You’re too late for that warning.” Finnian winked, but his eyes didn’t twinkle in their usual way.

I couldn’t blame him. I didn’t see a way for us to get out of this situation. Eldrin had us right where he wanted us, and he had the crown.

“We need to get this arrow out, or it could tear up her entire wing.” Eiric reached around my wings, placing a hand on my arm. “It’ll hurt.”

“Don’t sugarcoat it or anything,” I tried to tease, but my words fell flat.

Tavish’s eyes darkened almost to onyx as his worry choked me.

She chuckled, playing along. “I’ll be blunter next time.”

I turned to see her face, which twisted with concern.

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