Page 167 of Kingdoms of Night

“I won’t leave her here,” Feron started again.

No. He’d stay by her side no matter what if she asked him. But wisdom was needed. Wisdom and cunning. She gave his hand a squeeze. “What if they kill you because you say no?”

“Let them try. I won’t abandon you,” he growled.

Titania sighed. “Admirable. You know, Feron, you could hide here in the castle if you liked.” Her smile turned unpleasant. “But you have already felt the call of the Wild Hunt. And that will only get worse, my dear. Perhaps you will manage to fight it off for a day or three. Perhaps even a week. But soon you won’t be able to avoid it. It will bring you running out to join the Hunt, no matter the time of day or night. No matter where you feel it. Even if running to it would at that point cost you your life. Those who feel its call cannot avoid it. No matter how many try to resist it. Or keep others from feeling it.” She cut a sharp look at Oberon.

Oberon returned the expression with one even more dour as he lifted his goblet of wine. “Cheers to you as well, my love.” He took a long drink and then sighed. “All right. Werewolf, human, listen to me.”

“She’s not a human,” Feron said. His eyes went soft as he looked at her, making her heart beat faster. She leaned her cheek against his shoulder.

Oberon rolled his eyes. “Well, whatever she is, you two listen. The call of the Wild Hunt cannot be ignored without grave consequence. I know of only two who succeeded, and they perished. Horrifically. And in very short order. So you, werewolf pup, you won’t be able to fight it long. It will be a struggle every time you hear their call. Maybe a day or two longer. Even then you might go catatonic if you resist it any longer. I’m sure Puck didn’t warn you of that particular risk when he told you to run from the Hunt.

“But once that call is heard, it cannot be unheard. If you accept it though, you will have certain rights and privileges which shall remain so long as you remain in good standing with your duties as a member of the Wild Hunt. Duties which do not include anything beyond that of a typical warrior. And you, whatever you are, girl, you can’t go with him. With enough exposure, those horns will fill you with dread and keep you from even breathing until you find a way to become immune. More than that, you will most certainly die. By ‘accident,’ I’m certain.”

Oberon cut a wry look at Titania. “Unless you accept my claim. In which case, you will be safe. At least as safe as anyone can be here. Tedious as Titania may find you, she won’t think you worth open war. Also as the two of you are indeed a powerful match, neither of you may be compelled to provide any sexual services unless you should consent. Consent requires you be fully aware of what you’re doing and neither drugged nor otherwise dulled. Isn’t that right, Titania?”

The eagles on Titania’s neck flared out their wings. “You are only taking her as your protege to vex me.”

“Possibly. Strange that you made it so clear how much you despised the girl, knowing me as you do. But even if you hadn’t, I know you.” He flashed a tight-lipped smile. “Moreover, the rules are the rules. Both have been claimed now. Both have found their beloved. You know exactly what that means. Everyone here does.”

“Puck did this on purpose.” She ground her fingers against her palms, her polished nails bright against her pale skin.

“Yes. That’s exceptionally obvious. In fact, if he could do all this without intending to, I would say we have far more to worry about than we currently do. As the world is ending, that does take some doing. And why are you complaining? You’ve always said that the Hunt is more important thananything, and now you have your mighty warrior. Presuming he does agree to this.” He rolled his attention back to Feron. “And you can rest easy about your beloved. She will be safe so long as she remains here, or in any of the neutral locations such as Lambton Village and a few others. You can even visit. So long as approval is given.”

“What does that even mean?” Idalno asked. Maybe this was the solution. Puck was the one who matched them. He’d asked his father to claim her as a protege. As much as she couldn’t believe it, she was going to have to trust that Puck knew best how they could get out of this alive. “What do you want from me?”

Feron’s gaze shifted between Titania to Oberon. The afternoon sunlight glinted on his long claws.

Oberon took another long drink, then sighed. “It means, should you choose to accept, that in the time you remain here, I would instruct you in the ways of our magic.”

“Your magic.” Titania glared at him. “We share nothing except a past.”

“And a future, the eventual end to which all things must come.” He offered her a bland smile before looking back to Feron and Idalno. “My ways of magic, then. The old ways, if you will. Less obviously violent than clubbing a serpent on the head and ripping out its guts for an incantation or embedding someone in a new form. This not-human will be safer here than on the Wild Hunt.”

Idalno gripped Feron’s arm tighter. The fae weren’t going to let them stay together. If they chose that, Feron might die.

Her stomach churned; she wanted to vomit. But if they did this, they could both live and find another way.

He looked at her with such mournful eyes. Those eyes spoke volumes. That he loved her and wanted to protect her. He would fight to the death to protect her. Would probably even accept going catatonic or running off a bridge if it meant protecting her.

She knew.

She understood and felt the same.

That was exactly why they had to accept.

She shook her head. “You have no choice but to accept the claim on you, or you’ll die. And where the Hunt goes, I can’t follow. Accepting is the only way we can be together. And I’ll fight for us from here.”

His face hardened, but his eyes gleamed, watery. His eyebrows creased together for an intense moment, but finally, he nodded to her. “We’ll find a way to make it work,” he whispered.

“Yes.” She drew in a deep breath before she looked back at the two fae leaders. “We accept, as long as you both accept that we will do nothing to harm one another and that you will not keep us away from each other any longer than necessary. He is mine, and I am his.”

Oberon chuckled as Titania’s gaze hardened. “Perhaps not the best way to make your acceptance, not-human.” He turned to Titania. “Are you satisfied? Or must I bring out the wine? We can have the full ceremony if you insist. It might go long though and keep you from retrieving the Gift, and we both know what you’re willing to sacrifice to get it. Otherwise you’d be riding at night as is tradition.”

Titania sneered. “Keep an eye on your protege, then. And keep her far from me. But rememberhedoesn’t always follow our laws.” She gestured toward one of the warriors. “Bring this mighty warrior a noble steed.” When her gaze fell back on Feron, she pointed toward Idalno. “Make your goodbyes, then.”

Goodbye? This was it, a moment in the courtyard? It wasn’t enough. It wasn’t nearly enough.

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