Page 50 of Defy the Fae

In a mortal weald, this might be nothing. However, this environment has always been ripe, rich, robust. Now the earth’s dark, umber color and moisture has reduced to a parched tan, which extends beyond to who-knows-where.

Lark scans the undergrowth and casts me a grave look. My sharp gaze must validate her thoughts.

Despite these grim hints, candles flicker from the branches, in the guise of chandeliers. Gilded light sketches the cluster of trees and the lone raccoon with blazing lime eyes that skitters past us. In the distance, a fawn springs over a stump, though the creature appears ganglier than it should.

It had been clear without Puck saying as much that Juniper was due for a much-needed breath in the place she now calls home. Based on the scenery, we’ve arrived in a copse near the boundaries of their cabin.

My brother had said the enemy’s been closing in on his turf, though they’ve yet to breach it. The Herd of Deer will be secure for only so long, and Puck has been preparing to leave with Lark’s sister.

I’ve no doubt they’ll end up in The Heart of Centaurs, with Cypress eager to host them. His domain is neutral territory, exempt from bloodshed. Though, that might count for little these days, considering Scorpio’s actions.

Puck dismounts one of the great owls and helps Juniper down, then he braces her shoulder and bolsters her chin with a single crooked finger. “We’re here, luv. Come back to us.”

“Sacrifice,” she mumbles at last, setting her palm atop his. “That was the first way.”

My eyes scan the forest floor in contemplation. “So the second way is older than sacrifice.”

“But what method could possibly be older than sacrifice?” Lark asks. “And what source is older than the Pegasi?”

After a moment silence, Cove’s voice shines through. “Unity.”

There’s a collective pause as we regard her.

Of course. After the battle at The Gang of Elks, when Juniper’s game ended, we’d theorized about the second way being the opposite of sacrifice. We had talked about unity and revisited this in The Deep when Cove and Elixir joined our group, right before the flood. And we’ve been debating on this since.

Unity is the reverse of sacrifice. Also, it’s indeed an older act.

“The Horizon didn’t give us the second way,” I say. “But it did just confirm we’re on the right path.”

“Okay, so if the second way is about unity after all, then we’re still missing the actual method of unity,” Lark summarizes.

I nod, grinning at her. “We’ll get there.”

Lark takes my hand and links our fingers together, seeking reassurance. I squeeze back, savoring her touch, the firmness of her grip.

For a moment, time ceases as we stare at one another. My gaze clings to hers, and the grooves around her eyes soften.

We’ll get through this. Somehow, we’ll find the answers, and I’ll do everything in my power to keep everyone in this copse safe, so help me.

She’s mine. I’m hers.

No other truth exists.

The mating bond courses through my veins, along with so much love that I know she sees it. I know because the same emotion is reflected at me.

A sickly noise breaks our trance. We split apart and veer toward Juniper right before she flattens her palm on the nearest tree trunk, keels over, and vomits.

Puck makes a shocked noise, then snatches Juniper’s green hair, holding it back while the contents of her stomach splatter the ground.

Lark and Cove rush toward her, leaves crunching beneath their boots. However, Puck’s already there. He rifles through Juniper’s pack, withdraws a waterskin, and pours liquid down her throat, then snatches a leaf from a bush and urges her to chew on it.

I recognize the plant. It will refresh her mouth, wash away the residual taste of her sick.

When she’s done, Puck balances Juniper in his arms and wipes her brow while she sags against him.

It’s a rare sight to see my brother alarmed. “Juniper,” he utters. “Fables almighty, luv.”

“It’ll pass,” she persists.

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