Page 66 of Queen of Ever

‘It’s nothing, it was just to get me back here,’ Imogen replied quickly, but I was already pulling her behind me, already crossing the distance to the male who I’d now pegged with the crime, already had him by the throat.Movement broke out around me as I pinned him to the stone of the cave, his companions shouting and brandishing their weapons in my direction, but I wasn’t focused on those.

‘Who touched her?’I snarled.‘Do you want to give up the offender, or will I hold you responsible?’

‘Tarian, stop.’Imogen gripped my arm, tugging at me.‘It happened when they took me.They didn’t mean to do it, and I’ve been looked after since then.I don’twantyou to hurt anyone for it.’

‘Iwant to hurt someone for it.’My captive was scrabbling at my hand, trying to tug it off his throat as his face turned red, opening and closing his mouth as he spluttered.

‘Doesn’t what I want matter to you?’she said quietly.I let out a sigh of frustration, switching my gaze to her as I pointedly released my grip.The fae staggered, gasping for breath as he steadied himself against the wall.

‘There, I let him go.Is there anyone else set on attacking you that you’d like to beg for pardon now?’

‘Don’t be salty.’She took my hand, entwining our fingers, the firm grip betraying her intention to hold me hostage to her mercy.‘Let me just be glad that you’re here without worrying about your temper.’

Before I could respond to that—she could hardly blame my anger at the fact she’d been hurt on mytemper—Ethan was pushing towards us, planting a hand on each of Imogen’s shoulders.She didn’t relinquish her grip on me as she let him turn her this way and that.

‘Can you stop disappearing on me?’he scolded.‘Someone needs to get you a bell.’His expression soured as his gaze landed on the fae I’d so recently had by the throat.‘Cassian,’ he said.‘Why am I not surprised?’

‘Etheren,’ the fae growled in reply.

Imogen looked between them.‘Etheren?’she repeated, brows raised, suppressing a smirk.

But the grivandra was stirring behind her, prodding at the boundaries of those trying to keep it at bay.

‘We’re leaving,’ I said, trying to tug her away.But she planted her feet firmly in place.‘Come on, Imogen,’ I pressed, pulling on her hand as the vine reached out a probing coil and tried to take hold of one of the brass hooks.

‘I want to show you something first,’ she said.She was trying to draw backtowardsthe deep, sloping tunnel burrowing towards the back of the cave entrance.And simultaneously, I understood two things.One, that the rebels had managed to appeal to her sympathies and she was going to argue their case, just like she’d taken it on herself to hold me to account for the changelings and the amendment and any other hopeless cause she landed on.And two, she wasn’t going to leave with me until she’d shown me whatever she thought I needed to see.Which meant continuing to stand here tempting the grivandra to have another go at a meal.

I shot a look at the sky, then headed for the cave.‘Alright.Show me.’

A smile lit Imogen’s face, and I felt all over again how relieved I was to find her safe, to have her hand in mine.That was what mattered.

But the dark-haired fae, Cassian, was suddenly before us, brandishing a blade.His gaze flicked between me and Imogen.‘How do we know we can trust him?’

‘You can’t trust me,’ I said.‘I have no qualms about reducing this place to rubble if any of you take a step in a direction I don’t like.’

‘Your queen has already decided it’s worth the risk,’ Imogen said softly, ‘and I can vouch for him.’

Your queen.Like they were a legitimate power.They had some nerve, I’d give them that.

Ethan sashayed past, patting Cassian on the shoulder as he went.‘Come on, Cass.Don’t give him an excuse to live up to his reputation.’

‘So, you really are brothers?’Imogen asked as we began our descent.The dark quickly grew deeper, colder, difficult to see through.It put me on edge when we were trekking through it surrounded by enemies.I didn’t like the way those enemies hung back, murmuring to each other in voices too quiet to hear.

‘Yes,’ Cassian grumbled.‘Though you wouldn’t know it, since last I heard Etheren had fled to the human world to avoid having to fight for any cause more worthwhile than his own comfort.’

‘Gods, Cass, no one has called meEtherensince—’

‘Father,’ Cassian snapped back, which seemed to pummel Ethan into silence.‘And how proud he’d be to see you now, trailing along after a High Fae overlord like an obedient dog.Imagine his disgust, to know you gave up our location to the heir to the fucking Unseelie throne.’

‘You know, I was worried the years might have changed you, but I’m glad to see you still have that stick wedged nice and tightly up your ass,’ Ethan shot back.‘If you wanted to remain a secret, then attackingbothkingdoms with a storm of furies was not the best way to go about it.’

‘So, we were supposed to just sit and wait quietly for them to sign their amendment and come find us?’

‘No, idiot.You should have been packing up and getting the hell out of here.It doesn’t take an oracle to see how this is all going to play out.’

‘Ethan, where’s Haddock?’I asked, suddenly reminded ofmyoracle and the fact he wasn’t with us.

‘Oh he took off when it looked like you were going to be eaten.He said there were a few futures he could see eventuating and most of them he didn’t want any part in.I think he was hiding in a bush or something.’

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