Page 94 of A Legacy of Wrath and Reckoning

She studied his face, part of her still catching up with the fact that he was alive. That he was hers. But there was something else, something that had been eating away at her since they’d left the Aquaris Court. “There were so many vampires in that last attack. Do you think we should have stayed to see if more were coming?”

“They’d most likely lived there before they were turned, when they were still Fae. It’s Fae blood they crave most; I think they were going where they knew they could find a healthy source.”

Zylah shivered. “There are children there.” Fae and human, whether its High Lord knew that or not.

Holt’s flare of confirmation told her the High Lord did. “Malok is a strategist. He’ll have already moved them to a secure location, bolstered the court’s defences.”

“With what soldiers? We have his army.”

“What we’re doing will prevent any more vampires from being made. Malok knows that, understands it’s the only chance at a future those children have.”

Zylah loosed a breath between pursed lips. What were any of them doing? They couldn’t get close to Virian’s palace in meaningful numbers. Couldn’t keep up with all the vampire and thrall attacks or count how many more vampires had been created.

Breathe, Zylah. One step at a time. Whatever Mae has waiting for us could be our first puzzle piece,Holt said gently in her thoughts.

Zylah sucked in a breath. Dipped her chin in acknowledgement and followed her mate through the tunnel beyond the waterfall into the court. Wards flexed over her skin as they passed, a rush of information hitting Zylah’s threads at once; Finn heading up a group of armed guards fast approaching. A group of furious armed guards. But Zylah didn’t reach for her weapon.

“How dare you return here,” the Fae barked, a hand raised and a crackle of energy rippling in the air.

Roots and vines erupted from the earth at their feet, around Finn’s body, his throat, a few of them burning like glowing embers before they snuffed out, the scent of burning wood filling the space between them all mixed with Finn’s hiss of surprise. The guards behind him drew their weapons, but Holt cut them off.

“Don’t.” His doing, all of it. The embers were new, but he’d controlled them carefully, though Zylah knew that control could dwindle quickly if any of them tried to attack again.

“I—” Finn choked, eyes darting between the two of them and settling on Holt. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. When you were here last…”

Zylah had all but forgotten this part. The fierce protectiveness and unpredictability Holt had shown even to their friends when they’d been in the presence of other males after she’d accepted the bond.

As if in response to her thoughts, some of Holt’s roots receded. “Our promise was to return within seventy-two hours,” he said, more of the vines retreating. “If she still draws breath, take us to her.”

Finn gave a pointed look at the remaining roots restraining him, but Holt didn’t release him yet. The Fae sighed, turning to the nearest guard. “Take to your posts. Report immediately if there’s any sign of vampires.”

The guard’s eyes darted to Holt and back to Finn again before he opened his mouth. A wise decision. “Of course,” the Fae said, waving the others along, all of them giving Holt and Zylah a wide berth.

Holt’s restraints fell away from Finn, and only then did Zylah realise the Fae was missing an arm, one sleeve hanging loose and empty. But if he felt her attention, he didn’t comment, as if he was anticipating another outburst from Holt.

Outburst?Holt raised an eyebrow as he glanced down at her, and she resisted the urge to elbow him in the ribs. Finn led them through the court, past the gossiping clusters of Fae and up through the central trees towards Mae’s residence.

Fine, controlled attack. She felt his amusement skitter down her spine.The way you’re combining your magic, it’s incredible.

His palm settled against her lower back as they crossed the final walkway, one last little touch before they entered Mae’s home.You showed me how.

He was a quick study, she’d give him that. They stepped off the walkway into Mae’s residence, the scent of celandia hitting them the moment they were inside. The room was full of doting Fae just as it had been before, though they averted their gazes at Holt and Zylah’s presence.

The same sprawling bed from before lay ahead of them. Though this time, only Sarina, the female Zylah had healed after the attack, sat beside Mae, tending to her High Lady with care.

Mae had seen better days. Her usually unblemished skin was waxy and yellow, white hair sticking to her face from a mixture of sweat and the cloth Sarina dabbed at her forehead. She wore a thin lilac dress, clutching at her chest where her heart was no doubt failing beneath it, her breaths raspy and laboured.

Her pale blue eyes tracked Holt and Zylah as they neared the bed, and she whispered something to Sarina.

“Maelissa wishes to congratulate you both,” Sarina said, her head bowed, though this time it was enough to make out that she was missing an eye.

Anger flared in Zylah’s chest. Finn’s arm. Sarina’s eye. No doubt sacrifices for their High Lady, only they had not returned with arrenium counterparts as she had. “Maelissa still has a working tongue,” she snapped. She and Holt held their positions near the door, neither of them making any effort to approach the bed. Fae could scent the mating bond, but Mae’s half-assed congratulations meant nothing to Zylah.

Finn went to his High Lady, sitting at her other side and taking her hand—her arrenium hand—in his.

“Why?” Mae rasped.

Why were they doing this? Why had Zylah poisoned her? Why had they returned, when they could have just left her to die? Probably a mixture of all three, but Zylah’s gaze flitted over the way Sarina and Finn doted on the Fae, despite everything they’d lost, despite Mae’s failings.

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