Page 196 of Wolf Caged
I shook my head.
Saphira loosed a little sigh.
Her eyelids fluttered.
“Evening Star Court. A scouting party. Perhaps a hundred strong.” I watched her as she woke, as her eyes slowly opened,and then she suddenly shot up into a sitting position, gasping and reaching for her injured shoulder, her eyes wide and filled with fear.
Vyr went to her, crouching beside her and placing a hand on her shoulder as she softly whispered, “All is well, Saphi. You are home in Falkyr.”
Home.
If only that was the truth.
Saphira’s blue gaze shifted to me, relief swamping her eyes. “What happened?”
“You passed out. I carried you here.” I struggled to keep my voice cold as I said those words, fighting to raise a barrier between us again, one that might shut her light out and stop it from touching my heart.
She frowned at me, confusion crinkling her brow, and I despised myself for being so cold with her.
But it was necessary.
“An’sidwain?” she whispered.
“Neve has it.” I looked for the dragon but she was gone, returned to her home in the dungeon.
No doubt she would tell the wolf there that Saphira had returned and he would demand to see her.
So be it.
It was time I took the measure of this male.
“Jenavyr, you will head to Rhyn’s Gate. The Winter Court must be warned about this incursion into unseelie lands.” If Rhyn would welcome any member of my court into his lands, it would be either me or my sister, and I had business that required my attention here. “Leave immediately.”
Riordan stepped forwards and I stopped him with a look before he could offer to go with her.
“Riordan, gather her legion and yours. Ready them for war.” I waited for the vampire to nod before I looked to Malachi.
“War?” Saphira breathed.
My gaze shifted to her. “The seelie march on the Wastes and a message must be sent to their court and their high king that incursion into unseelie lands will not be tolerated.”
She frowned at me. “What kind of message?”
I held her gaze, unflinching as I said, “Their heads delivered in boxes.”
Her eyes widened as she gasped.
So innocent.
I had been wrong to think her strong enough to live in my world, that she could come to understand it in time, I could see that now as a war erupted in her eyes and her lips flattened, holding back the words she wanted to let fly in my direction.
“War is brutal, little lamb. It is no place for kindness.” I turned my gaze from her to Malachi. “Fly out to the Wastes. Stay high and stay hidden. I want those seelie tracked and I want a detailed report on every male.”
I signalled to one of the guards now stationed at the double doors.
“Bring our guest from the dungeon.”
“Morden?” Saphira brightened, her gaze flying to me, the darkness that had clouded it gone. Because of the wolf.
