Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 139662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 698(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 698(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
Finn’s eyes blaze with anger, his hands clenching and releasing over and over again, as if he’s desperately trying to get a grip on his temper. “And the Sluagh? The fire?” he asks, his jaw hard.
“Mother was able to tap into the power of the mirror,” Juliana whispers. “She lured Brie there and the Sluagh did the rest. We wanted to do it for you so you wouldn’t have to. You’ve always put love above duty, and it’s cost you. It’s cost all of us.”
“You don’t get to speak to me about loss,” he snarls.
“I had nothing to do with the attack on the capital and nothing to do with the people who tried to stop you on your way to the portal. I would never have disabled the portal when I knew you were on the other side.”
We all turn to Misha, waiting to see if this is true.
He stares at Juliana for a long time before shaking his head. “As far as I can tell, she speaks the truth, but I can’t guarantee anything.”
“See?” she whispers. “Just let me go. I love my court. I want to help.”
Finn stares at her. His inner turmoil simmers through the room.
I lift my chin and muster up my best queenlike authority. “No,” I say, saving Finn from having to do it. “Keep her locked up until the throne has been recovered. We can’t risk having the queen find us when we’re so close.”
Misha’s wide russet eyes turn on me. “So it’s settled then? You’ll go to the River of Ice so you can take the throne together?”
“We will,” Sebastian says. He turns his gaze from Misha to Finn. “But I have no intention of sharing my bonded partner with another male, so you’ll need to leave the palace and find another place to live.”
Finn’s smile is so icy it chills my veins. “Consider it done.”
Pretha’s worried gaze moves about the room from Misha to Kane to Finn before finally settling on me. “Please hurry,” she says.
Finn’s expression softens as he turns to his sister-in-law, but Pretha shoves back her chair and runs from the room.
“We’ll head out at first light,” Sebastian says. “If you think you can handle it.”
I nod. There’s no reason to wait.
Kane clears his throat. “Finn, you should go as well, in case they encounter any trouble.”
Finn flinches. “You can go in my stead, Kane. It will be easier for everyone that way.” He stands, and his eyes flick to me for just a beat before settling back on the floor.
The fist around my aching heart blocks the air from my lungs, and I feel light-headed.
“Riaan will accompany us as well,” Sebastian says. “He knows the Golden Military better than anyone else here and has helped the Unseelie forces defend the Goblin Mountains against them. He’ll be able to help us avoid their units on the trek to the river.”
“Good,” Finn says. He takes a step toward the door before stopping suddenly and turning to me. Our eyes meet, and my aching heart stumbles as I remember what it was like to lie in his arms in the cave, how happy I felt, how hopeful as we discussed the future. “Be safe, My Queen,” he says softly. “And be well. I’ll be gone before you return.”
He walks away before I can reply, taking that fist around my heart with him. I thought it would be a relief, but no matter how many greedy breaths I gulp down, I’m still hollow.
I can’t sleep. Can’t settle my mind enough to try.
I wander the dark hallways aimlessly and find myself at Finn’s door. I can’t leave without seeing him one more time, so I step inside, even knowing he might demand that I leave.
He’s lying on the bed, staring up at the starry night sky.
I don’t ask permission. I just crawl into the bed beside him, letting myself be close one last time.
“Are you okay?” he asks without looking at me. His voice is gravelly.
“Not really,” I whisper. “But I wanted to say I’m sorry. For all of this. I hate that I’m hurting you.” I feel his long exhale before he rolls away in one sudden movement, swinging his legs over the side of the bed to sit.
He cradles his head in his hands. “I’m not sorry,” he says, peeking back at me. “Not for loving you, even when I know seeing you with him is going to tear me apart. You are the queen my people deserve, the blessing Mab promised us. I just want . . .”
“What?” I reach for him and skim my fingers along his spine. It feels so good to touch him, and he shivers beneath my caress. “Anything.”
“I think you should consider having a priestess wipe me from your memories.”
I yank my hand back as if he’s burned me. “Why? Why would you ask me that?”