7. Tavish
7
TAVISH
M y heart leaped into my throat. Finnian was many things, but when he wasn’t smiling or teasing, that meant something was wrong, and I already suspected what this was about. “Out with it,” I snapped, grimacing as I prepared to sit upright.
He blew out a breath, and his wings tightened behind him. “I went to the location on Earth you told me to go.” He placed a hand on his chest like he was bracing himself for the news he had to deliver.
I sat upright, waiting for agony to strike, but felt only a slight ache. Still, the news made my stomach churn. “Are they dead?”
“I… I don’t know.”
“How do you not know?” My body tensed, and my wings spread out.
Finnian scowled and inhaled. “Because they weren’t there.”
Either I’d injured my head, or he wasn’t being clear. I needed answers now. “Then why are you here?”
“Where’s Lira?” he asked, scanning the room.
My chest ached painfully. “You don’t know?”
His brows furrowed. “Know what? I came straight here. I knew you and Lira would want an update immediately.”
My head hung, the weight of the loss of my fated mate crushing me. “The Seelie…” I’d never struggled for words before, but this void I felt without her beside me made even breathing hard. “… took her.”
Finnian stumbled back and blinked. “How?”
“They set the end of the village on fire, diverting the guards away from us, and they glamoured themselves as two of our guards and offered to protect us.” I clenched my hands into fists. I couldn’t believe I’d been so careless and foolish. Of course they’d figured out that Lira was here. Her magic had returned, but I’d thought we’d have more time.
The door to my bedchamber opened, and Caelan and Nightbane hurried into my room. Caelan froze by the door as Nightbane rushed into the room, sniffing… no doubt searching for Lira.
“You woke him?” Caelan shook his head and entered. “I had hoped you’d come looking for me first. Where are the humans that Lira’s so fond of?”
“Wait.” Finnian rubbed his temples. “Lira’s gone? The Seelie have her? And you’re just sleeping? ” His face blanched.
If I didn’t trust him with my life, I’d want to kill him for caring about Lira so much. However, I needed everyone to care enough to bring her back home. “Not anymore, I’m not. I need you to get back to Earth and find them. The last thing she needs is to learn that you didn’t bring them here and protect them. Why didn’t you wait for them to return?”
“Their dwelling was wrecked from some sort of fight. Chairs were overturned, and a rectangle-like apparatus was shattered on the floor.” He lifted both hands. “They had already been taken.”
Blighted abyss. Everywhere I turned, our situation became more dire. If I’d left Lira alone on Earth, this could have all been prevented, but that wouldn’t have kept her from coming back to Ardanos. Her parents would’ve eventually handed her to the dragon prince. We might never have met again, and if we had, she would’ve already been wed.
My usually frozen blood blazed with heat at the thought of her married to anyone but me. If I didn’t get her back, I had no doubt that the dragon prince would demand her hand despite her being fated to me. I feared it would make him covet her more and use her as a tool to weaken me and bend me to his will.
I couldn’t stay here any longer. I needed to get to her before the Seelie forced her to complete an oath they’d had no right to make on her behalf.
“Are you going to get out of bed anytime soon to find your fated mate ?” Finnian’s nose wrinkled. “Or are you leaving that matter to me as well?”
I wanted to punch him, but he was right. I couldn’t lay here and waste more time.
“Have you lost a wing?” Caelan’s face turned a new hue of gray.
I stood, and the world swayed ever so slightly but nowhere near as badly as before.
“Tavish, what are you doing?” Caelan asked just as Nightbane tilted his head back and howled.
The desperate howl resembled a sob, and for the first time in my existence, I actually understood what the beast was going through. He loved Lira, and he wanted her here with us.
With numb legs, I headed to the creature and copied what I’d seen Lira do to him, a motion that always left me puzzled. I patted his head. The beast’s cry cut off, and its glowing lime-green eyes narrowed as it stared at me. The encounter was awkward and off-putting, so I dropped my arm to my side.
Clearing my throat, I straightened. “Don’t worry, Nightbane. I’ll bring her back.”
“You’ve been stabbed in the neck, so forgive me if I have a hard time believing that,” Caelan growled, marching toward me. “You’re going to pass out before you even reach the village.”
“You were stabbed ?” Finnian’s voice rose ten octaves higher. “Why didn’t you inform me of that? I’d—”
Caelan moved the neckline of my tunic to the side, and he gasped, “How is that possible?”
“What?” I reached up and touched the stitches. My fingertips ran across the lumpy scabs that had formed there. Thankfully, the pain had disappeared, and my life was out of danger.
“You’re almost healed.” Caelan blinked repeatedly. “You should be dead, not standing here with scabs. I don’t understand.”
Finnian stomped his foot. “Why didn’t anyone tell me you were injured?”
“Because you came straight to him without checking in with anyone else.” Caelan dropped his hands and glared. “A guard informed me that they saw you flying by like a dragon fleeing from water. We’d just found Ailsa and Kier unconscious in one of the homes that had been cleared.”
He flinched. “I never considered that the Seelie would be here.” He ran a hand through his hair. “No wonder you were sleeping. I shouldn’t have—”
I didn’t have time for theatrics. “I appreciate your concern, but I am more than well enough to retrieve my mate.” My attention landed on Caelan, and I asked, “Did you find the vial?”
Caelan hung his head. “I didn’t. I searched his room and study with Nightbane and didn’t find anything. He must have it on him.”
My heart sank. I’d hoped he would be too wary to keep it on him, but clearly, that wasn’t the case. However, that made me more determined to find a way to retrieve Lira. He could pass through the veil into Seelie, and I doubted he’d leave her alive if he caught up with her. He’d kill her to get to me and weaken the Seelie royals.
My connection to her was still warmer than normal, but not hot like when they’d been stitching me up or as I’d fallen asleep. It wasn’t the usual warmth of our bond, indicating she was still unconscious. There was no way I could alert her to the problem, and I had no comfort that she was all right.
I spread out my wings and hurried to the door. “There’s no time to waste. I need you two to find Eldrin and do as you see fit. And make sure our people stay calm in my absence. When that is resolved, we need to find Lira’s Earth family.” I knew they were a priority for her, so we needed to focus our attention on them as well.
“You’re going alone ?” Finnian’s mouth dropped. “Tavish, you’ve always been confident, but that’s rather foolish. What are you expecting to accomplish?”
I had to hope that the Seelie listened to Lira. That was all I had. I trusted that Lira would help me, and even if she couldn’t, I’d find a way for both of us to escape. I could use illusions and nightmares to get my way—something I couldn’t do as a young boy when the power of the royal line had yet to be transferred to me, leaving me weak. “The guards are needed here to chase down the threat, and everyone saw me get injured. No one will notice that I’m gone, so it’s best if I go alone.”
“You may be better, but you lost a lot of blood.” Caelan gestured to the bed.
There was a significant amount of blood on the mattress, but not nearly as much as Lira had left after she’d been stabbed in the side. “I’ll grab something to eat on the way.” I lifted my chin, staring down my two most trusted friends. I understood that they were worried, but I had a say over what happened here.
“I’m going with you.” Finnian spread out his wings. “At least to make sure you get there safely. How will it benefit Lira if you get dizzy and weak from blood loss and die on the way there? Then how are we expected to save her?”
I hated that he had a point. I’d improved, but my strength hadn’t completely returned. Yet, the longer I remained here, the more the risk of losing Lira forever increased. “Fine. But once I get there, you leave.”
Caelan rubbed a hand down his face and moaned. “If his strength weakens, make sure you take him somewhere safe.”
“I will.” Finnian placed a hand over his chest and nodded.
I gritted my teeth, not liking being coddled. However, none of that mattered as long as I reached Gleann Solas.
“Change into some clean clothes while I get you both something to eat.” Caelan huffed, making his disapproval clear. “I suggest something more peasantlike so the Seelie might not recognize you at first.”
He was right. If they caught me, I might not be beaten immediately if they didn’t realize who I was. I’d be more likely to die, but they’d take me to the holding cells first for the royals to attempt to question me.
I marched into the bathroom and headed to the closet. I had an outfit stashed in here in case I ever needed to escape and didn’t want anyone to notice me. I grabbed the frosty-blue casual tunic and plain leather pants, along with a towel.
Heading to the sink, I wetted the towel and removed the black blood caked on my neck. As I wiped away each spot, I noted there wasn’t even a scab. My skin had completely healed, and my magic had already strengthened once again. I could easily cover the land in darkness and frost, but I didn’t want to do too much too quickly.
I’d only napped for an hour and a half, so Lira and her captors should be arriving in the Seelie lands in the next hour or so. They’d be moving slower due to carrying Lira’s weight.
After quickly changing into the new clothes and placing my sheath around my waist to carry my sword, I headed back into my room and went to the table where the mending kit sat. I took the small blade and went back into the bathroom, where I removed the stitches. By the time I finished, Caelan had returned with the food and a jug of water.
I went to the windows and opened the one on the left, closest to the edge of the spiked mountain. Thankfully, my people weren’t used to sunlight, so their eyes should be more sensitive, and Finnian and I could fly to the west without being seen.
“Be careful, you two, and I’ll tell the guards not to bother you.” Caelan sighed. “Just return as fast as you can.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t want to be around the Seelie lands any longer than I have to,” Finnian reassured him.
I didn’t bother to respond and instead flew out the window.
Finnian was right behind me, the two of us flying close to the castle underneath the section of windows. Each flap of my wings became easier as adrenaline pumped through me, masking some of the fatigue.
Within a few minutes, we were over the hill and flying low, just above the ruined lands, to prevent anyone from spotting us.
I scanned the area for signs of Eldrin. However, all I saw were rocks, dirt, and volcanoes. Nothing that signified any sort of life.
“Do you really believe he’s out here somewhere?” Finnian asked as we approached the edge of the island where we’d soon fly over water.
That question had been plaguing me. I didn’t understand how he could live out here, especially since I’d pulled back my magic from the entire blasted desolate island to force him back here because of his affinity for cold and darkness, the same as me. “I’m not certain, but they’re checking the village in case someone is hiding him.” I hated that some of my citizens were still loyal to Eldrin, but most of his followers had died in the last gauntlet because they’d been traitors who had risen against me.
“Once we get Lira back, we’ll return and make Eldrin pay for his betrayal.” Finnian wrinkled his nose as he caught up to me. “I told you I didn’t trust the blasting wildling.”
He had. Many times. But I’d needed to believe that Eldrin had changed and learned his lesson after the one time he’d moved against me. “I won’t make that mistake again. He just—”
“Saved you.” Finnian rolled his eyes. “Something he likes to remind you of regularly.”
We flew past the last bit of land and over the beautiful sea-green water. My heart squeezed. The color matched Lira’s wings… further proof of her connection to water. “None of it matters. Once I save Lira from her kidnappers and bring her back home with me, I’ll allow her to handle Eldrin’s punishment. After all, he handled the gauntlet—it seems only fitting that she get some justice.”
“You do realize you kidnapped Lira, right?” Finnian smirked and raised both brows. “In the Seelies’ minds, they saved Lira from you .”
I clenched my hands, ready to punch him. “They saw that she was with me willingly, and they still took her.”
“Because she’s their princess and future queen.” He tilted his head like I’d lost my mind.
“I thought you were coming to ensure I made it safely so I could bring her home?” I gritted my teeth, my muscles working. “Instead, it sounds like you’re on their side.”
He lifted his hands, the wind ruffling his blond hair. “I’m on your side. I care for Lira too.”
I snarled and fisted my hands.
“Obviously, not like you do.” Finnian shrugged. “She’s like a sister… the sister I always sort of imagined.” His voice cracked on the last word.
My anger vanished as quickly as it’d come. Finnian had a baby sister who had never been born. Slaine. His mother hadn’t been strong enough to birth her, and both of them had perished. His father, overcome with grief, died a couple of years after our arrival in these ruined lands that we’d been forced to call home.
Caelan’s parents had been killed during the Seelie attack, and while the three of us had already been friends, our losses had strengthened our connection. Something most fae didn’t understand because we tended to live forever.
We flew on in silence. I wasn’t sure what to say. Finnian seemed lost in his thoughts, and my mind circled around Lira.
The spot in my chest that connected me to her flared as if she were waking. I was both relieved and upset that she was coming to because I wasn’t sure what would happen when she woke. I pushed myself harder to get to her.
Lira, I connected. I’d give anything to hear her voice, but instead of a response, a sensation like the one we’d experienced when she’d regained her memories soared between us. Her emotions mingled, confirming what I’d suspected.
The rest of her memories and magic were returning now that she’d entered Seelie land.
“They just arrived,” I rasped, flying faster than ever before.
“Tavish, wait up!” Finnian cried, but the fact she was there and might need me pushed me harder. “Nothing bad will happen to her there.”
He was right. Her parents wouldn’t harm her… not at first. They’d want to understand what had happened and learn what we’d done to her here.
I slowed enough for Finnian to catch back up to me.
After a few more minutes, our bond leveled back out as she went back to sleep.
I needed to touch and see her… needed to make sure she was okay.
After what felt like hours, the Seelie territory appeared.
The moon shone down on the bountiful land now that night was upon us. I could see green trees and a village nearby. A huge mountain hovered in the distance, with a massive field to the east, where some of the best fruits in the kingdom grew.
Down below, the ocean rolled up to the shore, crashing in miraculous waves. I’d bet Lira had enjoyed playing in them as a child.
“Guards!” someone shouted from the edge of the village. “Unseelie are here!”
My head snapped toward the tree line, where a man soared into sight. He yelled again just as something buzzed across my skin, startling me. I searched for the guards the fae was alerting. I needed to cloak myself and Finnian in darkness.
“Tavish!” Finnian exclaimed. “I need help.”
I spun around to find Finnian pounding on something invisible between us. Cool flickers of my darkness wrapped around me but didn’t extend to him as if there was a barrier between us. I tried pushing my shadows toward him to cover us both.
“The Unseelie are here!” someone shouted behind me. “Attack!”
Then something hit me.