23. Lira
23
LIRA
M y heart hammered as I took in a crumpled Caelan who lay next to a beaten Nightbane. The cù-sìth’s snout had a large gash as if someone had struck it with the end of a blade, and dark blood covered the green ends of his fur.
I suspected Caelan wouldn’t appear any better.
Worse, there were no mattresses in the cell, which forced them to lie on the stone floor with no blankets or pillows.
Lorne pushed me more gently than I’d expected, but my wing jerked, and pain sliced through me again. The pain was worse than being stabbed in the arm and shoulder.
“I should’ve killed you at the close of the gauntlet,” Tavish seethed. “Of course, at the first opportunity to harm my mate, you’d inflict misery upon her. Everyone who lays hands on her will die at the end of my sword or by my magic. I vow to each and every one of you.” His concern for me swirled within me, but the connection between us had cooled since he didn’t have access to his magic.
The door to the small cell that held Nightbane and Caelan opened, and Lorne pushed me inside. My back muscles jerked, causing my wings to spasm, and I could feel the skin of the wing with the arrow lodged in it rip further.
Tavish’s, Eiric’s, and Finnian’s guards kept them in place at the door as Lorne walked toward a wall where more chains for wings hung. My stomach dropped as he picked up three, but then I paused. He’d forgotten about one of us.
Nightbane’s eyes opened and flashed a lime green as he jumped to his feet. He snarled, but the sound was broken as if they’d injured his throat. He limped to his spot beside me.
“Do you need to learn your lesson again, death beast?” asked the dark-brown-haired woman who held Finnian hostage. “The only reason you’re alive is because of the bad luck bestowed upon the race that kills your kind.”
My heart heavied and my mouth dried. I needed to know everything they’d done to this poor animal. Nightbane was fierce, but only to those who mistreated him… Tavish included. To me, he was the most loyal friend in the palace.
“Don’t antagonize them.” Lorne sighed as he placed the chains on Tavish’s wings first.
Tavish tried to break free from the guards, flapping his wings and attempting to force the chains off him, but Lorne secured the lock in seconds.
Lorne continued as if Tavish hadn’t fought him at all. “Not until we have everyone secured in the cell.”
The bond pulsed in tune with his rapid heartbeat, and our connection clenched from his panic. I remembered my panic the day I’d had my wings restrained, and I’d had them back for only a day. Tavish had used his wings his entire life and didn’t know anything without them.
The navy-blue-haired guard mashed his lips together, and the dark-brown-haired guard shoved Tavish inside the cell toward me, causing him to trip over Nightbane.
Nightbane whimpered, and I bent to help my mate. My wings moved again, and more pain shot through me as my wing ripped even more. Tavish dropped to his knees while Nightbane dropped to the cold stone floor.
Tears burned my eyes, but I blinked them back, refusing to cry in front of the guards. I turned to help Tavish and pushed my agony away. Are you hurt?
I’m fine, Tavish replied. Better than you are. The more you move, the worse your injury will be. I just bruised my knees. As if to support his claim, Tavish quickly climbed to his feet and turned to face the guard who’d shoved him.
“You will pay for that, Ecoar.” Tavish bared his teeth.
The guard snorted. “I don’t fear you. Eldrin may keep you alive because of your blood, but that doesn’t mean we view you as true royalty anymore. You picked a sunscorched over us.” He spat on the ground, barely missing Tavish’s black boots.
My blood boiled, and it had nothing to do with the insult he’d lobbed at me. The fae part of me that had been dormant for so long came rushing out. “I can’t wait to slit your throat and replace that cocky grin with the knowledge that you’re dying.” This guard had gone too far. Turning on Tavish hadn’t been enough. He’d had to belittle him, physically abuse him, and taunt him just to make himself feel better.
“You expect me to feel threatened by you when you mourned an Unseelie who tried to kill you during the games?” He rocked back on his feet, expanding his wings. “We all know you’re weak.”
“I’d rather be weak than use a horrible opportunity to pretend to have a big dick.” My mouth was running again, and there was no stopping it. I almost felt like I had when I first got here. “I’d threaten to cut it off, but I doubt I could find it quickly enough. So I’ll settle for your throat.”
Finnian laughed as he was led in by his guards. Unlike Tavish, they weren’t manhandling him, which I assumed was because Finnian had never had any say over them. They resented Tavish for so many reasons, and this was their first opportunity to act on it without immediate repercussions.
“Good point, Lira.” Finnian smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ve never heard anyone compliment his lovemaking. That has to be why.”
Ecoar expanded his wings, which were below average in size. “Insult me again. I dare you.”
“Well, if you insist—” Finnian started.
Not holding back, Ecoar threw a punch at Finnian’s jaw, but Finnian ducked, and the guard caught air, further embarrassing himself.
“Enough,” Lorne snapped, shuffling Eiric inside.
My sister’s face turned a sickly yellow as her wings ruffled under the chains. Lorne didn’t manhandle her, but that didn’t lessen my sense of betrayal as he turned his back on me. I hadn’t realized that I felt like we had forged some sort of mutual respect during the trial. If not for him, I’d be dead.
“We have priorities that require our full attention, like watching for the Seelie who could show up at any second.” Lorne turned his back on us like we weren’t a threat. “All of you are aware of the risks, and we need to speak to King Eldrin about that threat on the horizon.”
Ecoar’s wings lowered to his sides, though a vein bulged between his eyes.
Lorne stepped back into the hallway and locked the cell door.
“What about the princess?” the woman guard asked, gesturing to my wings.
My pulse galloped. I’d hoped that no one would notice I was unchained. If they didn’t bind my wings, I could use my magic to heal myself, which I desperately needed to do if we were going to get out of this place… somehow.
“Let her suffer for a while longer. We’d have to remove the arrow to get the chains to sit properly on her. The others will try to help her, causing her pain and then feeling bad about it.” Lorne looked over his shoulder at me and wrinkled his nose. “When I come back later to check on them, I’ll put the chains on her. Her wings will be more raw and bloody.”
Lorne was a vicious bastard. No wonder he’d been friends with Eldrin before getting placed in jail for rising against Tavish. His loyalties changed as often as Nightbane shed fur, which was daily.
A few of the guards chuckled as Lorne led them away.
He didn’t glance back as they left the prison area.
“I vow to you, Lira. I will make everyone who turned against us suffer.” Tavish moved beside me, touching my wing.
A sharp sting shot through my wing and a deep ache shot into my muscles. I was trying to keep them stationary to avoid further damage.
Nightbane tried to stand beside me again, but he whimpered and flopped back onto his stomach. I could only imagine the agony he’d been in as he’d tried to protect me when I entered the cell.
“Let me look,” Eiric said, and she carefully stepped around Nightbane while not trampling Caelan.
The cell barely fit two people, but the guards had forced all four of us in here with Caelan and Nightbane. We wouldn’t be able to sleep comfortably, but at least we were all together.
Let me change places so she can take a look at my wings. Eiric didn’t have expert healing knowledge, but our parents had taught us basic first aid.
As I shifted my weight to walk around Tavish and not step on Nightbane, the muscles in my back moved, and the wound around the arrow stretched apart. A tear trailed down my cheek before I could stop it, and I groaned faintly.
We should never have come back here. Tavish’s guilt weighed on our bond. We should’ve stayed in the Unseelie underground house.
I took his hands, enjoying the electric jolt that shot between us as I faced him. Eiric stepped into the opening in the corner, and Finnian hurried to Caelan. My wings were in Eiric’s view, and my heart hammered.
We had to come back. Your people need you. I wanted him to realize that this was an opportunity for mercy and not fear. Fear didn’t drive loyalty. He had to see things more clearly. Besides, we’d be miserable living underground and never feeling the wind in our wings.
“Did you see who shot you?” Eiric asked.
My breath caught. “Yes, but I’m not sure why that matters.” The woman had done what she’d been taught to do, hate Seelie and kill them whenever she could.
“Because the bitch lodged that arrow perfectly, and I can’t wait to repay the favor.” Eiric huffed dramatically. “She hit your wings almost directly in the center, meaning each flap will cause further damage.”
“We’ll put her in chains and hoist her so every Unseelie can see her withering in pain with an arrow in the exact spot as Lira while we let her starve and bleed to death.” Tavish’s body tensed as he cupped my cheek and whispered, “So tell us, sprite. Who did this to you? Describe her for me. I will get retribution for you.”
I bit my bottom lip as warmth surged through me. I cherished how much he loved me. “Don’t encourage him, Eiric.” I tried to chastise him, but the words came out breathless.
A deep, low groan came from Caelan. “Finn?” he asked groggily. “Is that you?”
Thank Fate he was awake.
“We’ve returned.” Finnian’s forehead lined with worry.
“You need to leave…” Caelan opened his eyes, and he clutched Finnian’s hand. “Before—” His gaze landed on us, and he stopped.
Caelan’s loyalty made my heart expand, and I could feel Tavish’s relief from hearing his friend speak and knowing he’d tried to warn us.
“You’re too late for that warning.” Finnian winked, but his eyes didn’t twinkle in their usual way.
I couldn’t blame him. I didn’t see a way for us to get out of this situation. Eldrin had us right where he wanted us, and he had the crown.
“We need to get this arrow out, or it could tear up her entire wing.” Eiric reached around my wings, placing a hand on my arm. “It’ll hurt.”
“Don’t sugarcoat it or anything,” I tried to tease, but my words fell flat.
Tavish’s eyes darkened almost to onyx as his worry choked me.
She chuckled, playing along. “I’ll be blunter next time.”
I turned to see her face, which twisted with concern.
“Did one of the Unseelie do that to her?” Caelan’s unswollen eye widened, and a cut on his bottom lip reopened. Black blood oozed down his chin.
“They won’t be Unseelie for much longer,” Tavish answered, stepping close to me.
“Finnian, I need your help,” Eiric commanded. “Can you assist me?”
“Of course.” Finnian helped Caelan prop himself against the stone wall and moved to stand next to Eiric. He winced as his eyes skimmed my injury.
Eiric rubbed her hands together. “I need you to hold down her wing there. It can’t move when I break the arrow in the center. If it jerks, the arrow could rip through her wing.”
I swallowed loudly. I wished they could speak telepathically so I didn’t have to hear this.
“Understood.” Finnian nodded sternly.
“Good.” Eiric stared at Tavish and said, “I need you to calm her the best you can and make sure she faces you the entire time.”
Not wanting this moment to drag out longer than it needed, I turned to face Tavish again. He lowered his forehead to mine, the tingling thrum between us, and placed his hands on my shoulders.
You’re going to be fine. He kissed my lips. We’ll get through this.
“On the count of three,” Eiric said. She stepped between my wings and squatted. When she touched both sides of the arrow, the pressure made the throbbing deeper and more uncomfortable.
“One…”
Finnian stepped behind Eiric, getting into place. Though I couldn’t see him, I felt his presence.
My ears rang from anticipation. I wasn’t sure I could handle what came next.
“Two…”
Two large, strong hands gripped the top part of my wings, and the arrow jerked. A cracking sound split the air as agony ripped through me.
I tried leaping forward, but Tavish’s hands secured me in place. And when Eiric yanked the arrow from my wing, I was certain this was what dying felt like. It hurt worse than when I’d actually died after the gauntlet.
I cried out, a sob racking my chest. I hated sounding so weak, but I couldn’t contain the sound. I crumpled into Tavish’s arms while Nightbane tossed his head back and howled heartbreakingly.
Sprite, I’m so sorry, Tavish linked, kissing my forehead as Finnian released my wings. I never should’ve taken you from Earth.
I couldn’t stop my chest from heaving again. Don’t you dare say that. I wouldn’t change a thing, even with all the chaos. You’ve made me the happiest I’ve ever been.
I don’t deserve you. I should’ve let you live and be happy. You wouldn’t have known any differently.
Not true. I stepped toward him, staring at his blurry face. I never found anyone interesting and always felt alone. I never dated anyone… kissed anyone… never wanted to until you showed up that night to bring me here. Even then, I felt a connection to you. There’s no going back, and I wouldn’t change it. You’re my home now… not Gleann Solas, Cuil Dorcha, or Earth. Just you.
He ran one hand through my hair and used the hem of his tunic to dry my eyes. When I could see clearly, what I found destroyed me.
Tears rolled down his own face. We will get out of here and regain the throne, and if I have to burn this realm down to keep you safe, that’s what I’ll do. I will do anything for you.
The warmth surged between us, and the truth behind his words had blood pumping through my body, making every cell come alive. I understood what he was saying. The past twelve years had been one hardship after another for him, and it needed to end. We deserved to be together and find joy and peace. We shouldn’t have to face challenge after challenge. I feel the same for you. I left Seelie to come here and be with you.
“May I examine the arrow?” Caelan asked, bringing me back to the present.
“Sure,” Eiric answered.
“Maybe we can use the arrow tip as a weapon?” Finnian shuffled backward.
Folding my wings in to give us more room made them feel as if they were being ripped apart again despite the arrow being removed. The damage was done and needed time to heal. Unable to fully close them, I pulled them back, and Tavish moved so we could face everyone and took my hand.
“It’s two inches long.” Tavish arched a brow. “And the guards know we have it… so what do you propose?”
Caelan held a piece of the broken arrow in his hands and lifted it to his nose.
“Maybe we can poke their eyes out.” Finnian shrugged. “Or give it to Lira so she can stab Ecoar in the penis.”
“No.” Caelan dropped his hands. “This doesn’t make sense.”
Silence descended as we all stared at Caelan. What did he know?