Page 45 of Solstice

“If the king gets out, is there a way to put him back?” Knowing about our gifts was great, but we had bigger problems to solve here.

“I only know of one fairy that could curse him, and that was hundreds of years ago. There’s no telling where to find them or if they still exist.”

Great. Just fucking great.

Where the hell would we find someone like that if everyone in the fairy fucking underground hated us? Better yet, if no one even knew such a powerful fairy still existed?

“What about powers?” Ivy said. “What magic does the king have? What gifts?”

Victor snorted. “All gifts. All magic. He’s the king.”

“What about…time travel?” Miri held her sweater tighter around her waist. “Could the king or queen go back in time? Hurt us before we knew what was going on? Or maybe…manipulate memories?”

“I’ve never heard of that.” Victor shook his head. “Not to say it’s not possible, but all magic is elemental. We’re connected to the earth, and the earth only moves in one direction. I don’t know anyone who can manipulate space and time, not even royalty.”

My heart plummeted to my stomach, both at Miri’s question and Victor’s answer. He didn’t know anyone who could bend the rules of space and time…but we did. Was this why the king wanted Poppy? Could he use her to go back in time and kill us as children, ending this before it even began?

I had never even considered the possibility. Miri shared my look of apprehension and glanced at Ivy, who stayed stone-faced and stoic through the whole thing—a true politician. The only tell she had was the flush snaking up her neck.

“What will you do if he gets out?” Ivy raised an eyebrow. “Are you preparing for war? Preparing to run and hide? Will you join him or fight him?”

“Fight him?” Victor laughed, looking between us like we were ridiculous. “Ivy, there is no fighting him. If the king gets out, he’ll burn this entire realm to the ground and kill everyone in it. It’s all he’s ever wanted to do.”

“Can we stop him?” I grabbed my cigarettes and lit one, rubbing at the back of my neck with the other hand while the nicotine buzz washed over me. I’d been trying to cut back, but if ever there was a time to light up…

“I don’t see how.” Victor shook his head. “No one in this realm will be able to stop him.”

“How many fairies are there on this side? Was Peter right? Will no one help us?” Miri’s eyes pleaded with him to give us good news, to tell us we had some allies.

“Peter is right that word has spread about the four of you, but fairies are secretive. No one will say anything to a public that doesn’t know we exist.” Then he sighed. “But will we fight him? Will we help you?” Again, he shrugged. “Some may, if only to protect the humans they love. Most will flee. There’s a reason we’re terrified of him. He’s done incredible things. Despicable and horrendous, but undeniably incredible.”

I should have been more scared, but instead, an ice-cold, electric rage brewed just under my skin. If this motherfucker came for us, I had to find a way to defeat him. I had to protect my spouses and my family. I had to protect this whole planet.

No pressure.

“Where’s Siobhan now?” I asked. “Is she still with the king?”

He nodded. “Last I heard, she and her warriors rejoined his army. I haven’t seen her since, but I don’t think she’s with him in cause. She’s trying to find a way to protect the queen.”

“What about you, Victor?” I took another long drag. “Will you fight with us?”

He smiled. “I’d like to think I would.”

“Why?”

Victor flashed me another grin. “Because the humans I know are loving and generous. And if they were in my shoes, they’d do it for me.” He looked between the three of us before adding, “I hope you’re worth it.”

Yeah, I hoped we were, too.

He opened the car door and put a foot on the ground. “I have to go. I wish I could have been more help.”

After he left, I turned to my wives with more questions than answers and absolutely no plan for what to do next.

14

Ivy

“What are you thinking?” Carter asked, taking a sip of scotch. It was three in the morning in Romania, and weariness hung under his eyes, matching the crease between his brows. He looked exhausted, even on FaceTime. After Victor left, we’d gone back to the bed-and-breakfast to have dinner and deliberate about what to do next. This was the only time Carter could talk, so we’d taken advantage of that.

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