Page 67 of Solstice

“I can handle the people there.” Siobhan ran her fingers over her eyes. “Ashley may be willing to help.”

Finn shook his head. “She’ll want conditions.”

Siobhan nodded. “I know.”

Donnelly started to talk, but Finn held up a finger to stop him, perhaps indicating they’d talk more about that later, and Donnelly shut up.

“Can you handle the broadcasts? Can you disrupt them?” Siobhan looked at Kit, who sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. A few moments passed in silence.

“Kit?” Ivy asked.

“I…I don’t know,” Kit finally said. “I’m good, but even I have my limits.”

“Try your best.” Abigail grabbed Kit’s hand.

“I know a few people who could help.” Kit nodded. “I think I can do it.”

“Wait,” Carter cut in, his gaze darting between Ivy and me. “Are you seriously sabotaging your wedding? You’re inviting him to show up?”

“No,” I said. “We’re preparing for him to show up. He hasn’t struck until now. Why?”

“He’s a maniacal narcissist with unlimited magical power.” Finn’s voice sounded rough, and his weakened state made him look even rougher. “The human is right. He’ll wait until he thinks we’re distracted. He’ll want a big show, and without me around to temper his ego?—”

Siobhan nodded and shook her head. “And without the queen around to stop him?—”

That got my attention.

“What happened to the queen?” Carter glanced from Siobhan to Donnelly and Finn. “You said she escaped?”

Siobhan’s mouth opened, but she didn’t answer. Donnelly eventually said, “Before he took her captive, he blew ruby dust in her face, hypnotizing her. After that, she couldn’t speak. Her mind is fried.”

“It’s a spell,” Finn said.

“What spell do you know calls for ruby dust?” Siobhan rubbed a hand over her face, seemingly as exhausted with Finn as she was with the whole situation.

“Well, I don’t know all the spells that have existed since he was born, do I?”

“Now that she’s out and still bewitched, it’s only a matter of time before she ends up in a hospital somewhere.” Donnelly refocused the conversation. “She’s wandering around, half dressed, speaking in tongues. Someone will pick her up.” He took a sip of beer, his icy blue eyes narrowing on Poppy for a moment, long enough to draw my attention to her. She squirmed in her seat, avoiding all our gazes.

“You haven’t seen her, have you?” Carter nudged Poppy on the shoulder and she looked up, ignoring me in favor of her favorite human.

“Nope.” She forced a grin. “Haven’t seen her since Samhain.”

The lie hit me between the eyes hard enough that I almost winced. It soured my stomach, and the urge to make her spill her secrets nearly overtook my willpower. I could do it. I could force her to tell us all the goddamn truth for once. But I didn’t. I took a drink and made a mental note to call my uncle after this was over. Poppy looked from Carter to Ivy and finally to me.

I stared right back at her.

All this time, I had my suspicions about the changeling. There were things she didn’t tell me, and as long as it didn’t endanger the ones I loved, I let her keep her secrets. But I couldn’t forgo this. I didn’t want her to suspect I knew, so I gave her a playful wink and returned my attention to Donnelly.

“I think Lex’s plan is the best course of action. We’ll secure Poppy to make sure he doesn’t get what he wants, and when he shows up, Ashley will keep a container on the optics.”

“If we go along with this,” Ivy said, “what are we supposed to do when he gets there? Isn’t he the biggest, strongest fairy in the world?”

“He is,” Finn said. “But this time, I’m not on his side. This time, I’m defending the humans.”

“And that means?” Ivy pursed her lips, waiting for an explanation.

“For six hundred years, I was the leader of the king’s army.” Finn’s gravelly voice hinted at how much pain he must have been in. “I did whatever he wanted. I went wherever he told me to go.” He reached to grab Siobhan’s hand, his other going to Donnelly’s. “Even at the expense of my loved ones. I swore never again. My banshee believes we must help you, so I will help you. When the rest of theFiannafinds out what side I’m on, they’ll join us. We can contain him together.”

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