4

LIRA

Ijumped forward, my heart lurching into my throat, trying to stop Nightbane in time.

Sprite,Tavish connected, his concern slamming into me just as Mother exclaimed, “Lira, don’t!”

My arms caught Nightbane’s waist, his momentum jerking my body. The injury in my wings spread misery through my back as I tangled my fingers into his fur. “Nightbane, stop,” I gritted out, tugging back but trying not to do it hard enough to hurt him.

I wished that I could tap into my healing magic since that seemed to calm him, but it hadn’t yet sparked back inside me.

Thankfully, he stopped a few feet shy of my parents, but his snarls became more vicious, and his body shook with anger.

I’m beginning to suspect that you’re trying to test whether I’m truly immortal.Tavish scowled as he landed in front of Nightbane, blocking my parents.My heart has never beat so frantically as it has since you came back into my life.

If I wasn’t suffering, I probably would’ve smiled, but not now; holding the tears back so I didn’t look weak was the priority.Father would be a huge pain in the ass about the beastif he hurt Mother. We don’t need anything else working against us.

“Put that dangerous animal away.” Father’s voice boomed and echoed against the dark walls of the barren room. “And save my daughter before it attacks her.”

I grunted, unable to keep the noise contained as I went to my knees on the ground, the tattered ends of my gray dress protecting my skin from the chill of the floor. I straightened but made sure to keep my hand on Nightbane. “He won’t harm me.”

As I shifted my attention back to them, I saw Mom flanking Father and Dad protecting Mother. The two guards on their outsides had their swords in hand, waiting for Nightbane to attack again.

Father’s normally tamed chestnut-brown hair was disheveled from travel, and it was a tad disconcerting to stare into cobalt eyes that appeared nearly identical to mine. “But he tried to attack us, and you’re Seelie.”

He always came back to the divide between the two magics, not seeing anything beyond the type that flowed in our blood.

“He’ll attack anyone he believes is a threat to Lira.” Tavish lifted his chin. “Lira, it would be better if the command came from you instead of me.”

Once again, Tavish was giving me the opportunity to prove myself, not only to my parents but to his people. The only guard I truly had on my side was Lorne. Struan and the others served the king, which included the relationships he had with other people.

Running a hand over Nightbane’s fur, I noticed Mother’s flush gilding her normally fair skin and freckles, and her sparkly blue wings fluttered, causing her light-blonde waves to lift haphazardly over her shoulders.

My parents usually presented themselves as very put together, but in this moment, both royals looked untidy andclearly didn’t feel comfortable, especially with Nightbane’s presence.

Turning my back to them, I slid between Tavish and Nightbane. I had to squat because the cù-sìth remained crouched. I cupped his face and pressed my forehead to his. I needed him to see that I didn’t feel threatened by my parents’ presence. “Don’t attack them.Please.”

Nightbane was displeased, but his snarls eased into impatient huffs.

Like Tavish, the more time I spent with the animal, the more he endeared himself to me.

Knowing we had a blast ton of information we needed to discuss with both sets of my parents, I rose to stand next to Tavish. Nightbane eased forward, guarding my other side, and pressed against me. The heat he emitted kept a shiver from running down my spine.

“Isn’t that a rare Unseelie animal?” Father’s forehead creased, and his sun-kissed complexion turned several shades lighter. “Why would it be so partial to Lira?”

“I’m not sure how you haven’t noticed, but your daughter is quite exceptional.” Tavish’s face was filled with adoration as he kissed me on my forehead. “Even some of the Unseelie fae are partial to her and not me.”

My face burned, but I refused to hide because I wasn’t ashamed. Just uncomfortable with the attention. “As much as I’d love to beat around the bush, we should get straight to business.”

“Beat around the bush?” Father scanned the room. “We said we wouldn’t fight unless forced to, and I don’t see a bush nearby. And what is this ‘business’? Is that some location on this horrid island?”

“Your Majesty.” Mom lowered her sword but kept it at her side. “She is speaking as humans do on Earth. She wants todiscuss the matters at hand, like her freeing the nightfiends and having Eiric go along with the plan. Speaking of which, where is my daughter?”

I tightened my fingers in Nightbane’s fur, trying not to mouth off. Even though she and Dad had been great parents on Earth, whenever Eiric had gotten into trouble, Mom had always blamed me. Granted, most of the time, I’d deserved it.

The realization that Eiric was gone damn near ripped me in half again. I needed them all to know where she was. “She’s—”

“I’m good with having a direct conversation, especially when my daughter is standing hereinjured.” Father’s face grew haggard. “This is why we wanted to keep you away from him. The Unseelie are nothing but trouble.”