Page 173 of Kingdoms of Night

Musty rot exploded outward from its center, shooting out tendrils of poison. The spriggan groaned and lurched until it collapsed against the spear.

Titania flung the spriggan across the clearing, then glanced back at him. Her wings folded against her back, framing her in brilliant gold. “It is not so bad to have me for a friend, is it, Feron?”

“Living is great,” Feron mumbled sardonically as he stood.

His ribs and lungs ached with equal pain. The wolves picked themselves up a little slower, trotting back into the fight without complaint.

Titania laughed and dodged another attack easily. She launched a goblin with a backswept wing, then in a golden flash, she leaped, impaling an ogre to the ground. She turned to him with a grin.

“I am delighted you chose to accept this calling. You have no idea how powerful you are, Feron.”

She swept her wings and flew over the battle at another spriggan, grabbing wide strips of the glittering white snakeskin. With a golden flash, her long-bladed spear severed its arm before she spun and drove it through the spriggan’s face.

“Hands off, wood rot!” she snarled.

A troll pounced at him. Feron snarled and narrowly skidded from its path, leaving it to crash face first into the ground. He slashed at it, its blue-gray flesh split beneath his claws.

Another faceless enemy gone. But would it return like the Lambton Wyrm? Or was it really dead?

The monsters pressed in harder and deeper, a never-ending mass of flesh and plant. But little by little, the Wild Hunt managed to collect the strips.

Then the mass howled and shrieked as one. They scattered to the winds.

Within seconds, they vanished into the dark forest, leaving behind only mangled corpses. From the looks of it, the casualties were entirely one sided.

What was going on? Why had they left so suddenly? Feron looked to the other riders around him. Whatever injuries were present among them seemed minor. He didn’t even notice anyone with missing limbs.

Was this a trap? Or were they truly done? Everything had fled so quickly, it was hard to believe something wasn’t wrong…

“Well done, riders of the Wild Hunt,” Titania said, running the snakeskin through her fingers. “Well done, indeed. We have gathered up all of Jormungandr's Gift.” The smile that spread over her face was almost calm. The wings folded back into her back, disappearing beneath her mass of hair. The late sunlight lined her in an ethereal glow. “Your rest has been well earned. Come. Back to Lambton Village. We will tend our wounds, feast, and rest.”

Yes! His heart leaped. Back to Lambton and then back to Idalno. If he rode swiftly, they could spend the night in each other’s arms.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO

FERON

Feron’s body ached, but his heart ached more to see Idalno. The battles had come naturally to him. It had been easy, and it hadn’t even required that he fully Change. Yet. If it got worse and it sounded like the ones that took place at night would, then he likely would have to.

The Wild Hunt slowed, and they emerged from the forest. Lambton Village lay before them. And so did Idalno.

He started to turn his horse toward the village.

“Where are you going?” Titania demanded from behind him. His horse stopped moving immediately, its blue-white tail flicking at the wind.

“I have finished my duties,” Feron said.

“You think your duties have ended?” Her eyebrow arched. Some of the warriors snickered. “You are on third watch. Starting at midnight. We resume patrol immediately after. You will not have time to visit anyone until the cycle of the Gift concludes. Peaseblossom, Cobweb, see to it that our newest addition has the necessary provisions. Mote, take care of his horse.” The sharpness in her gaze warned him against arguing. But it was obvious that he would not be permitted to leave. “Choose wherever you like to rest within Lambton Village.”

She then rode away, several attendants and warriors in tow. A smaller fae in a copper cloak appeared beside him. “Your horse, sir?”

Titania had declared he didn’t have time to visit anyone, but she hadn’t forbidden it. And with any luck, Idalno had gotten permission to come to Lambton. The third watch didn’t start until midnight, so he’d have until then to see her.

He dismounted and passed the reins over, keeping his head high despite the tightness in his body.

“Here, Cobweb. Take this.” Tybalt hopped down and passed over the reins. He then removed his helmet and clapped Feron on the shoulder. He had unusually triangular features and...hair like a calico cat. Black, gray, orange, white, and brown, all mottled in a swirling pattern. “Don’t take it to heart. You’ll get to see your love soon enough. She seemed like the clever sort. Maybe we can get her a message.”

Feron glanced at him as they walked toward the square buildings. “Why are you trying to help me?”

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