Page 175 of Taken By the Fae

Nikolai dips his face and whispers something to Skylar, who barely shakes her head without looking up. He frowns and looks over at Tristan and me, shaking his head.

Tristan sighs softly and closes his eyes, so the rest of us follow suit. We stand there in silence, remembering our fallen comrade and friend, and say a last goodbye.

ChapterForty-Eight

Having a mutual enemy is what the seelie and unseelie fae courts needed to come together.

Tristan and Nikolai have been tasked with handling the logistics. The king and queen, as I’ve learned, are kept away from any potential danger—protected at all costs. The fae knights are ones expected to get their hands—and claws—dirty to protect their respective courts. Until now, it was from each other. Working together is something many of the fae likely couldn’t fathom… until their lives were threatened by those they’ve been accustomed to seeing as prey for so long.

Which is why, the day after we buried Max, the ballroom of the Westbrook Hotel is currently filled with fae—from both courts. Some of them are clearly not too thrilled about it, but the near-suffocating tension is mixed with a shared emotion I don’t need to be fae to sense: fear.

I walk to the front of the room where Tristan and Nikolai are waiting to address the crowd. This is the biggest group of fae I’ve seen. They’re standing shoulder-to-shoulder with no room to move. Everyone wants to know what’s going on—they’re here for answers, and I don’t blame them.

Nikolai whistles sharply, the shrill sound silencing the room, and Tristan steps forward to start the meeting. “Thank you for coming. I understand many of you didn’t want to and are wary of standing in the same room as those you view as your enemies.”

You could hear a pin drop. It’s that silent. Considering the room is full of fae,theycan hear plenty—surely the uneven ticking of my pulse as I stand off to the side with Skylar and Allison.

Nikolai scratches the back of his neck and addresses the unseelie fae. “And I understand you may be uncertain and wary ofmerepresenting your interests, but hey, I’m a hell of a step up from the last guy.”

A few chuckles echo through the room, and I press my lips together against a smile as Skylar scowls, muttering something under her breath I don’t catch.

“Let's cut to the chase,” Nikolai says smoothly. “Shit is bad. I mean, I think that’s a given, considering we’re willing to set aside decades of distrust and utter loathing and stand together to discuss our common threat.”

Tristan takes the reins of the conversation. “The Experiment is a group of humans who, through extensive research—as well as horrific trial and error—have created a way to manipulate our DNA. Their reasoning is to effectively rid the world of fae by stripping the magic from us. Many fae who have undergone the treatment during its early stages didn’t survive.”

“Treatment?” someone shouts. “For what?”

Tristan doesn’t miss a beat. “To make fae human.”

Some of the fae gasp, as others stare at Tristan with wide eyes. Several fae turn to whoever they’re with and start speaking in hushed voices, their faces pale, expressions sharp with concern. Some even glance toward the exit, as if they’re considering making a break for it.

“Many of you know Aurora Marshall,” Nikolai starts, and my stomach plummets as my gaze focuses back on the front of the room where Nikolai and Tristan stand. I should’ve guessed I’d be brought into the conversation, but evidently my nerves weren’t prepared. “She was captured by the Experiment and forced to endure the treatment. As you can see, it worked.”

Before I fully realize what I am doing, I step forward. “I’m the human turned fae turned human. I wish I could stand here and tell you there’s nothing to worry about, that we destroyed the operation I was forced to experience, but I can’t do that. Unfortunately, we have more questions than answers, and for that reason, Tristan and Nikolai—speaking on behalf of your king and queen—are going to ask you to set aside your hatred for one another and help us take these bastards down. Because the odds of that being the only location, the only group of the Experiment—it’s impossible. Just like the world is filled with fae in different places, they’ll have Experiment members scattered around the globe as well.”

“What’s going to be done?” someone shouts from the crowd.

“It’s going to take time,” Tristan takes over in a level voice. “I have calls out to several of my contacts in different places. Trusted members of the seelie court who take the safety of our kind seriously. I assure you of that. Until we know more, I don’t suggest traveling alone. Look out for each other—everyone. At a time like this, we can’t be divided,” he pauses. “If we continue fighting each other, it only gives them the upper hand. We’ve seen this. It’s the reason they inflicted so much damage unbeknownst to us. We were so quick to blame each other for the disappearing fae, we didn’t consider that it could’ve been something else—not until it was too late. We can’t allow that any longer. So, please, consider what we’ve said. Work with us and each other, so you can live without fear of being taken from those you love.”

The room is completely silent. Fae from both courts share looks of uncertainty, anger, and fear. Some have furrowed brows and sharp jaws, their expressions filled with determination or a desire for retribution.

I inhale slowly, and before I can let it out, the room erupts in shouts of encouragement. My eyes widen as I take in the sight of a room full of fae coming together against the organization plotting against them. Goosebumps spread across my arms, and the back of my neck tingles as the hair stands straight.

My gaze lowers when Tristan slips his fingers through mine. I glance up and look into his eyes, seeing a flicker of hope there. I smile at him and nod.

This is a start.

* * *

After we spend most of the afternoon talking with the fae one-on-one in the ballroom, our group retreats to Tristan’s penthouse for dinner and drinks.

Allison and I step onto the balcony attached to the guest room she’s staying in, zipping up our coats. It’s an unseasonably mild evening, and the air feels nice on my cheeks, already tinged with warmth from the wine we’ve been drinking.

Allison takes a sip of her wine and sighs. “It feels like we might’ve just ended the war between the courts, but only because there’s a much bigger one right around the corner.”

I glance down at the wine in my glass and nod. “We have little time to appreciate the fact that we’re alive. We can’t know when the Experiment will strike next—or even where. How are we supposed to prepare for that?”

“I think Tristan is worried about that, though he’d never let it show to the other fae.”