Page 116 of Fairies Never Fall

“I’m here.” The others part to let them through. “Everyone out, please. Except Elsabeth.”

“And me.” I’m not going anywhere.

Syril sighs. “Very well. But stay out of my way.”

I step back from Lysander reluctantly. He’s so pale, so limp. If I didn’t know he was breathing I’d be terrified. No — Iamterrified. I start to pace as Syril crouches next to him. What if — what if the worst happens? All because they agreed to use him as bait. And instead of running from the azeroths he stood and fought. I rub my eyes, sudden exhaustion flowing into me thickly.My brave Lysander.

“He’ll be alright.”

I hurry back to his side. “Why isn’t he awake yet?”

“He’s healing. He needs to rest.” Syril stands. Their features are drawn. “You were all incredibly foolhardy — and lucky. Tell me the outcome was worthwhile.”

Elsabeth straightens. Her ur-form is gone now, and she looks so much like Lysander it makes my throat ache.

“We killed them with poisoned dragonstone. A handful may remain, scattered across the continent, but I will hunt them down with Ann’s help.”

Syril shakes their head. “A half-cocked idea. And you put my staff in danger to achieve it, as well as three humans.”

“Asuccessfulidea,” Elsabeth says curtly. “My brother knows as well as I that their destruction was imperative. Were we to die, they would slowly hunt down all monster kind, starting from the most powerful. Even if those like King Hellebore refused to acknowledge it.”

Syril sighs. “I see you listened to Cassandra. Well, I can’t say I ever disagreed with her. Where is Owyn Maddox?”

There’s a rap at the door. “This is for Ezra,” comes Maddox’s voice.

I tear my eyes away from Lysander to see him holding up a first aid kit.

“I’m fine,” I repeat.

“You’re getting blood on His Highness,” Maddox says dryly.

To my horror, he’s right. I hastily grab a cotton pad from him and wipe the smear of my own blood off Lysander’s shoulder. There are blue streaks up and down his arm, and my stomach turns when I realize that’shisblood. He must have been hit by the glass too.

I let Maddox sterilize and bandage the cuts on my arms — some are from the glass, but others are from Lysander’s thorns, which retracted the second he fell unconscious. Then I clean up Lysander’s arm. To my relief, they’re nothing but minor cuts.

“I’ll close The Sanctum for today,” Syril says.

“And give us some privacy, please,” says Elsabeth quietly.

The door clicks shut. Maddox lets out a sigh and sits back on his heels.

“You okay?” His hazy blue eyes search mine.

I shake my head. It’s all so surreal. “Worst goddamn birthday party I’ve had, and that’s saying something.”

Maddox chuckles. “Welcome to my life. You’ll get up tomorrow and it’ll be like nothing happened. Until the next crisis.”

A strangepopsounds behind me. “Perhaps there wouldn’t be so many crises if you humans weren’t involved,” rasps a deep, echoing voice.

Maddox winces.

I look up to see the big Watcher himself in the middle of Syril’s office.Shit.“If you’re here to drag me away again, you can go f?—”

“It’s alright, Ezra,” Maddox interrupts. “Humans willalwaysbe involved, big guy. You’re just gonna have to accept it. It’s the new world order.”

“There will be a reckoning for the trouble you’ve caused,” the Watcher growls. “We will havewords. I’ve gone against the decree of the Protection Agency to keep you and the other humans safe. King Hellebore will be displeased.”

“Oh,words.” Maddox shoots me a conspiratorial look. “King Hellebore is always displeased about something.”

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