Page 119 of What did you do?

“Adversely, they work as the other realm’s punishment or peace, depending on what would be most torturous or joyful to that particular fae,” said Eli.

“So, you went to hell and came back,” I mumbled, unable to peel my eyes from him.

“I’ve told you from the beginning, there was nothing that would stop me from returning to you,” Mendax answered.

Tension crackled like lightning between Eli and Mendax.

“We’ve located her heart. It’s in the crypt below the castle. It’s spelled to only open for her, and she needs it now. She was held at Malvar, and then the animals came to help her.” Walter paused. “You should have seen her, Mendax. She eviscerated a man with a claw from a fucking Ladon dragon,” Walter said proudly.

“I will get her heart. The castle is halfway in ruins already,” Mendax said sternly.

“I’m already getting it,” Eli bit out. He released his hold on me to move toward Mendax. “Seeing as our souls are tied and it’smycastle.” Eli’s boots hit the toes of Mendax. “I’ll be getting mywife’sheart.”

“Is this true, my love? Did you promise to marry another while I was gone?” Mendax asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.

“I…I… You’re alive” was all I could say.

“She has,” Eli growled, “and I will not allow you to hurt or confuse her. She has been through enough, Mendax.Leave.Let her be happy. You and I both know that you only want her because of our rivalry. You want me, as a Seelie, to pay, so you take away the only thing that makes me happy.” Eli tightened his fists. “Right now, you stand before the new king and queen of Seelie. We will be married as soon as we get inside the castle.”

Mendax calmly placed his hands in his pockets and turned his amused expression to me. “If you think a wedding will deter me, then you don’t give my feelings for herormy lack of morals enough credit, Aurelius,” he said with a handsome grin.

“Well, while you two pissheads have a cock fight, I am going to the crypt, and I’m not leaving until I get her heart, because if none of you have fucking noticed, she’s still dying,” Walter grumbled angrily as he looped his arm in mine and urged us down the path toward the castle.

“He’s alive,” I whispered to Walter, still in shock.

“Barely,” he replied. “Look at him. He’s in worse shape than you.”

Mendax was at my side in a second, lifting me up and cradling me against his hard body. “Are you all right?” His warm chest rumbled under my cheek.

A sigh slid from the back of my throat at the feel of his heart beating against me. “Are you all right?” I asked, feeling the staggered pace of his limp as he carried me.

His smoky gaze trailed over my face. “Almost.”

“Cal, when you want down from this ogre’s grip, say the word,” Eli grumbled, walking beside us.

“Thank you,” I said, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder. “But then who would carry him once he plummets down the hill on his shattered leg?”

All four of us smiled, pushing the tension away for the moment. We had things to decide, but for the moment, we all knew we were stronger together.

“Give her to me, you stubborn ass,” Walter growled after watching Mendax limp along.

“Mine,” Mendax said with a scowl and small smile as he moved a few paces ahead of the others and palmed my ass.

“Stop that right now,” Eli growled, moving next to us.

I couldn’t help but smile at Eli.

“He is going be my husband,” I said in a light, conspiratorial tone to Mendax.

“Not if I have anything to say about it,” he whispered loud enough for all to hear.

As the journey to the castle progressed, my body weakened.

Several of the animals that had fought at Malvar passed us as they returned to wherever they had come from. Several times, they tried to join us, but eventually they wandered off, likely annoyed with our slow pace. Dragons flew over the treetops, sending a welcome breeze down upon us as we neared the Seelie castle.

The entire castle was surrounded by people of all different shapes and sizes only seeming to have two things in common: a very human look to them, and deadhead moth marks decorating their skin, or scales, somewhere.

Several of them coiled fire or sparks in their hands. Some appeared nearly see-through, while others, instead of skin, looked covered in a haze of static-like air. Not one of them that I saw carried a weapon, and I got the very distinct feeling theywerethe weapon.

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