Page 68 of The Iron Vow

“Does she have a little boy in her court?” the girl asked. “Four years old, curly brown hair, blue eyes? Quiet most of the time?”

Ah. Suddenly everything made sense.Thiswas why she was here, in Faery; she was looking for someone. He knew humans could get very attached to each other, and some of the strongest bonds he had seen came from those in the same family. He didn’t understand it. Neither of his siblings would risk their own life to save him unless there was a huge favor involved, or unless he would be indebted to them forever. But this girl had come into the Nevernever, completely unprepared, to look for this child.

Unfortunately, he didn’t have any information for her. “I don’t know,” he replied. “I haven’t been to court lately.” Her face fell with disappointment, bringing on a pang of guilt, which made him annoyed with himself. “Even if I had,” he went on, “I cannot keep track of all the mortals the queen acquires and releases over the years.”

“Oh,” the girl murmured, dropping her gaze. Again, that strange flicker of disappointment that he wasn’t able to help coursed through him. He spun her again, and she twirled away as gracefully as any fey dancer. “But if you’re not in court,” she went on, gazing up at him as she returned, “where are you, then?”

Her eyes met his, and for just a moment, his heart roared in his ears. “The wyldwood,” he answered with what he hoped was a chilling smile. “Hunting. I rarely let my prey escape, so be grateful that Puck is such a coward.” She whirled away from him, pale hair floating around her, and he pulled her close once more, his mouth against her ear. “Although I am happy I didn’t kill you then,” he whispered, feeling her shiver against him. “I told you a daughter of Oberon could dance.”

There was a moment of surprise, of astonishment, and then she settled confidently into his arms as they swirled around the stage. The melody rose around them, powerful and all-consuming, and for a few minutes the rest of the world disappeared, until it was only them, spinning around each other.

As the music soared and reached its crescendo, Ash pulled the girl into a final spin. And suddenly, her face was inches from his, her blue eyes gazing up at him. He could feel her heart pounding in her chest, echoing the thud of his own. It would be easy to kiss her, he realized...just before a scream shattered the night and brought the dance to an end.

If he ever told that story to anyone else, most would assume that was the moment when he started to fall for the half-blood daughter of the Summer King. They would assume wrong. He’d been intrigued by her, yes. And she had reminded him of a faery he’d loved, long ago. But truthfully, he didn’t know when he began to fall in love again. It might have been at Elysium. It might have been after a conversation in an old manor house, when he had been wounded and the Summer princess had surprised him yet again with her willingness to care for someone who was supposed to be her enemy. Or it might have been her complete dedication to her lost sibling, her determination to do whatever it took to save him, that earned his admiration.

He didn’t know when it had happened. Only that, one day, he’d looked at her and realized he was willing to do anything for this girl. Including following her into a realm that would kill him. Including turning his back on his court, enduring banishment to the mortal world, and finally, going to the End of the World to earn the impossible. All for her.

He didn’t know when he had fallen in love. Just that he had, and despite everything he had been through, everything he had lost, learned, changed, and given up, he didn’t regret a thing.

They will tell you that the fey in the Nevernever don’t fall in love. That, of course, is not true. The fey actually fall in love all the time, sometimes to the point of obsession. The thing is, their attention is usually fleeting, the type of instant love that fades quickly as new distractions take its place. The love that endures, that kind that takes time and hard work, and putting another’s needs above your own...thattype of love is alien to most fey. That is why many will warn you not to fall in love with a Good Neighbor. And thatissound advice, for the most part.

But there are those in the Nevernever who are capable of real love. And if you do end up giving your heart to one of them, remember that love is one of the most powerful forces in the world. It can heal the coldest, most wounded of hearts, forgive the gravest of offenses, and is the reason to fight against impossible odds. Love can even change the minds and hearts of those who seem incapable of it. It can inspire them in the most subtle of ways, even if they don’t realize what’s happening themselves.

So, if you do find yourself imperiled in the Nevernever, do not forget those who love you, and those whom you love. It might be your salvation in the end.

25

CASTLE OF DREAMS AND NIGHTMARES

Silence.

I blinked, gazing around in amazement. The doors had opened into an enormous, overgrown courtyard surrounded by walls and soaring towers. I looked up, craning my neck back, to gaze at the dozens of turrets and spires that seemed to touch the heavens. Unlike the broken, skeletal remains of Howling Keep, the castle of the Nightmare King looked both majestic and foreboding, silhouetted against the hazy starlight. Overhead, the sky blazed with stars, and the gigantic red moon looked like it was ready to collide with the earth. It was strangely beautiful and terrible all at once.

Shivering, I looked around the courtyard itself. The ground had once been cobble and flagstone, but enormous roots, vines, and whole trees had pushed their way up through the stones, splitting rock and shoving it aside. Moss grew on walls and the handful of hooded statues standing along the paths, holding darkened lanterns in their hands.

The quiet throbbed in my ears. I had been expecting Nightmares, horrors, and monstrosities to come leaping out at us. Gilleas had said the castle had been swarming with them the last time he was here. Where were they now? Inside the halls of the castle? Or were Nightmares lurking somewhere in the shadows around us, lying in ambush? Somehow, I didn’t think so. This courtyard, though not exactly peaceful, did have that quiet, solemn air of a place long forgotten.

I turned to the others. “Looks like we made it,” I said, keeping my voice low. In the utter stillness of the courtyard, anything louder than a murmur would have felt wrong. The stillness reminded me of a cemetery or a cathedral, demanding reverence and respect.

Our Nyx took a step forward, but she wasn’t looking at us, instead gazing at the surrounding courtyard. There was a longing in her golden eyes that made my heart hurt.

Puck had noticed, too. “Nyx?” he said quietly. “You okay?”

“It looks...exactly the same,” she whispered. “The castle. The courtyard. I remember all of this. Like I never left. It feels...it feels like...”

“Home,” said a quiet voice. Varyn’s, surprising us all. “This was home,” he said simply, glancing at Other Nyx, who nodded.

“Come.” Gilleas stepped forward, and though no expression showed on his deer skull face, his voice was sympathetic. “We waste time standing here. Navigating the castle will be confusing, but with the four of us, we should be able to find our way to the throne room.”

“Sorry.” This was from Keirran, which surprised me as well. He stood a few paces away, brow furrowed, a puzzled look on his face as he stared at something in the courtyard. “That statue,” he said as we glanced at him. “Was it always pointing that way, or am I seeing things?”

“Knock it off, princeling,” Puck said. “The place is spooky enough. I don’t need nightmares of creepy statues coming to... Oh crap, it is pointing now.”

I turned to look at said statue, which was indeed standing there with a pale arm outstretched, one slender digit pointing directly toward the castle entrance. I hadn’t seen it move, and looking at the rest of the statues in the courtyard, I noticed that all their lanterns were now lit and glowing softly against the darkness.

“Well.” Puck looked at the statues, then back to the rest of us and shrugged. “I guess someone knows we’ve arrived.”

The castle of the Nightmare King was...surrealwas the best word I could think of. Not terrifying or nightmarish, just a quiet kind of eerie that followed you everywhere and could not be shaken. We left the courtyard and entered a vast labyrinth of dimly lit rooms, hallways, and passages. It was a huge, regal-looking castle, with arched doorways, vaulted ceilings, enormous pillars, and statues at every corner. There was nothing particularly frightening, nothing overtly hostile or menacing. The castle just felt...strange. Paintings stared at us as we went by. Hallways seemed abnormally long. Every so often, from the corner of my vision, I thought I saw one of the statues move. Nothing blatant. But it felt like being in that dream where you knew you had to be somewhere, but you couldn’t find your way. You just kept wandering endlessly, passing the same thing over and over again.

---