Page 151 of Faeling
Oberon nickered.Enough of that. Come back to us.
She didn’t want to. There was relief in her numbness, a cold comfort that she could wallow in until the time came. Returning meant pain.
When she still didn’t move, Oberon nudged harder.
She stiffly slumped forward, unable to catch herself. Ravenna groaned, finally finding enough will to get her hands beneath her. Pushing up to hands and knees, she slowly regained her feet with Oberon’s help.
That’s it. Slowly now.
Pinpricks of reality assailed her limbs, and Ravenna grimaced under the onslaught.
You’re no use to anyone, most of all your mate, like this. Buck up and find your courage, Crow.
She wanted to snap something smart back, but her mind was too muzzy for that.
Ravenna blinked, refocusing her vision in time to see Mattias reenter the tent. He must have gone somewhere, for he returned with mist clinging to his shoulders. He could only look upon Ravenna for a moment, his expression carefully neutral as heturned to Asta to say, “A messenger has been spotted. They’re coming ashore now.”
“Best get to them before the warriors do.” Asta glanced at Ravenna. “Stay here.”
“No.” It took a few steps, but Ravenna pushed herself forward. “I will hear what they have to say.”
Asta obviously didn’t like it, her lips pressed into a line between her tusks.
“Stay behind us,” said Mattias.
Ravenna agreed, and with Oberon behind her, she followed Asta and Mattias from the tent.
The camp outside was somber, the fires banked low. Dozens of eyes fixed on her as she emerged into the weak dawn light. Unable to meet any of them, Ravenna kept her gaze on Mattias’s back, following him and Asta down the slope to the sandy bank.
A handful of warriors already stood there, surrounding a solitary boat. The front half of the vessel had come ashore, but the back half still bobbed in the water. In the middle stood a fae warrior, his long blonde hair pulled back into a tail.
His severe gaze fell on Asta and Mattias as they approached, although his brows lifted to see a unicorn behind them.
A strange smile touched his lips, although it didn’t reach his eyes. “So it’s true.”
“Your seizure of our king is an outrage,” said Mattias. “We came to parley in peace.”
“I think the time for lies is over,” replied the fae cooly. “It was your king who lured our queen here. It was he who had an assassin lying in wait.”
That couldn’t be denied, and so no one did.
The fae nodded. “My queen can be magnanimous. She’swilling to overlook this insult and restore your king to you. Produce the one your king spoke of and we’ll accept her life for his.”
Asta and Mattias exchanged looks.
Ravenna’s heart sank to her stomach. It could be that simple. Trade Leita for Vallek.
Amaranthe must not have known who Ravenna was. The Fae Queen had never seen Ravenna herself, and Maxim ensured few did, hiding her and Aine away behind anonymity, isolation, and decades of wards. Or if she did recognize Ravenna, the potential of securing her own niece was more important.
Leita for Vallek. Simple.
And yet, she couldn’t do it.
This wasn’t Vallek’s fight. It wasn’t Leita’s either.
This began and ended with Ravenna. It was time she stopped allowing others to suffer for her own vengeance—and mistakes.
Stepping out from behind Asta and Mattias, Ravenna revealed herself to the fae messenger. Asta hissed, trying to grab for her, but Ravenna eluded her grasp, approaching the boat.
