Page 9 of Beneath a Shattered Sky
Checking the bond, I’m not surprised to find it locked down. Bree is a master of keeping himself from draining me until it becomes unavoidable. Physically, Titania can heal anything he might have suffered. Mentally…
My fists clench.
“The six in the dungeon are not much better,” Maeve adds. “The iron is getting to them. The redcap’s neck is fixed, but the rest of his wounds are slow to heal and the separation from his cap isn’t helping. Jaro has managed to stop his beast from taking over, but he’s been trying to break the bars since Lore and Drystan were confined, as has your barghest. Your brother, Dare, is busy trying to keep his mate alive.”
Goddess, Dare and his mate have been there the whole time?
“What’s wrong with her?”
“Imprisonment for the better part of a month has done her no favours, and she lacks the strength of Danu’s blood.” Maeve pauses. “She also… screamed before Bram?—”
I shove to my feet, cutting her off. “I need clothes. Something more suitable than…” I gesture at the remains of the ballgown. “And better shoes. Did you manage to find the way into the dungeons?”
The three of them exchange a look.
“The palace is well guarded,” Mab replies.
“There must be a way.”
“There are several,” Titania cuts in, smoothing her hands down the front of her brightly coloured dress. “But they’re all too dangerous.”
Meeting all three of their worried gazes, I frown. “I need you three on my side,” I say honestly. “When I go out there, I’m goingto have to persuade Drystan and Caed that I know what I’m doing. I can’t do that if you don’t believe in me.”
“We’re always with you,” Mab promises. “ButIwould hesitate at charging the palace when faced with these odds.”
And she was an experienced and trained Nicnevin. A warrior so skilled she became legend.
“I can’t leave them there,” I hiss. “Not like this. They have Bree chained to abed. Even if nothing sexual has happened, youknowwhat that has to be doing to him!”
She nods, solemnly. “As long as you’re prepared for the potential cost.”
I’ve already paid it.I want to retort, but I can’t say the words.
I can’t lose anyone else.
My breath hitches, and I swiftly shove that thought back into the void that’s been slowly but inexorably growing in my chest.
After. I promise myself. After they’re all back with me, I can face the darkness and the truths lurking there. I’ll let myself fall apart and trust my Guards to catch my pieces. There will be time to grieve when we’re all safe.
Until then, compartmentalising is a necessary survival mechanism. A weak Nicnevin right now will only cause more deaths.
“Let’s do this,” Maeve says, ghosting through the door.
Gritting my teeth against the ache in my back that springs to life when I stand, I follow after her.
Then I immediately wish I hadn’t. Caed is dangling Drystan’s head by his braids so that the dullahan is at eye level. The Fomorian’s lips are quirked in a vicious smirk as the dangling skull curses. My charm must have worn off, because they’re definitely arguing again.
“Over my dead body!” The tips of his ears have caught fire again.
Caed is completely unfazed. “You seem to have misplaced that, Head.”
Where is Prae? She had to have known that leaving these two alone for any period of time was a stupid move.
“Rose—”
“I’m standing right here,” I say, keeping my voice soft so as not to escalate this further. “And I’m fed up with being talked about behind my back. Now, sit down. It’s time we planned.”
Caed loses his smirk immediately. “We?”
