Page 118 of Beyond the Faerie Gate

I don’t need Titania’s hissed, “Maeve!” to know who said that.

“Let go of me. I’m giving that bastard a piece of my—”

Drystan doesn’t let go of my horse, but he turns to regard the two squabbling females. Maeve is in full armour, shrugging off Titania, who’s trying desperately to keep her back.

“It’s not our place,” Titania hisses.

But Maeve has always been an unstoppable wrecking ball.

“That’s your mate, you uptight winter fae prick.” She’s got a sword as tall as I am balanced against her shoulder, and she swings it around to point directly at Drystan’s nose as she growls. “Apologise. Now.”

“Maeve,” I whisper. “It’s all right.”

At the same time, Drystan growls. “I say this with the greatest respect for who you once were, spirit, but piss off.”

“Rose, get off the horse. We’re leaving.” Titania’s tone is resigned, but firm.

I’ll get right on that… it should only take me, say, an hour? Given how long it took for me to get up here in the first place, that seems reasonable.

“Slide your leg over one side,” she says, realising my problem. “And drop down.”

“If she falls from this horse,” Drystan growls, his hand coming to rest on the back of the saddle, effectively blocking me in place. “I will personally drag both of you back to the Otherworld.”

“She doesn’t have to sit here and take your snippy attitude,” Maeve retorts. “If you don’t want to answer her questions, just say so. Don’t be an asshole about it.”

“Guys,” I venture, cheeks burning. “Can we please stop all of this? I’d rather just get on with my riding lesson.” I shoot a glance back at Drystan. “Silently.”

“He snapped at you,” Maeve growls. “You had enough of that kind of behaviour from—”

“It was only harsh words,” I interrupt before she can finish. “They won’t kill me. Besides, he’s hardly going to apologise with your sword at his throat.”

If there’s one thing I know about Drystan, it’s that he’s a proud man. I’m pretty sure he’d rather skewer himself on that sword than apologise because he was forced to.

Not that Maeve can force him. I’m pretty sure the sword she’s holding is as intangible as she is.

“I’m finishing this lesson.” I try my hardest to inject some kind of steel into my voice, but I don’t know if it’s successful. “Maeve…”

The warrior queen meets my eyes levelly. “It started with snapping and cruel words the last time.”

“That wasn’t the same,” I object.

“And if it is? If he raises a hand to you…”

Drystan’s hand flashes out—and to my surprise—grips the blade she’s holding at his throat.

“Never,” he begins, voice dark with threat. “Ever. Suggest that I’d harm her again.” To her credit, Maeve looks unconcerned as he shoves her blade away and takes a step towards her. “I may be an unseelie bastard, but I keep my oaths.”

The warrior queen is uncowed. “Really? Because from where I’m standing, it’s hard to see how ‘she is all’ plays into your treatment of her.”

Their argument continues. Titania drifts closer to my other side, as if to comfort me, but the mare I’m on seems to react to her nearness. The horse’s soft head swivels to face her, mane flicking across my face as she takes a step back.

My guide holds her hands up in a pacifying gesture and slows her approach, but I don’t think the horse can see her, because she whinnies nervously and side steps to put even more distance between us. I clench my hands on the saddle as my eyes dart to where she’s tethered to the post. Beneath me, the animal is tense, and it only gets worse as Titania takes another step forward.

“Ti—” I open my mouth to ask her to stop, but it’s too late.

The gentle mare is well and truly spooked. Her front legs lift off the ground and my centre of gravity shifts unexpectedly as she rocks forward and bucks.

I cling to the mare as she kicks out. My breath flies out of me as I lift bodily from the saddle. Titania is trying to get to me to help, but she’s only making things worse. My ass slams back down onto the mare’s back, and the horse kicks backward, slamming me forward over her neck.

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