Page 16 of Beyond the Faerie Gate

“Well, it’ll be easier to avoid attention if you stop referencing a human god. Curse as freely as you like—most fae won’t care—but references to a male deity are… odd. It’ll make you stand out.”

Yes, Jare, because that’s what’s going to draw attention. Not the fact that she speaks the wrong language to begin with.

We need to keep her return as quiet as possible until she’s safely behind the walls of her palace. Everything else can wait.

“All right.” She shrugs her shoulders and looks around. “Wait… did I miss something? I swear there wasn’t any grass before.”

I grimace, rubbing my nape as I try to think of a way to explain how she caused this, just by stepping foot in her realm. Thankfully, I’m saved from replying by the sound of hooves approaching.

Drystan breaks through the treeline on his black horse. I open my mouth, ready to give him a piece of my mind for being late, only to snap it closed when I read the urgency in his expression.

“Give her to me and shift,” he orders. “We have unwanted company.”

“What the—”

“There’s no time!”

His dark braids fall over his shoulders as he shoots a glance behind him. Now that I’m paying attention, I can hear shouting in the distance and a scent I could never forget assaults my nose.

Salt and steel.

Fomorians.

This far inland? Right when the Nicnevin has just returned?

A growl rumbles in my chest at the implications.

I grab Rose by her waist and lift her up behind him. “Hold on to his waist. Do not let go.”

She nods, mute. Shit, she’s shaking, and the Call is a steady beat of terror under my skin.

This is not how I wanted her first day in her queendom to go.

Drystan ignores the jolt of her touch and spurs his horse. The huge black destrier takes off through the trees without waiting for me. My wolf paces in my mind, hating any amount of separation between us and Rose while danger is so close. The only way I’ll keep up with them is if I shift.

I’ve barely finished that thought before he bounds forward in my mind. But I hold him back, wasting precious seconds to grab my bag and Rose’s in my mouth before I take off after them.

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