Page 66 of Beyond the Faerie Gate

Rhoswyn

Idon’t remember much of the trip to the inn. Or Jaro finding us a room. I’m held captive by the bond until suddenly, I’m not. Whatever happened leaves me so exhausted and drained that I can’t help but fall asleep.

When I wake, soft murmurs fill my ears, instantly setting me on edge. I’m all too familiar with the tone people use when they discuss me from around my sickbed. It’s a quiet, respectful cadence that’s underlain with impatience and frustrated impotence.

My human parents used the exact same tone every time I had one of my fits as a child. I’d hear them mumbling together below the loft where I slept, discussing me while they thought I was too out of it to notice. Later, Tom joined in, and eventually Clair. Just the memory makes me feel defensive.

When I finally summon the courage to open my eyes, it’s dark. The bed I’m in is beneath a skylight, so the first thing I see is the star-filled sky above us. I keep my eyes half-shut and turn my head to examine the long room we’re in. On the far side the glowing embers in the fireplace illuminate my men, casting long shadows across their faces. Jaro is sitting on a wicker sofa, cleaning the head of an axe in rhythmic strokes. Drystan must be opposite him, but his back is to me, so all I can make out of him is the top of his dark head and his gloved hand resting over the arm of his chair. There are other seats, but Lore has chosen to perch on the mantelpiece instead, making wild gestures with his arms as he whisper-replies to whatever they’re talking about.

My heart falls as I realise it’s just the three of them and me in the room. No one else.

Where is he? Did they not find him?

“You’ve been out for hours,” Maeve whispers, drawing my attention to where she and Mab are hovering above the footboard. “That’s what happens when one of your Guards is near death. They start draining you to heal.”

Mab nods. “They’re your strength and your greatest weakness.”

I grimace at the lingering ache in my limbs, and stretch, trying to work out the tension in the muscles. My stirring must make some noise, because Lore blinks to my side, crouching on the mattress beside me.

The sudden movement alarms Mab and Maeve, who exchange frantic looks before disappearing in a pop.

Not that Lore notices. “Welcome back, pet,” he murmurs, stroking a fingertip along my cheekbone and catching the tear which has escaped my eye.

The furniture squeals as Jaro abandons his axe and rushes over to me.

“How are you feeling, my lady?” he asks.

Everything in me wants to pout at his return to formality, and I scold myself for secretly hoping he’d call me Rosie again.

“Sore,” I admit, grumpily. “Where is—”

“Don’t worry about that,” Drystan snaps. “Just rest, for fuck’s sake. You look like...” He cuts himself off and storms back to the now blazing fire, rubbing the back of his neck.

Jaro shoots him an ambiguous look before turning back to me. “He’s right. The situation is complicated, but we’ll handle it. You just focus on recovering.”

I frown at him. “Complicated how?”

It doesn’t feel complicated. My Guard is being held prisoner and tortured. The only logical thing to do is free him.

Lore flops onto his ass and drags my body over the top of him. It’s a ludicrously intimate position, with my legs either side of his hips and my face smooshed into his chest. It’s also… ridiculously soothing.

His chin lands on my head and his hands fall into my hair, fingers weaving through the strands.

“Let the boring high fae sort it,” he murmurs. “We can just snuggle and wait for them to finish negotiating with the whores for his release.”

Negotiate? Someone tried to kill my púca. We’re well past the point where negotiation is an option.

I frown into his collarbone. “But I—”

Lore pulls my head back and winks.

Somehow, Jaro doesn’t catch the expression. If he had, perhaps he’d be more hesitant to leave. Instead, the knight takes my hand in a gentle grip and presses a soft kiss to my knuckles, then strides back to the fireplace to pick up his axe.

“We’ll return when we have him,” Drystan says, already halfway out of the door. He pins my redcap with a sharp glare. “You’ll keep her safe while we’re gone.”

I feel Lore’s answering shrug. “We’ll have some fun.”

The other two growl under their breath, shooting him warning looks as they leave and the door slams shut behind them. They can’t have any idea what Lore’s idea of fun really entails. They wouldn’t have left us alone if they did.

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