Page 177 of Wrath of the Fae

Rhea emerges from the portal and stands at my side, taking my hand in hers. She still looks extremely pale as she looks up at the sky, crushing my fingers with her clammy hands.

‘How do we fix this?’ she whispers, grinding my knuckles with her grip.

‘He needs the rest of my power to finish his machine,’ I assure her. ‘My shield. I’m stronger now. He can’t just pull me in anymore. He’ll have to come and get me if he wants me.’

‘Those drones are out there.’ She gives a frightened little whine. ‘I think he is coming to get you.’

‘You and I are the only ones with the power of the portal and shield, Rhea. He already took yours when Mum was pregnant with you. He won’t come for you. And if he wants mine, he’ll have to come and get it. We’re the last of our bloodline, and I’m very well protected.’

Tessa appears at my side with an annoyed glare at my frightened sister. After an eye roll, she settles her gaze on me.

‘You need anything?’

‘No. Thank you.’

That same flicker of pain reappears on her face as she looks at Reid’s eye staring back at her. I look away, hating that she still suffers so much.

‘I still can not believe you two are friends,’ Rhea announces, watching us. ‘Miracles really do happen.’

I shudder as I hear the last group arrive. Some Valker have Ezra wrapped in iron and unconscious.

Cyrus has hold of a man. A sack is over his head. His legs fail to hold his weight, and blood drips on the floor from his multiple cuts.

‘We’re the last,’ Cyrus announces.

I close down that portal and watch as he and Reid drag Jonah towards the cells where he had me a few days ago.

The crowd gets busy organising themselves with our return as Wolf orders his Valker to get eyes on the tear above us.

‘What are they doing to him?’ Rhea whispers, looking at Reid and Cyrus disappear through the doors.

‘Probably best you don’t ask that question.’ I turn to Wolf and Lucca. ‘I want to check the shield.’ I go to leave.

‘I’ll come with you,’ Lucca replies, standing and walking after me

‘No.’ Wolf cuts in. ‘I’m sorry, My lady. It’s not safe. Not with that tear above us, the drones and First Kingdom fuckers still out there.’ He looks at Lucca. ‘The Queen must stay here, protected.’ He gives me a slight sideways glance. ‘Watched.’

‘Watched?’ Lucca repeats, anger clipping his tone. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘I don’t want her fading. I don’t want her leaving to face any of this alone like some kind of lone assassin. I don’t want her vulnerable to any attacks. And seeing as those two…men,’ He almost chokes on the words. ‘Are the only reason she managed to stay whole and not get sucked into the infernal machine of Ivan’s, they need to be with her at all times.’

‘I’m fine, Wolf,’ I insist.

He steps in front of me. His enormous frame casts me in shadow as he towers over me. ‘You had your body brutalised. Your eyes burnt out of your skull. Spent two days trapped in the human world, hunted by monsters. And then returned to control a fire beast from the depths. And you are recovering from having their eyes carved into you.’ He rests a gentle hand on my shoulder. ‘Get some sleep. Take a bath. Spend time with your sister. Let me secure the Kingdom. Let us protect you.’

‘Fine,’ I agree. ‘But only because you’re looking at me with those big guilt-inducing eyes.’ I look to Lucca. ‘Would you help Wolf?’

‘Sure thing, Pup.’ When he plants a kiss on my cheek, I see El twitch. ‘I’ll come to check on you after. Don’t go anywhere. You hear me?’

As he goes to leave, El steps forwards.

‘I’ll go with you,’ she offers with a smile.

One of hope and pleading. Her attempts to speak to or get him to look at her have failed spectacularly.

As expected, Lucca pretends he didn’t hear her and walks past, announcing he’ll grab a couple of soldiers to help. He gives her a hard shoulder shove when he passes her, too, causing her eyes to shimmer with tears.

Rhea takes her hand, offering comfort.

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