Heir of the Dog Black Dog - Hailey Edwards Page 0,42
limbs caught my hair. Rook drew me closer, tried to protect me from the worst of it, but the fall was harsh. Landing was worse. Rook hit flat on his back, winded but whole. Impact jarred my right side, and that arm went numb. I coughed against the damp ground.
“Is anything broken?” He still rested on his back, gazing into the canopy of trees.
“I can’t feel my right arm.” I rolled onto my back, grinding my teeth while I flexed my fingers. When that didn’t kill me, I raised my arm. “Not broken.” I twisted my head toward him. “How about you?”
“I’m fine.” He sat up with his left arm tucked against his chest. “We have to move.”
I pushed onto my knees, drew back my left arm and punched him square in the nose. “That was for lying to me.”
Blood trickled over his lips, down his chin. “Are you finished?”
“For now.” I shoved onto my feet. “I reserve the right to change my mind later.”
Rook rolled onto his feet too, still cradling his arm.
“You aren’t fine.” I shook out my hand. “Your arm is broken.”
“It will mend itself.” He drew his cloak around him. “We must keep moving.”
He set out, certain I would follow. And I did. What choice did I have?
With a sigh, I trailed after him. “I don’t understand the game you’re playing.”
“I can scarcely keep track of it myself.” He didn’t slow to welcome conversation. “I regret drawing you into this plot, I regret deceiving you, but your father’s disappearance presented the High Court with an opportunity, and they used me to seize it.”
I slowed as a thought occurred to me. “Was the Morrigan in on it?”
He chuckled. “Who do you think taught me how to cross the threshold?”
Oh snap. The conclave would have kittens over this.
Still amused, he asked, “Is there anything else you would like to know?”
As a matter of fact... “Tell me about the hunt.”
“That’s rather grim, don’t you think?”
“Is the lore true?” I pressed. “One prince from each house will take the form of a hound?”
“Yes.”
“Back there—that was more than two hounds.”
“The princes are made honorary pack members during the hunt. The Huntsman runs them all for the thrill of it, and to ensure their prey doesn’t escape. Macsen knows Faerie better than anyone. If it was an honest fight between him and the princes, well, Faerie would have been under his rule since his awakening.”
Huh. I never considered he could win but chose not to.
Though I guess a sacrifice wasn’t a sacrifice unless you paid for it dearly.
“Once the pack corners their quarry,” he continued, “the princes fight it out among themselves for the right to make the crown-winning kill. Assuming both princes have survived to that point. Both princes don’t always live to the end.”
“Okay, so the princes are the real threat.” That was unexpected good news. “Raven is the Unseelie hound. Who is the other?”
“Riordan.” Pity laced his tone. “King Moran was his father.”
“Great.” Heirs were never more dangerous than when grieving or desperate to restore their family to glory. “Have I mentioned how much I appreciate you dragging me into this mess, Rook?” I snorted. “If that is your real name.”
“You heard my mother call me by that name,” he said flatly. “She is full-blooded and can’t lie.”
“Maybe not, but someone told me once fae tell the truth so well it might as well be a lie.”
“I deserve your distrust, but can’t you accept I want to help you? Haven’t I given you proof?”
“The more proof you show me, the closer I have to inspect the fine print.” Rook had proven to me where his loyalties lay. “Have you helped me? Yes. Do I believe you burned a favor from the Morrigan to rescue me out of the goodness of your heart? No. Your brother is a hound. He’s hunting me even now. If he kills me, your house will rule. You must want that. Why else would you drag me into this?”
He whirled on me. “I am your coimirceoir.”
“My guardian, I got that.” I shoved him. “That was very slick how you managed to make sure you got stuck with me out here. It will come in handy for leaving breadcrumbs for your brother to follow.”
“You don’t understand. That’s not how this works.”
“Explain it then, because I’m a little confused about what the hell it is you think you’re doing.”
“As your husband, you are safe from me.” He exhaled. “I can’t be used against you again.”
“Then why claim