shell-shocked as the hand moves back, and I glance up at Ryker as he drops the heart on the floor, flames flickering around his body.
Anyone left in the room still alive or awake makes a quick exit as Ryker offers me his hand. I grip his blood-soaked hand and pull myself to my feet, looking around at the broken tavern. The Unseelie fae stands still at the bar, not caring one bit about the mess or blood.
“I guess we are in a quiet place to talk now,” she comments. “Want a drink?”
“Two fae wines,” Ryker grumbles, pulling out a stool and sitting down. I push a literal arm off a stool, set the seat upright, and then sit on it.
“Did you follow me?” I question.
He shrugs. “I was in the area and saw you walk past. Then I followed you. You can thank me later.”
“I could have handled it myself,” I say and let out a sigh. “But thank you for helping, it did make the situation less messy for me.”
The Unseelie woman slides two glasses in front of us and looks me dead in the eye. “Why are you here? Everyone knows you are both part of the academy test, and no one likes that fae blood of any kind is in the academy test. They don’t want fae blood near the throne.”
“Then they are shit out of luck,” I comment, hearing someone groan in pain in the room. “I want to speak to the Unseelie rebels. Tonight.”
Her eyes widen, and she steps back. “I know nothing.”
“That’s a lie, and we both know it,” I counter, taking another long sip. Her eyes flicker to Ryker.
Ryker leans back, crossing his arms. “I’m not leaving without her, and she won’t leave without your truth. Just tell her, she clearly means you no harm.”
“I want to help,” I clarify. “I am not what I appear to be, and I can’t watch the Unseelie fae be so cruelly treated for much longer.”
“I cannot help you,” she gently tells me, leaning closer. “But they are watching you. Just you, Daesyn Riverlite. Your name is whispered a lot in here by those I suspect are involved with the Unseelie rebels.”
I finish my drink and lower my magic, just enough for her to sense it. “Thank you.”
“You’re Unseelie fae,” she breathes out, something strange burning in her eyes. She reaches forward and grips my hands tightly. “An Unseelie fae is close to the throne for the first time in thousands of years. You must win the academy and set us all free. You must.”
I see it now. Hope. She is hoping I can win.
“We need to leave, Dae,” Ryker gently tells me, taking a long gulp of his drink and placing the empty glass down.
“Go out the back, this way,” the woman tells me, pointing at the back door and letting my hands go.
“What’s your name?”
“I have no name, like so many of the Unseelie born here. Our owners refused to let our mothers or fathers name us,” she softly replies. “But I like Regina.”
“Then that is your name,” I suggest, making my way to the door. “Are you going to be alright?”
She picks up a bottle off the side and takes a long drink. “Yes, just go. We will meet again, the Otherworld is waiting.”
“Be safe,” I tell her, turning around and running to the door, which Ryker is holding open. Mossy jumps on my shoulder, and I look back as Regina whacks herself on the side of her head with the bottle, her body crumbling to the floor. Smart girl. They can’t question someone who tried to fight.
Ryker takes my hand and pulls me out into the alleyway behind the tavern, and I tug up my cloak hood. We get to the end of the alleyway, seeing more than forty reapers marching to the tavern with scythes in their hands, the royal crest in gold on their cloaks.
“The royal army have been called,” Ryker mutters, and he wraps his arms around me. “Hold on.”
Flames burst around us, and I rest my head on his shoulder as he portals us away. We come out on top of a hill, overlooking the city but within the walls. The magic of the wall hums nearby, and I glance out over the city, still staying close to Ryker.
“You’re mad at me,” I figure. Mossy jumps off my shoulder and climbs up a tree, sitting at the top. He has always liked the pretty views.
Ryker groans and presses his