that room, to know what it was like, but she didn’t like it.
“She said you found her and used her, and that you were rough. She wouldn’t have gone back, and she didn’t say more than that to me. Darynda never spoke of what you did, or anyone else involved. You will keep that to yourself because screaming it to the world does her no good.” Nodding, Zahruk reached for the bottle to fill his glass, but I caught hold of his arm. “If you ever do that again to hurt someone, I will remove your penis, and only give it back to you once a month to feed. Feel better?” I smiled tightly and then turned toward the door as the alarm sounded.
Erie nodded to the Raven Guard that fanned out, vanishing into the shadows as they searched for the threat. Lucian stood, stretching and cracking his neck as Bane, Devlin, Spyder, and another male I didn’t know joined him. I moved to Ryder’s side, nodding as he held out his elbow for me to accept as we started toward the battlements.
“You think it’s the mages?” he asked as his brothers and the other guards who trailed behind us.
“I don’t think they’d be stupid enough to come back already, but I don’t intend to underestimate them again.” I shivered against the heat his arm offered and stiffened my spine as we started up the staircase to reach the battlements.
On the wall, we stared out over the funeral pyres that continued to burn, sending ashes into the starlit sky of Faery. A midnight flag flew with the crescent moon and stars flowing around it. I studied the tallest male rider and the surrounding females that remained close to him. My eyes drifted to the black armor they wore, which blended into the night.
“What flag is that?” I asked cautiously.
“It’s the Court of Nightmares,” Ryder answered, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I summoned them to answer the marriage contract before the first wave of mages marched toward the Winter Court. Bloody hell, the arrogant prick has bad timing.”
“And the flag behind the Court of Nightmares, which court’s flag, is that?” I inquired, watching the troops moving closer with their russet-colored armor bearing leaves on the shoulders. “Oh, look, the Summer Court is coming, too.”
“That’s the Autumn Court,” Ryder corrected.
“Look behind Autumn Court. Winter is here already. The lesser courts are coming, Ryder. And they’re wounded,” I noted, watching as the back of their numbers came into view with wagons full of creatures lying or sitting wherever they’d found enough room. “Open the gates.”
“Synthia, we’re at war,” he growled.
“Not with them, Ryder. Faery is in trouble, and it is leading them here. The Stag sent out a call-to-arms and named our stronghold as the gathering place to amass the troops. He also requested that the gods and goddesses congregate within these walls, along with whatever the hell Lucian is, which not even the fucking Stag knows. This is the safest place in Faery.”
“Lucian is older than the Stag,” Ryder shrugged as my gaze narrowed.
“I’m fucking Batman,” Lucian growled beside my ear, sending a chill up my spine.
“I’m not fucking Robin, dick. I don’t wear fucking tights.” Spyder folded his arms over his chest, daring Lucian to argue that fact.
“No, you just dance to one-hit wonders for pretty girls,” Lucian teased.
“I got Lena back. Not even your dick could do that, brother.”
“You two done?” Ryder asked, and when they continued to glare at each other in silence, Ryder nodded at the guards to raise the gates and allow the lesser courts into the sanctuary of the stronghold. “We will need a bigger fucking courtyard.”
I waved my hand, and the earth beneath our feet rumbled as the courtyard expanded, sending a new wall around the approaching courts before they’d even entered the gates. I stared down at my hand while the others around us stared at me. The walls grew taller while I watched, sending thorns and spikes over