did was get comfortable. You think I’m that sweet? I’m the asshole about to leave his pretty wife in a pit where the Seelie remained imprisoned for over a thousand years. I love you, woman. I love you enough to push you to do what this world and our children need from you.”
“If you leave me here, don’t come back!” I shouted hoarsely.
“See, there it is, that pesky human emotion that drives you. You’re quick to anger, and you get mad, but then you forgive just as easily. This world will eat you alive. I’d stay away from the walls and the shadows.” He dusted off his hands, staring down at me with a look of uncertainty before he vanished.
“Ryder!” I screamed, listening as it echoed through the caves. I peered around unhurriedly, taking in the surrounding shadows. “Stay away from the shadows? It’s all fucking shadows! I will file for divorce, you dick!” I slid down the dirty wall, trying to glamour a coat over my chilled body, only to realize I couldn’t.
No magic, no sifting, and I couldn’t climb out. Asher had gotten out somehow, so what had he said had happened to free him? Danu had died, and the prison weakened. That was just great because I was also weak from running away from my husband, wasting precious magic to do so.
I couldn’t get past the middle of the pit’s opening, and Ryder, that dick had watched me writhing in pain without an ounce of emotion in his pretty eyes. A noise sounded from deep within the tunnel. I peered into the darkness as something beckoned me to enter. I had no weapons, no magic, and I was as useless as a fucking mortal, which I’d never even been before.
“When I die here, you’re going to feel like such a dick,” I whispered to the opening as hot, angry tears pricked against my eyes. The noise sounded again, and I turned, watching as a pair of glowing eyes peered at me from the velvety darkness of the shadows.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Ryder
Three days had passed since I’d left Synthia in the Seelie prison. And each day she’d plead for help, begging me to come get her. I’d listened to her, the tone of her voice, the desperation that she felt.
I’d struggled, fighting the need to go get her out, knowing I couldn’t. If she didn’t change, she’d become something I had to protect. I knew she was strong enough, but she wasn’t evolving. She was content with the way things were, but this war wouldn’t care about her comforts, and eventually, we’d lose.
I was done fucking losing. I’d pushed her to change, being the prick that forced her to deal with the situation. She’d fucking allowed Bilé to walk into our home and take our people from us. I wouldn’t lose anyone else.
Dristan. Fuck. My baby brother was gone. He’d been here to protect her, and she’d failed them all with her inability to evolve past being a basic fucking fae when she was a goddess. It didn’t matter what we told ourselves, or the lies we fed each other to assuage the guilt. The only thing that stubborn woman had to do was fucking reach for the power Faery was offering. She could have met the land halfway, and she’d have ended this war.
“What about the gardens?” Zahruk asked. I creased my brow at the idea of the mages being hidden there.
“Aohdan searched them a few days ago. He found no evidence of them there,” I replied absently.
I studied the map, slowly moving my gaze to the location of the prison. For three nights, I’d returned, sitting upon the ledge to watch her sleeping below. She was filthy, covered in dirt and grime, and she shivered from the cold. Besides that, she looked lost.
Her pretty eyes opened and searched for me, and then her pleading began anew. The desperation in her voice damn near destroyed my will. I almost caved and took her from that place, but that wouldn’t help her or Faery.