her total protectiveness of Reid, a protectiveness that would knock down buildings for him.
Cian knew she’d try to talk Reid out of it … Or, maybe she wouldn’t. She was no fool and must understand what returning to Faerie meant to Reid. Reid had a chance to help his own people, even if that chance involved a terrible risk.
It had to be Reid’s choice. Cian needed him, but he wasn’t into forcing people to do what he wanted. Not yet anyway.
“Of course.” Cian waved at the garden, lush and green, beyond the windows. “Take all the time you need.”
Stuart led Peigi from the light-filled library to the courtyard, following Cian’s directions to the garden. Stuart had his hand on her elbow, the warmth of his fingers comforting.
“Hey,” Crispin said as they approached. He scowled, more belligerent even than Michael. Michael seemed resigned, which only meant he was planning something. “If I have to be your prisoner, can I at least not be shackled to a smelly bear? He stinks, and he’s a prick.”
“Like it’s a pleasure being stuck with a traitor,” Michael growled. “I’m busy imagining the ways I’m going to take you apart.”
“See what I mean?” Crispin asked, petulant. “Aren’t there, like, prisoners’ rights or something?”
“You’re in Faerie,” Stuart said to Crispin. “The rules are different. But okay.” He brought up his fist and opened it.
The iron band fell away, but just as both Shifter males relaxed, Stuart rotated his hand, and the band split into two. One wrapped itself around Michael like a metal cocoon.
Crispin started to laugh, but then the second band whipped around him. Crispin’s feet left the floor and he sailed upward to be pinned by the band to the railing on the third-floor balcony, the iron around him fusing to the wrought iron there.
He yelled, feet kicking. Michael bellowed with laughter, then cut off the laughter, satisfyingly worried when Stuart turned his gaze at him.
They needed to learn not to mess with him, Peigi thought as she and Stuart continued down the hall to the garden.
“I forgot how much fun that was,” Stuart said as he opened the door. “Miss it.”
Peigi hid the pang in her heart. “Did you stick people to walls much when you lived here?”
“When I had to. But it’s been a long time since I could manipulate iron. It’s a feeling that …” He flexed his fingers, sinews on his arms working. “It’s hard to explain.”
“Like shifting.” Peigi followed him out into a lush and fresh-smelling garden. “It completes something inside me.”
“Exactly.”
“In the human world you can teleport. Does that feel the same?”
“Sort of, but it’s weird. Like I’m being pulled apart and stuck back together. Unnerving. Making iron do what I want …” Stuart broke off and took a deep breath. “It’s powerful.”
Peigi didn’t answer. Asking him to give up his natural ability would be like someone telling her to cease shifting. She tucked that away in her head for the argument she knew would come.
The garden was small, as it was tucked inside a walled space, hemmed in by other buildings, but beautiful.
The walls were covered in greenery and vines that burst into blue, red, or yellow flowers. Peigi didn’t know enough about plants to tell if they were roses or what, but they were big blossoms with a multitude of petals.
Brick walks flowed under trees and around hedges, and flowerbeds filled with blooms provided a carpet of color. While the air was cool, it did not have an icy bite. That plus the abundance of flowers made Peigi speculate it was spring or early summer, at least in this part of the Fae world.
Stuart didn’t speak as they wandered the paths. The only sound came from birds enjoying the oasis in the city and the pattering of fountains in corners.
“This isn’t the terrifying Fae dominion I was raised to fear,” Peigi said after the silence had stretched. “It’s kind of nice.”
“There are terrifying parts,” Reid answered. “Mostly in the lands of the hoch alfar. The dokk alfar are far more civilized. We lived in happy peace—mostly—until the hoch alfar decided our lands would suit them. They’d have killed us off if we hadn’t protected ourselves. Not because dokk alfar are weaker, but we were taken off guard, not prepared to fight.” He sighed. “And we might have to again.”
“Unless you can help them find this karmsyern thing.”
“If I can. There’s nothing to say the hoch alfar haven’t already destroyed it. Or if they can’t, they might have