The queen stood in the square, backlit by the light spilling through the open doors of the Seelie Court and dressed in a thick white fur coat, the hem trailing in the snow. No red spray of blood marred its perfection. Hurray for small favors.
“It’s Yuletide Eve,” she said. It was quiet enough to hear the snow fall. Not even a murmur could be heard from the Unseelie side. “Therefore I’ve given you a gift.” That was when she noticed Ronan standing to the left of the queen, hidden in the shadow of her glow.
Bella’s heart stuttered and then started again, beating twice as fast. She took a step toward him, but something in the way the queen stood made her halt. The queen seemed like a raptor ready to strike—
one false move and she’d sink her fangs in deep.
“Happy Yuletide to you both, but it’s not all sunshine.” The queen drew a breath. When she spoke next, it was loud enough for everyone around them to hear, including the Faemous film crew. “Bella Rhiannon Caliste Mac Lyr and Ronan Achaius Quinn are hereby banished from the Seelie Court, effective immediately.” She turned and walked back into the tower, a brace of guards following her.
The doors shut behind her with a final-sounding thump.
Bella ran to Ronan and threw her arms around him, concerned only with one thing—he was alive, warm and real in her embrace.
Ronan pulled her up against his chest and slanted his lips over hers. His tongue slipped within her mouth and heated her blood, making her forget the snow and cold, making her forget all the other celebrating fae in the square who looked on in curiosity.
When they broke the kiss, she drew a trembling breath. A look of sorrow had enveloped his face.
“Because of me you’re banished from Seelie. You’ve lost everything. It’s exactly the thing I was trying to prevent all those years ago.”
“Oh, Ronan.” She reached up and cupped his cheek. “No. Don’t you see? I have everything because I have you.”
“Even if we have nowhere to sleep tonight?”
“We’ll figure it out. We’re together now and we can overcome any obstacle in our path. Why did she let you live?”
“I’ve had contact with the Phaendir. I know who might be able to be swayed for a certain price. The queen held a blade to my throat and demanded that information from me after you left, but I refused to give it up. Instead I told that when she had need of me, I was hers. So long as the rest of the time I could be yours—warm and alive.”
“So pragmatism won out over her slighted pride.”
“The banishment is her way of saving face in front of the court.”
“Where do we go now?”
Ronan looked at the Black Tower and squeezed her hand.
“Unseelie,” she said.
He nodded. “I don’t know how this will turn out, Bella. The Shadow King is not pleased with me for turning my back on the Black Tower, and now I’ve given the Summer Queen a piece of the bosca fadbh, something he would like to possess.”
She chewed her lip. “Bodes ill.”
He pulled her toward him for a quick kiss. “I have reason to believe he’ll take us in despite all of this.
Leverage, Bell. I have it on both the royals.”
“It’s a dangerous game we’re playing.”
“Life in the courts is always dangerous.”
They turned and walked toward the center of the square. Bella supposed she ought to be nervous about the fact she was now banished from the only home she’d ever known, yet all she felt was gratitude and happiness, leavened with a dash of excitement for the adventures to come and the things they’d see.
Aislinn stood near the maligned statue of Jules Piefferburg that marked entry into Unseelie territory.
“I’ll miss you,” her best friend said, staring up at the Black Tower.
“I’ll miss you too.” Bella gave Aislinn a hug, feeling a cloud of loss rising up into her chest and throat.
When people were banished from the Seelie Court, that meant no contact with its members. She and Ronan had given up a lot to be together. Bella wiped away a tear. “Can you make arrangements for Lolly?”