Queen of the Fae (Dragon's Gift The Dark Fae #3) - Linsey Hall Page 0,15
who had attacked us.
My power had worked.
Except it might have broken me, too.
“Get to the portal,” I croaked.
“It’s closed.”
“Have…an idea.”
The Unseelie closed in, and Burn leapt in front of us. The huge wolf crouched low and growled, his thorny hide shooting spiked bullets at the oncoming attackers. The deadly thorns flew through the air, piercing the Unseelie like daggers.
The scent of putrid night lilies and brimstone rolled toward us.
I gasped. “She’s coming.”
“We’re in no state to take her out now.”
“You and Burn could take her.” But he’d have to drop me to do it, and the Unseelie would be on me in an instant. I still couldn’t move my limbs. There’d be no fighting back.
Tarron ignored my words and sprinted toward the portal, holding me as if I were made of crystal.
As we neared it, I sliced my finger with my sharp thumbnail.
“We needed blood to get in the first time.” My voice was weak, and he leaned closer to hear. “Maybe Unseelie blood will help us get out.”
I stuck my hand into the shimmering air that marked the exit from this realm, and magic shivered up my arm. My blood turned cool on my fingertip, then magic sparked from the gleaming surface of the portal.
“Go!” I shouted.
Tarron lunged into the portal.
I peered back at Burn. “Get out of here!”
The Thorn Wolf disappeared in an instant. Beyond him, the bodies of a dozen Unseelie lay like giant pincushions. My mother appeared in the distance, gliding through the trees with eerie grace.
The ether sucked us in and swept us through space. My stomach lurched and my limbs ached.
We appeared back in Scotland, surrounded by the thirteen towering stones of the Circle of Night.
My friends crowded near, all white-faced and big-eyed.
“You’re back!” Aeri rushed forward.
“We need to go,” Tarron said.
“No!” I grabbed his arm. “If she comes, we can take her. The six of you are strong enough.”
It would kill me to sit out the fight, but I knew that if Tarron put me down, I’d be a puddle of jello with all the movement of a slug.
But they could totally take her.
“We can’t risk it.” Tarron gave everyone a look. “Can one of you transport and get the others out of here?”
“We’re covered,” Cass said.
“No!” I squeezed his arm tighter.
He didn’t listen. He called upon his transport power—which he used rarely, I realized—and disappeared.
Once again, the ether sucked us in.
5
We appeared in his quarters, high in the king’s tower in the middle of the Seelie Court.
“Why did you do that?” I demanded. “Do you know how powerful they are? The FireSouls could have taken out my mother if she’d come through the portal.”
“You can’t even walk.” A thunderous expression crossed his face. “I’m not starting a fight with an extremely powerful Fae who has mind control powers while you can’t protect yourself.”
“That’s—”
My brain did a record scratch.
Damn it.
That was really caring.
I frowned up at him, confused. “What about your brother? Your vengeance? We almost had her.”
“No, we didn’t. And we’ll worry about that later.” He stalked toward the bed.
I blinked. All he cared about was vengeance for his brother. Right?
“Why the hell did you jump in front of me like that?” His brow was lowered, his eyes angry. “You could have died.”
“You would have died. Only my power protected me.”
“Don’t ever do that again.”
“What, save your life?”
“Risk yours for mine.” He looked like he wanted to shake me but didn’t dare. “I’m not worth it.”
He cared. I swallowed hard and looked away, uncertain how to process that.
Or the fact that I’d jumped in front of him.
I didn’t risk my life for a lot of people.
But I’d done it for him.
Of course you did it for him, idiot.
I looked around his quarters. “Why are we here?”
“It’s safer.”
“My place is fine.”
“What don’t you understand about the fact that I’d do anything to protect you?”
“Wow. Um, this is not expected.”
“You’re kidding, right? I may be angry about your lies and trust you as far as I can throw you, but I will always protect you.”
“You’re compelled to do it. Because I’m your Mograh.”
“Because I want to do it.” His tone was so fierce that I didn’t argue, but when he put me on the bed, it felt like he was laying down his most precious possession.
Even so, I winced. It felt like thousands of needles were stabbing me all over my body. Like when your leg goes asleep, but everywhere.