was no keeping the demi-god out if he wanted in.
Issuing a curt nod, Carrick turned and followed in Deandra’s wake. Rebsha bowed, backed away a few paces, and turned to follow Carrick.
Outside the solarium, Deandra was pacing with her hands clenched in fury. When she spotted Carrick, she pointed a shaky finger past him to where her mother was probably reclining back on her chaise and reading her book.
“She’s an idiot,” Deandra stammered, her words broken by her rage.
“Yes, she is,” Carrick agreed as he moved toward her. He put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. Immediately, Deandra should have felt a calming sensation, her pulse starting to slow minutely. “You did all you could, and I’m proud of you for standing up to her.”
Deandra shook her head. “We really need the Light Fae to join us. We need their power against whatever is going to come pouring out of the Underworld.”
“You have me,” Carrick heard a familiar baritone voice behind him. He turned to see Rebsha approaching. When he stopped, he affirmed, “I’ll join the fight, and I know others that will.”
Deandra stared in shock at her mother’s longtime advisor, whose loyalty had seemed absolute. But whereas Nimeyah didn’t seem to mature over their history, Rebsha had, and in his wisdom, he knew what the right play was.
“Thank you,” Deandra said, her voice breathless with astonishment.
“I’ll also get others to join,” he murmured, glancing over his shoulder toward the solarium. “But it will have to be done very carefully.”
Carrick reached his hand out to Rebsha. “We’re honored to have you with us.”
They clasped at the forearm, and the Light Fae replied, “I’ll keep you updated.”
After they drew apart, Rebsha gave a bow to Deandra, to which she responded with a grateful smile, and then he disappeared down the hallway.
When he was out of sight, Deandra let out a low growl, indicating she was still irked at her mother. “I still can’t believe she just dismissed the threat of Kymaris coming to Faere. I mean, I totally get her not wanting to help humans and the Earth realm, but she’s feeding our race to the wolves. How can she not get that our stand has to be made next week at the ritual and we have to defeat Kymaris there?”
“Your mother is self-centered,” Carrick noted as he and Deandra started moving through the castle. They had no destination in mind, but Deandra was bristling with anger and seemed to need to walk it off.
“Don’t I know it,” she muttered.
Carrick almost laughed, because it wasn’t all that long ago that he would have said the same thing about Deandra. But she had changed much over this last month now that she’d moved out from under her mother’s influence.
“It pleases me that you’ve taken this threat so seriously,” Carrick commented. “A bit surprising, actually.”
Deandra snorted, casting him a side glance. “I’ve got layers, Carrick.”
“Indeed you do.” He chuckled. “Finley tells me the same thing all the time.”
Abruptly stopping in the middle of the hallway, Deandra whirled on him. “And do you know, as much as I’m pissed at my parents right now, I’m a million times more furious with Pyke. I can’t believe he’d threaten the sanctity of Faere for Kymaris. He’s a complete traitor to our family and our entire race.”
Carrick did not disagree with this, and he knew there was going to be a reckoning for Pyke one day. Tipping his head in curiosity, he asked, “I thought you were using the safety of Faere as a mere excuse to provoke your mother to help, but I hear it in your voice… you’re genuinely worried about this land and the Light Fae who live here.”
“It’s my home, Carrick,” she said in a mournful voice. “I might have moved away, but I assumed Faere would always be there for me. There are people here I care for deeply. I don’t want them at risk, and I can’t believe that dipshit brother of mine would betray us like that.”
“You know,” Carrick drawled, as if to posit a theory. “Pyke could be under Kymaris’ control.”
Deandra shook her head vehemently. “No. Finley said he loved her. Their relationship has been going on for decades.”
Carrick believed the same, but he was merely trying to offer something that might provide some peace to her right now and alleviate the fury bubbling because of her brother. Maybe it was good she held onto it, so she’d stay committed to their cause.
And speaking of causes, they still