blinding light. There’s no impact, though, just a breeze of magic that sweeps out. It touches me but curls away from my body as it continues to flood out through the forest. I think I see a guard collapse in the distance, but when Halathnar staggers, I gape up at him.
He takes one heavy step forward and then another before he sags, dropping to one knee. He remains in that position, his head bent low as he tries to steady himself before he finally crumples to the ground. I stare at him in wonder, unable to comprehend what has just happened, so I don’t even notice another presence until I feel the spear ripped from my leg. The scream I let loose is deafening, and I hear a mumbled apology beside me.
“Sorry. I thought it kinder to do it that way,” he says as he kneels close to me and drags up my skirt to begin working on my wound.
He only just gets it bandaged up when I’m swept off the ground all together in the steely arms of my mate. His entire body trembles against mine as he holds me and I wrap my arms tightly around him, determined to never let go.
I can’t. I need him.
And with a wellspring of sudden clarity, I finally know what my decision is. I can’t leave him. As much as I love my family—and gods know I do—I never want to know a moment of separation from him again. Everything else, we will find a way to work it out.
Shaking, I pull back and brush the mass of hair out of my face as I look around helplessly.
“What did you do?” I whisper.
“They sleep,” he replies. “We can go through and kill them all if you like, but unlike the situation with the hunt, they were mostly in one place and at rest so I was able to cast sleep over all of them for a period of several hours.”
I look out at them and shake my head. I could have sentenced Satharal to death because of her perceived alliance with the high elves had she not corrected my opinion. Everything is a lot more complicated than it appears on the surface, but that’s the way of things, I suppose.
I shake my head. “No. Let them live. Let’s just remove the head of the snake and be done.” I stare down meaningfully at the sleeping body of Halathnar.
Grimsal pulls out his blade and holds it out, his expression solemn.
“Do you wish to do the honors, or would you prefer one of us dispatch him.”
The idea of killing someone makes me queasy, but I take the shortsword from him. The anger brewing in me needs this resolution. I need to do it for Satharal—and for me.
Curling my fingers around the pommel of the sword, I walk forward until I stand directly over the fairy prince. I stare down at him dispassionately and raise the blade, angling it over his neck. My lips twist in a hard smile as I realize that this will be the end of it.
“Goodnight… sweet prince,” I whisper, and I stab down with all my weight.
Blood splatters over my skirt, and there’s a terrible gurgling sound, but Eliph pulls me away so I don’t have to see any more. I whisper how happy I am that it’s over and turn into his embrace to accept whatever comfort he offers, but I’m surprised when he passes me to Grimsal.
Even the goblin raises his eyebrows at that, but my unicorn shakes his head sadly and steps away.
“There’s no guarantee that it’s over and I refuse to risk you any further.” He draws a deep breath and glances into the woods, away from the elvish kingdom. “The way from here to the Heart of Wells is direct. Grimsal, you will ride double and hold to her tight. The speed at which I run will require all of your strength to assure she remains seated without incident.”
“Wait… What? No!” I shout.
“Maybe you should talk this out,” the goblin begins uncertainly.
“No. It’s decided,” Eliph snaps. “My mate will live a long, happy life in safety, without me. That is the best gift that I can offer… to let her go.”
“Eliph, hell no. We’re going to talk about this right now…”
My mate gives me one last look but doesn’t stop to talk. His fae form melts away, his body reforming as I stand there screaming at him to stop. Grimsal’s arms tighten around me.
“I’m sorry,