Across an Endless Sea

There are a handful of elders who know most of our history; the rest of us are too busy with the present to bother with the past. Fighting is more fun than memorising a list of glorious deeds the Ancestors accomplished.” “You sound like Jaro,” I mumble. “He’s not one for reading, either.” “Wolf boy?” Caed shakes his head. “Now I know you’re insulting me.

She may be delicate, but she’s no pushover. Even when her own wellbeing hangs in the balance, she’ll stick to her ground. I roll my eyes at my own misplaced kernel of pride.

If you vow not to remove it, or ask another fae to take it off for you, then I will tell you if my scouts find out anything about Florian’s condition.” Bastard. Using my brother against me? That’s just cruel. “How do I know you don’t already know something, and you’re just keeping it from me?” He shakes his head. “Give me some credit, little queen. I’m not a complete asshole.” Could’ve fooled me. I snort. “I don’t trust your promises, Caed. You swore an oath to protect me, remember? Look how well that turned out.” “I’ve never harmed you—” I raise my brows, and he amends. “Intentionally.

He’s still in shock, but sooner or later, his trauma will catch up to him, and the anger will surface. Better we allow him to purge it in a way that brings him closure, than let it simmer beneath the surface and poison him.

What do you want?” I snarl at her. “Glory for my father, an end to the war, and food for our people.” My eyes betray me, searching Rose out, tracing the dirt smeared across her cheek… “You’re saying the right words…” Prae whispers. “I mean them.” I force my eyes away from Rose. “This is just some fairy magic trick, like you said.” There’s no other reason for her to haunt my thoughts like this. “It isn’t.

He doesn’t look away. Unease slithers in my gut as he takes one step closer. Then another. His silhouette becomes clearer, and he certainly looks like the Lord of the Wild Hunt. But Drystan would never have held the eye contact this long. He hates looking at me.

So, killing Caed won’t achieve anything. I’m glad, yet terrified at the same time, because it means that the path ahead of me is infinitely harder than just giving up and dying. If killing Caed isn’t the answer, then bringing him to our side is the only remaining option. I’m not sure how to do that, but Danu believes I can.