I moved at the same time as Frazer—too late.
Tysion knocked Cai aside and seized Liora. Wheeling around and around in a tight ring, he released her. Cai bellowed like a wounded animal and staggered after his sister as she flew, crashing against a tree across the glade. The image of him bending over, shaking her limp body, had frost coating my bones, chilling my blood. A screaming started in my mind. I tried to sprint over to help, but Frazer caught me up in a tight grip. Don’t go into that glade. No matter what. We fight from here.
My mind in turmoil, I could only obey.
Frazer released me and reached for his bow. So did Tysion.
Two arrows nocked.
Two bows raised.
Frazer aimed for the heart, and Tysion responded in kind. Only the death he sought was mine; his arrow was for my throat.
Neither male moved. A stalemate.
Serena! Draw your weapon! Auntie yelled.
How had it gone so wrong?
SERENA!
Auntie’s deafening shout pulled me back from the brink of cracking. As this was close-quarter combat, my instincts urged me to go for my Utem?. It slid from its sheath in an icy breath.
No, not the—
Auntie got drowned out by the cluck of a tongue and a strangely cold female’s voice. “Play nicely, children.”
My head whipped to my right. What I saw stole the strength from my limbs: Cai was kneeling, guarding Liora with nothing but his bare hands, for his sword was still sheathed. Goldwyn—Goldwyn—had her curved blade pressed against his chest; that kind, courageous female had vanished. As if she’d just slipped a skin, in her place stood a coldhearted bitch with a cruel face.
My heart stopped working, but my mind was running on lightning. What? Why?
A rustle of wings disturbed the air. Dimitri dropped from above, landing by her side, sword at the ready. We were surrounded, three weapons against two.
Goldwyn’s voice was blunt, crisp. “I wouldn’t loosen any arrows, Frazer dear. Not unless you want me to disembowel your friend.”
Frazer answered by moving to block me from any arrows that Tysion might fire, so his lifeblood would spill instead of mine. My sword shook in my hands.
“Enough, Goldwyn.” I groaned aloud as I recognized Hunter’s voice.
Four swords against two. We were so very, very dead.
Hunter landed in the glade; I doubted he was here to save me again. That easy smile of his seemed long gone, and those spring-green linens and brown leathers had been replaced by ungodly pitch-black armor studded with spikes.
Never once catching my gaze, he pulled a curved dagger loose from his belt and said, “Now that I’ve helped set up your trap, I’m taking the captive.”
“You’ll miss all the fun,” Dimitri said in mock cheeriness.
“I’ve no wish to be part of this,” Hunter replied, hacking at Wilder’s ropes.
Goldwyn went as stiff as the blade in her hand. She positioned herself so she had eyes on Cai and Hunter. “You won’t go anywhere until I give you permission.”
Hunter ignored her as he snapped apart the last of the ropes. When a growl slipped from Dimitri, Hunter straightened and flipped the dagger in an impressive move. Instead of threatening them, he sheathed it and spoke in cool, sharp tones. “You have no power over me. I’m a spider now.”
I moaned loudly. “Hunter, no.”
He looked to me then, his eyes glacial. “I risked everything, everything for you. In return you stole my only hope of escaping.” I had a guilty flash, remembering the charm I’d taken. “Now, I’m her slave—forever … And I wish I hated you, but mostly I’m just sorry. So fucking sorry. For everything.”
Goldwyn looked disgusted by his misery. “Are you so weak as to try to help her again?”
Dimitri’s sword hand twitched in response.
Hunter heaved a soft, dead laugh. “I couldn’t, even if I wanted to.”
A knife twisted in my heart. No hope there, then.
“I’d be careful with that one by the way.” Hunter jerked his chin to Frazer and continued, each word quieter than the last. “He might be wingless, but he’s slipperier and faster than a navvi. And he’d die for her.”
I saw Frazer’s hackles rise, but he kept focus on Tysion.
Good. Someone had to watch that conniving bastard.
Goldwyn’s mouth cut an ugly line. “You’re blood sworn to Morgan. You’ll do as you’re told.”
“Exactly,” Hunter said grimly. “I’m hers to command—not yours. She told me to capture Wilder, and I’ve done that.”
Wilder was free; Hunter was lifting him.
I wanted to scream, to charge, to fight.
Don’t move, Frazer warned.
Hunter was spreading his wings and something snapped. I bolted forward. Frazer did the unthinkable and let his arrow fly. Tysion ducked just as Frazer dropped his bow to snatch out and grab me. He wrapped one arm around my middle, shackling me, while the other hand drew his sword. He leveled it sidelong at Tysion, who was regaining his footing and looking murderous. Frazer’s thoughts touched mine. If they capture you, you’re dooming Wilder, too.
That felt like a cold slap, freezing my body.
Half-feral with rage, Tysion raised his bow to meet Frazer’s throat again.
“Enough!” Goldwyn snapped. “Stay your hand, Tysion.”
“We don’t need him.”
“Stand down. I won’t ask again.”
Tysion snarled and crashed his foot down on Frazer’s bow. A crunching sound made him smirk, but he didn’t let an arrow fly. A stay of execution. I peered back at the glade and released a tight breath.
Hunter hadn’t left. His wretched eyes still held mine. I had to do something. Anything. But Frazer’s words acted like a paralytic. Sensing my doubt, my brother pounced with more cold logic. You’re no match for Goldwyn and Dimitri. Let Hunter go—he’ll be one less fae to fight. Then we’ll stand a chance of saving Cai and Liora.
All true.
The sight of Wilder’s harsh features softened by sleep had common sense flying out the door. A begging sound rode my voice as I said, “Hunter, please, don’t.”
A cruel laugh snaked out of Dimitri.
Hunter looked close to possessed as he forced out his words. “I don’t have a choice.”
“There’s always a choice,” I said, near tears.
“Aren’t you listening?” he snarled. “I serve her until death.”
That’s when one of his hands discreetly tapped his bow and his head bobbed an inch.
Auntie rushed out. He wants you to kill him. Drop that bloody sword and draw the kaskan!
I haven’t been able to use it properly, I despaired.
Hunter braced for takeoff, his wings beating like the panicked echoes of my heart. I got one last tortured look as he muttered, “Goodbye, Serena.”
I wanted to strangle him with my bare hands, and I felt desperately sorry for him.
Do it now! Auntie cried.
I sheathed my blade and struggled with Frazer’s grip. Let go!
It’s too late, Serena. He was right, of course. The two males were breaking through the canopy. A sob caught in my throat.
Wilder … Would I ever see him again?
Dimitri spat on the forest floor. “Good riddance.”
Goldwyn peered up at the two fae fading from view. “Time to move things along.”
So, this was it—we were about to be captured or killed.
Seizing the single wingbeat in which Goldwyn’s eyes were elsewhere, Cai rolled away and pulled his sword out.
She disarmed him in three moves. Dimitri hadn’t even bothered stepping in.
“Stupid boy!” Goldwyn drove Cai back to his knees and made him drop his sword. Scowling, she pressed her blade against his chest again. “Any more moves like that, and your sister will be weeping over your gutted corpse.”
Anger and a burning hate marked Cai’s expression. “Why are we even still alive? You’ve got what you wanted.”
“Isn’t it obvious? You’re valuable. Well, not you.” She brandished her sword a little and croaked out a laugh. “Although, you might prove useful in controlling your sister.”
My stomach plunged to my boots—to the dark court itself.