“I’m no traitor; not to my people. Not to my family, either,” I seethed as Ristan shifted painfully, and opened his eyes. “The Guild left me, and so we cut ties. I was born Fae, not a Witch. The Guild was your family, Olivia, and I hope Hecate has mercy on your soul—for I know that Demon won’t. If you did what I think you did, you may want to make peace with Hecate, and quickly,” I smiled coldly. “Take her to the dungeons, and see that she is chained and unable to use her hands or legs. Gag her mouth, for she can spell her way out with it. And, Olivia, if you do somehow get out of this place, know that I will ride with the hounds that hunt you down and drag you back here for his revenge. He is my family, and this world is mine. I would claim no part of the sick bastards who slaughtered those innocent people,” I seethed, and then allowed my eyes to glow to the electric blue and purple of the Fae. I pushed power into the brands, projecting their image and beauty so that everyone gathered could see.
“I did what I had to!” she cried as Sevrin made haste to remove her from Ristan’s presence. We started in the direction of the castle, but Silas stopped us by stepping into our path.
“I’ll fight beside my King, and gladly die with him to protect this world from the Mages,” he said proudly. The shifter had often given me the chills, but I could see his aura now, and it was pure. He was honest in his words, and his oath was welcomed by Ryder who placed a hand on his shoulder and accepted it.
“You have mine as well, but I need an oath of my own,” Elijah stated as he approached us.
“And that would be?” Zahruk asked as he stepped up and placed himself between Elijah and Ryder.
“That should I fall in battle, my people will be welcomed here, that they would have a safe place to live in peace. Most of the unclaimed don’t live forever, but they live long enough to need protection.”
“And you, how long have you lived?” I asked.
“Well over five hundred years,” he said as he watched me carefully.
“Your people would be welcome here,” Ryder said. “But if you think to cross me, know that I will have no mercy for you.”
Ryder’s eyes slid to me and I smiled. I could sense that he was eager to get into the castle, to have Ristan tended, as well as to check on our children.
“The rest of you who plan to claim an oath to the King can do so at a more appropriate time. His brother needs tending to, and our children must be fed. We shall hold court tomorrow, and hear any concerns or demands you may have. Until then, we bid you safe passage into the main hall for the celebration of the return of the Demon,” I said, and then turned to Danu who had just shown up, anxiously watching Ristan as he labored to take air into his lungs.
“Decorate the hall, and create a distraction…please? Like food, or whatever, just keep these people busy until we can secure an oath.”
“How is he?” she asked, ignoring my request.
“Alive, barely,” I whispered.
I could feel Elijah’s eyes as they bore into my back as we walked inside the stronghold; tomorrow we would deal with the world, but tonight we needed to tend to those who had died, and those who needed medical help. The lesser Fae could wait. Later, we could pull an oath from those who seemed more ready to run home and hide.
“Fine, but after I create the distraction, I’m coming to check on him,” she said and disappeared.
“A distraction?” Ryder asked softly.
“We need to buy time. I’m sure some of those Fae were planning to leave, but I know how they can feed, and be merry while we deal with this problem. Danu is going to create food, and other things to give us the time we need.”
“…That’s genius,” Zahruk said as he turned to look at me. “Fuck, she’s ruthless,” he grinned and winked at me roguishly. “Maybe there’s hope for her yet.”
“Oh admit it, Zahruk, you like me. I just have that effect on creatures.”
He laughed and shook his head as he turned and moved forward to help them carry Ristan to the infirmary. I wasn’t sure why we were still walking, only that I was glad, since sifting wasn’t my strong suit right now.
I’d no sooner thought it, then the entire Elite Guard sifted, and I was no exception. Ryder had gripped my arm as we sifted to Eliran, who immediately took in Ristan and then looked up at me.
“What did you do this time, hide in a closet? Normally if someone’s hurt, you follow their lead and then almost die on me,” he snapped with frustration and ran his fingers through his hair before he started shouting off orders.
I stood still and watched as Ristan was carried into one of the small rooms and a curtain was closed around him. Eliran slipped behind the curtain and called for a bunch of other things he was going to need. Ristan didn’t have iron in him; that much I was sure of. Not that it would have done too much to the Demon, but the Mages may have experimented with it when they tortured him.
I was pulled up against Ryder’s chest as we waited, numb and cold inside as Eliran and his team worked on Ristan. It wasn’t until I turned and found Alden smiling at me from a bed in another small room in the healer’s ward, that I left Ryder’s warmth.
“How are you feeling?” I asked him as I moved to his room and took a seat in the chair.
“Never saw this one coming, kid,” he admitted. “Glad you found him,” he said as he nodded towards Ristan’s room.