We continued riding, though we could see the trees that framed Junnie’s lodge. She’d formed the structure within the copse of blood oak, using the trees as column and canopy. Native ferns and mosses camouflaged it further and with the smattering of rock by the entrance, no one would have easily found her.
As we neared, she stepped from the trees in all her blonde glory. We stopped as a group and dismounted, and Snickers tested each of us, cold nose snuffling for our scent. Once finished, he chuffed and went to stand beside Junnie.
“He’s grown quickly,” I commented offhandedly, though all of us knew it was unnatural.
Junnie smiled and I was struck, as I was each time I saw her, by how different we were. There was a lightness about her, shimmery golden hair, bright sky eyes, everything about her seemed to glow. It was made all the more perceptible by the new colors of her robes. She noticed as I took them in.
“I am glad you are returned, my Freya.”
“Thank you, Juniper. I am grateful for all that you have done to help us.”
Her gaze fell on the others. “Word of the Seven has traveled far. Even here, I have heard of their imposing presence.”
I wanted to trust Junnie. I wanted to take her endearment and hold it in my heart, keep the last of my family, but I couldn’t stop myself from questioning her words, couldn’t keep from wondering who had told her of the guard, what she’d meant by imposing presence.
A silence hung in the air and then Anvil stepped forward, bowing slightly in greeting. “Juniper.”
“Ah, Reed. Forgive me, it is simply such a shock to see Freya restored.” She tilted her head to return his salutation and then smiled. “Alone for mere weeks and I’ve lost all trace of civilization.” But she still didn’t invite us in.
“Though I am certain Frey has been eager to see you,” Anvil said, clearly struggling with the dictates of etiquette himself, “that is not the reason we have come.”
Junnie straightened.
“She has been attacked.”
Junnie’s eyes flicked to mine, and I could tell she was concerned, but that ugly voice in the back of my mind wondered if she was worried for me or herself. I took a deep breath against the tight lacings of my vest and moved closer. “Twice actually.”
She stared at me, waiting for more information. Or maybe an accusation.
“A boy entered the castle through the kitchens. Pulled silver from the air and formed a blade.” I purposefully left off the fact that he’d managed to slice my arm and the details of his coloring. “And then a second, outside the castle. It in the form of an ice shard.”
“Fey?” she asked, incredulous.
Ruby spoke up then. “There was a toxin within the crystal. I have been unable to identify its makeup, but it doesn’t appear to be plant-based.”
I started to turn back to Junnie, but Steed caught my eye. With the smallest glance, he conveyed his suspicion. By the time my eyes fell again on Junnie, I was just as wary. She was troubled, there was no doubt about that. But that wasn’t what was bothering me. Why hasn’t she invited us in? As they continued to discuss the attempts, I let my mind wander, trying to figure out what she could possibly be hiding. She should have wanted this meeting under cover.
And that was when I felt it. A human.
Chapter Ten
Betrayal
Before I could stop myself, I was past Junnie, pushing through the door. I could hear them all on my heels, but I didn’t look back. I followed that strange feeling, that connection, through her house. Just before I threw open the last door, Junnie spoke my name. It was a cross between a plea and a command, and I ignored it.
On the back wall of a small, clean room was a crib.
I did look at her then. Her face held a hint of an apology, but not regret.
I opened my mouth, a thousand thoughts fighting for issue, but all that came out was, “Why?”
Junnie shook her head, what might have been sadness playing in her eyes. “I could do nothing else.”
“You could do nothing else?” Anger and incredulity warred for my tone.
She sighed. “He chose this one above all others.”
I stared at her silently for a long moment, her words repeating in my head. And then understanding came. A burst of power escaped in my fury as I turned back for the child.
“Hold!”
The words brought me up short, Rhys had never spoke anything but gently to me. This had been nothing short of an order. He stepped forward and tilted his staff past me. Where the grip touched, mere inches from us, the air rippled. There was a ward protecting the crib.
My teeth gritted as I glared at Junnie.
She was unrepentant. “I did not create this child, Freya. But she will not be destroyed.”
My hand came forward, but Junnie was too fast. She stepped through the ward, cradled the babe against her chest, and burst through the back wall of the lodge.
Rage tore through me and the other walls surrounding us exploded into bits of kindling. My guard flinched, though most of the shards had flown outward. I took a breath. We could go after her, but we’d have to kill her to stop her.
I glanced at the others, and saw something like guilt on a few faces. I stepped forward, narrowing my gaze on Chevelle.
“We did not think it an issue.”