Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 144404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
“He could just as easily have been tracking Lee,” Zoey said. “He knows we’re in Iceland. He knows we’re somewhere close to Reykjavík. He tracked us down before. We need to be more careful. We’re moving in a few weeks, and then maybe it’s time to look for other accommodations.”
“And leave my people?” Rhys looked offended.
“I wouldn’t say we were leaving them as much as protecting them,” the queen replied. “I’m only saying it might be best for the royals to be in a different place.”
“I won’t leave. You can go find a palace and let Papa pamper you there, but I’m never leaving my people,” Rhys said stubbornly. “I’m going back to my place. Lee, let me know if there’s any way I can help Dean.”
Rhys and Shy broke off.
The queen stopped, tears in her eyes as they walked away. “I can’t seem to stop screwing up.”
Lee put a hand on his mother’s shoulder. “It’s a hard transition, and Rhys really does feel guilty. He doesn’t know how to handle his power. He froze when the witches sent that bolt out. Normally Rhys is cool under pressure and we would have come back with at least one of the suckers wrapped up in ivy, but he hesitated and they portalled out. They didn’t come for a fight. They came for an assassination. Give him a couple of minutes and he’ll be more reasonable.”
“He won’t be able to handle his magic until he’s handled his…” Quinn began.
The queen rounded on him, a finger pointing his way. “Don’t.”
Fenrir leaned over, whispering in Evan’s ear. “I think he’s trying to say Rhys needs to get laid.”
His whispering wasn’t exactly quiet.
“Fenrir,” I admonished.
Fen shrugged. “Well, we all know it’s true. Look, I’m the same, but my sexual frustration doesn’t grow grass and trees and stuff. I chase down a deer and feel better.”
“You keep doing that,” Quinn said under breath.
Evan groaned. “I’m eighteen in a couple of weeks, and then I intend to save the deer population of Scandinavia with or without my papa’s permission because I have this weird thing called bodily autonomy. Mama, and you wonder why I’m not coming to Faery. It’s because Rhys will shock the court with his chastity, and Shy will be blamed for it. Conversely, the fact that I want to get it on with my long-time boyfriend will be seen as scandalous because he’s a werewolf and grandmother already has some nice sidhe I should marry.”
“I would never allow your grandmother to force you into a marriage,” Quinn argued.
The queen put up a hand, stopping him. “Evan, I only wanted to spend time with you. I don’t care if you sleep with Fenrir. I would be a terrible hypocrite if I did. Your brothers were wrong to force Fen to promise to wait until some arbitrary date when you’re deemed smart enough to decide. I slept with your dad when we were way too young, but I wouldn’t have taken it back for the world. It’s your decision. Yours and Fen’s, and no one else’s.”
There was a reason I liked the queen.
Fen shook his head. “I needed boundaries. Rhys and Lee were only trying to look out for her. But the time is almost upon us, and I’m glad we waited and we can do this right. Your Grace, I am going to marry your daughter. You can accept me or not. It won’t matter.”
“She’s too young,” Quinn said with a sigh. “I want her to see more of the world. Not just war and horror. I want her to see what Faery has to offer. It’s part of her heritage.”
Evan shrugged. “So is the Hell plane, and no one there ever tried to kidnap me.”
“No, they’ll try to drain you. Demons like companion blood, too,” Quinn argued.
The man didn’t know when to stop. “I’m going to check on Dean.”
I started down the hill and suddenly there was a hand in mine.
Lee. “I’m coming with you. I love my papa, but I can’t handle more of this.”
I squeezed his hand. “It’s going to be okay.”
The queen caught up to us, taking Lee’s other hand. “They can fight this out on their own. I’m here for you, baby. I’m done fighting. I’m proud of all of you.”
We made our way to Lily’s, hoping Dean was okay.
An hour later, Lily stepped out into the crowded waiting room. Rhys and Shy had joined us, and it seemed Quinn had at least a cease-fire with his daughter, though she’d walked in and defiantly placed herself on Fenrir’s lap, her arms around his neck and head resting on his shoulder.
Couldn’t he see how in love they were? I knew what he wanted. He wanted them to be five again, wanted to be one of the primary forces in her life, but that chance was gone, and we all had to make a place for ourselves now.