5. Tavish

5

TAVISH

D espite the deep ache in my wings, I pushed myself to return to Lira as quickly as possible. When the first blast of the volcanic rock had shaken the castle, I'd been certain Eldrin's loyalists were attempting to free him once again.

But when I arrived at his cell, I found Eldrin leaning against the wall with a frown. Given the absence of his usual arrogance, I'd understood that, whatever this was, he wasn't behind it.

I had just left Caelan behind in the prison with a group of guards he trusted, making sure that we didn't leave Eldrin unguarded when a second explosion happened.

I had to get back to Lira. For all we knew, the dragons were coming back for her, or my own people were trying to capture her to use against me since she was my one true weakness.

I couldn't survive without her.

Apart from a handful of people, I wasn't sure who in my kingdom I could trust anymore. All the loyalty I'd thought they had shown me for the past twelve years had merely been them feeling as if they didn't have a choice.

Lira had been right all along. I hadn't fostered respect but fear, and the first chance they'd had to dethrone me, they hadn't hesitated.

My icy chest could shatter at any moment. Everything I'd believed to be fact had been shredded before my eyes in less than twelve hours. Not only had my people turned on me, but the Seelie hadn't murdered my parents. My father had taken both my mother's and his own life.

I would never have believed it possible, but Lira's adoptive mom hadn't minced words or tried to be vague to make us assume anything. She'd been direct and had spoken with something haunting in her eyes.

When I made the turn that would lead me back to the castle entrance, I smelled Lira's wild rose, mist, and vanilla scent, and my heart thawed. It was like coming home.

I should've known that she'd find a way to follow me, but I hadn't expected her to catch up so quickly with her injured wings.

When my gaze landed on her standing between her mom and dad, I realized one of them must have carried her. The concern and fear swirling from her had me flying up behind her.

Fates, no.

The Unseelie weren't trying to free Eldrin. A group of about twenty of them were hovering over the jagged mountaintop, firing arrows with volcanic rock arrowheads and slinging pieces at the Seelie guards.

Then, the Unseelie nearby were using their frost and illusions magic against the "enemy" guards. Even though my own magic was low, I could sense it around them.

The Seelie fae had clearly been caught off guard, a few lying still on the damaged stone streets, golden blood pooling underneath them.

"We have to do something," Hestia rasped, darting out the window to join the fight.

"Mom," Lira shouted, but her dad blew out the window, following his wife. "Dammit." Her terror sank its claws into our bond, making my chest even tighter.

"We must stop them." I turned to Struan and the three guards who always seemed to be with him. "Our people attacked when I told them not to."

Struan nodded. "Uaine, go alert the other guards. The three of us will detain the twenty on the mountaintop while the rest of the guards stop our people from fighting in the streets."

"Yes, sir." Uaine spun toward the prison area once again with his silver wings beating so fast it could pass for one movement.

"The rest of you, follow me." Struan flew down the hall in the direction of the insurgent Unseelie with the two guards close on his wings.

A part of me wanted to stay here and protect Lira, but she wasn't the one in peril… at least, not this second. "The Unseelie are focused on the guards who organized our journey to this ruined place after my parents died."

One thing I'd learned from Lira's actions was that I couldn't expect my people to do something that I wouldn't do myself, so I followed Struan and linked to Lira, Go to our bedchamber, lock the door, and stay there until I tell you it's safe to exit once again.

As I flew out the last window, a bitter laugh sounded behind me, and I didn't have to turn around to know it came from her. I waited for her to threaten or yell at me, but when our bond remained silent, a shiver ran down my spine.

I glanced back where she'd been standing, but she was gone.

She had to be up to something. Something she wouldn't inform me of, which meant I had to resolve the situation quickly.

The ten Unseelie, who had bows and arrows, nocked in tandem and released. The arrows shot toward the base of the castle stairs where most of the higher-ranking Seelie guards were protecting the king and the queen. A few of the Seelie guards lifted their hands, directing the wind, and the weapons hit behind the village. Still, a few arrows made impact, and two different blasts rocked the castle, the village around it, and even the area behind the village close to the cave where we grew mushrooms.

Blast, no.

Several Seelie screamed, but the ones in the back where the attack hadn't been aimed had made it to the center of the village, using their powers and weapons to fight my kind.

This had to stop now before more perished. I couldn't fathom how my people could be so asinine as to target our enemy when we were at our weakest and fighting among ourselves, let alone against an army that had about the same number of guards here as there were Unseelie alive.

I connected to the trickle of magic I had to amplify my voice and commanded, "Put down your weapons now . The Seelie aren't here to threaten us."

Half my people obeyed, stepping back to the edges of the stone path. The others didn't seem to register that I'd said a blasted thing. They didn't pause in their fighting, including the ones with the volcanic rock that was devastating the village below.

Wind continued to pick up, causing my aching wings to sway in the breeze while fire sprouted from Seelie hands, burning the feet of my people. The earth shook, forcing some of them to fall.

If we didn't stop the fighting, a lot of my people would die. Our magic was weaker because we hadn't had access to our true land for so long.

I removed the unfamiliar sword I wore at my hip, ready to kill any of my people who didn't obey if that was my only choice. My wings throbbed, indicating that I wouldn't be able to keep pushing them like this much longer. Between being starved while a prisoner in Seelie and then the brutal battle and injuries here, I wasn't sure how much longer I'd have any strength.

The clanging of swords signaled that the battle had intensified. As if the combatants were attempting to get in a last bit of fighting.

When Struan reached a dark-haired man who'd positioned himself closest to the castle, he stabbed the man in the arm so he couldn't string his bow effectively again. The other two guards followed suit, but the group of rebels removed their daggers and prepared to fight against their own kind.

I went for the one farthest from the prison, flying over the heads of others who didn't pay me any attention, prepared to make my point. When I reached the man, he spun around with his bow but paused when he realized who was there.

At least he had some respect for my position and title, but that wasn't enough, and he seemed like the leader. "You didn't obey." I swung my blade, slicing through his neck.

I spun to attack the woman beside him, but she dropped her sling and raised her hands. "We were only trying to avenge the people who were taken from us by them . The exact vow you've made every day since we arrived on this blasted island."

My heart cracked, realizing that, while my intent had been to give my people hope and the will to survive; instead, I'd made them reckless. I didn't care if the Seelie perished, but the person who meant the most to me in the entire realm did. If it weren't for her, I would, without a doubt, be fighting alongside them—even if my father had killed my mother, the Seelie chose to bring us here where so many of my people had starved to death. That decision had caused a lot of suffering and loss for us. "I know, but right now, we have a bigger enemy to face."

Her bottom lip trembled. "The dragons?"

They would've seen Prince Pyralis come and kill seven of us without even blinking before flying away with his hostage.

At my nod, she shook her head. "But we might never get another chance."

The fighting continued, but when I heard the creak of the double doors, I had no doubt who it was. Lira, please tell me you're in our bedchamber.

You're not my father, thorn. I don't have to listen to you.

I glanced over my shoulder and watched her step onto the stairs just above the fighting. Several of the Seelie guards flew toward her, prepared to protect her.

She didn't wait for them. Instead, she put her fingers into her mouth and made the strangest noise I'd ever heard. It was loud and piercing, making my eardrums want to burst.

The noise cut through the battle, causing the fighters to pause and search for the new threat.

"Does everyone want to die now?" Lira arched a brow and placed her hands on her hips. "Or do some of you want to live for eternity like you planned?"

Needing to be there to protect her, I flew toward her. The whoosh of my wings was the only noise besides her voice. Sprite, please go inside. It's not safe for you out here.

Nor is it for you. She lifted her chin higher and continued, "We are all fae, and we shouldn't be fighting against one another. Each one of us has been a victim of the other, and we're going to continue that cycle if we don't reach peace now."

The Seelie guards landed in front of her, spreading their wings to protect her from the crowd, but my mate pushed through so the Unseelie could see her.

Blighted abyss. Get back inside the castle!

"Of course you want to protect them. They are your people!" a man shouted, raising his sword in the air.

My stomach churned. The man wanted to keep our people upset so they would fight once again.

"You are too." She straightened, and discomfort from her wings pulsed through the bond. "And the Seelie could easily kill all the Unseelie. They only need Tavish alive in order for magic to remain stabilized. Is that the choice you want to give them?" She arched a brow, scanning the crowd. "Despite every one of you wanting me to die during the gauntlet, I'm doing this now because I care about you and the future we'll share with each other."

The Seelie kept their swords lifted in case the Unseelie attacked again. I recognized that, at the moment, the Unseelie were the problem, and I hated it. The Seelie were here only because Lira's parents cared about her. They could've come in, launching a war to retrieve her.

As I approached, the Seelie guards tensed, but Lira lifted a hand and said, "He's my mate. He's always welcome to stand beside me."

My heart stuttered, making me wonder once again if having her near meant that I wasn't immortal anymore. Immortals didn't have health issues, but when it came to Lira, the mere smell of her left me feeling strange… and I wouldn't change it for all of Ardanos.

I landed beside her, and she took my hand, once again emphasizing that the two of us were one. We would fight to be with one another.

"We need to learn to trust one another. I understand it will take time, but maybe we can be the stronger species and put down our weapons first, then work to bridge the gap between us."

To my surprise, more Unseelie dropped their swords, and I glanced around to find that Struan and the other two guards had confiscated the weapons of the nineteen Unseelie who had launched the attack.

The Seelie guards managed to position themselves so that if my people started to fight once more, it would be futile between their weapons and strong magic. Lira hadn't intended it, but the Unseelie, who still had their weapons, glared at her and the guards with distrust and hate.

Lira's parents strolled out of the castle and joined us on the other side of Lira. King Erdan expanded his brown wings and commanded, "Take their weapons now. They can't be trusted."

"Father," Lira gasped. Her shock and frustration slammed into me. "They just stopped fighting."

"Because of the noise you made. If it hadn't been for that, they'd still be at it, and we can't take more losses. Not with the threat of war with the dragons. I need every guard we have." The king gestured to the twenty dead Seelie at the bottom of the stairs, and his shoulders sagged. His voice broke as he said, "This should've never happened. These were needless deaths on both sides, and I refuse to let this happen once more."

Despite not wanting to hand our weapons over to the Seelie, I couldn't be sure this wouldn't happen again if my people kept them. There was too much loss of life on both ends, and I hated that my hatred might have helped prompt the attack. More deaths I was responsible for, and I refused to allow my people to act recklessly once more. "I'll give the command and agree as long as my guards are able to retain their weapons."

"Absolutely not." The king scowled. "They—"

"Helped end the fight," Lira cut in. "That counts for something, Father. You did command them to come to a place where seven thousand Unseelie perished because of the lack of food and living space."

King Erdan's eyes bulged, but Queen Sylphia looped her arm through his and said, "Our daughter is right. King Tavish agreed to have most of his weapons confiscated. We must begin rebuilding together somehow."

The king's eyes turned steely as if he were about to argue when the queen said, "Remember what we talked about. Besides, we need to focus on how to get Eiric back."

"Fine. The Unseelie guards may retain their weapons, but all other weapons must be confiscated and placed under guard." The king huffed and folded his wings behind his back. His jaw clenched, indicating he wasn't thrilled with the decision.

Neither was I, but both groups were unsettled, and I needed to process what I'd learned about my parents. Now wasn't the time; we had too much at stake, and Lira needed to rest so she could help herself, Lorne, and Finnian.

Discomfort and concern swirled from Lira as she turned toward me and linked, If you aren't comfortable—

I didn't want her to feel more responsible for burdens that weren't hers to carry. She had a knack for that. I'm not thrilled, but if your parents want to try to create some sort of harmony, then I won't fight it, especially since I don't know who I can trust. Eldrin still has loyalists who will do anything to see me fail, and taking the weapons allows me to reduce the potential threats while I try to determine who is and isn't loyal to me. I squeezed her hand reassuringly. As long as you trust that your parents are being sincere.

She swallowed, contemplating the question. They are people of their word.

The fact that she'd considered it instead of immediately defending them reinforced how lucky I was to have her. Then that's enough for me. I kissed her forehead then turned my attention back to the masses, expecting their dissent. "Since we did attack the Seelie, I'm in agreement that any person who isn't a guard must hand over their weapons to be locked in the castle."

The armed village people sneered and booed. I noted each one because we needed to keep them under more scrutiny.

"This will be temporary, but with the stress everyone is under, it's best for everyone here. Our guards will keep an eye on the weapons as well as the perimeter of the island." I took a step forward and lifted the sword in my right hand, black blood still on the blade. "Anyone who goes against my wishes again will meet the same fate as the person who launched the attack."

The insinuation was clear. I sheathed my blade.

The four of us stood side by side as the Seelie guards began confiscating weapons. The stares between the groups were strained, but no one started fighting again. After perhaps thirty minutes, the weapons had been gathered, and Struan supervised placing them in the castle armory.

Brenin and Hestia separated from the others and rejoined us in the large room.

Brenin cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, I understand that we have a lot to handle, but the longer Eiric stays with the dragons, the greater her chances of being harmed. We need to develop a strategy for retrieving her."

Even though I agreed because my mate needed to save her sister, I didn't want to rush into anything. "If we attack now, the dragons will demand that Lira is handed over in her place." I shook my head. "That's not an acceptable risk. We must find a way to recover her without risking my mate."

"Lira will eventually be handed over to the dragons," King Erdan rasped. "We gave them our vow. If we do not uphold it, all of the Seelie will lose their magic."

"Over my dead body," I snarled. The thought of Lira with Prince Pyralis had the edges of my vision turning black again.

Lira stepped between us. "Calm down. Father, you said I wasn't even supposed to be handed over until I was twenty-five, so why argue about this now? And Tavish, there is someone who swears there's a way to get me out of the contract without the Seelie losing their magic. If we learn what that is, then there won't be a reason not to leave and get E right now."

Blast. She was right. What were we doing standing here sniping over it? I had a cousin to torture to finally get some answers.

"Then the interrogation begins now." I turned, heading into the castle.

However, when I stepped inside, I froze.