“I can’t go with you, Eoin.”
“If you change your mind, Viv can bring you to us. You’ll be safe at my court.”
“It’s beyond the Cursed Wood?”
“Yes—the opposite direction of the Gleam.”
“How do you get through the forest?”
“We don’t. We fly.”
“You—what?” I peek over his shoulder, checking for wings.
“Not me.” He laughs. “Our court has fae warriors with wings. They transport us.”
“That’s—” A lot to take in. But Sennah did mention there were tons of different types of fae. “Wow.”
Eoin smiles at me, his eyes sweet like melted chocolate. “If you’d prefer not to fly, Ostara is the only time of year the curse on the woods is broken. The veil is thin between the Mother and our power, and it temporarily neutralizes the curse.”
“That’s why the Ostara celebration is held here,” I murmur.
“Yes. We used to hold the celebration in our court, but since it’s the only night to safely travel the forest, we’ve gifted Rainer the honor of hosting.”
“He doesn’t seem like a celebration type.”
“Oh—he isn’t. It’s less for him and more for his people.”
Sometimes it’s hard to remember that Rainer is a prince, that he oversees an entire court.
Eoin’s expression turns serious. “Alessia, be careful here.”
“I will.”
“I mean it. There are things about the prince that are...off. Between his forest and his dislike for humans, I worry for you.”
“Don’t.”
“If you truly knew, I think you’d take my offer up and leave with me.”
My gut squeezes. “What aren’t you telling me, Eoin?”
He steps forward, placing a hand on my shoulder.
“Get your hands off of her.” Rainer strides up to us, his gaze lethal as he pins Eoin with his stare.
Eoin ignores him, but he doesn’t try to finish whatever thought he had a moment ago. Instead, he sighs and says, “Be safe.” He turns and walks out with his sister, Viv, and Ken, giving me one last worried glance over his shoulder.
What secrets are Rainer keeping, and why does the Terra Prince care so much?
“I don’t like him,” Rainer says.
“I can tell.”
“He’ll try to take you away, simply to get at me.”
That infuriates me. “I’m not a pawn for you spoiled princes to play with.”
“I know you’re not.” Rainer offers a lopsided smile, and it catches me entirely off guard. The air whooshes out of my lungs at the sight of his dimples.