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“We meet again.” Arachnis winked.
“How are you here? I heard you were locked up or something.”
He rolled his onyx eyes. “Desperate measures, human. See, I’m going to prove what I did was relevant in protecting fae.”
“You’re a monster.”
He shrugged. “Your opinion means about as much to me as the opinion of an ant you’re about to squash does. In the end, Easton Kooper, the mighty prevail without concern for the weak.”
“Enough.” A rumbling voice, devoid of emotion, echoed through the space.
I met the eyes of a fae who embodied power. I was human, but even I could feel his strength. He was taller than Arachnis, his hair like pitch darkness, eyes to match. Veins shadowed under his pale skin and when he curled his lips, a fang stuck out.
“Dad,” Tru whispered, her body shaking in my hold.
“Do me a favor, baby, and don’t look, okay?” She nodded and tucked her head into my neck.
“You cannot protect her, Dreamer…if you really are such a thing,” the ominous fae said.
“I don’t know what I am to you, asshole, but to her I’m a father, and I will die protecting her if I have to, without regret.”
His rumbling laugh skittered up my spine like an uncomfortable itch.
“Sacrifice…that’s what you’d be. But it would be for naught. She’d die anyway.” He tilted his chin up and sniffed. “Pathetic human, what my son sees in you is beyond me.”
Son…oh.
“You’re Manchineel, aren’t you? Finch’s piece-of-shit father.” I snorted, feeling braver than I should. “Talk about pathetic.”
Arachnis growled and made to advance only to be stopped by his father.
“Waste not your time, my son.” Manchineel tilted his head as if listening to something. “Sounds like Finch is playing with his sister; let us go see what that’s all about.” He motioned with his hand. “Bring them.”
Ten fae approached, and I held Tru tighter.
“Touch her, and I promise you’ll lose limbs.”
“I suggest you follow nicely, then.” Manchineel narrowed his eyes. “The only reason you’re still standing, human, is because all I want to do to you, I crave Finch to witness.” He spun on his heel and started up the mountain.
With Tru in my arms and obviously nowhere to go but to join them, I began the trek once more.
Tru was shaking in my embrace, her whimpers tearing away at my heart.
“I got you, Tru-bug. It’ll be okay.”
“Humans and their lies,” Arachnis scoffed.
“Milo?” Tru whispered in my ear.
“Safe.” I hoped.
“I wanna go home.” She sniffled, and I could feel her tears on my skin.
The closer we came to the top of the mountain, the louder the screams were.
“Sounds like Finch is having fun.” Manchineel chuckled darkly.
Sick son of a bitch.
