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“It ends if you agree to flee, Arachnis. Return to the fae realm and?—”
My words were cut off as a gust of wind crashed into me. I flew back, smashing into the trunk of one of the Montezuma cypress trees.
“Finch!” Easton shouted but I held up a hand.
“Don’t move, Easton.”
Ouch…seriously, all the ouch. I couldn’t say which fae had done it—could’ve even been my own father for all I knew.
Where the hell were the protectors I’d ordered Daisy to get?
Peering up, I saw Arachnis was getting to his feet, wobbling due to being disoriented.
“You’re so powerful.” Manchineel’s tone held wonder. “Pushed further, I have no doubt you may even surpass me.”
Of course he’d see the anguish I’d caused his child as fascinating. In my heart, I believed I’d already surpassed Manchineel, but I wasn’t fool enough to put all my cards on the table.
“What I want is for you to leave the Koopers alone…and when I say alone, I mean to tell the courts they aren’t a threat and they are forever to be left alone.”
“No, Finch.” I couldn’t look Easton’s way; I had to maintain the course. The protectors weren’t here, and I couldn’t fight them all off on my own.
“To promise they’d be unharmed?” My father’s eyes narrowed and there was an obvious look of disgust.
“A blood promise, Manchineel. It will stand from you and your entire army. Brothers and sisters combined.”
Arachnis sneered behind my father. He wanted more than anything to fight me.
“What are you doing, Finch?” Easton inched toward me only to be pulled away by one of the fae.
I had a tenuous hold on my dark magic, and when the fae put his hands on Easton it snapped.
I pushed a rush of horrific pain at the fae so strong he fell backward, clawing at his face, tearing his hair out, losing his balance. He tripped on a thick root and impaled himself on a sharp branch.
We all stared as the fae gasped, blood bubbling and pooling from his mouth, and with his last breath it hit me: I’d killed another living thing. I’d never done that.
“Well done, Son.” Manchineel’s smile was that of a proud father. A child always wanted to see such joy from their parent, but not like this.
It was Easton’s expression that nearly broke me. Shock, horror, fear…of me.
“Nobody touches them.”
Manchineel bowed his head slightly.
“For their protection and safety, from today and for eternity you are to join my side. You’ll abandon the light magic.” He smirked, obviously enjoying this. “You may never see your mother again…or your humans.”
Could you die of a broken heart? I believed I’d find out.
“Finch!” Tru sobbed. “Please, Finch…I love you!”
“Sweet girl.” I walked over to her. No fae stopped me; even Easton loosened his hold. “I love you too. All of you so much.”
“Then don’t go. We can fight, right? You’re so strong, and Dad, he fights fires and…” Her sobs wracked her body and I got the answer to my question: you could, in fact, die of a broken heart.
“I made you a promise, Tru. Remember what it was?”
She nodded. “Ye…yes.”
“No matter what, I would protect your father, you, and your brother, no matter what.” I reached out, careful of my sharp nails, and tenderly cupped her face. “This is me keeping that promise.”
