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“Absolutely not,” Easton argued. “I forbid it.”
Chuckling, I turned to look into those green eyes once more. “Sorry, Fireman, this is not something you can forbid.”
“You can’t go. I won’t survive it.”
I leaned in and softly pressed my lips to his. Just one little peck.
“It is because I go, that you will survive.”
“No!”
He released Tru and wrapped his arms around me.
“No.”
I relished his touch and smell. My heart ached because I wouldn’t get to say good-bye to Milo, but knowing they were safe was going to be enough…it had to be.
“I will never love another how I love you, Easton Kooper.”
“Finch.” His voice broke, and I shattered inside.
It took all my strength to peel him from my embrace and stand to face my father.
“A blood promise.”
“Agreed.” Manchineel pursed his lips.
“Father, if you do this, you know the fae courts won’t rule in my favor.” Arachnis glared at Manchineel.
“I do know this, Son.” He gripped Arachnis’s face brutally. “But you aren’t half as strong as Finch. You’ve never risen to your full potential. Always a disappointment.”
“Father…” Arachnis stared in disbelief. Had he thought Father had a heart?
He pushed Arachnis away like one would do a fly that landed on their leg.
“Get me the rapier,” Manchineel demanded of one of his guards.
It rested beside Amaris, who leaned against the tree trunk unmoving, probably not wanting to draw attention to herself.
I moved a few feet away from Easton and Tru. I didn’t want them anywhere near my father, who had begun to approach me.
The guard came up beside my father and handed him the rapier. A blood promise had to be done using something that was not of nature or ourselves. Ruling out our nails and the sharp branches around us, the rapier was the best option.
Manchineel held it in one hand and opened his other. I presented my palm to him. Tru’s sobs were the soundtrack to the heartbreaking devotion I was about to make.
“I Manchineel, King of the dark fae, agree to the terms Finch Brightkin has set. The Koopers now and forever will remain unharmed by myself or my army. No orders of cruelty shall be bestowed upon the Koopers by my hand or court.” He pressed the tip of the rapier to his flesh and sliced.
He then handed me the rapier.
I took a deep breath and gave Easton and Tru one last glance. I had to do this.
“Get away from my son!”
I spun and from the base of the clearing, behind my father’s fae, stood my mother and what looked to be more than fifty fae. To her left were Vesper and Blodwyn…but it was the one on her right that shocked me. Zephyr.
When I met his stare, he shrugged. “The winning side,” was all he said before all hell broke loose.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
