Page 22 of Dark Night of the Soul

“But the wards. They’re strong?” I pressed.

“Wards are declarations,” he said. “They announce themselves. Anyone powerful enough will feel them.”

My stomach tightened. “And anyone subtle enough?”

“Will find another way in. What’s this about?”

I drew in a deep breath, expelled it. “If the Brotherhood came—if they decided to test your defenses—could you hold them?”

“For a time, yes.”

But not forever. “I may need to ask for help.”

He lifted a brow. “Not a small ask, I assume.”

“No,” I said. “But something is happening. Something I can feel but can’t see. And whatever it is, it’s headed here.”

To me, though I didn’t say it.

“You are preparing for…?”

“Survival,” I said.

“And the man who stands beside you? Is he doing the same?”

I was pretty sure he was preparing for war. “He’s doing what he thinks is best.”

“I see,” he said. He looked thoughtful for a long moment. “The fight with the Brotherhood is not our fight. But if our existence is threatened again, the Fae will stand where we must.”

Not between me and the Brotherhood. Where they must.

Fair enough. I nodded. “Understood.”

It wasn’t fair to Killian to drag them into this. I rose. Killian rose. He studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable.

“You are welcome here,” he said. “You always will be. I will instruct my guards to listen harder,” he continued. “To watch for what does not announce itself. If something brushes our wards and retreats, I will know.”

“Thank you,” I said.

He inclined his head. “And when the man at your side decides he can no longer fight alone, send him to me. I would speak with him.”

That surprised me. “You would?”

Killian’s mouth curved faintly. “Yes. Men who prepare for war often forget what they are defending. I find it useful to remind them.”

I held his gaze for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll remember that.”

As I descended the spiral staircase and stepped back onto the ground, the forest seemed to hush around me. Leaves stilled, birds quieted, magic listening.

I understood something with sudden precision.

The Brotherhood didn’t need to breach every stronghold.

They only needed to keep us moving.

Chapter 9 | Anna

I crossed the grass back toward the manor, leaving the Fae behind. I’d hoped he would put my mind at ease, but he didn’t. In fact, I felt more out of sorts than I did before I talked to him.