Page 74 of Fae Farewells

“I don’t want you to survive; I need you to survive,” I told her, tipping her chin up to make sure she heard me. “In the same breath… I”—I patted my chest—”don’t need you to survive; I want you. All of you.”

“I know,” she softly admitted.

I spoke against her lips. “He can throw all of his torture our way, but at the end of the day, he can’t stop us from fighting to get to you. He can’t stop us from fighting for you, Kitten.”

Friday, June 19th

Night

Sloane’s anger made my chest tighten until she shut her emotions down, but the hint of betrayal and jealousy left me with an ache I couldn’t ease. I fought to push my concern aside as I crept through the dungeon with Freya at my back.

I’d realized it was easier to compartmentalize my mate’s emotions when I knew or could see why she was feeling the way she was... Not knowing was when it got difficult. Lots of things made her anger surface, though I could speculate why she would feel jealousy. Betrayal wasn’t something she often directed at herself.

“Clear this way,” Freya whispered, dragging me from my thoughts. “Thatcher just gave me a thumbs up, so let’s go.”

“Okay,” I agreed. “Just remember—”

“Follow your lead. You’ve done this before. I get it, but I’m ready to see Sarge.”

“You have new mates too,” I teased.

She frowned, nervous about meeting them. “Shh. We’re in the middle of a jailbreak.”

When we got to Nate and Amelia, they hadn’t moved much from our last check-in. Both were sitting on the small bed, Amelia curled in his lap as they stared out the slim window in the stone wall. The vampire’s silence reminded me of Sloane and how she kept her intricate thought process hidden behind a mask of boredom.

“It’s time,” I muttered, not wanting to spook Amelia.

Nate nodded as he stood. “We’re ready. Tell us what we need to do.”

“Stay quiet and follow me. Don’t use magic.” I glanced at Amelia. “None. Those of us connected to the land can feel it if we choose.”

“Right.” Amelia huffed as she looked around her cell. “I’ve been here for so long I don’t remember what it’s like out there.”

“Everything will be fine,” he soothed. “We’ll be right there with you.”

“Come on. Valano is waiting for us.” Freya touched the cell door, her body tensing.

I snatched her back, and she gagged as she leaned over. Her hands shook where they rested on her thighs. She took a few gasping breaths as I touched her shoulder.

“What was that?”

“Their ward isn’t down,” she explained. “How can we—”

I shoved my hand into the ward, electricity licking up my arm, but not painful enough to make me pull away. It was more of an annoying tickle than anything painful. I snatched the cell door open with strength alone, knowing the ward being set off could alert the guards before we were out.

Freya’s jaw dropped as her brows raised. Nate and Amelia appeared just as shocked. I looked between the three of them, perplexed. Fae were strong, and the hinges were weak. The ward was made with winter magic, my magic.

“What?”

“How did you do that?” my sister asked cautiously. “That zap spread agony through my body until you pulled me away.”

I shrugged. “I’m fae.”

Freya smiled, shaking her head. “You’ve always been fae.”

“Yeah. It’s just taken me a while to remember that,” I told her. “Let’s go. Hurry.”

I turned, signaling for Amelia to follow me. Freya forced Nate to stay in front of her, though he objected until we all glared his way. I didn’t want to risk my sister, either. She could hold the guards off while I got the Kings out, though. They wouldn’t attack her like they would the escapees.