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Bree shook her head and took one more step away from him. He knew just as well as she did that she wasn’t going anywhere until she healed one of the ravens in this place. She had to know if this was the cure, if this was the way to bring her males back into the land of theliving.
Bree ducked through the door of the hut and placed her hand upon the raven’s feathers before Eurig could stop her. The first time she’d tried to cast Taveon’s power, it had taken time for her to wrap her mind around it. It had been foreign, and it had been unknown to her. But now it felt like home, and it came to her in a rush without even the slightest request from her mind. As if it knew exactly what she needed it todo.
Sparks filled her body with that brilliant light that almost blinded her soul. Her entire body felt consumed by fire, flames licking every inch of her skin. Bree’s heart burned, and tears stung her eyes. Behind her, she could hear Eurig roaring in the distance, but she blocked out the sound. The only thing that mattered now was the bird. The tiny little raven’s life. Because its very soul might lead to the only cure theyhad.
Bree poured the healing light into the twisted wings, gritting her teeth against the force of it. When she finally opened her eyes, she stared down at the creature. As before, it slowly twitched, every moment bringing with it moremovement.
Eurig’s breath was ragged as he stood just behind her, gazing down at the creature with a tortured expression on his face. “Bree. What have you done? I told you not to do anythingrash.”
“You don’t make my decisions for me, I’m afraid,” Bree said, as gently as she could. She knew he was only trying to keep her safe. He was trying to do what was best for her. But only Bree could be the one to make her own decisions. Not Eurig. Not Rafe. Not even Taveon, who was pounding against the walls with as much anguish as Eurig displayed on hisface.
The raven lifted into the air, took one long look at Bree, and then it was off through the open door of the hut to join his brethren in the night sky. Bree felt her heart lift at the sight. That was two now. Two lives that had been lost, now brought back into the realm of theliving.
Eurig and Bree found some chairs and made camp just outside the hut where Bree had healed the raven. It had taken several hours for the villagers to wake up from their curse after Bree had healed the raven there. It would likely take several more hoursagain.
It was hard to stay still. Bree was itching to get back to the Court. Now that they had learned the Wilde Fae were not behind this—not this Clan of Wilde Fae at least—she was desperate to return to the castle and ensure that the true attackers had not descended on those stonewalls.
It was funny. King Midas had built his hulking monstrosity so carefully all those years ago, demonstrating his power, his cruelty, and his cunning. He’d designed the structures in such a way that it would be next to impossible for an invading army to reach theKeep.
He hadn’t considered this curse though. That changedeverything.
After what felt like years, the Wilde Fae began to wake up. Eurig and Bree stayed just long enough to see them stirring, slowly standing with confusion wrinkling their skin. But they didn’t want to stick around much longer than that. Yes, they had managed to undo the curse on them, but the Wilde Fae were nothing like the villagers. They were dangerous, cruel, and chaotic. And they were far more likely to stab Bree on the spot than to hear herout.
Eurig was quiet as they rode down the dirt path that would lead them back to the castle, but he didn’t need to speak for Bree to know exactly what he was thinking. He did not approve of what she’d done, and he didn’t want her to do it again, even knowing that it would likely bring every fae inside that castleback.
“You know I have to do it,” Bree finally said, her entire heart lifting when she spotted the first peak of the highest tower on the distanthorizon.
“I know,” Eurig said with a heavy sigh, glancing over from where he clung tightly to his horse’s reins. “But before you do, promise me onething.”
Bree arched an eyebrow. “What’sthat?”
“Ask Taveon to tell you what he is,” Eurig said, his voice firm andstrong.
Bree opened her mouth to reply, but she didn’t have a chance to speak. A single arrow slammed into the ground just in front of her, and her horse jerked to a sudden stop, neighing as it kicked its front legs high in theair.
Bree barely held on to the reins as the horse bucked underneathher.
And then a storm of arrows raineddown.
