Ioan looked toward the buildings.

“Yes,” Gabriel said. “There’s a problem to be resolved there, and I’m stalling. But I’m stalling with valid concerns. What proof do I have that you aren’t involved in this? Beyond simply, ‘I’m Cŵn Annwn; trust me.’ ”

Ioan gave a wry smile. “That’s usually enough.” He took a deep breath and then turned to the other Huntsmen. “I’m giving my solemn oath not to harm Olivia in any way. If I break that oath, my life is forfeit. I will have harmed someone with fae blood, and the punishment for that is clear. Anyone who harms her tonight—in any way—is subject to your retribution. If that someone is me, so be it. You have your orders. Will you carry them out?”

A chorus of ayes and solemn nods. Then Ioan turned to Gabriel with that same wry smile. “It’s not a perfect solution. You can still argue that they are my Huntsmen. But Ricky understands. I have given an order that must be obeyed regardless of their personal feelings on the matter. If I defended myself against Liv while she was possessed by a vision, they would still be bound to hunt and destroy me. We are executioners, not judge or jury.”

“Quickly, then, please,” Gabriel said. “I’d rather we weren’t separated any longer than necessary.”

—

I wasn’t sold on the idea of splitting up. Wasn’t sold on the point of it, either. How would I oversee Ioan’s results if he was the one communicating with his canine and avian spies?

That was ultimately why I went: to see what Ioan was up to.

Ioan helped me onto the back of his horse, said a few last words to his men, and then we took off.

The first time I rode Ricky’s motorcycle, I’d found what I’d been searching for in every roller coaster and sports car, a need I’d never been able to fill until then. Except even that had only been as near an approximation as I could manage. Now, on the back of that horse, I found what my blood had been seeking, what Ricky and his father sought, too, their own love for motorcycles arising from this hunger they couldn’t otherwise satisfy, couldn’t even identify.

Now I found that, as Ioan’s steed ran so fast the scenery blurred, and all I could do was hold on, my eyes slitted, hair streaming back, laugh bubbling up each time the horse leapt over some obstacle I couldn’t even see.

This was in my blood. And feeling it, for the first time, I understood that aspect of Matilda. Matilda of the Hunt. Matilda, who even in the human lore had been unable to give this up for her bridegroom.