Nerves. Fear. That’s what Liam saw in these men.

One of the Fae urged his horse forward a step. “Falco?”

“Varden,” Falco replied.

“We would speak with you.”

“He has nothing to say to you,” Breanna snapped. Wind suddenly gusted around her.

Falco placed a hand lightly on her shoulder. “Breanna, love, it will do no harm to let Lord Varden speak.”

She lowered the bow, easing back the tension on the bowstring before giving Falco a look that would make a man break out in a cold sweat.

Liam watched the Fae. Falco’s familiarity with a witch didn’t reassure them. If anything, it made them more nervous and fearful. But why?

“Can he fly?” Breanna asked.

“No, Varden is a wolf in his other form,” Falco replied.

“Then he won’t like getting tossed up to the treetops if he’s mean to you, will he?”

“I wouldn’t like getting tossed up to the treetops, and I can fly,” Falco muttered.

“May we speak?” Varden asked.

“I’d like to hear what he has to say,” Liam said quietly.

Varden gave him an assessing look before dismounting and taking a few steps toward them. “We’ve come to help.”

“Why?” Liam asked. “You’ve never shown any concern for the people I rule or the Mother’s Daughters who live here. You shunned Lord Falco because he did want to help. Why have you come now? Won’t your Lightbringer be displeased?”

“Things have changed.” Varden gave Breanna a nervous glance. “And it hardly matters if Lucian’s displeased since he’s afraid—” He stopped, hesitated, then focused on Falco. “Perhaps you’ve heard there’s a new Lady of the Moon, a new Huntress.”

Falco shook his head. “I’ve heard nothing about the Clans since I left Tir Alainn. So, Dianna was challenged and lost.”

Varden nodded. “The new Huntress is not only a Lady of the Moon, she is a Daughter of the House of Gaian. From the Mother’s Hills. She has said that if the Fae do not help the humans defend Sylvalan, she will close the shining roads in a way that will not destroy Tir Alainn but also will not allow us to come down to the human world. Forever.”

Breanna’s arm went limp. The bow and arrow dropped to the ground.

“Mother’s mercy!” Gwenn pushed her way through the men. She and Breanna stared at each other, then turned to stare at the Fae. “So you’re what got Selena so riled up.”

Varden flinched. “Not our Clan.” His eyes flicked toward them, then away. “You know the Huntress?”

“Not well,” Gwenn said. “But well enough to know Selena will do what she says she’ll do.”

“Since you don’t want to be a part of the world, why is this so important to you?” Liam asked.