He saw the golden light through the trees and knew they were close to the shining road the Fae used to reach this Old Place. When Falco had shown the road to him, Clay, Rory, and Breanna, he and the other two men had seen nothing more than a wide band of sunlight that looked a little more golden than usual. If he’d ridden past it on his own, he never would have known what it was. Breanna, however, saw it as thick, golden air. Still translucent, but definitely recognizable as something created, in part, with elements of the natural world but not part of the natural world. Then again, she’d already known where to find the shining road.

The Lord of Fire stopped in front of the shining road and turned to face him.

“Your sister is a fool to challenge the Fae.”

“My sister is many things, but a fool isn’t one of them,” Liam replied coldly. “If she drew a weapon against you, she had a reason. If she threatened you and your people, she had a reason. And that is reason enough for me to stand with her and stand against you.”

“We are the Fae,” the man said angrily. “We are the Mother’s Children.”

“The Mother’s spoiled children,” Liam snapped. “Mother’s mercy! In the next few weeks, we will all, most likely, be embroiled in a war against the Inquisitors and the eastern barons they control, and many good people will die in the fighting. We don’t have time for a race that sits above it all in their lofty world and only comes down to our world to play games and amuse themselves. We don’t have time for the temper tantrums of spoiled, useless children. So go back to your world and stay there. And stay out of our way.”

The man’s expression changed, his face now full of understanding. He raised his hands in an open, giving gesture. “I understand how it feels to care for a sister. I understand how it feels to want her to be safe and happy.” His voice was deep, smooth, soothing. “Don’t you want your sister to be safe? If she came to Brightwood with me, she would be safe. The Fae would protect her from all harm. She would be cherished…and safe.”