She had to get away from this Clan house. Had to meet the land. That was for herself. But she also wanted to understand why Tir Alainn felt so…strange.

By the time she had dressed and they reached one of the outer doors of the Clan house, Gwynith’s four escorts were waiting with the horses. Of course. She should have realized the men would be coming, too.

As she approached Mistrunner, the stallion snorted to let her know he didn’t approve of having his reins held by a strange man.

The escort, giving the horse a wary glance, touched two fingers to his temple in greeting, and said, “Blessings of the day to you, Lady.”

Surprised by the greeting, Selena looked at the man more carefully. He seemed tense, uncertain. “Blessings of the day,” she replied—and saw him visibly relax. “Did you check Mistrunner’s tack?” She regretted asking. The tension in the man returned, and his mouth was a grim line.

“I did,” he said.

Would you have checked it if it was Dianna going out for a ride? Selena wondered as she mounted Mistrunner. She didn’t think he would have, not because Dianna would have been in no danger from other Fae but because he wouldn’t have cared what happened to the former Lady of the Moon. Which made her wonder why these western Fae were so determined to look after her.

With effort, she pushed all thoughts aside and focused on the feel of Mistrunner beneath her—and the feel of the land as he lifted into his easy canter. As they left the Clan house behind, his little snorts, tail flicks, and head tosses told her plainly that he didn’t like it here, didn’t like the feel of this ground beneath his hooves, didn’t like grass that looked healthy and green but wasn’t good to eat.

Why was she so certain the grass wasn’t good to eat? Was it because her own belly had still rumbled with hunger even after she’d eaten a large meal at the Clan house?

She reined in and dismounted, walked a few steps away from her companions, then crouched to put her hands on the ground. A few moments later, Gwynith crouched beside her.

“Lady Selena?” Gwynith said.

Mother’s mercy. Were they all so blind that they couldn’t see what was in front of them? “Is all of Tir Alainn like this?”

“Like this?” Gwynith looked around. “The Clan territories all look a little different, depending on what part of Sylvalan they’re anchored to.”

“How does this place look to you?” Selena asked impatiently.

Gwynith frowned. She considered the question for several seconds before she said, “It feels…pale. That’s not the right way to say it, but…”

“It’s a good way to say it. How does it compare to your Clan’s territory?”