It had happened, and ended, so quickly, the Fae hadn’t had time to get up from the table, let alone run.

“That is what I can do in Tir Alainn, Lightbringer,” Selena said quietly.

His arrogance was gone. Standing in front of her was a shaking, terrified man.

“You bards and storytellers,” Selena said, not taking her eyes off Lucian. “You Ladies of the Moon. Listen carefully. The House of Gaian made Tir Alainn out of dreams and will. It is our power that made the shining roads to anchor this place to the world and keep it alive. What we gave we can take back. Or destroy. I have no wish to harm those who have done no harm, but I will not leave an enemy at my back when all of Sylvalan is at risk. So I will give the Fae this choice: The rest of Sylvalan is going to war against the Inquisitors and the barons they control. You will either fight with us, and earn your place in the world, or you will stay here.”

Lucian brushed the sleeve of his coat with a shaking hand. “At least you’re being sensible about this.”

“You misunderstand, Lightbringer.” Selena waited until he looked at her. “If you choose to stay in Tir Alainn, then here is where you will stay. Forever. We will close the shining roads. Oh, we won’t destroy them as the Black Coats did when they slaughtered the witches. We will simply turn the shining roads into ropes. They will still anchor your Fair Land…but there isn’t any one of you who will be able to get down that rope to the human world. You will have your Tir Alainn—and that is all you will have. Forever.”

She looked back at the other Fae, sitting pale and silent, too frightened now to dare speak. “Send that message to all the Clans, and send it swiftly. You have until the full moon to decide. If you do not decide then, we will decide for you.”

“D-do no harm,” Lucian stammered. “That’s your creed. We’re the Fae, the Mother’s Children. You can’t harm us.”

At that moment, he looked more like a terrified child desperately seeking reassurance than a grown man.

“Please, take her. Please.”

Cold, cold eyes.

“My pets will tear her flesh and drink her blood…. And then they will devour her soul.”

“Lightbringer,” Selena said with terrible gentleness, “anyone who makes the mistake of trying to use our creed as a weapon against us does not understand the House of Gaian…or the ones who live in the Mother’s Hills.”

As she walked back into the Clan house to pack her saddlebags, she heard someone hurrying to catch up to her.

“Lady,” Gwynith said shakily. “Huntress? Oh, Selena, please listen!”

Selena stopped and waited. “Come up to my room. We can talk while I pack.”