The moment Everest’s magic dropped and he was dragged into the Seelie tunnel, Sweyn had started screaming. The Unseelie Prince had leveled several rows of pine trees with his magic. Play the part, Sam. Act devastated and betrayed. If you’re gonna stay with her, play for her. That was what Tegan had said into my mind right as the Seelie tunnel closed in our faces. And one day I’d have to repay her for it. I’d been so stunned to watch it all go down that I’d forgotten I needed to act a certain way. Espionage was hard. The second he was gone, I’d wailed and dropped to my knees in the dirt. I’d even let out a few screams of my own just to play my part.

Pierce, bless his heart, he actually tried to flee with them. Yet Sweyn hadn’t given him the proper chance. When Everest had her in that magic chokehold, Sweyn had sent her own magic into Pierce to siphon his energy for herself to fight off Everest. My first order of business from here was to get Pierce the hell out of Avolire and away from Sweyn. As soon as possible. I had no idea when or how that would happen, but I’d make sure it did. I even had half a mind to find that ex-girlfriend of his and punish her a second time for what she’d done to that sweet, golden boy.

The Land of the Lore was done. Gone. Destroyed by the male who’d held it together for centuries, the one who’d held the leash on Sweyn’s actions. As I stepped over the ruins of the forest, I replayed Everest’s magic in my mind. I’d never seen anything like that from him. He’d definitely been holding out on us.

Pierce let out a shaky sigh beside me. “What do we do now?” he whispered.

Avolire stood just ahead, looking pristine in the heaps of snow as usual. I licked my lips and tried to keep my voice smooth. “Keep your head down, keep out of their beds, and when I say run, you run. Got it?”

He groaned. “Run with me.”

“I fear that won’t be a possibility, Pierce.” I reached over and squeezed his hand, reveling in the soft warmth of his skin. I was growing rather attached to the soft-hearted Brit. “But I will get out as soon as I can.”

He nodded, those red and green eyes dark and haunted. “I don’t know how to be around her now.”

“You’re not Lilith’s grandchild, you are allowed to be afraid.” I squeezed his hand tighter. “It might actually keep her blind.”

“Sam, I just⁠—”