The three of them laughed. The stress and anxiety rolling around in me lightened for a moment just seeing him smile, seeing him be happy. I wondered how this felt for him, to finally be free.

Thorne clapped him on the shoulder. “Though, we weren’t expecting you to play your biggest secret yet.”

Everest grimaced and gestured to us. “He tricked them. I had no choice.”

Thorne cocked his head to the side. “I am surprised you even let them out of the house⁠—”

“He was knocked out.” I arched one eyebrow. “I tried to wake him and got a bunch of growling and mumbling.”

Everest looked to me with a crooked smirk. “The finger prick was a nice touch.”

I chuckled. My face heated so I knew I blushed. “You were really asleep.”

“Took me a minute to process what you’d said.”

“Sorry we could not beat you there, Brother.” Thorne pointed behind him. “Trouble sent us a message.”

“She really needs to start warning us that you might be in danger before you’re walking into danger.” Sage rolled her pretty purple eyes. “Give a girl a chance to prepare.”

Everest shook his head. “The last thing we need is them getting back into Seelie. You two need to focus on your border.”

“I think—” Thorne stopped and narrowed his eyes.

Everest and Sage turned to their left and stared at the tunnel wall, but no one was there.

Gold glitter sparkled within the green vines and then the wall opened. Saffie leapt into the tunnel with wide lavender eyes and a pale face. “UNSEELIES ARE ATTACKING HUMAN CITIES ON THE FEY LINES!”

“There it is,” Everest whispered. He gripped Thorne and Sage’s arms and threw them in the opposite direction. “Don’t you dare join us unless we’re near dying. Got it? Guard Seelie. Do not let them get in a consume again.”

Thorne nodded and shoved at Everest. “Saraphina, go with them.”

“WAIT, ROYCE!” Sage ripped vines off the tunnel wall and shoved them into his chest. “Poison Roycy, only if you have to. We don’t wanna show off too soon.”

He grinned and let out a silent cackle, then leapt out the tunnel opening behind Saffie.

I started to follow when Everest slid in front of me. He cupped my face and pressed a kiss to my lips, then pulled away. “Absolutely not.” Then he pushed me backwards.

“NO!” I screamed and pushed my magic, propelling me forward through the wall opening . . . and then I landed on all fours in the living room of Coven Headquarters. I slammed my hands on the floor. “DAMMIT, EVEREST! NO!”

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

PIERCE

We’d been in here a long time. Not that I had any proof, just a really bad gut feeling. The fact that my phone stopped working at the same time my analog watch did was decidedly not a good sign.

Neither was what I saw.