Venom.
Sure, riding a venomous monster to Faerie where halflings were kept prisoner sounded great. Her dad had mentioned that some faeries carved out the eyes of people with Faerie Sight, and some kept them and halflings prisoner. Going to Faerie sounded like an awful idea. Of course, so did being a prisoner of the Wild Hunt.
“Stay safe,” Gina said in a squeaky voice.
Katherine nodded and then looked at Callisto. “We need to rescue Urian. I’m not going there and hiding. Promise me you won’t leave me there?”
The creature, Callisto’s form currently, nodded. She licked the venom from her teeth and smiled.
“I’m not sure I make the best knight, but since Urian went all damsel in distress, this is where we are,” Katherine muttered as she climbed Callisto’s leg and onto her back.
Katherine’s boots were good for gripping, but nothing about using anyone’s exposed ribs as steps made her feel okay.
And then they were off. Katherine looked down and realized that her suitcase—and a steel bladed dagger in it—was held in Callisto’s talons, like a fish in the grip of an eagle. Despite everything, the absurdity of that detail made Katherine laugh.
Better laugh than cry at the things that could go wrong.
ChapterTwenty-Seven
Aislinn
Aislinn kept herself several steps ahead of Chela inside the building that she’d been re-designing for the Hunt. Everything she knew—which was admittedly scant—said that they bedded down in groups often. Steeds and riders shared stable stalls, or a mix of the massive creatures and Hounds in veritable piles. Just in case, though, she’d also left the top five floors of the building as apartments. The idea of never having privacy seemed peculiar.
“Are you nervous?” Chela asked from somewhere behind her.
Aislinn paused and glanced back.
“You’ve not stopped talking.” Chela gestured at the plant-filled stables. “These don’t require that many words, you know. Walls, floor, soft bedding that you grew for us.”
Aislinn tried to sound regal as she answered, “I want you to be happy. You do the court a great service by—"
“The court?”
“The Summer Court.Mycourt.” Aislinn did not flinch or step back as Chela stepped up to her, too close, too close by far.
“I’m not here for the court,” Chela said, leaning in to sniff right next to Aislinn’s throat. The Hound made a sound that would be called a purr, except Hounds don’t purr. “I picked you, Ash. Bloodthirsty, powerful queen. The court is a reflection of you, just like any court, but make no mistake, we are here because of you, becauseIchoseyou.”
For a moment, Aislinn stared out at the flowering clematis, the blossoms so pink they might have been red in another moment. The delicate petals that were darker at the edges symbolized mischief and ambition, and Aislinn had set them to grow all over this building.
“Like pretty red lips,” Chela said, following Aislinn’s gaze, but not stepping out of her space. “Are you ambitious, Ash?”
Aislinn nodded, not at all surprised that Chela understood the language of flowers. The Hound was thoroughly unexpected.
“Wrapping around everything, claiming it like you did this building.” Chela’s words weren’t a literal question, but they still sounded like one. They felt like something else though, especially as they brushed over Aislinn’s skin and left shivers in their wake.
Aislinn nodded again.
“Why wouldn’t I bring my Hunt to you? To your court?” Chela added.
“Is that why?” Aislinn forced herself to ask, looking up at Chela’s eyes. “Theonlyreason why?”
Chela’s smile was wicked and beautiful. “Can you think of any other reason?”
“Maybe . . .?” Aislinn’s pulse was somehow in her throat, making her voice sound rough.
“Just maybe?” Chela looked like all the trouble in the world just then.
And Aislinn was confused. There was no other word for it. She shouldn’t be feeling this, reacting like this. She might be fey now, but she was mortal first, and as a mortal she’d fallen in love with an amazing man. He’d risked everything for her. Sure, she’d been tempted by Keenan—tempted enough that when Seth was away in Faerie the first time, Aislinn had considered the thought of forever with a king at her side, with Keenan at her side, but he hadn’t loved her like he loved Donia.