Page 44 (2/2)

And I'm already dead to her

Roas not the only one to succuan, as han Chase, the half-huht us together, and despite everything I did to shield my emotions, despite the laws of our people and the ith the Iron fey and the threat of eternal banish for her Our paths oven together, our fates intertwined, and before the last battle I swore I would fol ow her to the end of the world, to protect her fro my own kin, and to die for her if cal ed to do so I becairl, this mortal who had captured my heart, until the last breath left my body

But Fate is a cruel mistress, and in the end, our paths were forced apart, as I'd feared they would be Meghan became the Iron Queen, as was her destiny, and took the throne in the kingdom of the Iron fey A place I could not fol ow, not as I am—a faery creature whose essence weakens and burns at the touch of iron Meghan herself exiledwould killI would try anyway

But before I left, I swore an oath that I would find a way to return, that soain

Mab tried to convince me to return to the Winter Court—I was her only prince now, and it was er part of the Unseelie Court, that my service to her and Winter was at an end

There is nothing more terrible than a spurned faery queen, particularly if you defy her a second time I escaped the Winter Court withanytime soon

Regardless, I feel little regret at turning my back on my queen, my kith and my home That part of s to another queen now

I proether I intend to keep that pro, deadlyup withrival, Robin Goodfel oho—despite all his attempts to hide it—is in love with my queen as wellI don't knohy I haven't kill ed hihan's closest friend, and she would h I can't understand why) Or,alone

In any case, it on we slay, or every ruoal

Even if it takes a hundred years, I will be with her in the end Another piece of the puzzle lurks somewhere in this dreary swa it

Thankful y, despite Puck's constant griping and co, the jabberwocks decided not to see what the racket was about and coh the marsh to find us That was just as well , because it took nearly the whole night to find ere looking for

At the edge of a scu else A picket fence made of bleached white bones surrounded it, nakd skul s topping the posts, and a few scraggly chickens milled about in what passed as a yard The hut was old and wooden, creaking faintly though there was no wind The , however, wasn't the house itself, but what held it up It stood on a pair ofinto the , but every so often they shifted restlessly, causing the whole house to shudder and groan

“We're heeeeere,” Puck sang softly “And can I say that the old gal hasn't gotten any less creepy than when I saw her last”

I narrowedthis tih when you insulted the centaur chief”

“All I suggested was that we could've used a ride out of the meadow I didn't mean from him”

Sighing, I opened the bone gate and crossed the weedchoked yard, scattering chickens in front of me Before we reached the steps, however, the door creaked open and an old woled white hair framed a lined, wrinkled face, and sharp black eyes peered out at us, bright and gleanarled hand she held a basket, in the other a butcher knife, stained with the blood of many victims

I stopped at the foot of the stairs, wary and alert Old as she appeared, the witch of this house was powerful and unpredictable If Puck said so stupid or accidental y insulted her, it would be vastly annoying if we had to fight our way out

“Well,” the witch said, curling bloodless lips to sht like jagged bits of bone “What do we have here? Two handsome faery boys, come to visit a poor old woman

And if my eyes don't deceive me, that's Robin Goodfel ow I see before me The last I saw of you, you stole s so it fel over e tried to catch you!”

I repressed another sigh This wasn't starting wellI should've known Puck had already done soht the urge to s on its face in the ether

I kept my expression neutral, as it was obvious the witch was not ahtest “What do you have to say for yourself, vil ain?” she continued, shaking her butcher knife at Puck, who ducked behind h I could hear hi it took al , the absolute gal , to leave e of the forest, just to prove you could take it I've half a mind to stick you in the pot and feed you to my chickens!”

“I apologize for him,” I said quickly, and those sharp black eyes suddenly turned on me I held ether with the buffoon at my back “Excuse this intrusion, old mother,” I continued formal y “I am Ash of the Unseelie Court And I need your help, if you would hear me”

The witch blinked “Such manners You were not raised in a barn like that one, I see” She stabbed her knife in Puck's direction, wrinkling her long nose “And I knoho you are, son of Mab What would you have of me? Be quick about it”

“We're looking for soh here, through the Bone Marsh We thought you ht knohere he is”