Queen of Blood and Vengeance (Secrets of the Faerie Crown #4)

65. Veyka

65

VEYKA

“She will die either way. Why should you sacrifice yourself as well?”

“It is my life to give, Evander.”

“I should slit your throat just for saying—”

“What does it mean? Losing a soul could be…”

Their words blended together in a sonorous cacophony. The snarling wolf joined in, circling my legs. I kneeled down, grabbing the scruff of thicker fur around his neck and tugging him to me.

We will find another way, he growled.

One second, my face was buried in thick white fur. The next, the spice and earth that filled my senses was all Arran, my face tucked into the eternal warmth at the crook of his neck.

“We will defeat the succubus by strength of numbers,” he said against my hair, stroking his fingers through it.

I let myself linger there longer than I should have. Too long, and that hope inside of him would rekindle. He’d think I had changed my mind.

I forced myself to pull away, to stand. Arran moved with me, hands cradling my face, his black eyes searching my features for any sign of what I might be thinking. So easily, he could access my mind and my heart. But now they’d became a torrent too big for even me.

“Wait for me here,” I said.

I’d meant it for Arran, but I felt the weight of all their eyes landing on me. Cyara and Lyrena, my loyal Knights. Diana and Percival, acolytes and humans, always on the outside. Mya and Evander, a new friend and an old enemy.

Arran grabbed my hand. Stay .

I will return , I promised him. “There is one thing I must do.” I pushed the communication crystal into his hand. “Call for Guinevere. There is not much time now.”

It was harder than I’d thought to walk away. Only the promise of where I was going kept my feet moving forward.