Page 90 of Stolen Threadwitch Bride
But, no. All of it glowed silver.
They were inmyweb.
Magic thrummed in my veins, buzzed on my lips.
“Stop.”
The word thundered through the chamber.
And then, silence.
The red fae stood on one leg, frozen in the act of taking a step closer, their grasping, clawed hand only a foot away.
Behind them, on the throne, Goren’s mouth hung open as though he was about to speak. His eyes swivelled side to side, no longer sparkling.
The only movement other than mine was Ly’s ragged breathing at my back.
They’d stopped.
“Ari?” Hand on my waist, sword raised, Ly slid into the space next to me. He glared at the red fae and flicked his blade in front of their face.
They didn’t even blink.
Ly’s stare passed from the red fae to me. “How did you…?” He sucked in his lower lip as if tasting something on it. “Your gift, it’s…” He stilled, mouth dropping open.
A slow smile crept over his face, pressing the dimple into his cheek, shining in his eyes with something like wonder.
It was confirmation: I’d done this.
I’d spoken and it was as though a hundred voices had joined mine, and this room full of fae hadobeyed me.
If I could make them stop…
“Goren,” I boomed and his eyes turned to me, although no other part of him moved, “you will bring me Lysander’s yew seed.”
My energy trickled away with each word, but Goren lurched to his feet. With jerky movements, he pulled a pouch from his inside pocket.
“Bastard,” Ly growled as he approached. “The vault was a decoy.”
Goren stopped before me, face still frozen in that same cruel smile he’d worn when I’d commanded him to stop, but there was something desperate in his eyes now.
Something afraid.
How appropriate.
I held out my hand and he dropped the pouch into it. Magic tingled up my arms, numbed my palm. This—the seed was even more potent than the power weaving through my words.
“I believe this is yours,” I said, voice normal as I handed the pouch to Ly.
He made a low sound as his eyebrows drew together, forming a peak. The shadows below his eyes faded, the cut on his lip too. And the flavour of night and starlight and rhubarb struck me with an intensity that shook my knees.
“Ariadne.” His midnight eyes blazed as they turned to me, as though the night sky could burn. “Thank you.”
I inclined my head, throat burning at seeing him restored.
But I still had more to do. Who knew how long this power in my voice would last? Once we left, what was to stop Goren riding to our door and attacking?
I lifted my chin and squared my shoulders and gave him a sharp smile.
