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“How is it that you can wield magic?”

“How is it that you have access to more magic than you did before?” He lifts his brows.

“That’s different; you couldneverwield magic previously?”

He shakes his head. “No, definitely not, hence my struggle to control it and to actually do something with it.”

“You’ve done very well, considering that you’ve had no formal training.” I smile.

“This last time, fighting those fae… It felt out of control. There is no way I could hold a masking spell now.” He looks down at his hands. “I have power, but it’s…too much. That’s something I hope to change…with your help.”

I laugh. “I had many years of hard training.”

“We don’t have nearly that long, but I’ll take what I can get. I’m not sure how it happened, only that it all changed when I broke the chain around your neck and was struck.”

“It changed for me, too.”

“Maybe it was also the eclipse.” He shrugs. “I don’t know. All I know is that I need your help to control it. I need some lessons while we are here. You heard Orion; the valley is a safe haven. It’s safe from her prying eyes. She can’t sense us here, even if we use our magic.”

“I will help you.” I swallow thickly. “I owe you that much. What is the plan?”

“We rest up, and then we stick to the original plan. I will take you home.” He looks me in the eye. “But first, let me introduce you to the others.” He glances at the cabin.

“You want to stick to the original plan and take me back yourself?” I roll my eyes. “There’s only one thing better to a coven than killing a fae; it’s stringing up a fae king. The target on your back would be bigger than ever. You need to actually stay alive if you hope to defeat Snow.”

“Our only hope of winning this war is if everyone works together. Humans, fae…witches, too. I want a chance to talkto your people. To convince them that united we will rise, but apart…we will never hope to beat her.”

“Fae, humans, and witches, all on the same side?” I laugh. “Now that I would love to see.”

“It’s how it has to be. We fight side by side against a common enemy, McColl. United by the same goal.”

“You’re delusional, but I like it.” I smile at him. “So, you want to use me to get an audience with my people? I have to warn you: I don’t hold much clout. I would have very little say over what would happen to you once we got there.” I think of my mother. Of how hard she is. How unbending. “My mother is the leader of our coven.”

“Even better.”

“You don’t understand.” I shake my head. “I doubt that there is much I would be able to do for you.”

“Let me worry about winning them over. Your job would be to get me there and to stand up for me. The rest would be on me.”

“It’s your funeral pyre.”

“It will work out. You’ll see. Let’s go inside…” He turns back toward the cabin. “I don’t know about you, but I could use a hot meal.”

I groan. “That sounds good.”

We walk back to the cabin. I notice a large chicken coop just to the side of the barn. Chickens cluck and move around inside. There seem to be plenty of them. There’s a flourishing vegetable garden on the other side. I’m sure there is an orchard of fruit trees in the distance. I’m pretty sure a couple of them are bearing fruit.

It’s like we found a sliver of paradise.

As we draw nearer, I hear muted conversation from inside the cabin.

Kian knocks on the door to the cabin as we arrive, then he opens the door, standing back so that I can enter first.

The men stand as we enter, along with a tall, willowy woman who stands, too. Her dark hair flows freely about her shoulders. She’s very pretty, even though she is dressed like a man, in breeches and a tunic. She stands next to the male with the white hair, Damon. If memory serves, he is the Icefae King. We were expected to learn about all the different fae in school.

Know thy enemy.

I know of them all.