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“It’s Bastien—something’s wrong,” I say and am relieved that Nico swiftly swings me onto his back, where I grip hold, and then bolts toward the castle.

I glance over and see Archie running just as fast, his feet pounding on the soft earth.

“Mistress!” Bastien screams but I can’t see him.

“We’re coming!” I call to him and then, as we rush through the thick branches into a clearing, I see Bastien stumbling, rushing, fleeing from something.

Only a second later, a dozen massive bronze nightmarish creatures tear through the foliage on the other side of the clearing. All of them stalk menacingly toward Bastien.

Nico and Archie don’t slow, but before we can reach Bastien, one of the bronze monsters raises a weapon and fires at Bastien. A net launches toward my Bastien, instantly enveloping him. With a pained cry that competes with my scream, he crashes to the moss, writhing in agony.

“Hold!” one bronze creature commands, his voice reverberating against us all. Even the trees seem to flinch from the power of his roar.

I feel Nico’s furious reaction to this stranger and neither Archie nor Nico obey, though they slow their steps as they continue to walk toward Bastien’s bound body. He looks so small, just a mess of quivering feathers.

My entire body trembles in response to his fear, his pain, his desperation. As soon as Nico stops, just a few feet from Bastien, I scramble down, with Nico’s help, and rush toward Bastien.

The moment I reach him, I drop to my knees, my hands instantly seeking his soft feathers. Our touch sparks this connection between us to reach a new height.

“It will be okay,” I promise between shudders, though I don’t understand enough about this place to know whether I’m lying.

“Mistress, take this,” Bastien whispers with barely a sound, even his lips don’t appear to move.

His haunted song sings weakly inside me, distracting me.

Again, he discreetly mouths, “Mistress, takethis.”

I’m shaking and I don’t understand, but I stare at Bastien as I try to work it out. I barely notice the creatures moving closer, surrounding us now. Harsh words are being volleyed between all the monsters, but all I can hear is Bastien and our song that’s fractured now, with jagged notes leading nowhere.

“Conceal it,” Bastien pleads and I finally realize what he’s saying. He’s holding something in his hand.

It’s just a feather—one shimmering feather. He probably has millions. But for whatever reason, this feather means something.

I stroke my hand over his arm and then his hand, speaking soothing words that feel false. While the monsters terrorize this forest with their volume and rage, I claim Bastien’s feather and cover him with my body.

Chapter29

Bianca

With my body over his, I hear Bastien’s whispered words, “Whatever you decide is right. I’m so grateful to have finally found you. I’m blessed to have beenyourBastien.”

He’s saying goodbye to me and I don’t understand. I grip the rope around him, thinking I can free him, and it singes my hand, blistering instantly.

My rage flashes like I’m a woman who’s been standing in line for four hours to get her car registered, only to be told that the line is closing and the person I need will be on vacation for the next week.

I leap to my feet and shout at the bronze monster in the front, “What is the meaning of this?! You release him right now!”

The monsters—mine and our enemies—had been arguing before my contribution, but after, everything stills. Likeeverything.

The largest of the shiny bronze brigade gapes at me, giving me the chance to study him. He’s as massive as Nico or Archie, but he’s furless and tusk-less and completely unfamiliar. He and all the other new arrivals have metallic antlers growing out of their skulls like permanent crowns. The tips look dangerously sharp. All of them wear formfitting shiny blue armor that is anything but subtle over their muscled bodies. Batman had nipples on his suit—these guys have highly detailed, metal penis pouches… thatmustbe exaggerated.

Chief Bronze-y gawks at me and I amp up my gawk to compete with his.

His expression hardens as he takes me in, my neck and clothing in particular. Then he aims his angry—or disgusted, hard to tell—chilly blue gaze at Archie and Nico. “She’s been harmed,” he seethes. “The queen will hear of this.”

To me, he says more gently, “You are safe, madam. We will escort you either to the queen or the portal—your choice. These monsters will pay for what they’ve done.”

“Hold up there,Captain ShinyPants,” I blurt, because his armored pants are indeed shiny and also because it seems like the right thing to say. “I amnotleaving my monsters, and if punishment is being doled out for hurting alady, well,you’llget a turn.” I hold up my hand, displaying my new pus-filled blisters.