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With her, our home becomes sacred and safe once more. The fury I had felt seconds prior is forgotten, my wrath dissolving into the moist air.

Only the shape of her remains.

It has been a full day since my brothers and I left our ladies with their father. My brothers and I had agreed to take turns keeping watch outside The Cascades. I had gone first, stationing myself at the entrance before Puck claimed my place, followed by Cerulean.

The family had talked for hours before everyone retired to sleep and recover from all that’s happened. Thorne went to the forest with Puck and Juniper, and Cove returned to our bed, where we slept like stones.

My joints relax into Cove as she rests her chin on my shoulder. Though I tower over her—over most Faeries apart from Cerulean—I like that my lady is tall enough to do this, to fit herself to me.

Her outtakes caress my neck. “What are you thinking?” she coaxes.

That I love you. That I am incomplete if you’re not by my side. That without you, my demons would consume me. That I can see what others don’t, yet I cannot predict what shall happen next. That I will shred the world in half if anything happens to you.

I will not hide this from her, nor must I expand beyond one answer. “I cannot lose you.”

Cove’s breath stalls, and her throat constricts against my shoulder. She burrows her face into me and muffles, “You’re not alone there.”

My heart winces. “You needn’t worry for me.”

“I worry about everyone.”

“Yes, that is your penchant.”

My lady’s selflessness knows no bounds, her dedication no limits. It is humbling as much as it is confounding, aggravating, and terrifying.

I adore her for it.

“I was scared,” Cove whispers. “When Tinder told us what happened to your brothers, I couldn’t stay still once you went after Cerulean. Only Lotus calmed me down, whereas my sisters couldn’t. I tried to distract myself by helping Lark with her leg, but…” a crack breaks apart her words. “I kept thinking of what my people would do if they caught you. And I…”

Tears clot her throat. I band my arms tightly over hers. “I am here now.”

“But the iron got to you, too.”

“It has passed.”

The toxins have evaporated from my veins, their potency nowhere near what my brothers endured. I did not battle such weapons, nor was I beaten to a pulp.

At least Cerulean and Puck are on the mend. Time is the only guaranteed cure.

As for the rest, The Mer Cascades served its purpose where I could not. In this one way, it is fortunate the area has been vacant since the flood. Our enemies abandoned their recesses in favor of stalking the outer niches of The Deep, lurking where we can’t find them.

To that end, our foes have us walled in, able to surprise us from any tunnel or cave. Even as we stand here, I feel The Deep shrinking.

The humans have learned of Lark’s treachery and will conclude her sisters have fallen in league with the Folk as well. And just as I’d been fleeing with Cerulean and Thorne, the mortals had discovered the cage empty.

Moreover, I know the makings of anger, the skeleton that welds its pieces together. Torturing Cerulean and Puck has likely refueled their confidence, reminded them of their advantages more than their drawbacks. Scorpio had accurately predicted as much when he paid my brothers that visit to their cage.

They will not let this escape go. They will not tolerate the rift any longer.

They will use iron fire to breach Faerie. They will come here sooner rather than later.

Our Fae enemies are also mobilizing. Our meeting with Scorpio and his pathetic failure to recruit Puck after the whipping ensures that.

They say I can see what others don’t. In this respect, my kin must be right. Visions of fire, steel, and blood inundate my head, along with crumbling mountain tops, fallen oaks, and roaring waves.

The only question that remains is which enemy lays siege first, if nature doesn’t wipe us out in advance.

The bliss of Cove resting against me is temporary. Nevertheless, I hiss, “I shall never leave you. I would sunder an army to reach you.”