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“Going against your darling’s wishes? Good luck with that.” Foxglove flips a lock of hair over her shoulder and wheels toward the exit. On her way out, the nymph pauses in the shadow of Cypress’s glare, embarrassment staining her complexion. “Sorry about the arrow.”

The centaur grunts. “You are fortunate I am ancient. I have lived long enough to learn the virtue of picking my battles. But if you ever betray Puck’s trust or harm his mate again, I will decapitate you myself.”

Her profile crinkles with regret, then evens out. She sidles away while saying, “I’ll be outside.”

The willow vines flap closed behind her.

Lark whistles. “If I didn’t want to murder that hussy, I’d be impressed with her sass.”

Sure. I’ll give that bitch credit for having the nerve to show her face here. That’s about all I’m capable of.

I whirl to Cypress. “You’re okay with this?”

“I understand this,” he defends. “As will you, once you calm down. Juniper’s intentions have merit. I believe Foxglove means to atone, however much we both should like to wring her neck.”

“Motherfuck,” I say, ingesting lungfuls of oxygen and then laughing without humor. “There you and my woman go again, ganging up on me.” I cast my head to Juniper. “I make no guarantees about trusting her.”

Juniper grins sadly. “I wouldn’t be loved if you did.”

Cove rises and loops her arm through Elixir’s. “Let’s give them a moment.”

I stride over to the hammock, then think better of placing my weight there. My ass drops onto the chair beside her, and our hands clasp. I’m tired and terrified and pissed off and too madly in love for my own good.

Now that everyone’s gone, Juniper’s voice crumbles. “Puck—”

“No,” I say, my gaze whipping up to hers. “No fucking way.”

“But—”

“I’m not losing either of you.” I snatch her face in my hands. “You’re not going anywhere. Understand?”

After a moment, her chin steadies. “I would argue if I had the energy.”

“Save it for later. You’ll be here for half an eternity—both of you. That’s plenty of time to fuck with my sanity and win every debate.”

She rests her forehead against mine, her outtakes stirring with my intakes. “I love you, too.”

Bloody Fables. “You have no idea, luv,” I murmur before my mouth seizes hers, my tongue swiping in to taste every bold thing about her.

Minutes later, I drag my lips from Juniper’s. Her voice cracks as she traces my profile and makes me promise to live, to come back to her, and for Fable’s sake, don’t do anything I’d normally do.

I grin against Juniper’s mouth and kiss her once more, and again, and again. I duck my head and stroke my thumb over her stomach. Then I pull myself away and stalk outside before I can change my mind and go back to her.

Every step is a thousand. Every second is a brick on my shoulders.

My brothers and Juniper’s sisters idle beneath a willow, while Cypress and Foxglove exchange words off to the side.

On my way to them, a runty voice begs, “Let me go with you.”

I halt and glimpse a centaur stripling with a chartreuse tail and mane. It’s the lively rulebreaker who’d attended Juniper’s reading without Cypress’s permission.

The filly’s eyes glitter with bravery. “I can help, too. And in a battle, I can fight.”

I hedge, then squat in front of the centaur and fold my hands between my knees. “You’re quite the fan of my woman.”

“I told you…I think I could like humans,” the filly says. “I want to help yours. Let me, please?”

“You can help Juniper by staying with her. She needs others around, Faeries who’ll keep listening to her stories. Do that for me, and I’ll consider it a favor.”