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”Lysander, wildling prince,” the figure booms. Wickedly clawed hands lower the hood to reveal a dozen eyes and skin the color of the deep ocean. Horns made of pure shadow rise from the shadowfey’s temples. “We have been monitoring you at the behest of King Hellebore.”

My stomach sinks.The shadowfey king?

“What do you want with him? Who are you?” Ezra demands, stepping up beside me.

The Watcher’s eyes slide to him. “Ah, human. Your kind are always meddling in things you don’t understand. We are Watchers from the Monster Protection Agency. You’re in danger from the fairy.”

“What is this, some kind of intervention?” Ezra crosses his arms. “What danger? He can’t hurt me.”

I can’t find my tongue, stunned into silence.

“What Zagoth istryingto say is that there have been a few infractions lately —” Maddox begins.

The Watcher shoots Maddox a dozen looks at once, and the human falls silent, fingers going to his amulet. He turns back to me. “We understand you have been sheltered, fairy, but nevertheless you must obey King Hellebore’s decree, for all have agreed to live by it. No human can come to harm by a monster’s hand.”

“I’m no danger to Ezra,” I stammer, but even as I say it, I know I’m wrong.

It was my fault he was ever in danger from the azeroths, and it was only Ann’s spear that saved us.

Zagoth holds up a shadowy hand and begins to tick off his fingers. “You brought the human within reach of azeroths. You left the dryad’s to protection and spent nights in his home, knowing the azeroths were hunting you. You took no precautions to stop him from absorbing your highly identifiable fairy magic. You allowed him to risk himself rescuing you in the lake —”

“That’s ridiculous. I can swim,” Ezra says angrily.

Understanding snaps into place. What I saw on the shore wasn’t azeroths, but King Hellebore’s people. They’d been watching all along.

“Your judgment is compromised, fairy,” the Watcher interrupts as if he’s not there.

I flinch. I can’t deny it.

“Give me your amulet.” The Watcher holds out his hand, palm up. “Your enemies are close. You must stay among our kind, under protection, otherwise you endanger more than justyourself. The amulet is only for those who can be trusted to walk among humans.”

“Can’t you do something about the azeroths?” Ezra demands. “Wouldn’t that solve the problem? Without an amulet he’ll be trapped in The Sanctum.”

I lift the amulet off my neck. “They’re right. I should never have left Syril’s protection.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“We do not interfere with threats to individuals. Only threats to all,” the Watcher says. “We are here to ensure monster-human interactions don’t endanger our world.”

“How is it endangeringyourworld if I’m the one at risk? I have the right to make my own choices.” Ezra’s eyes blaze.

Yet my heart has gone cold, because I understand. The azeroths were born because of monster-human relationships gone sour. Ezra loves our world, but not all humans will.

“If something happened to you, the humans would have the right to know what happened and why.” Ezra’s head snaps around. I push on, even though every word hurts. ”We would be forced to expose ourselves. And they could — just as rightfully — decide we’re dangerous.”

“Too dangerous to exist alongside them.” The Watcher’s voice is somber.

“You don’t give the humans enough credit,” Maddox says, but Zagoth shakes his head.

“The risk is too great. You know this.”

“I know what you think, and I disagree. But we can fight about it later.” Maddox steps into the circle and takes Ezra’s arm. “Come on. Better say your goodbyes, and they’ll take him home.”

“Wait, what?” Ezra twists to look at me, hurt clear as daylight on his handsome face. “Lysander, are you going along with this? I’ll come to The Sanctum instead of bringing you back to myplace. We can figure it out together. These guys are just blowing smoke!”

Zagoth is unmoved. “He knows what is best.”

“You don’t speak for him!” Ezra growls.