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The crowd parted for us, nearly jumping out of our way. But Osheen’s steps were slow. Giving us time to speak. “Give her the chance to test herself. Truly.”

I could feel the tick in my jaw. “At the risk of her life.”

“It isherlife.”

I wanted to tear out his throat. To knock him to the floor and tell him he knewnothingof the mating bond. The pressure of it, the compulsion to keep her safe… Ancestors, I was so close to losing control. Again.

Three hundred years, I’d served Annwyn. I’d led the terrestrial forces in battle after battle, beating back any threat that came to our shores. Even a few preemptive strikes across the ocean. I’d always done my duty. It was how I’d learned to keep control—by knowing that I was working for something bigger than myself.

Then Veyka came along.

Even before we were joined and I realized what she truly was… even then, I’d been willing to let Annwyn burn to the ground for her.

These humans and their problems? They were nothing to me. Not when I’d seen Veyka’s breath catch in her throat, the worry and fear in her eyes when she’d sighted the rift.

I would give anything—do anything—to take away her fear.

But protecting her wouldn’t do it.

Because that was aboutmyfear.

And that came from a different place altogether.

The only thing that would help Veyka was getting to Avalon and getting answers about the Void Prophecy—whatever she needed to help her control her power, so we could go back to Annwyn.

I’d endure this meeting and the human nonsense to get access to the Eldermist archives. That was it.

As usual, however, my mate was already complicating things.

She’d managed to clear out her entire quarter of the guild hall. Not a single human was within spitting distance. Which meant they were all pressed even more tightly into the remaining three quarters.

I lifted one eyebrow.Notin amusement. “Are you causing trouble?”

“If they don’t stop staring at me like that, I might start.” She flipped her dagger casually in her hand. I knew that she would catch it by the hilt, no harm done. The humans were not so sure. Understandably.

“You are the High Queen of Annwyn—”

“Why don’t you say it a little louder, so that everyone will realize and then we can have another scene like earlier today?” Veyka hissed. She caught her dagger, slid it into the scabbard at her waist, and fixed me with a burning stare.

“Try not to kill anyone before the meeting is over.”

Her eyes started to glow. “You want to punish me for my sass, do you?”

I’d made a mistake.

Veyka wasn’t going to kill one of the humans. She was going to killme.

Whether she was trying to distract herself or responding to the burn in our chests from the days spent preparing for the journey rather than giving in to the bond… she was looking at me with desire in her eyes. And I was a second away from losing control.

In the distance—on the other side of the hall, the town, or in another realm entirely—someone blew a horn. Veyka’s grin turned absolutely wicked.

I bared my teeth, letting my canines show. “I want to listen to this meeting and get the hell out of Eldermist.”

Veyka’s blue eyes flared brighter in return. “By all means, Brutal Prince.”

* * *

The Council of Elders was exactly what it sounded like—five humans, all in varying stages of gray with sour looks on their faces. All except for Sylva, whose expression was neutral.