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“What’s wrong?” I ask but then realize in the same moment that I am an idiot.

I slap a hand over my mouth for a few seconds.

“I’m so sorry. I forgot all about the wards.

” By the goddess, how could I be so stupid?

“They’re designed to keep danger out, to keep…

others out. Especially the fae.” I wince. “I wasn’t thinking.”

“I understand; it’s not like you’ve ever come to the caves with a fae before. You’ve said it several times. The others pointed it out, too; we’re mortal enemies. Does this mean I have to sleep outside with one eye open?” He smirks.

I laugh. “Maybe.”

“McColl!” He gives me a look, one eyebrow quirked. He’s so handsome that, for a moment, I am tempted to leave him just where he is.

“I’m teasing you. Hold on,” I say, moving back toward him. “I can grant you access, but I will need to touch you in order to do it.”

“Touch away.” He puts his hands up as if he doesn’t mind if I touch him anywhere I want.

My cheeks heat as I approach him, placing my hands on his solid chest. He’s warm. He’s… No, not going there. Then I remove one hand from his chest, placing it on the barrier.

The spell is complex, woven by generations of my ancestors, but I understand its structure well enough.

I studied it until my brain bled. Taking a deep breath, I begin to chant in the old tongue, weaving my own magic into the existing protections so that they allow Kian to enter not just the cave but all of the coven territory.

It is a spell for Kian and for Kian alone.

The words flow from my lips like a river, each syllable precisely placed. I feel the magic respond. When the spell reaches its crescendo, I reach out and take Kian’s hand.

“Now,” I punch out, and together we step through.

The moment we cross the threshold, I feel the ward settle back into place behind us, sealing us safely inside. The cave stretches back into darkness, but I know every twist and turn by heart.

He touches his nose. “Healed me, too.” He lifts his brows. “Thanks.”

“Of course. I’m sorry I forgot about something so important. I guess I forgot to see you as my enemy.” I roll my eyes mockingly.

He laughs. “That’s a good thing,” he says, growing solemn.

We look each other in the eye. The moment suddenly grows uncomfortable.

“Welcome to the Star Caves,” I say to break the tension, pulling out a torch. “You’re probably the first fae to set foot in here.”

“I’m honored.”

I use my magic to light the torch. The flickering light reveals walls covered in more ancient runes, and high above us, crystals embedded in the ceiling catch the torchlight and throw it back like captured stars. It’s beautiful in a wild, untamed way that speaks of old magic and older secrets.

“Wow. It’s certainly something to behold,” Kian says, his voice filled with wonder.

We make our way deeper into the main chamber, where a natural chimney in the rock will provide ventilation for our fire. There is a big pile of wood already there. I set about making a fire while Kian explores the space with obvious fascination.

“The crystals…” he says, craning his neck to look up at the glittering ceiling. “They’re beautiful.”

“They sure are,” I say, using my magic to start the fire. “Like a blanket of stars on a moonless night.”

The fire catches, sending dancing shadows across the walls and warming the cool air. I begin unpacking our supplies while Kian sets down his pack near the fire, together with his coat.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I need to get out of these wet clothes,” he says matter-of-factly, already pulling his sodden tunic over his head.

I freeze, my hands stilling on the dried meat I was unwrapping. He’s so casual about it, so comfortable in his own skin; that much is clear since he doesn’t think twice about changing in front of me.

But sweet Kakara preserve me, the sight of him strips away what little composure I have left.

His torso is magnificent, from his broad shoulders that taper to a narrow waist to his muscles that speak of years of hard physical labor.

The royal marking covers the left side of his chest, the intricate design even more striking in the firelight.

When he bends to rummage through his pack, the play of muscle beneath his skin makes my mouth go dry.

Then he’s unlacing his wet breeches, sliding them down those powerful thighs, and I have to force myself to look away before I do something mortifying like stare at the impressive bulge outlined by his braies.

Goddess, but I am in trouble. I feel hot all over, like my skin is too tight for my body.

I’ve been with a male before. It was a brief dalliance that left me wondering what all the fuss was about.

But this…this is something else entirely.

This is want so sharp it’s almost painful, desire that makes my heart race like I’ve been running from hywolves.

I have a feeling that it would be different with Kian.

It would be everything I ever dreamed of.

Even better than when I touch myself. I feel throbbing from between my legs.

I squeeze my thighs together, but if anything, it is worse than before.

So I busy myself with building up the fire instead, adding wood with unnecessary precision while trying to get my breathing under control. The sound of fabric rustling behind me, of Kian pulling on dry clothes, seems unnaturally loud in the cave’s stillness.

“Much better,” he says finally, and I risk a glance back to find him fully dressed in clean breeches and a fresh tunic. His damp hair is tousled, falling across his forehead in a way that makes my fingers itch to smooth it back.

“This is good,” I manage, looking down at the blazing fire, proud that my voice sounds relatively normal. “The fire should dry our wet things quickly enough.” I hope so since I have chosen to stay in mine. Although my borrowed coat has done well enough to keep my torso dry.

We settle down to eat our simple meal of dried meat, fruits, and hard cheese, the crackling fire providing much-needed warmth.

“I am interested to know something,” Kian says, breaking the silence.

“What is it?” I ask, intrigued.

“Do your menfolk have magical ability? We’ve always spoken of a coven of witches, but there are children, so it seems reasonable to say that there are men, too. I take it that they are not human?”

“Heavens, no.” I laugh. “Sorry. It is a good question. You are right to ask. We consider ourselves to be witches…all of us…the men, as well.”

He frowns. “I thought that a witch was a feminine term.”

“A witch is a being or species. The women of our kind happen to mostly hold the stronger magic. That is why we also rule. And why you know us as feminine. The strongest of our men are often referred to as wizards in the rest of the realm, but powerful male witches are rare. Most of our males, just like you emptyfae, have magic with little or no access to it.”

“How interesting,” Kian says.

“The only beings more powerful than a witch are conjurers,” I tell him, taking a bite of my cheese.

“They are the worst of the worst. Conjurers have changed since Snow took over.”

“You’re right,” I say.

“They used to be extremely powerful, but still just regular fae. You saw that conjurer the other day…the veins all over him. Snow has somehow found a way to twist and corrupt magic itself. She’s started using them for her own evil plans. We’re not even sure how they are made.”

“Made?” I frown. “I thought that they were born.”

“Not this new breed of conjurers. It’s evil magic that pollutes. I heard from the others that more and more of them are being spotted all over the realm. They have those black veins. They are doing her bidding.”

I shiver in revulsion as I think of the one we encountered not all that long ago.

I take a drink from my skin, watching Kian as he eats. I feel the weight of tomorrow pressing down on us. The reality of what we’re walking into. As always, my stomach churns at the thought, working its way into knots. The food tastes like mud.

“Kian,” I begin hesitantly, putting down my food and swallowing thickly. “I need to try one more time to talk you out of this foolishness. What we’re doing tomorrow…it’s dangerous. More dangerous than I think you realize. You coming with me is…it’s insane, is what it is.”

His green eyes meet mine across the firelight, steady and resolved. “I know the risks, McColl.”

“Do you?” I lean forward, urgency coloring my voice.

“My mother leads The Circle. She’s not just powerful; she’s ruthless when it comes to protecting our people.

If she sees you as a threat – which she will – she won’t hesitate to act first and ask questions later.

And the Children of the Veil…” I swallow hard.

“They’re our elite warriors. They could kill you before you ever get the chance to speak.

You know that, don’t you?” My throat grows thick.

My eyes sting. The thought of losing him… it undoes me.

“As long as we are together, you have the ability to protect me,” he says simply. “You’ll keep me safe long enough for me to be able to talk with them…with her.”

“I will stand up for you as you did it for me. I owe you as much.”

I know how he vouched for my character when no one else would trust me. How he put his own reputation on the line because he believed in me. He stood up to Thesha more than once. He stood up to his friends.

“I’ll do whatever it takes,” I say without hesitation. “I would do anything for you, Kian. But I’m not sure it will be enough.”

“It will be,” he says, and there’s something in his voice that makes my chest tight. “They will listen to you, you’ll see.”

I want to believe him, want to have that kind of confidence in my own abilities. But I know my mother, know how she looks at me with those cold, disappointed eyes. Still, for him, I’ll try. I’ll find the words, somehow, make them see what I see when I look at him.

“I’ll speak for you. But promise me something?”

“What?”

“Promise me that if things go badly, if it becomes clear they won’t listen, you’ll leave. Don’t try to be a hero. Don’t sacrifice yourself for a lost cause. You don’t need us.”

“I do.” For just a second, it feels like he is talking about me…just me and not a coven of witches and the magic they bring. Magic that could help win a war or at least sway the outcome.

“I will run if I have to, but I hope it doesn’t come to that. But know that I don’t turn tail easily. Not when it is something this important at stake. My people are everything. But it is more than just my kingdom; this realm needs to be saved. This is a big part of that puzzle.”

“Then I’ll just have to make sure they listen,” I say, forcing strength into my voice.

When our eyes meet across the fire, there’s something unspoken hanging in the air between us, heavy with all the things we can’t say, all the feelings we can’t act on.

Tomorrow, we’ll face whatever waits for us in the valley below. We’ll do it together. I will stand up to my mother if need be. I can do it. I can do anything. I know that now.