Page 49 of The Howling (Monsters of the Yeavering #2)

I pull on the clothing Lilburn has for me.

No dresses this time. I don’t even want to look at a dress.

Instead there’s a pair of trousers in black leather and strong canvas which mould to my form but incorporate a number of useful, functional pockets, a shirt, and a jacket to match the trousers.

I will always take enchanted clothing over lycra any day.

Finally, I pull on a pair of long boots which feel like they were made for my feet.

The ghostly form of Lorelei looks on with concern. Lilburn explained that she is only here, in this odd hermitage, carved out of solid rock, because it’s still within the grounds of Reavely’s castle and she has the strongest connection to the place.

“Are we sure this Lord Soulis definitely has Reavely?” I ask Lilburn.

“He needs at least one monster to gain full control of Queen Mab’s old position. He can’t take the wyrm, no one can, the Brag is in the Night Lands, Linton is…not in his employ and as for the Shellycoat…” Lilburn flexes her hands.

“The Shellycoat works for whomsoever he chooses, presumably he turned Soulis down.” Lorelei says.

I look between both of them. “Leaving Reavely?”

“He’s the only one with something to lose.” Lilburn says, averting her gaze from Lorelei.

I heave out a sigh. Looks like both Lilburn and Lorelei were right, there is only me left to get Reavely out of whatever situation he’s found himself in.

And if he came for me, then I will always come for him. Even if, I heartily suspect, he would prefer I didn’t.

“How do we get to Lord Soulis’s fortress from here?” I ask Lilburn. “Without rendering me unconscious again?” I give her a baleful look.

“Most creatures survive a portaling without passing out,” she huffs.

“I’m not most creatures. Have you portaled with a human before?”

“No.” She glares at me, mirth dancing in her eyes. “Why in the Yeavering would I do that?”

She hands me a small jewelled dagger. I tuck it down my boot.

“Oh, I don’t know,” I retort. “Practice?”

Lilburn snorts a laugh and Lorelei’s titter tinkles in the air.

“The Hedley Kow is a creature of mischief, not transport,” Lorelei says. “Unless it was worth her while to trick a human, she wouldn’t use the energy.”

Lilburn nods sagely.

“So, if this Lord Soulis has a fortress on the other side of the Yeavering, how are we to get there without it taking forever?”

“There’s a portal.” Lilburn gives me a dirty look. “I think I can probably activate it if the Faerie haven’t messed with it too much.” Lilburn tucks a loaf of bread and a hunk of orange cheese into a leather bag which she slings round her neck.

“I don’t think you should go,” Lorelei blurts out.

For the first time since I met her, the spirit Barghest looks lost and alone. Lorelei is usually so composed, but on this occasion, she looks distraught.

“We’ve been over this,” I say kindly. “I won’t have any bloodshed in my name. If this Lord Soulis wants to marry me, then I’ll get him to release Reavely first.”

“Then what?”

“I’ll figure out that part later,” I say staring past her at the striated sandstone wall. “The main thing is the Faerie don’t have me, so I can be the bargaining chip.”

I’m still stinging from the guilt I couldn’t save myself on the battlements. Or that I chose the wrong moment to walk away from Reavely and wallow in my own stupid feelings.

I love him. I can’t put it any other way. Life without Reavely is not a life I want to live. I need him and no stupid Faerie can take him away.

I move closer to Lorelei, wanting to be able to touch her but knowing I cannot.

“Reavely is my mate. I might not be Barghest, but it’s as important to me as it is to him. We will get married and we will break the curse,” I say firmly, wanting to convince myself more than anything.

I’m an unmagical human, about to go on a quest with a mischief sprite to take on a hugely powerful Faerie who clearly wants more than just power. He wants it all.

“If you break Lord Soulis, you will take the Yeavering,” Lilburn says quietly.

“I don’t want the Yeavering. The Faerie can keep it,” I growl.

“Right answer,” Lorelei says.

Her spirit form glows, getting brighter and brighter until I can’t look at her anymore, putting my hand up to shield my eyes.

And then I feel something being placed in it. The light has gone, Lorelei has gone, and in my hand is a gleaming jewel on the end of a fine chain.

“The Styne of Golorum,” Lilburn says, her huge eyes bigger than ever.

“Where did Lorelei go?” I feel her presence, but I can’t see her, and I can’t feel her presence. The lack of it burns inside me.

“Right answer.” Lilburn closes my fingers over the jewel. “It was long thought the Barghests were the keepers of the jewel, and this proves it. Her spirit was the vessel. She has sacrificed herself for it.”

Ice sits in my stomach. “What if I didn’t want her to do that?” I shove the words out as if they could change anything.

“It was her choice. She did it for Reavely, and for you.”

Tears flow down my cheeks.

“What is it?” The thing weighs more than it should in the palm of my hand, warm rather than cold.

“It’s something the queen gets on her wedding day. It has great power but only to those who know how to wield it.”

“I’m a human. I have no magic. Why would Lorelei give it to me?”

“Because you are going to be the new queen of the Barghest.” Lilburn lifts her eyes from my hand to my face.

“It isn’t my wedding day though.”

“That very much depends on how good an escape artist your mate is.”