“Please offer my apologies to your Lord. You should be able to leave your Keep now with no protests from the fae.”
Seth continued watching me even as I raised a hand in farewell and disappeared.
Chapter
Twenty-Four
Our home was full when I finally made it back. Hope, Declan, and Moira shared a couch. Garrett and Simone shared a loveseat. My mother sat on the floor, and Rowan sprawled in my favorite chair and a half, bought for me last month when he saw how much I loved the smaller chair.
He was a bear and wanted to be next to me any time he could, even if all I was doing was reading a book.
His eyes lit up when we shimmered in, and he patted the space next to him. I went straight over, kicking off my shoes to the gods know where, and curled up beside him, burying my nose in his chest for a moment.
I loved the way he smelled, like pine and woods and a little bit of magic.
Moira grinned and winked. Rowan pulled me in closer and held me.
Things would go faster if I just spit everything out while we were all here. “I know why the fae are so angry.”
Rowan stilled.
“It’s my fault,” I admitted.
“It’s not,” Dad interjected.
I gave him a quelling look. “It is. When I destroyed the tree and became the bridge, I thought it would be better to keep the power a secret. Maybe it was for a while, but all I did was foster anger and resentment. I trapped every single lower fae where they were.”
Rowan’s hand slid down and gripped my own.
“I separated people from their loved ones and didn’t once think about the impact it might have.” I swallowed hard, guilt flooding me. “I am so sorry, Rowan.”
“Evie. You take the world’s burdens upon yourself. No one could have predicted what might happen, and you were right to keep the power a secret. You’ve been hunted your entire life. Becoming the bridge and being responsible for every single fae who wants to cross is an unfathomable burden.”
“One we need to figure out how to fix,” Dad said. “And soon. Nyria will tell others what happened tonight, and when she does, our kind will seek you out.”
My phone signaled an incoming text. I ignored it. All the important people were here, and Ash and Tess were safe on Keep grounds as far as I knew. I’d look at it in the morning after a good night’s rest.
“There’s something else,” I said to Rowan.
He chuckled. “Isn’t there always?”
His phone beeped next.
One more text and there might be an issue. I pressed on. “Soren wishes to move territories.”
Rowan blinked. “Seriously? He’s tired of his den of iniquity?”
Declan snorted. “That bastard’s harem is infamous.”
Moira winced, her relief at not taking that final step with Soren written all over her face.
“Seems that way. He wants to return to a place with nature.”
Rowan sat a little straighter. “He told you all this?”
“People confide in me,” I said with a shrug. “He’s tired, and he wants to leave the south.”
“Does he have a succession plan?”
