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Aislinn laughed. “My instinct is that I want to incinerate Bananach. Summer is to rejoice. Threatening my faeries?
Starting conflicts with my friends? Injuring Seth? Not encouraging much rejoicing.”
“He’s going to be fine.” Siobhan stared directly at her.
“How can you say that? You don’t know—”
“Neither do you,” Siobhan said firmly. “And if he’s not, we’ll deal with it, but right now, your beloved needs rescuing.”
Aislinn leaned in and kissed Siobhan’s cheek. “I knew you would be a fabulous advisor.”
Then the Summer Queen strode through the loft, calling, “Time’s up.”
Some of her faeries were still strapping on weapons, but Tavish was at the door. “Those not ready will follow in short order.”
Admittedly relieved that he was at her side, Aislinn nodded, and together she and her advisor led the Summer Guard toward the Dark Court’s warehouse.
Chapter 35
While the remaining Dark Court faeries assembled, the Dark King turned to Keenan. “Seth. He’s still at the warehouse. If the Summer Queen learns . . .”
“Ash will meet us there, and unless someone speaks other-
wise, she’ll think it was Bananach who . . . caged him,” Keenan said.
The Dark King nodded. “He was alive when I left.”
“Let’s hope he’s still that way when we get there,” Keenan muttered, “and when Ash gets there.”
“Sorcha was ready to kill us all to protect him,” Niall-Irial said almost absently as he walked over to a panel on the wall and opened it. “I didn’t intend him to die . . . else I’d have given him to Far Dorcha.”
“Am I the only one who hasn’t crossed paths with the Dark Man?” Keenan asked.
The Dark King walked over to the mortal on the sofa. He knelt in front of her and handed her a gun and a spare clip. “Solid steel bullets. We can’t use them, but you’re still mortal enough that you can. Use them if she comes here. I think you’re safer here than anywhere else, but . . .”
Leslie nodded.
“If I . . . we die . . .” The Dark King faltered. “Don’t hesitate to ask them for help. Seth, Keenan, Ash, whoever lives. Whatever you need to do to survive. . . . I wish you didn’t have to deal with this, Shadow Girl. This world, this—”
“If Bananach wins, she’ll kill me.” Leslie trailed her fingers over Niall’s scarred cheek and added, “I love you.”
“And we love you.” The Dark King kissed her softly, and then he looked around the room at the assembled faeries. “Seth says we can kill Bananach. Let’s go find out if he’s right.”
“And if he’s not?” Keenan asked.
“We either die by her hand or as a result of killing her.” The Dark King shrugged. “I’d rather go out in a fight.”
The former Summer King lifted a short sword. “It’s a shame we can’t use guns. Walk in, shoot her, and be done with it.”
Niall laughed. “You stop being king for all of what . . . a day?”
He glanced at Keenan, who shrugged. “About that.”
“A day of being solitary and you want to throw Faerie Law aside.” Niall gestured for the remaining faeries to precede him and slung an arm over Keenan’s shoulder. “You might be qualified to advise the Dark Court after all.”
“Assuming we aren’t about to get slaughtered,” Keenan added.
“Sure.” Niall followed his faeries into the street. “Some of us will live . . . or we’ll all die. Either way, I don’t see the benefit of worrying about it.”
