Page 94 of Fae Farewells

“Please,” he answered, that one word filled with humor.

I snapped my fingers, pulling a t-shirt from Vaughn’s backpack. I wasn’t sure what size she wore, but his shirts were mid thigh on me, so hopefully that was enough for the moment.

Reagan popped her magic stasis-bubble-thing.

He shoved his index finger straight inside it like he was poking at suds in the sink. With absolutely zero flare. And no care for the ground beneath.

But she landed in a crouch, her hand on her chest like she was gripping the dagger that had been there. She was wild-eyed as she took in the chamber, her hazel irises ablaze with fury.

Vaughn and I both spun to face the wall. He squeezed his eyes closed, shaking his head as he tightened his grip on my hand.

I wondered what the sleep spell was that knocked Novak on his ass, because we might need it. I wasn’t comfortable giving my back to that much anger, but she was naked.

“Vex,” Reagan called gently. “Vex. You’re safe. Put this on.”

There was a sigh, a grunt, and some scuffling sounds before the winter king said, “Vaughn, Sloane. You can turn around now.”

“Vaughn?” she questioned Reagan with a strangled gasp.

“You’ve been asleep for quite some time, my queen. I’m afraid the children are all grown up, and Alania has become a bigger problem than we expe—”

“Where is she?” Vex snarled.

That was one emotion I knew very well. All-consuming wrath would eat a person alive if they didn’t know what to do with it. While Vex’s anger wasn’t misplaced, it would get her hurt again. And I didn’t want that, so I told her exactly what she needed to know.

“She’s in her palace,” I answered. “But she will be dead soon. You’ll have to trust that your children will get the job done for you, Vex. You’re not ready to fight her yet. Gaining your strength back is what you need to focus on.”

“Sloane,” Vaughn whispered. “She might not be ready to hear—”

“Make a deal with me,” she proposed.

“You don’t want to do that with me. The Devil is a tricky creature, and you have nothing to trade.”

She narrowed her eyes, not happy with my refusal. “Kill her, and I’ll owe you a favor.”

I smiled at her, gripping Vaughn’s hand. “You owe me nothing, Summer Queen. She will die by one of these hands. No deals are necessary.”

“Why?” Vex inquired, glancing at our hands before making eye contact.

Reagan pinched the bridge of his nose, and I bit my lips so I didn’t point it out to Vaughn.

“She took my mate,” I explained, holding our joined hands up. “She held my father captive for a month. And she kept my mother a prisoner for twenty-four years. There is nothing she deserves more than my wrath, but I’m not the only one she has to answer to. We will kill Alania, and then we’re leaving to find Alric.”

“Alania had Amelia?” she asked, horrified.

“Yes.”

“In the summer kingdom that entire time?”

Reagan huffed, aggravation making the soft noise sound harsh. “Until she moved her to the winter kingdom, yes.”

“What do we do from here?” Vaughn inquired. “I hate to push you to make a decision, but we can’t stay in this underwater cave forever. And we can’t take you to the palace.”

“Why not?” his mother challenged. “It’s ours.”

“The winter palace is in shambles,” my fae informed his parents. “You can’t stay there. It doesn’t even have doors right now.”

His father nodded. “When she built the new palace—”