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“Will you two stop acting like children? No One, you’re like three hundred years old. And Iron Thorn? You’re—I don’t know, some number of years older than five. But you’re both acting like toddlers.” I flicked my gaze between the two, my hand drifting down to find the head of Goose, who had decided to sleep outside the entrance to my pavilion and was now insisting on his daily payment for his protection. The price was steep. Deep scratches with all the strength my hands could provide. “Ard Tiarna Iron Thorn, if you will excuse me, I need to speak with my friends before we head out.”

“And where are we to go, Banfhlaith?”

Echoes of the title filtered through the camp in hushed questioning and confused voices. I winced at the formal address. We would need to get that settled. I did not want to be called Banfhlaith, especially when I didn’t even have a name to follow it. I was just Banfhlaith.

Was it my title by birthright? Yes. But it felt demeaning; it felt like that title was all I was. No other words, just Banfhlaith. No other purpose or identity behind it.

“Please, Ard Tiarna Iron Thorn, call me something other than that. Anything other than that.”

“The subject of your name will need to stew some, my lady.” He bowed slightly at the waist to beg forgiveness for his misstep. “Will you at least tell me where I might point my scouts and trailblazers to prepare a path for us?”

“We’re going to the House of Magic.” Hushed concern and fear rippled through the soldiers. “Or at least to the borders of their territory. From there, I will go alone to the ruins.”

“I will accompany you all the way to the . . . er . . . manor, my lady.” I could see the way he squirmed under the very idea of going to the territory of the blighted house of my parentage, let alone to the ruins.

“No, you will not. It’s dangerous, and we both know that. But it’s something I have to do. And you can argue with me about it on the way there, but I will still win.” I smiled venomously up at him, and he, sensing I meant it, bowed at the waist.

“Very well, my lady, I will prepare my troops. Please, get a meal before we leave. The journey will take us the better part of a week or more, perhaps two if we must make frequent stops for your companions’ comfort.”

“Fat chance, pointy. We might be humans, but we’re not dead weight,” snorted Green Man as he finished a small braid in Emerald’s hair. The two were becoming closer. I had never seen him braid her hair before we left the palace, and the freedom she must feel in being able to adorn herself and make herself beautiful was as sweet as honey on the tongue of my heart.

The borrowed face of Iron Thorn gave Green Man a scouring gaze, suspicion and dislike barely held in check fought a war in dark oak eyes. “We shall see . . . bush.”

I rolled my eyes and moved away from him. Goose lagged behind, glaring expectantly up at Brittle Spear until the great tower of his body crunched down, and they held council in hushed tones while the Fómhar Ard Tiarna paid his own price to the shaggy war dog who had summoned him. I had to admit, even if just to myself, seeing Brittle Spear doting on Goose made me want him more.

I pretended that the guilt of that unheeded lust and the knife in my chest could be easily ignored, just like all the many years I had spent longing for a place that belonged to me.

I sat at the table, and the three humans were gathered around and prepared to be scolded for my actions. A livid, pale purple bruise adorned the delicate porcelain of Violet’s face, and a chip near one of her cracks had begun to form.

“Let’s have it then, No One.”

She leaned in, her face nearly touching mine. “If we were not surrounded by Fae who would surely hide me raw for it, I would beat you like a rented mule. It was your job to keep us safe. If you abandon that again, I’ll slit your throat in your fucking sleep. I’ve tolerated your lip, your sass, and your whims since you popped up from the market. What I won’t tolerate is being free enough to follow you and for you to be so cavalier about it. Do it again, my lady, and you’ll wish you were back in that room with the Ard Rí. Am I understood?”

I didn’t flinch. She had every right to be angry with me. I treated her like an object, disregarding her autonomy because it was convenient to do so . . . just like the other Fae she had met.

“I’m sorry, No One, I was scared, and I was inconsiderate.”

“You took from me my choice. No one will take that from me again. Not you. Not that foppish Ard Tiarna you’re fucking—”

“We aren’t fucking.”

“Yet,” cut in Green Man and Emerald silently snickered behind her hand.

“—and not the other one either. I’m not going back to bowing and scraping for Fae ever again. I’ll slit my throat before that happens.”

I nodded gravely, agreeing with her reading of the situation. “I’m sorry, No One, I won’t do it again. But if I do, I’ll know the price of doing so is death.”

“Good, because I won’t tell you again. You’re one of them, but you’re supposed to be one of us, too. We don’t do that to each other. Now smack yourself in the face so I’m satisfied you’ve learned your lesson, and I’m not beaten for the brazenness.”

I snorted and rose, doing exactly as she asked. I didn’t hold back either. I slapped myself with every bit of strength I could manage, knocking myself sideways a bit. Green Man caught me, steadied me, and Violet gave me a satisfied nod.

“Bellies full?”

“And freshly fucked,” chirped Green Man, capturing and squeezing Emerald’s hand.

“You know, I’d say that’s more information than I needed to know, but I’m actually glad to see you two happy. So, fuck it. Fuck all you want. When we get to the House of Magic, I’d prefer it if you three stayed behind with the Fómhar soldiers, just until I’m sure it’s safe. I won’t tell you what to do, but if there’s anything there that can harm you, I’m concerned I’ll spend more time trying to keep you safe than I will trying to figure out how to get rid of it.” I watched Violet’s reaction; she stiffened slightly but remained silent. “I’ll have Goose stay with you. He can’t fight off all of the soldiers, but he can protect you long enough for you to get away.”

“I Don’t Know, the border of the Cailleach’s territory is a day’s ride from the manor,” Violet put in as if I should have known this.