Page 27

Before I could respond, a horn blast drowned out all other sounds. As it faded away, a shout followed.

“Border!”

“Slow your mount and prepare yourself.” Greyson tightened his grip on Mela and ducked his head.

Confused but wary, I pulled back on the reins. All the other horses and riders around us were also slowing down. I adjusted my grip on Rue’s arms around my waist. She clung more fiercely, and a good thing she did.

We hit a solid wall of magic, which I could only guess was the border.

For a moment, all breath left my lungs. I floated—frozen in space and time—my head buzzing with the intensity of multiple spells. A defense spell drove through my mind and body with an intensity that set my teeth on edge, but I could tell it was essentially harmless, unless I intended harm to the king, which I didn’t.

A human detection spell glossed over me, Rue, and barely hesitated when it encountered Mela. Greyson muttered a curse under his breath. His anger and annoyance flared through me before he muttered a word. He burned up the human detection spell in an invisible burst of power.

When the after-burn cleared, leaving an acidic scent to the air, the curse binding the Unseelie king within the Unseelie border teased my magic next. Subtle and thready but strong, it slid over all our companions but stopped to prod me.

“Hmm.” Greyson hummed next to me. “Intriguing.”

Before I could worry much about it, the spell moved on to Rue. She gasped, but it melted back to mingle with the defense spell again without stopping again.

As the last of the border spells faded away, the wall of magic remained. It felt as though I were moving through mud. I struggled to breathe but felt like I was drowning. My lungs and instincts fought each breath.

Drawing up Blue so abruptly that the riders behind us shouted with surprise, I dropped my head forward and tried to calm the panic gripping my throat.

“Are you well?” Rue asked.

“I can’t—there is so much magic. A wall of it. I am being smothered.”

“It is just magic.” Her calm voice settled me slightly. “Lean into it. Breathe it in.”

I labored to do as she instructed, but the panic continued. My heart pounded and my ears rang.

“Accept it.” Greyson’s voice joined Rue’s. “It is part of you, young man. The magic of your birthright.”

“Why is it hurting him?” Rue demanded.

“Not pain—” I gasped for breath. “Too much magic.”

“Don’t fight it. Relax into it.” Greyson’s voice grew nearer. “Did you have this reaction last time you crossed the border?”

“First time.” I gasped again.

“Ah.” Greyson’s tone of understanding annoyed me.

Why would it matter if this was my first time across the border into the Wild Wood?

“Did your mother bind you to stay away?”

Rue rubbed my back between my shoulder blades. Beneath the firm pressure and heat of her palm, the muscles in my shoulders and chest slowly relaxed. The pleasant sensation of her magic curling around me, far stronger than usual, helped soothe my panic as well.

I lifted my head and glared at him. “Mother asked me to not cross the border for fear of losing me to the Wood. Every good mother on our side of the border bids the same of her children.”

“And being a good son, you obeyed,” he observed, a mocking tone tinged his voice.

I straightened up to glare at him as I slowed my panicked breathing.

“Ah, you still have spirit. Good.” He nodded his approval. “You had me concerned for a moment that the human child would have more tenacity than you.”

Mela observed me gravely from her guarded cocoon between the Dullahan’s arms.