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All I’ve ever wanted was someone to step in front of me, to protect me, to tell me that everything will be okay and that I have nothing to worry about.
I finally got that with Nine. My Shadow Man who spent my entire life teaching me, shielding me, making sure that I have enough information to protect myself. Then, when the Fae Queen used my parents as leverage against me, he made the ultimate sacrifice for me.
He gave up his life for mine. So desperate to save me, he didn’t even think like a fae. Instead of looking two steps ahead, he fell right into Melisandre’s trap.
Now he’s a statue and it’s all my fault. It’s my turn to save him.
Not like I tell Ash that, either.
I don’t have to.
One look. That’s all it takes. A fleeting glance to where I propped Nine up in the corner of the destroyed apartment and my dad knows.
He knows—and he doesn’t like it.
Maybe he can read minds...
If looks could kill, Nine would be going up in smoke. Ash’s golden gaze glimmers as he bores holes into the Dark Fae.
“He shouldn’t be here. He was charged with watching over you, keeping you safe. Callie told me she allowed him one touch. But the brand on your skin… it’s far more recent than that.”
Well, yeah. Because Nine touched me only hours ago when I gave him permission to kiss me—and then he claimed me.
Can Ash tell that about me, too?
His mouth goes tight and I’m thinking yes.
“Ninetroir owed me a debt,” he says, glowering. “I didn’t give him my daughter.”
Only, if everything I’ve learned so far is true, he kinda did. At least, Callie did, didn’t she? When she commanded him to save me right before the Light Fae captured her.
Was that first touch my undoing or the only thing that kept me alive for as long as it did?
It doesn’t matter. Nine might have claimed me, but I have no problem claiming him back.
He’s my Shadow Man.
Callie clears her throat, drawing my dad’s attention over to her. I look, too, because it’s better than watching him glare at Nine.
“What about the prophecy, Ash?” she says softly.
“The prophecy doesn’t mean a thing,” he replies. “How can it? There ar
e so many different versions. The only thing they agree is that a halfling is fated to face Melisandre. That’s all.”
I’m not so sure what that has to do with Nine. Considering we only just managed to slip from the Fae Queen’s grasp, I really don’t want to be reminded how close I came to giving up my freedom when I finally did face Melisandre.
Or what she cost me when I didn’t fall for her trap.
And now another Light Fae thinks they’re going to keep me from the one person who was always there for me?
Dad or no dad, that’s not gonna work for me.
The words burst out of me. Even if I wanted to swallow them back, it’s impossible.
“It doesn’t matter what the stupid prophecy says. Fated or not, I knew that I loved Nine long before I heard anything about the Shadow Prophecy. Now I know that I’m in love with him. You’re fae. You’ve been frozen into some kind of statue, just like him. You know how terrible it is. I lost you guys for my whole life. I don’t want to also lose my mate.”
“No.”
