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This revelation seems to catch Galen off guard. He shifts on his feet, various emotions flickering across his face that I can’t quite make out in the dim light.
“It’s true,” I continue. “I was so angry with him for years for leaving like that. But I found him here. I heard his story. It doesn’t make what he did right, but I understand his side of it, why he did what he did. If a few conversations can help overcome years of hurt and pain, then I’m sure they can do the same for you.”
“Perhaps,” he muses, staring off toward the nearest group of partiers. “But they’ll have to listen to me first.”
True. In other circumstances, I’m not sure I would have heard Uncle Mark out.
Something catches my attention from the corner of my eye. A flash of pink hair slipping between two tents not terribly far away. My skin goes clammy, and I suddenly wish I hadn’t left the tent.
“Galen.” I tug his sleeve. “Did you see that?” I gesture in the direction of the movement.
“See what?”
“I thought I saw someone.” Though no matter how I stare, I don’t see them again, nor anything else.
Maybe it was a trick of my mind, but I can’t shake it. With all the excitement and revelations of the last few days, I’d forgotten about the Unseelie woman. I should have told Sigurd about her. I should have told him long ago. My heart picks up its pace, hammering against my ribs. I never learned exactly what she wanted, but it seemed to involve me winning the games. I have. If she has some kind of plan, I’ve played right into it without even considering the consequences.
“I should go back. It’s late.” I turn back toward Sigurd’s tent.
But Galen stops me with a soft touch on my arm. “Wait.”
I turn to him, waiting patiently as he asked, even though my breaths are coming short and quick.
“You truly think betrayal can be forgiven?” he asks.
His eyes are wide, filled with so much emotion that it’s pouring out of him, visible even in the night. The corners of his eyes even seem to give off a soft, bluish-green glow.
“Yes, I truly do.”
He nods, visibly swallowing. “Good.” He takes my hand in his, squeezing almost painfully. “Because I am so sorry about this, Wren.”
Chapter 37
Ijerkbackandopen my mouth to speak, but it’s too late. His grip is like iron. The world around us already bends and warps, the air around me constricting and drawing me back to Galen. This shift takes a long time, enough for nausea to take hold and for me to scream at myself about being an idiot.
I thought I had to worry about the Unseelie, but instead, it was my friend who led me into the dark to betray me.
Will Sigurd even know what happened? Or will he think I chose to leave him? I planned to return home, but somehow, I know this is far from the destination I had in mind and not at all how I planned to leave things with the man I’m falling in love with.
I’m in love with him.
No sooner has that thought screamed through my brain than the spinning stops, and I nearly fall to the ground. But Galen has me, his grip as absolute as before.
“How dare—” I stumble, the rest of my angry outburst ending in a grimace.
“You’ll be safe. The Court of the Forest will get you home.”
“He’ll come for me.” It’s a hope more than a certainty, but humans are not bound by fae laws of truth.
Galen grimaces. “I know.”
At that, my heart gives a tiny leap. He’s certain of it. “Then why?” Why risk angering the king who just freed him?
“Proof of my loyalty to the Forest,” Galen says.
So I’m a pawn. A tool. So much for me thinking him my friend. Tears prickle the corner of my eyes anyway. At the moment, he’s the last person I should be sad over, but it hurts all the same.
“If I give them you, the King of Air’s marked mate, they’ll have to listen to me.”
