Guilt chewed a fucking hole in my gut, and I did not like it at all. So, I had fucked Avery and left.
There was no reason for my stupid conscience to pound into me about it. I downed another goblet of ale before refilling it again. It wasn’t like the woman would stay or join her merry-men against the horde of Unseelie. I snorted.
Why should she?
Sure, she was a bloody good fighter. One of the things I admired about her, including her stubbornness and how she didn’t back down from me. Or how good she felt in my arms...like she belonged there...with me.
I slammed my goblet down, ale splashing over the sides.
None of that mattered. She was my enemy…killed my kind and had wanted to kill Malcolm. I wouldn't give in to any sappy thoughts about a future with her.
It would be better for everyone if she left. I went back as soon as we rescued Simeon. The thought of never seeing her again darkened my mood even more.
Why hadn’t the Gwyllions given us their demands yet? They knew we’d do whatever we could to get him back. If they wanted him dead, they’d have killed him here in the castle. Taunted us with their victory. Was Avery somehow involved with them? None of this was making any sense.
I chugged down the last of the ale. When I stood, the room warbled, but I took off to find Malcolm. Let him know about my idea of using Avery as a bargaining chip to get Simeon back.
My chest tightened so painfully that I placed my hand over my breastbone to make sure I hadn’t suffered an attack from an invisible foe.
No blood or open wound.
Fuck! I needed more drink.
I stumbled into the table but kept myself upright. Malcolm, first, then more ale and to drown my fucking balls. No way was I going to have a human woman get the best of me.
Inside Malcolm's chambers, the air smelled of sex, followed by a heady aroma of something else I couldn’t quite name. So, Avery and Malcolm. Surprised it had taken him this long to claim her seeing how he thought she was the queen and all.
I staggered back into the hallway when the unknown scent made images of Amber collide in my mind and I recoiled. Amber was dead. Burned and her ashes scattered. I hated the bitch so much, I refused to allow Malcolm to turn her bones into weapons.
It didn’t make sense why I thought of her now. The Gwyllion that had taken Simeon. What if it had Malcolm and Avery too?
A vice clamped down on my chest. There was no way I was going to let a bloody Gwyllion take them from me.
“Malcolm!” I called and raced down the hallway, following his lingering scent.
When I passed the throne room, soft scraps inside made me pause. Why weren’t the guards here? And the doors were wide open, announcing we had our queen.
It wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be Avery. Her mother wasn’t the queen—she’d been human. Our queen had died in childbirth when we were young. This wasn’t right.
I marched inside to demand answers.
Malcolm lay on the stone floor, clutching his shoulder, pain etched on his face.
I drew my sword, ready for the enemy and rushed inside.
“Hold on,” I grasped his arm until he looked at me, though his face convulsed in pain. “Did Avery do this ta ye?”
He struggled to speak, his words garbled.
“Should ‘ave known the bloody bitch might ‘ave more weapons on ‘er. She saved ‘er strongest fer last.” If she’d done this to an Unseelie, I would’ve applauded her. But to Malcolm? Nay, she deserved death.
I had been right not to allow her into my heart. She was just like Amber. A bitch waiting to destroy me and everything I cared about.
Malcolm grabbed my arm, shaking his head violently.
“Helga,” I yelled, hoping she heard me. Gently, I removed Malcolm’s hand, patting it. “We ‘ave time ta fix this. Helga will heal ye.”
While I go kill a Fae assassin. The hunter would be the prey and I’d coat my blade in her blood.