WHEN RYDER RIPPED UP that awful card, the paper seemed to scream in protest. Each tiny shred dropped down to disappear amid the petals. The embedded power seeped back into the soil and was lost.
“Guess you won’t get that boost after all,” Ryder told Erskine, but my mate didn’t sound sorry. Instead, he was grinning as he plucked the Queen’s cage to free up the hand I’d recently refilled then tangled my fingers with his.
“Not a problem,” Erskine answered. And I didn’t think it would be one. At a single word from their king, the lawn had cleared of fae. Only Erskine remained behind to ensure the portal wasn’t used for unsavory purposes.
Now, he clapped Ryder on the shoulder. As if the pair had been pack mates. As if they were something akin to brothers. Ryder, I suspected, had more allies
