“Can you help her?”
“I’ve done what I can.” Her gaze flicked up to mine. “She’s more stable, but rest is the only thing that will help now.”
“Then we return to the train.” I cradled Sia close to my chest and started through the forest.
Her two friends appeared at my side, bloody and panting.
“What happened?” Meria demanded. “Is she okay?”
“I don’t know.” The fear twisted in my gut.
11
Sia
* * *
Aches shot through my body, a dull tearing sensation that tugged at my muscles. I drew in a shuddering breath, trying to rise.
I couldn’t. Something gripped me tightly, keeping me bound.
Groggily, I opened my eyes.
The sight of Lore’s chin, lips, and cheekbones filled my vision.
He was carrying me, his strong arms cradling me against his chest. His beautiful face was set in lines of fear and concern, brow creased and lips tight.
“Lore?” I croaked.
“Sia.” His gaze flashed down to mine, fear turning to relief. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah.” I winced. “Mostly. What happened?”
“You collapsed.”
“Right.” I remembered now—vaguely. I’d just killed the bastard who’d come after me. When he’d grabbed me, I’d felt the most horrible sensation. Like he was trying to pull the magic right out of my body.
He’d almost succeeded, too.
I shivered at the memory.
“We have an audience up ahead.” Meria’s voice sounded from nearby. “Looks like every single person from the train is standing on the tracks and waiting to see who comes back alive.”
I craned my neck to see Meria. She and Eve walked alongside Lore, with Dain on the far end.
Relief rushed through me.
Everyone I cared about was all right.
“What about the rest of your guards?” I asked. “Are they okay?”
“Wounds, but no deaths.” Lore’s gaze was on the train we were nearing.
It had stopped on the tracks, the last three cars missing.
“Was anyone else lost in the landslide?” I asked.
“You three were the only ones in those cars.”
“Not a coincidence,” Eve growled.
I had to agree with her. I looked toward the figures standing on the tracks and wondered which of them was responsible. There were about two dozen fae—representatives of every court, just like Meria had said.
Curiosity filled their gazes as they watched us approach. Did any look disappointed to see us? My gaze went first to the Irish fae, but they had no expression. No one did, except for the Queen of the Mountain Fae. She looked worried.
Concern for me, or concern for her plan gone wrong?
The first, I thought. I still didn’t doubt her when she said she was on my side.
We neared the group, and they all looked to Lore, waiting to hear what he would say.
“We’ll continue with the journey.” He didn’t stop to speak to anyone as he strode by, carrying me into the train and toward our compartment.
I could hear the bustle of people boarding, but my attention was only on Lore. He held me like I was a priceless glass vase. But I could sense tension in his arms.
Interesting.
“You’re worried for me,” I mused.
“Of course I was. Am.”
“And not just because you need me to defeat the witch with the deathly magic.”
His lips tightened, and he said nothing. We’d reached his train compartment, and he pushed open the door and laid me gently on the bed. His gaze ran over me, brow still creased with concern. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine. A little weak, but fine.”
He nodded, straightening. Tension vibrated around him, and he looked like he didn’t know what to do with himself.
Finally, he sat in the chair by the bed.
“There are guards outside, you know,” I said. I hadn’t seen them take up position. Knowing Lore, he was the one who’d put them there.
“There aren’t guards on the windows.”
“Fair point.” If I could go out, someone could come in.
“What the hell happened?” he demanded.
“We were attacked.”
“But why? Why the hell were you back there?”
How much should I tell him?
Dare I mention my parents?
What the hell else could I say? He wouldn’t believe me if I told him we’d gone for a stroll. It had taken some serious effort to ditch the guards.
“I never knew my parents,” I said, looking away from him. “I spent my whole life wondering about them. Before we left your court, I asked the Truth Teller for information. She told me I would find it on this trip, and I thought I was going to the back of the train to get it.”