“What do you want?” David asked, his voice even and cautious.
“I've come to collect what's mine. ” He smiled at me. It was over. Without his new name, I was powerless. I didn't even have any weapons. He would take me and there was nothing anyone could do.
“Don't touch her!” Lend jumped in front of me, planting his feet and holding out his arms. If I weren't so scared it would have been adorable--Lend thinking he could fight off a faerie. I wanted to cry. I'd never see him again and it broke my heart.
Reth frowned. “You are getting very tiresome. ”
I put my hand on Lend's back. “Lend, no!” He had to get out of here. He knew what Reth could do, what Reth would do.
David, hands in his pockets, stepped closer to the faerie. “I'm sorry, I don't believe we've met. I'm David. What's your interest in Evie?”
Reth didn't even glance at him. “Time we were off. ” He held out his hand. My mind raced as I tried to think of a way out that didn't end up with anyone dead.
Arianna stood her ground, spitting on the path in front of him. “She's not going anywhere with you. ”
Reth raised an eyebrow. “What charming company you keep, my love. ” He flicked a hand lazily and Arianna went flying into a tree.
The sun glinted off something on David's knuckles as he swung at Reth's face. What good did he think that would do? His fist connected, and Reth fell backward, clutching at his face with an inhuman shriek. My jaw dropped as David turned toward us. “Let's go, now. ”
He turned his back too soon. From the ground Reth raised his hand and whispered something.
I shrieked as my wrist burned and I was dragged forward. I dug my heels into the dirt, but the pull was too strong and I fell forward, knocking Lend out of the way. There was nothing to hold on to. I clutched at my wrist like I could somehow tear away the fire.
Lend jumped on top of me, grabbing me around the waist and bracing us both with his feet. We slowed. Reth raised his other hand and the fire flared, pulling from my heart now, too. I screamed in agony. It hurt so bad I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think. A door melted into place behind Reth. A few more feet and I'd be his forever.
“No!” Lend squeezed me even tighter. David spun to hit Reth again, forcing the faerie to move one of his hands; I gasped with relief as my heart was released. He froze
David on the spot.
Reth dusted himself off, maintaining his pull on my wrist. “Barbaric race, really. Now then. ” He glared at Lend and raised a hand.
“No, don't hurt him, I'll come, I'll come!” I sobbed. At least then the pain would be over and Lend would be safe.
“No!” Lend yanked me backward, gaining a few feet on Reth.
Smiling, Reth opened his mouth. He was going to kill Lend.
Water, foaming and flecked with bits of ice, shot past us, whipping my hair forward with the force of its motion. Before hitting Reth, the water curved, turning back on itself and swirling around us. The fire in my wrist died, the invisible threads cut. Lend and I sat safe in the middle of the vortex, watching Reth's image ripple through the water.
“Really now,” Reth snapped, looking past us. “I would hope that you, of all things, would understand. You know what she means to us. All of us. ”
“That is my son. ”
Reth's nose wrinkled in distaste. “I see. Very well, he's of no import to me. I'll take Evelyn and be on my merry way. ”
“She is under my protection as well. ”
“She's no thing of yours. The waters have no claim. ”
“Neither does the air. ”
“We made her!”
My blood froze. What did he mean?
“Creation is not claim,” Cresseda said.
“And yet you claim the boy,” Reth sneered.