Spring (Evermore Academy 2)

Asher growls under his breath. “I’ve always hated that pretty-boy bastard. Exposing him would be a pleasure.”

“But why would someone from the Seelie Court work to bring the Darken back?” Mack asks, toying with the red strap of her dress. “I mean, he basically started a war to destroy the entire Seelie side of the Fae, right?” The others share a look. They must decide that Mack is trustworthy because Asher turns to her and explains, “The Darken wanted to destroy the Seelie because they stood in his way.”

I run a finger over the rim of my water glass. “In his way for what?”

They share yet another tense look, and my appetite dies.

“My grandfather believed land was the key to power.” Valerian’s voice is low, as if the Darken might hear him. “His continuous wars for territory eventually made my court the most powerful in existence, but he wanted more.”

A shiver of cold snakes down my spine as Valerian’s gaze slides to me.

Oh, God. “The mortal lands,” I whisper.

Valerian nods. “The Seelie opposed his plan to dominate your world. Historically the Seelie Courts were more tolerant of mortals, and they already had an overabundance of mortal slaves without a war. So my grandfather decided to remove the final obstacle to his grand plans.”

“Oh my God,” Mack breathes through the fingers clamped over her mouth.

A lycan waiter enters with a pitcher of water, and Eclipsa sends him running with a glare.

She turns to me. “The Seelie Courts may have once opposed taking over your world, but now, with the scourge and the darklings destroying their own lands and no end in sight, some wouldn’t hesitate to bring the Darken back and finish the job.”

My hand shakes around my water glass as I bring it to my lips. The thought of what that could mean for our entire world . . .

I give up on my water and set the glass back down. “I have a plan.”

Everyone leans in as I explain the scheme I’ve been putting together in my mind since I left the Summer Queen’s law firm.

When I’m done, I recap. “So, essentially, during the final gauntlet held in the Spring Court, we’ll have access to the palace, including the vaults where Hellebore keeps everything he considers precious. It may be the only opportunity we have to search inside his home.”

Unless he gets his way and enslaves me, but I don’t say that.

Mack’s mouth gapes open. Asher and Eclipsa have gone disconcertingly still.

And Valerian—he’s staring at me as if I’ve lost my mind. “If you enter the final gauntlet, you would most likely die. Do you think any of us here would let you take that risk?”

I swallow, trying to keep a level head. “If we don’t, and Hellebore manages to raise the Darken, my world will never survive. Are you asking me to do nothing?”

“I’m asking you to think about the people here who care about you.”

This is not going as planned. At all. “I appreciate that, but you can’t ask me to stand by now that I know how to take Hellebore down.”

Valerian gets that stubborn, I’m royalty look. “Funny, that’s exactly what I’m asking.”

On some silent signal, Asher, Eclipsa, and Mack all make bathroom excuses. Ruby tries to protest but Mack grabs her by the waist on her way out.

As soon as the magical ice door freezes behind them, I face Valerian. The pulse in his neck jumps. I can see the conflict inside his eyes. That overwhelming need to protect me. To keep me safe. To keep me his.

No matter the cost. Even if that cost is my free will.

“I can’t let you put yourself in harm’s way, Princess.” His eyes soften as he runs the back of his two fingers down my cheek. “If you’ve learned anything from the past few months about me, you would know that.”

I take his fingers in my hand. I don’t want to fight. Not tonight. “And if you’ve learned anything about me, you’d know I’m not going to cower from the chance to save my species just because it’s dangerous.”

“You’re not mortal, Summer. You’re Evermore.”

“No, I’m both.” Something about the vulnerability in his eyes gets to me. He stiffens as I lean forward, brushing my lips against his. “If you truly care about me,” I murmur softly, enjoying the way his breath shudders. “If you truly believe I’m your mate . . .”

My plan was to use my feminine wiles to make him listen. To tease him with the possibility of a kiss. But I underestimated how thirsty my body is for his touch, and my traitorous tongue darts into his mouth.