Page 19 of Beauty

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” my father says. “Idon’t know that I want all of my children on that plane. It’s too dangerous.”

“And the plane is huge,” Cian points out. “You could walkfor days and never come close to her. Do you have any idea where she is?”

Shim’s eyes go a little unfocused. He speaks, but not toanyone in particular. “She lives in a tower. It looks out over long fields ofwheat. She works there, her hands pulling and plucking, working the plow.”

I watch as Beck pales at the thought of his sister workingin the fields like a commoner. I can tell Beck that there is still nothingcommon at all about Bronwyn Finn.

“It’s almost always hot,” Shim continues. “Lately when Ireach her and I can see through her eyes, she’s preparing for the harvest.Tomorrow there’s a festival of some type. Bron helped put up a pole, and thereare colored ribbons on the top. What do you think they’ll do with those?”

“She’s in the Tuathanas District. It’s an agriculturedistrict. They grow much of our wheat, and the Festival of Threshing iscelebrated with a maypole. The children of the villages dance around it. Thereis much merrymaking.” Cian looks at his brother, a smile growing on his face.“It’s perfect. It’s quiet and rural and days from the palace. No one would dreamof looking for her there. Or think anything of men on the road at that time ofyear. Many traders are on the road. Goddess, Beck, do you really think she’salive?”

“She’s alive,” I insist. “And we’re going to get her out ofthere before the war begins.”

Beck nods. “Yes. We have to put our plans aside. We have tosave our sister, your sister.”

Dante’s mouth firms. “No. Absolutely not.”

Beck turns on his cousin, but Julian Lodge stands at Dante’sside. “I agree with Dellacourt. You’re not seeing the big picture.”

“Our sister already survived one war. She shouldn’t have todo it again,” Beck argues.

“We can’t leave her there.” Cian stares at the vampires.

The vampire mercenary steps forward. “You won’t get anothershot at this, Your Highnesses. I know that negotiations will take a while, butif you allow the vampires to enter a full alliance with Torin, he’ll haveaccess to all their technology. Think about it. Do you want to go up against aguard armed with sonic weapons when you have a band of peasants at your back?Even waiting a month could be dangerous.”

“It won’t take us a month.” I’m not about to lose thisargument. “All we need is a few days to get ready.”

“I’ll leave today,” Shim promises.

Julian shakes his head. “She’s my niece, too, but we can’trisk it.”

“She’s our sister,” the kings say in one voice.

“And she’s a princess of the realm. You can’t have it bothways,” Dante returns, his face harsh. “You have to choose, cos. Choose now. Youcan be kings or you can be quiet family men who put their sister first.”

Beck goes red, whether with rage or shame, I can’t tell.“You know I can’t do that. Torin won’t allow it.”

Dante jumps on the words. “Then your choice was alreadymade. Damn it, Beck, it was made the moment you were born. You are not anordinary man. I know it’s unfair that you’re not able to think of your familyfirst, but you have a kingdom relying on you.”

“More than a kingdom,” Julian says quietly. “All of theplanes are at risk. You didn’t ask for this, Your Highness, but it is your burdento bear. The question is will you bear it or should we find another to takeyour place? I know I, for one, will not allow the planes to fall because yourheart is too tender for the task.”

A loud clap of thunder shakes the walls of the palace. Astorm is gathering outside, and it sounds brutal. Even the floor shakes a bit.Lightning lights the windows, electrifying the sky. Rain begins to beat on theroof, though moments before there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. It seems therumors are true, and the warrior king can call the storms to his aid.

“Now who’s overreacting?” Cian says with a hint of a smile.“You know they’re right, brother. We can love Bron all we want, but we’rekilling her if we don’t take our throne. We’ll get our crown back or we willdie. There are no other options. The time has come, and I welcome it. I want itto be over with so we can settle down with our Meggie.”

“Or we’ll settle her into a grave.” Beck’s voice is tight.The rain softens, lessening to a gentle pattering on the roof.

“This life or another, we’ll be with her,” Cian promises ona sigh. The kings of the Seelie Fae stand together for a long moment, theirbrotherhood apparent.

Beck nods, then brings his deep gray eyes up to catch mine.“You’ll go then. I don’t really have to ask you, do I? You’ll do it becauseshe’s your bondmate.”

Father stands, a hand on his forehead. “I cannot let myheirs go. I love my daughter. The idea that my Gilly is alive fills me withjoy, but I can’t sacrifice my heirs. I will send others.”

Julian puts a hand on my father’s shoulder. “Then Lach andShim will find another way, and they will be alone.”

Julian knows us well. My mind is already working. Now thatwe know where she is, there will be no holding us back. We will get on thatplane one way or another. “We’re going to find her, Father. You can’t stop us.”

“We will have her,” Shim says, his voice deeper than before.His fangs are out, and for once my brother looks savage.