I took a hesitant step toward my uncle, closer to the aura of shimmering Seelie magic resonating from him.

“Hester!” Sy’s voice was taut, desperate. He took a step forward with me, keeping the tip of the poker between me and Lord Raelen. “What are you doing?!”

“Saving you,” I whispered, feeling my eyes stinging. I refused to cry in front of my uncle though. Not when he’d just sworn on my father’s memory, despite doing so to shame me and my ...