Page 25 of A Lady’s Guide to Fae Kings

“And what about you, then, lass?” Cai asked her.

“She’s a Librarian,” Lachlan replied coolly.

The other man’s laugh bellowed, turning heads. “A Librarian? You always did have balls of steel, Thorn.” He wandered away, his smile never faltering. A sparrow flew into the bower, crashing into a mirror set between two candelabra.

Pippa knew what people saw when they looked at her: masses of pale golden hair, soft, polite smiles, a quiet they mistook for deference and meekness. It was all appreciative sidelong glances and gallant tipping of crowned hats until they found out what she could do.

That she was capable of accidentally burning herself up like a candle and taking everyone with her.

“Will I need to have the skill of an army lieutenant?” Pippa whispered.

“No,” Lachlan replied grimly.

She didn’t believe him.

Especially when the moon-white hounds began to howl, ears blood red and tuned to a sound she could not hear. The chatter and the laughter dwindled. The wind picked up, prickling with cold. Pippa did not know where to look, at the Fae courtiers or the hounds or the clutch of Fae shedding their clothes behind the Hare throne. Until she noticed everyone else looking up, except for Lachlan, still watching her.

The bower was open to the glitter of stars and the rush of clouds, tinged with purple lightning. Snow drifted slowly down, down. The clouds boiled, forming into stags and horses and spears of light. More hounds leapt into the circle, growling so low in their muscular throats that the dangling crystal drops shivered an eerie, tinkling song in accompaniment.

The clouds coalesced, becoming flesh and bone and teeth. A giant ice-colored stag streaked like a falling star, the earth shuddering when it landed. Kerne led the Hunt, warriors on stags and horses, now as corporeal as Pippa. There were swords, spears, axes. Magic seared and snapped like whips of light.

Pippa’s knees once again ached with the need to bolt.

Lightning flashed above Kerne. His stag’s hooves shone silver. When he smiled, another mirror cracked.

“Welcome to the Tithe.”