See Me (See Me #1)(68)

I stood and looked toward the woods where everyone else was staring. It took a second to make out the lost boys blending in with the trees until they all took a further step out and stopped. All except Rock, who continued toward us.

He seemed like a different person. His face was made of stone. Around his waist was a leather band with what appeared to be an iron dagger sheathed at his side. Upon inspection, all of the Clour at the tree line looked to be carrying different iron weapons, their faces equally severe.

“Ronan!” Cassidy called. Mom took her by the arm, stopping her from running to this.

“We don’t have time for this today,” Dad said to Rock as he neared us.

“I will not be in the way for long, sir.” Rock stopped within arm’s reach of Dad.

“Rock,” McKale said in a warning tone. “Don’t do anything foolish, mate.”

“It’s the least foolish thing I’ve ever planned, Kale.” He looked back at Dad. “I will no’ let yer daughter be taken into Faerie, sir. Nor my best mate. Me lads an’ meself are prepared to fight. I will offer me own self as a substitute fer Cassidy if it comes to that.”

Cass’s hands flew to her chest. “Ronan, no! You can’t!”

“I can.” His eyes seared into hers. “And I will.”

Mom and Dad stared, shocked.

“It will no’ come to that,” McKale tried to assure him.

“Indeed, I hope it does no’. But if it does, I will be there.” He pointed to the woods where his clan stood at attention. “Waiting.”

Dad said nothing, just sort of balked as Rock turned and headed back to the woods, seeming to disappear out of sight.

Cass tried to tug from Mom’s grip, but she held tight. “I need to go to him!”

“There’s no time,” Mom said.

I turned Cassidy to me and hugged her. Mom let her go and I felt Cass’s arms grip around me for dear life. She let out a sob.

“Nothing will happen to him. Or you. This is going to work. Everyone will be okay.”

Please let us all be okay.

What if the Summer King didn’t care what shenanigans his daughter was up to? The whole plan could backfire if he was offended that we tried to make a fool of the princess. So much could go wrong. I lay my head on her shoulder and rubbed her back, taking as much comfort from the embrace as I was giving.

Someone rubbed my shoulder, and then a finger was under my chin, lifting my face. Mom. She gripped both of our shoulders tenderly.

“Cassidy, please take Robyn to the room and help her get ready while we finish preparing out here.”

Cass gave a final glance toward the forest before swallowing hard and nodding.

McKale reached out for me and I wrapped my arms around his neck, breathing in the scent of his skin and hair. I didn’t want to let him go.

“I’ll see ye soon,” he whispered, holding me tighter.

“Yes. Good luck,” I told him.

We pulled away and gave each other one last peck before I left for my room with Cassidy. I really wasn’t feeling well, but I had to be strong.

Pulling the gorgeous dress over my head lightened my mood a fraction. The silk was so smooth. Mom joined us, and she and Cassidy fastened tiny clasps and buttons up my back, then stepped away and “Ooooed.”

Leilah and Rachelle showed up with a basket of flowers and hairpins. Together the four of them brushed, tweaked and twirled. I was a little worried for a second. I didn’t want to be transformed into a giant flower-head, but Cassidy wouldn’t let me walk out of the room looking bad. When they finished and Cass handed me the mirror, I smiled. It was pretty. They’d twisted strands of hair from my temples and hooked them together in the back. Flowers lined the twists of hair, looking like a peasant’s crown, and waves of brown tumbled around my forehead and neck.

“Áillidh.” Leilah surveyed me with her hands on her hips. “Beautiful. McKale will surely be thanking his lucky stars he gets to bind with ye twice!”

“I love it,” I told them. “Thank you. And thank you for last night, Leilah.”

She shrugged it off and waved a hand, smiling. “Not at all, love. It’s me who should be thanking you fer bringin’ a bit o’ romance and hope back into the village.”

Rachelle covered her mouth and giggled.

Cassidy crouched in front of me and pinched my cheekbones to get a natural blush going. “Now all you need’s a little make-up and you’ll be set,” she said.

Before she could stand again I grabbed her wrist and looked in her eyes. “I was wrong about Rock,” I whispered. “He does care.” Her eyes watered and she nodded. The two of them were quite a pair. A mess, for sure, but his willingness to sacrifice himself went a long way toward scratching out those bygone mistakes in my eyes.

I reached for my make-up bag and got started, making quick work of it while Cassidy changed into a summer dress.

“It’s time,” Mom said when I finished. “Are you ready?”

“Yes.” I stood up. “I’m ready.”

“Yeah, let’s get this bee-otch!” my sister exclaimed. Mom glared at her. “Sorry,” Cass muttered.

I wished I could share Cassidy’s confident zeal for what was to come.

Our timing was impeccable because at that moment a draft of powerful magic shook the room. I rubbed the bare skin of my arms. All eyes went round, and Rachelle covered her mouth with a tremor.