THE FOREST LORD By Susan Krinard

Why did he not use his magic? Did the iron in the gun prevent it, or was he weakened from the enchanted flight from London?

Lord have mercy.

She placed her hand on Hartley’s arm. “What do you want, Claudia?”

Her mother moved for the first time since Hartley’s appearance, walking stiffly to the center of the room. “We appear to be at an impasse,” she said. “I could have Mr. Blake kill your lover now, but it would harm the boy to witness such violence. However cruel you may think me, I do not relish hurting him.” She sighed deeply. “Before your arrival, I had planned to send Donal to America with Mr. Blake, who understands the ways of creatures such as your lover and could properly care for his child. But now… I am prepared to offer a bargain.”

“Mr. Blake will return your son to you, Daughter, and you may leave Hartsmere, but only if your monstrous lover is willing to sacrifice himself. If he is not…”

“I will make whatever sacrifice you demand,” Hartley said, never taking his eyes from Donal’s captor.

Eden dug her fingers into the rigid muscle of Hartley’s arm.

“You cannot do this,” Lord Bradwell said, starting for his sister. “I will not—”

“I warned you not to interfere,” Claudia said. “Do not mistake my sincerity.”

“I beg of you. Stop this.”

“You will thank me when it is done. And so will my daughter.” She reached inside the her black cloak. A dark, heavy object appeared in her hands.

“I had this made, in case my shot should fail to kill him. It is fortunate that I kept it.” She turned it in her hands, and Eden recognized it as a collar—an iron collar, shaped to fit a man.

“Take it, Daughter,” Claudia demanded. She signaled to the American, who backed away, Donal still in his grip, and let the muzzle of his shotgun drop. “Your monster must willingly accept this binding, or you shall never see your son again.”

Wave upon wave of sickness battered Eden’s body. “I will not.”

“You must.” She felt Hartley’s breath on the back of her neck, his warm hand at her waist. “I may die whatever we do, but this way one of us will have him.”

“Remove Donal from the room, Mr. Blake,” Claudia said. “He need not see this. If I do not come for you within the hour, do as we agreed and take the boy to America.”

The hunter backed out of the room. Donal whimpered and struggled, but the sounds receded quickly until Eden could no longer hear him.

You will never see him again.

Like an automaton, Eden took the collar from Claudia. She was not of Faerie blood, yet the metal burned her just the same.

You cannot, her heart cried.

“You have no choice,” Claudia said.

Eden let the collar hang from her hand and commanded her feet to carry her back to Hartley. He gazed at her, untroubled, almost serene. He lifted his hand and caressed her chin with his thumb.

“Do not be afraid,” he said. “Let me think of others besides myself. Let me know that you and Donal are safe. Let me act… as though I have known mortal love.”

A prism of tears blurred his face. “She means to kill you.”

“I know.”

She flung the collar to the ground and embraced him. “Hartley, no.”

His Lips brushed her forehead. “I know you will care for Donal, my dearest mortal. I understand love well enough for that. Teach him to be proud of what he is, and to survive.” He lifted his head and spoke to Claudia, and as he did, he became a magnificent creature once more, proud and otherworldly and untouchable.

“Hear me, woman. You may take my life. But you will first swear to me, upon your God Above All, that you will give Donal to Eden, and that you and your servants will not harm or imprison mother or son for the remainder of your days upon this earth.”

His voice hung over them with the weight of power. Eden dared to believe that he might be strong enough to resist his enemy. That he knew something she did not and had a scheme to defeat Claudia.

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