Thirty-nine – 08

“This doesn’t seem fair,” Carolyn said, watching Matt walk away. “All of us voting on whether one man is free or not.”

Marin grimaced. “He didn’t want to tell us why the Hunt had made the offer because of that, Care.”

“I know,” she said softly, chewing at her lower lip. “It still doesn’t seem fair. None of it does.”

“Neither was selling him to the Wild Hunt in the first place.” Thom shook his head, crossing his arms as he leaned back against one of the storage bins where they kept the clean dishes. “None of this has ever been fair, it’s just been. No one’s had any control over that one way or the other.”

“Until now,” Kellin said. “We get to decide now.”

“For someone else—for a lot of someones.” Carolyn shook her head slightly. “It’s not fair, but I can’t think of a better way to do it.”

Phelan grunted as he settled in his spot near the fire, leaning against Jacqueline’s shoulder as she sat down cross-legged beside him. “This is the only way to do it,” he said quietly. “It may not be entirely fair, but it’s really the only way shy of someone putting their foot down.” He glanced at Kellin, then at Thom and Marin.

Marin rolled her eyes. “If this was a crisis, maybe that would happen. This isn’t that.”

Isn’t it? J.T. wondered. A man’s freedom is on the line. He closed his eyes for a moment. As uncomfortable as having the Wild Hunt live nearby might be, his heart told him that Seamus’s freedom would be worth the risk.

Who are we to deny him the chance at finally being happy?

No one, that’s who.

Matt came back with an old fedora in one hand, a notebook and a box of pencils in the other. “Are we ready?”

Kellin reached for the notebook and pencils. “Absolutely.”

“Good,” Matt said. “Let’s do this.”

Let’s do this indeed.

Liked it? Take a second to support Erin on Patreon!