"No," Bracken said. "I'm so sorry, kid, but there's not. When the Hunt executes someone, there's no bringing them back."
"I saw him being carried this way! I should've followed!"
"But you couldn't," he soothed.
I bit my lips together, feeling shame wash over me. "The Huntsman had Aspen. I made him let her go, but he wouldn't leave."
"Listen to me," he said. "Rain, listen."
"No." Ms. Rhodes' voice was soft, gentle, and right behind me. "Let her go, Bracken."
Slowly, dreading what I knew I would see, I turned to find the headmistress of Silver Oaks wearing plate armor made ofeltam. A matching sword was in her hand, along with two short spear-looking things on her back. The perfect bun she always wore was now messy, and across her chest were marks of something that should've been blood, but was grey.
But behind her was Fin. I'd met the guy once, hated him, and had called him out. I'd been mean, hoping to make him feel like shit, and nowhe was dead.Dead.Broken. Lying with his limbs all wrong and his skin too pale. Never mind the open eyes staring straight up at the sun.
"No, no, no," I mumbled.
"He's gone," Ms. Rhodes said, but her tone was gentle. "Just him, Rain. I counted twenty-three hunters, and they cannot be stopped. There were more than fifty students out here, and at least another dozen teachers. Let's round it up to seventy fae they could've picked off, dragged here, and executed."
"Ivy..." Bracken said, sounding worried.
Ms. Rhodes never looked away from me. "That's a lot of people, Rain. Their storm hit with no warning. It wasn't even in the forecast! That means they came here when we were at our most vulnerable, and look at him!"
A strangled sound was caught in my throat, but I looked. I also felt tears burning my eyes at the realization of what I'd done.
"It's one person, not a pile. It's one death, notseventy!"
"But one is too many," I breathed.
Which made her clasp both sides of my face and shift so she was blocking Fin's body from sight. "It is, and it's horrible to have even one, but victory is not sweet. It is bitter and painful. It fucking sucks!" she snarled, using the kind of profanity I'd never heard from her before. "But do noteverdoubt that this is a victory. A hollow, painful, and miserable one, so it is ok to mourn."
"Oh."
Then she swept her hand over my hair. "And I am so proud of you. Your fathers are too. I'm sure your friends are as well. You, Rain le Fae, are a hero today. Hold on to that, even when it hurts."
"But I failed."
"No," she assured me. "You saved everyone else. The Wild Hunt is unstoppable, but you did the one thing we can't." She bent, putting her face level with mine. "You stopped them. Youhurtthem, Rain. That means you did good."
"So why does it feel so shitty?" I asked.
"Because it really is." She looked up and behind me. "Have the nurse get something to wipe her dreams?"
"Yeah," Bracken agreed. Then he clasped my shoulder. "Wanna spend the night with us, kid?"
"I have to make sure Aspen's ok."
"I've got her," Hawke said, moving in to join us.
"Bracken, dismiss the students," Ms. Rhodes told him. "Hawke, keep an eye on her. Wilder?"
He nodded. "I can thaw the ground."
"I hate to ask, but..." Ms. Rhodes said gently.
"It's my season," he replied. "I understand, and even Fin deserved that much."
Hawke turned me away, gently leading me back towards the massive building that was now so small, I could barely see it over the trees.
