Will listened attentively, taking in every detail. The mention of the Unseelie Queen caused his eyes to go wide and a shudder ran through him. She's a formidable foe and even he knew, with all his confidence in his abilities, that he was no match for Royalty. Even if he were armed to the teeth with human weapons and managed to get the element of surprise, she could crush a mere Lord with a gesture. Will also knew, without any doubt in his mind, that he would willingly face such a foe if it meant protecting Riley.

But the most shocking revelation wasn't even Will's blindness (the fact that he survived the Queen at all was nothing short of a small miracle!), but Riley's true lineage. No wonder the Fae had been hounding him for so many years. The Unseelie Queen's son was a valuable asset. And, if Will recalled correctly, she would continue to grow weaker as long as Riley grew stronger. It was in her best interest to keep him close as her power and thus her reign waned. All of this certainly explained Riley's affinity for water and ice, and his immunity to cold. He was truly the Fae of Winter. It also explained his potential to wield fire, as well. Such opposite elemental mastery would be significantly easier for a Royal Fae.

His fingers carded through Riley's hair, then curled into the strands to draw him near enough to press their forehead together. This was bad news. If the Queen herself came for him...

"They're never going to let you go..."