Page 147 of A War of Three Kings

I dart around the chair, but Finan is faster. He catches me and crushes me against his chest, so my fists pounding againsthim have no true force. “I shouldn’t have threatened you. I didn’t mean it,” he grunts out, and I do not believe a single word.

My head strikes his jaw and I almost escape his embrace, but he grabs me around the waist and lifts me from the ground as my legs kick out wildly.

“You are my wife. Youwilldine with me and youwilleventually come to my bed of your own free will.”

If I can leverage myself in his arms, I could kick him in the groin and he would drop me. I could run…but run where?

Murdoc steps before our display and gives me a significant look. “My king, if you wouldn’t mind, I would like to work on breaking those fae enchantments on Keira before you start…entertaining her without your guards present. They have put a spell on her to attack you against her will.”

Finan dumps me on the ground at the suggestion, and I dart away from him, but come up short as Lord Desmond blocks my escape with a grimace.

“You can truly do that?” Finan’s eager voice rings out behind me, and I whirl back to the druid.

“I can, though the process may take several days. Maybe a week. It is best if she remains undisturbed during that time.”

Finan agrees, then dismisses us both by turning his back on us and talking to Lord Desmond.

Murdoc walks beside me as my guards escort me back to my rooms. I keep sending him sidelong glances, but I don’t speak. I want to know what game he is playing. Almost as soon as we leave the great hall, another druid falls in line behind us, carrying a parcel wrapped in fabric, a deep hood covering their features.

When we enter my apartments and the guards leave, I stalk over to Murdoc, rage boiling through me. “How dare you? How dare you marry me to that man and now act like you are an ally again?”

Murdoc holds up a single finger and beckons over the other druid, who pulls his hood down. Dark orange curls run down to his shoulders and his eyes are the palest blue. There is a scattering of freckles across his nose that makes him look younger than I am, perhaps only twenty. There is something familiar about him, but I can’t put my finger on it. I hardly take notice of him.

Murdoc cocks his head to the side. “I never got the chance to give you my wedding present.”

Anger rears up so hard and fast, I want to shake him. “I don’t want any gods-damned wedding presents!”

With quick motions, he flicks open the folds of fabric around the parcel in the other man’s hands to reveal a box. Within are a teapot, a set of decorative teacups with saucers, and multiple parcels of herbs.

“A tea set?” I say flatly.

“It is the tea itself that would be of more interest to you,” Murdoc ventures, the hint of a smile on his lips. “It has amazing properties that can counter the effects of poisons. The kind that might take away a woman’s power and make her helpless.”

Relief washes over me, so strong that my legs almost go out from under me. I take a step closer to the tea set. “Are you telling me I will get my magic back? I could open the portals in the library and return home.”

Murdoc shakes his head. “It will take a good month for you to recover that much of your magic, especially while the king is still poisoning you. What I offer here is a chance for you to be empowered again. To use your magic in clever, discreet ways, like you did to communicate with the nobility in the great hall. You could glamour yourself so you could walk freely in the palace and perhaps visit some of those leaders in their private quarters for a frank conversation. Like this man beside me. Are you sure you do not recognize him?”

I frown at the younger druid, stepping closer as Murdoc takes the tea set from him. I examine the long face and high cheekbones, thick eyebrows and narrow lips.

This man could almost be—but no, the nose is the wrong shape. Then he smiles at me and those eyes light up, his whole face creasing with the huge grin.

I laugh, though it sounds like a sob, and throw my arms around him. “Diarmuid?”

He tightens the embrace. “It took you long enough.”

I pull back from him. “This is a very convincing glamour, but won’t they notice you are missing from your rooms?”

He shakes his head. “Another druid has kindly taken my place, also glamoured.”

I turn to Murdoc. “Thank you,” I breathe.

He gives the slightest nod.

“There’s something else you need to know.” Diarmuid’s grin widens, and pure excitement grows across his features. “You are an aunt to a beautiful baby girl.”

I actually squeal, bouncing on the spot. “Caitlin had her baby! What did she call her? Are they both well?”

He laughs. “The baby’s name is Morgana. I am told they are both well. That the fae healer was indispensable.”

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