Page 27 of A War of Three Kings

“Then what was he?” she snaps.

Aldrin scowls. “Nissien was Tuatha Dé Danann. One of the gods of Autumn. If I remember my ancient history correctly, he has a brother called Efnissien. The god you met was the level-headed one, while his brother is known for viciousness. All gods are possessive and at least a little crazy. His blood would explain why autumn magic of decay, destruction and fire runs so strongly in your family.”

The entire world spins around me. There is a ringing in my ears that drowns out the heated words between Aldrin and my grandmother.

We descend directly from one of the fae’s gods?

It cannot be true. There is nothing so special about me.

My father shakes his head. He opens his mouth, but nothing comes out. When his wide, emerald gaze meets mine, there is pure panic within it.

A panic we share.

My grandmother gets up and grips his face in both her hands in a fluid motion. “Listen to me, son. I know this story is difficultfor you to hear, but you are nothing like Nissien. You took on the traits of your true father, Ronan, and he would be incredibly proud of you.”

My father stares into her eyes. “If I am as fae as Aldrin claims, I will far outlive Maeve. I might outlive my children. Neither is a thing I have planned for. Already I waited to marry because I knew I would have a longer lifespan than a regular human, butthis…I do not want it. I can’t live without her!” He throws out an arm to indicate my mother.

The implications slam into me. I think I am going to vomit.

Tears roll down my father’s face and my mother wipes them away with the sleeve of her dress. “Do not borrow tomorrow’s problems, my dear.”

A loud pounding rings out on the closed doors of the study, shaking them in their frame. I jolt. Everyone in the room turns toward them in synchrony.

“Enter,” my father calls, composure and authority snapping back into place.

A flustered guard enters the room. “My Lord Protector, there is a messenger here for you from the palace. It is…er…His Highness Prince Niall himself.”

Anxiety ripples through me as my heart nearly stops. My father’s eyes dart to mine, burning with determination.

We are about to learn the repercussions of my actions in the palace.

Chapter 7

Aldrin

Aman strides into the room, flanked on either side by priestesses in white, flowing robes. Keira takes one look at him and her eyes widen. She tenses like she is preparing to flee.

Something primal within me flares at her visceral reaction.

Naomi’s story shocked me senseless. Perhaps I better understand her actions, even if I will never forgive her and am still furious at them all. It quietened the vicious beast within me that now rears its ugly head at a single glimpse of this princeling.

He is a slight man with a lean, bony build, short even for a human. He wears a simple circlet in his neat, curling blue-black hair.

Prince Finan’s brother.

I hold myself very still as ripples of murderous rage crash through me at the thought of the man Keira almost married. It’s not blind jealousy.

The heir to the throne mistreated her and destroyed her confidence.

Because of him, she thought she deserved less from life, less from a relationship and nothing from sex. She counted herselfsecond-rate to the people around her.Nothing of importance, when that is the furthest thing from the truth.

Keira is a queen in my eyes. A goddess.

Then this Prince Finan dared to lay his hands on her and leave bruises on her perfect neck.My feelings toward her might be complicated, but I would never,never, do a thing to harm her. Physically or emotionally.

If I ever get my hands on this prince, I will wrap them around his throat and choke him until the light disappears from his eyes. I will show him what it feels like to have someone bigger and stronger than you use physical force to get their way.

I want to do exactly that to Prince Niall for being a brother to such a man, but I hold myself in check.

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