Page 73 of The Mortal Queen

The mortal queen’s ears burned at the sight. The potent fragrance oflustwas thickening the air of the cave as Sakaala’s eyes explored Lir’s own with unrelenting focus. Aisling had never beheld a nude woman before, save for the statues and paintings she’d witnessed in passing, much less a nude man. For, this form of seduction and enticement was a sort of magic in and of itself. A lawless sort of magic. One that made Aisling’s toes curl. Went against everything she’d been taught of the wetting of fires and stilling of storms. And to witness this fae female so boldly covet another male, attempt to lure him into the waters around her, it stunned Aisling. Made her flush. Made her confused. Made her angry. Made her envy that power. That influence she harbored so effortlessly.

“Balor mentioned Danu. I need to know where I can find her.” Lir’s voice was deep, challenging the bubbling of waters beneath them.

“Always straight to the point, Lir,” Sakaala pouted.

Lir’s lips curled. “Is there anything else more pertinent?”

“As pertinent as slaughtering your own Unseelie?”

“Only when they break Sidhe law.”

“How boring,” Sakaala replied. “The humans deserve this, Lir. The gods will smite them for what they’ve done and if it’s the Unseelie they wield as harbingers of justice then so be it.” Sakaala tore her eyes from the fae king, shooting daggers at Aisling. The rest of the merrow followed her lead. Their regard digging into Aisling’s skin.

“The Aos Sí’s survival depends on this peace. Reject it, and we’ll be smote alongside them.”

“So be it. I’d rather drown in the Ashild than align myself with them,” Sakaala spat, wrinkling her nose in Aisling’s direction.

“Danu,” Lir pushed, “tell me where she is.”

“The elusiveempress of the dryads,” Sakaala hissed. “Are you certain you wish to find her?”

Dryads. The same dryads they’d encountered upon entering Annwyn?

“Balor implied she’s foreseen the end of this feud,” Lir said, his voice growing cold and hard. “So naturally, I need to speak with Danu myself.”

Indeed, if one knew the outcome of centuries of war, could foresee the future as Balor had intimated, Aisling knew Lir wouldn’t let such knowledge slip through his fingers so easily. He’d need that knowledge. That insight. For it would grant him power, leverage, and advantage over the mortal race should tensions continue.

Had Aisling been so naive as to believe her marriage was an end to the feud between mortals and Sidhe?

“And what will you give me in return?” Sakaala challenged, lifting a hand to touch the fae king’s hair. Her nails were as long and sharp as claws, flirtatiously fluttering towards Lir. Cupping his sharp jaw as lightly as foam embroidered itself at the edge of a wave.

Lir snatched her wrist, his knuckles growing white around her slim bones.

“Don’t bargain with me,” he said, the ice in his voice sending chills down Aisling’s spine.

“How about a kiss, Lir?” she whispered, undeterred by his violence. The corners of her lips curled amorously. Her eyes darted towards Lir’s mouth, watching him with unveiled desire. She was afraid. Scared yet lured by the fae king’s deadly grace. As all the world appeared to be in his presence.

“Just one kiss,” she pleaded.

Lir stilled, the image of the forest at the heart of the tempest stirring behind his thick lashes.

The merrow’s lips parted, her large eyes fluttering shut as she began closing the distance between them. She moved slowly, seductively, body tightening the nearer the fae king became and her long slipperyhair veiling her breasts as she lifted herself higher.

Aisling ground her teeth. Squeezed her fists as tightly as they’d shut. Her heart quickened with each passing second.

Just a thread’s width from the fae king’s lips, Lir reached for her throat and squeezed. Sakaala shrieked in harmony with the rest of the merrow. Their wails bounced off the walls of the cavern. Aisling covered her ears.

“You’ll obey me,” Lir growled, every word punctuated by the flash of his canines. “Tell me where I can find Danu.”

Relief swept through Aisling. Relief coupled with terror. Her knees locking. Icy sweat beading across her forehead, lower back, and hands. For she could nearly taste his strength, hispowerrippling off him in waves of potent heat. He was no longer theDamh Bánnow. Now he was the wolf. Savage, ruthless, determined to spread his dominion.

The merrow each treaded madly in the surrounding waters, witnessing their Sakaala desperately clawing for breath. Aisling could smell the fear, the terror the fae king instilled, cold in the breath between herself and these aquatic Aos Sí.

“She resides west of here,” Sakaala spat. “That’s the last anyone has heard or seen of her.”

“Where west?”

“I don’t––”

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