Page 70 of The Savage Queen

The collar around Aisling’s neck, shattering.

CHAPTER XXIV

AISLING

“How dare you?” Fionn stalked closer, expression warped with earnest outrage.

Aisling and Lir unfurled from their place on the floor of the bridge, gathering themselves once more.

“How dare you enter Oighir and repeat the crimes of your father?” Fionn continued. “You’ll be punished for such cheating.”

“Cheating?” Lir asked, his expression narrowing in response to Fionn’s accusations.

“The rules were simple: destroy the ice heart frozen against Aisling?—”

“The ice heartwasdestroyed despite being frozen against Aisling. Magic was allowed in the third and final test, as outlined by you. I’ve broken no rules.”

Fionn seethed, eyes wide and cruel.

“You will pay for this.”

“We had a deal, Fionn,” Lir said, already drawing both his axes and stepping forward so he stood a shoulder before Aisling.

The crowd fidgeted nervously, whispering like oaks before the tempest.

Even Lir’s knights leaned in closer, keen to see what was unfolding.

“Is that what you hoped for?” Lir asked. “A surrender?”

Fionn sneered. “It no longer matters, brother. You’re not leaving here with Aisling, deal or not.”

Lir grinned but it was wicked, heartless, and inhuman, his fangs flashing with promise.

“You always were a sore loser.” Lir swiped his axes and they sparked against one another, ringing while he positioned himself to battle Fionn for escape, for freedom, for Aisling.

“Let’s see how the woodland survives the permafrost.” Fionn spun his greatsword as he approached Lir.

Aisling shook her head behind them both, gathering herself. She was too angry, too frustrated, too annoyed to stand still and watch. She needed to feel vengeance on her own tongue, needed to exact her revenge by her own means, and watch as Fionn begged for mercy.

Aisling stepped around Lir. The fae king hesitated so Aisling glanced in his direction, hoping he gleaned the flicker of violent need in her eyes.

Fionn blinked, his patience growing thin. His attention shifting between Lir and Aisling.

“This is between my brother and me, Aisling," Fionn said.

“Is it? Because it isn’t me you’ve stolen, imprisoned, and brandished as a prize,” Lir said, straightening at Aisling’s side.

Fionn, son of Winter, frosted over with rage. White fury conjuring a blizzard that spun around their spectacle—the eye of the storm, the bridge where Lir, Aisling, and Fionn stood.

Lir moved till he stood shoulder to shoulder with Aisling, wrapping an arm around her waist to steady her against Fionn’s winds. Greum rose on his hind legs, but even the bear was aware he couldn’t intervene lest he contradict his lordship’s command. One that was yet to be given. This considering, if Fionn wereto request aid from any of his guards or Oighir, it would be his humiliation and not Lir’s, as the son of Winter always intended.

“Aisling, think rationally,” Fionn pleaded with her, his waist-length hair billowing in clouds of silver. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Aisling focused, fingers moving at her sides, prickling with newfound heat.

“Show them how you burn,ellwyn.” Lir spoke to Aisling and only her. His voice slipping inside her mind despite the rage of the blizzard swirling around them.

“Call upon your wolf,” Lir told her. A reference Aisling understood, her eyes lighting in recognition and burning more brightly because of it.

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