Page 81 of The Savage Queen

“You say it like you’re surprised.” Lir pulled out a chair for Aisling at their table, gesturing for her to sit. “For him”––Lir tilted his head in the man’s direction, his suffering drawing a crowd––“not only do I feel no guilt at all, I enjoyed it. And if you’d known what he intended, you would too.”

The tavern erupted, wandering eyes drawn by the fleshy thud of his body against the floorboards. They gasped, and some screamed, praying to theDamh Bán. The irony, a grisly spectacle unraveling before their eyes.

Aisling took her seat, Dagfin following shortly behind.

“Save the sanctimonious lecture, princeling,” Galad said as Dagfin threw himself into a chair. But Aisling knew Dagfin wouldn’t have picked this fight. Dagfin was a peacemaker, an argument-ender, and wise when it came to choosing his battles. He’d known who he’d chosen to follow for Aisling’s sake. So, despite his horror or the weight of his conscience, he swallowed his vitriol and sat quietly. Arms crossed, biding his time.

A plate of what Aisling could only describe as ash clattered before her: stale bread, bland oats, and bruised fruit. She resisted the urge to gag, eyeing her plate like a death sentence. The thought—let alone the sight—of mortal foods sickenedher. The memory of Fionn’s fae banquets flashing across her memory.

Lir leaned back in his chair, watching her beneath hooded eyes.

“You can no longer consume mortal foods, can you?” he asked. A question that summoned Dagfin’s full attention.

Aisling’s nose wrinkled. “No,” she confessed. “Not for some time.”

With each passing day, Aisling’s mortal blood ran thin till she was forced to wonder if, at some point, it would vanish entirely.

Dagfin stilled. Aisling knew he’d suspected. A part of him had known but hadn’t been forced to fully confront the reality until now. Still, his posture was warm, as though he wished to comfort her. All this, despite the thickening of her enemy blood.

Filverel and Peitho threaded through the crowds still gathering around the coughing druid, and to their group.

“The last four rooms,” Filverel said, holding up an array of keys made from bones. Immediately Gilrel groaned, giving voice to Aisling’s frustration and the consequences Filverel’s expression implied.

They’d have to share rooms.

“You fae can decide amongst yourselves,” Dagfin said. “Aisling and I will take the first room.”

Abhailegrew three shades darker, seemingly overcome with the deathly shadows spilled from Lir’s wolfish smile.

“If you want me to kill you, princeling, just say the word.”

All cleared their throats uneasily, save for Dagfin.

“Do you believe I’d let her out of my sight whilst in your presence, fae? You may be here, inspired by motivations of your own, but my intentions are Aisling’s protection alone.”

A muscle flashed across Lir’s jaw, his eyes narrowing even as the corners of his lips curled, both ruthless and feral all at once.

“You shouldn’t dwell long on my intentions with mycaera, princeling.” Lir stepped forward, the air growing hot and burning Aisling’s lungs.

Galad, Peitho, Filverel, and Gilrel moved not a hair, watching as though eager for Lir to satiate his temper. The mortals, on the other hand, took notice of the tension brewing, bubbling, and squealing with heat.

“Then it’s settled,” Aisling piped, awarding her both their attention. “The two of you will share a room.”

Lir’s expression muddled, brows drawing together. Unsure whether to be horrified or furious before settling on both. Dagfin was similarly outraged.

“That way, you both can keep a keen eye on the other.”

“I’ll stay withmo Lúra,Damh Bán,” Gilrel said, mercifully leaping and taking hold of one of Filverel’s bone keys. “And I vow to ensure her safety.” She bowed her head, placing a single paw atop her heart.

Before anyone could argue further, Aisling shoved past them both, Gilrel on her heels as she climbed the tavern stairs toward refuge.

CHAPTER XXVII

AISLING

“You cannot have them both,mo Lúra.”

Gilrel scoured the entire chamber, thrusting aside the embroidered curtains, crawling beneath the quilted bed, digging inside the moth-infested closet, and rummaging through the drawers. Ensuring no one or no thing lurked inside their room unbeknownst to either she or Aisling.

---