Page 76 of The Kingdom of Flames and Ash

His calling Tavish by name instead of an Unseelie slur had me fighting a smile. I didn’t want Father to notice and become uncomfortable. I wanted everyone to get along because I had no intention of ever giving Tavish up.

“I have an idea.” I hadn’t yet checked to see if Gaelle had returned my clothes.

As I leapt across my bed and into my closet, both Father’s and Mother’s eyebrows rose comically. But there was nothing funny about this moment.

None of my clothes had been returned as instructed. Gaelle had thought I would die tonight.

Mother’s light footsteps entered the closet behind me as she said, “Honey, what’s—” Her voice cut off before she exclaimed, “Where are all your clothes?”

“Gaelle took them. I caught her taking more when I arrived here earlier. I told her to bring them back by tonight, and as you can see, she didn’t bother to do so.”

Folding her wings tightly behind her, she frowned. “Greason lives next door to her in the high fae village. They sometimes traveled to work together, and I suspect that they’re lovers, so it makes sense she’d be involved.”

“What has come over our people?” Father stepped through the doorway with his wings hanging at his sides.

That one was easy. “Fear and self-interest. Twelve years ago, because of the actions of Tavish’s father, you created a veil so the Unseelie couldn’t enter. Then, I was betrothed to the dragon prince. My being fated to Tavish made things worse upon my return. They’re scared they’ll lose their magic and wings. Greason pretty much told me that before you arrived.”

“The fear needs to be contained.” Father rolled his shoulders. “When we’re free of the dragons and have Eiric back, we’ll need to reunite the land and inform everyone what has transpired. The lack of understanding as to why the Unseelie are back must have affected our people more than I realized. I’d hoped they would trust your mother and me as their rulers, but maybe we’ve been unfair to them by keeping the knowledge from them.”

“Don’t be too hard on yourself, love.” Mother patted his arm. “We haven’t even had time to sleep well since we returned a day ago. This is a trying time, but I assure you we and our people will overcome it.”

I smiled, seeing the type of leader I wanted to become. I knew Tavish wouldn’t be as understanding as Father. He’d led a different life than he should have for the past twelve years. But that didn’t mean that we couldn’t figure out how to be more like my parents and not lose a piece of ourselves in the process.

“Either way, Gaelle and Greason will be punished for acting against a royal.” Father closed his eyes like he was preparingfor what would come next. “Four guards are stationed outside your door now, and I’ll assign another two outside your window. They’re aware that if anything happens to you under their watch, their fates will be the same as the attackers. Get some rest; you’re going to need it for tomorrow.” He took Mother’s hand and then kissed the top of my head. “Your mother and I need to get to the holding cell.”

“Let me know if you need anything.” I wanted to go with them, but I couldn’t leave Nightbane like this.

Mother patted my cheek, and then they left. When my door shut, I hurried back to Nightbane, whose dark-green eyes were open and focused on me.

Like earlier, I crawled into bed and turned so I could hold him. “I’m sorry, Nightbane. That should’ve never happened.”

He sighed, his misty breath hitting my face, but then his eyes closed as he fell back asleep.

Knowing I needed to tell Tavish what had happened, I reached for our connection. But before I could yank at it, his magic swirled deep inside me like it did when we were under attack and he needed the full strength of both our powers.

My heart screamed with fear.

26

TAVISH

My skin crawled, the urge to turn around and fly back to Gleann Solas so strong that I struggled to breathe despite the pure air all around us. Once again, desperation clung to every inch of me at the knowledge that Lira had been attacked and I hadn’t been able to protect her.

I remained in place only because the threat had already been thwarted. However, it should’ve been thwarted byme.

Starting deep within me, my darkness hung even closer to my skin. I wanted to fly back and be the one to kill the thornling who dared threaten my mate, but right now, it was best if I remained here as we’d planned. After all, Lira was determined to hand herself over to the dragons tomorrow night, and we needed as much information about them as possible before the exchange for her sister took place.

Cold dread sank into my body at the thought of letting her do what she planned. However, I knew Lira. She would doanythingto get Eiric back, and not even I could stop her. The only reason I’d given in to the awful plan was that I knew she’d resent me for the rest of eternity otherwise. And I couldn’t fathom taking her warmth away… the warmth I’d come to cherish and crave.

On my left, Struan turned his head toward me, and my wings stiffened. In my moment of turmoil, I hadn’t been paying attention to Tìr na Dràgon in front of us.

“My king, do you see something?” he asked.

My brows furrowed, and I narrowed my eyes, staring through the mountains of the island that the dragons now claimed as theirs to Caisteal an Dràgon, the dragon castle.

The gigantic castle nestled between all the mountains. The dark stone was the same color as the one we’d been forced to live in for twelve years, but this one had a gigantic dragon statue towering over the top of the double doors in front.

All we’d seen today were common dragons. None of the royals had come out. It was as if they were hiding inside.

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