Page 98 of Wind and Water
Lying in the bed, in a white robe that reaches her bare feet, Dierdre could almost pass for an oracle. Her expression is soft and calm. Her gaze shifts to me. She jumps from the bed and launches herself at me with arms wide and a bright smile. “Liam, you came. I knew you would come.”
Easing her away, I hold her at arm’s length. “Nothing has changed, Dierdre. I came because the oracle asked me to. Though I do care that you might be ill.”
Turning away, she drops her smile. “My only illness is this place.”
“You tried to kill one of the humans from the prophecy. Don’t you think some concern about you is valid?” I keep my voice even and without emotion.
“I did no such thing. That’s just what she said. I only wished to have a look at her.” Her voice has taken on a petulance that belongs in a child, not a grown woman.
“You hid in the wardrobe and jumped out at her with an athame, Dierdre. What were you going to do with the blade?”
She looks out the fake window. “It’s a nice day. Shall we go for a walk?”
“No. We cannot leave here. Will you tell me why you wanted to hurt Wren?”
Spinning, she looks at me as if the name stirred rage in her. “You can fuck who you want, Liam. Just remember you belong to me. When you tire of the human, I will take you back.”
“You’re mistaken, Dierdre. I will not tire of Wren. She’s my destiny. She and I have a bond that only occurs when two souls are meant to be joined. I will never return to your bed, and what we did there was all there ever was between us.” This entire thing begins to feel cruel. I look toward the door, but the oracle doesn’t open it.
“Liar!” She digs her nails into the side of my face, missing my eye by a half inch.
My inattention cost me. Blood streams down my face.
Dierdre’s hand goes back, and a red ball of energy forms in her palm. Hatred burns in her eyes. Here is the evidence the oracle was looking for.
I grab my cheek with one hand, and not wishing to harm her, I build a blockade with my magic. When she throws her orb, it shatters against my shield. Dark magic prickles along my skin as it might when a viper hides in the tall grass.
She screams and hurls more magic at me.
The door flies open and the oracles rush in. They use magic to pin Dierdre to the wall where the window was, but now there’s only more of the soft gray wall. The male keeps her still while the woman presses her palm to Dierdre’s forehead.
Dierdre screams and curses at me and the oracle. She struggles against the magic bonds that keep her still. “You let them do this to me. You tricked me.”
I ask the male oracle. “Is she hurting her?”
He shakes his head. “She’s reading her. It causes no pain, but the walls that were built up fell when she attacked you. If she is poisoned by dark magic, we will know.”
Part of me wants to help her. This is better than the penalty for treason, but my gut still tightens. “I’m going now.”
When only Dierdre protests, I step into the hallway and find my way out of the mountain.
When I reach my room, Wren is sitting in the middle of the bed, dressed for the evening, her deep-green gown fluffed out around her like a flower, and she is the precious center. With calm concentration, she weaves some bits of fabric in an intricate pattern. The dress shimmers in the late afternoon sun shining through the window. Her hair is pinned up in perfect curls, and a few dangle around her face.
For a long moment, she doesn’t look up, and I am free to admire her at work.
When she feels me watching, she smiles and shifts her attention. As soon as she sees me, her expression falls. Leapingfrom the bed, she rushes to me and touches my cheek. “You’re hurt. What happened?”
I pull my blood-stained shirt over my head and toss it into the laundry. “The oracle got what they wanted. She let her guard down, and now they’ll know if she’s turned to dark magic, has been poisoned by it, or if she’s ill. I didn’t stay to hear the verdict.”
Stepping into the bathroom, I check my injury in the mirror. Four angry streaks of red run from below my left eye to my chin. I press my hand to my cheek and send healing magic to the deep scratches.
“They tricked her?” Wren looks almost as torn as I feel.
When I pull my hand away, the wounds are gone, save for pink lines. “I tricked her. I pushed all the right buttons to prove she wasn’t the calm, steady elf she was pretending to be. When I succeeded, the oracle came in and accessed her mind.”
Rather than expressing the disappointment I deserve, Wren wraps her arms around my waist and holds me. “That must have been terrible for you.”
“How will I ever deserve you, my love?” I hug her tight and kiss the top of her head. “It was terrible, but if she’s under Venora’s influence, Dierdre is the injured party.”
