Page 112 of Crown of Roses
He didn’t even look. “It’s nothing.”
But then he was hit again and a muffled grunt erupted from him. He stretched his wings wide, a barrier of protection, and the revelation of what was truly happening caused Maeve to stumble. The glints of silver cutting through the air weren’t bolts of lightning at all. They were swords. Dozens of them. A rain of swords.
“Rowan…”
“Fucking bitch,” Rowan ground out as the tip of a passing blade clipped his ear. “Over here!”
He dragged her over to where a small mound protruded up from the earth. It was covered in bundles of colorful wildflowers. A faerie hill. But there was no mysterious entrance and no path to the fae realm. Another lie ripped from the pages of her books.
Rowan grabbed her wrist and shoved her back against the hill. He slammed both hands on either side of her head, and lengthened his wings around her like a blockade. He was her shield. Her armor.
“Rowan!”
Maeve clamped both hands over her mouth, horrified. She shrank back against the rounded earth and hot, unexpected tears sprang to her eyes. Blade after blade sank into him, piercing him from behind. They hit his back and came clear through the front of his chest. They tattered his wings and weakened his legs.
“No.” Maeve shook her head and reached up, wanting nothing more than to cup his cheek and tell him everything would be alright—even though she knew it was a lie. Her heart cracked. Fractured. “Rowan…no.”
“Stay down, Princess.” His words were clipped, and his breathing was ragged. Tiny drops of blood escaped from the corner of his mouth and slid down his chin. But it was nothing compared to the blood leaving his body in terrifying amounts. It soaked his shirt and pants, drenched his feathers, and drained his face of color. “I never betrayed you. I would’ve died before I let her have you.”
The faerie hill was the only thing left to keep her upright and she sagged into the soft, wet grass. Her sobs broke free. “No. Please, no.”
“You’ll go on to do great things in this world.” His raspy words ripped through her. “You have a heart like no other, Maeve.”
“Rowan, please.” She shuddered and her tears fell freely. They slid down her face, hot and fast, cooled only by the rain that continued to fall.
He cracked a broken smile. “Don’t cry for me, Princess.”
In the distance there was a shout, and a burst of voices sounded close by.
“Look!” A male called.
“Over there!” A female.
There was more noise now, like running. Rowan didn’t budge. He just steeled himself against the onslaught of swords. “Get her out of here.” He ground the words out. “Now.”
Maeve’s head snapped up, and there stood Lir, Merrick, and Brynn.
“On it.” Lir ducked under Rowan’s outstretched wing and scooped Maeve into his arms.
“No! No, we can’t leave him here! He’ll die!” Hysteria bubbled up in the back of Maeve’s throat. Her mind wanted to stay, to fight and save him. But her body was too fragile. Too ruined from Fearghal’s work. “Lir, please. Please.”
She struggled in his grasp but Lir’s arms locked around her, iron-tight.
“Now,” Rowan growled. Then those beautiful lavender eyes locked onto hers. “Go, Princess. Rise and rule. Take your crown.”
“Rowan,” her voice cracked, split open by the thousands of wounds she’d carried over her brief lifetime.
“I’ll find you, Maeve. In another lifetime. In another realm.” He sucked in a garbled breath and winked. “I’ll find you.”
“ROWAN!”
But Lir held her close, crushed her against him. “I’ve got you, little bird."
The amplified scent of orange blossom and cedarwood smothered her, and without giving her a chance to say goodbye, they faded.
Chapter Thirty-Two
A soothing balm floated over Maeve, and all the torment, all the anguish and grief, melted away. Warm, gentle waves of compassion drifted over her. They rose and fell like the tide, sweeping up to collect her hurt and trauma, pulling back to restore her with peace and calm. Magic tingled inside her. Shifting. Awakening. The tranquil scent of the ocean breeze, sweetened coconut, and eternal sunshine surrounded her. A familiar breeze kissed her skin, and Maeve’s eyes fluttered open.
