Page 43 of Crown of Roses
“Fine.” Tiernan kicked his feet off the table and sat up. “Now, why are you in Faeven? What are you looking for?”
“We want to find the anam ó Danua to rid Kells of The Scathing.” Casimir’s voice was raw and scratchy. He coughed once more, then idly examined the butter knife in his hand.
Stark silence filled the outdoor space, save for the continued melody of the musicians. Merrick and Brynn shifted on their feet, uneasy. Only Tiernan looked unperturbed by the mention of it. “The soul of the goddess Danua? You honestly think you can find her, and that she’ll save your pitiful excuse for a kingdom?”
Maeve ground her teeth together.
Tiernan spared her a glance but his sister spoke first. “The soul was ripped from its previous owner. No one knows if it even continues to exist.”
“Ceridwen is right.” Tiernan picked up his glass. “The final bloodline for the soul is a mystery. If such a thing is even real.”
“It is.” Rowan dropped his half-eaten apple onto his plate.
“How do you know?” Casimir countered.
“I just do.”
“That’s kind of vague.” Saoirse crossed her arms and a line marred her usually smooth forehead.
Rowan leaned back. “I’m a vague kind of guy.”
“The hour is late and my patience is thin.” Tiernan stood and pointed at Rowan. “You, come with me so we can discuss your terms. As for the rest of you, I strongly suggest you return to your rooms. We will deal with your dilemma in the morning.”
Maeve pushed up from her chair, her appetite suddenly lost, and Lir was by her side in a second. She leaned over and planted a kiss on Saoirse’s cheek. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Yes.” Saoirse wrapped her in an embrace, and when she pulled away, concern flashed in her sapphire eyes. “I wish our rooms were closer to each other.”
Maeve’s brows drew together. “Your room isn’t down the same hall as mine?”
Saoirse shook her head. “No. Casimir and I are that way.” She pointed in the opposite direction of Maeve’s bedroom. “And I don’t know where they put Rowan.”
“What in the stars…”
“Don’t worry.” Saoirse squeezed her hand once, then let go. “Right now, we need to rest. Then we need to prepare.”
“Agreed.” Maeve looked up at Lir. “I’m ready.”
He nodded once and led her back to her room, but instead of going directly there, he stopped in front of the door to the library. “The High King mentioned you should be allowed to choose some books to read from the library, so long as they enhance your education.”
“Really?” A burst of excitement shot through her and she bounced on her toes. The library, he was going to let her peruse the library! She didn’t want to think about how many hours she could spend in there, about how many sunrises and sunsets could drift across the sky before she resurfaced for air. Her fingers reached for the door handle. “May I?”
Lir nodded sharply.
Maeve heaved the door open and her breath caught in her chest. It was even more dazzling than before. She stepped inside.
The library smelled of books—of texts and ink, of flipped pages and midnight readings. Her heels softly clicked against the tile floor, where a mosaic sun spiraled out in every direction. Some shelves were covered in a fine layer of dust, and the books looked to be in pristine condition, as though they’d never been touched. Others were more well-read, with broken bindings, and peeling, leathery spines. Wonder lifted her heart, filled her soul, as she absorbed the glorious wealth of knowledge at her fingertips.
She wandered over to a section where the books were organized by color, and realized she had no idea how to find anything of worth. She turned back to Lir. “Do you have any suggestions?”
The permanent scowl on his face lifted and he blinked. “What?”
“To enhance my education?” She pointed to the vast walls and shelves brimming with books. “I don’t even know where to begin.”
“Oh.” Lir scanned the room, then walked over to an area where thick, leather-bound tomes were ordered by dates. “Everything you need can be found here.”
“Perfect.”
Maeve smiled, then dove into a world she only thought she knew. She found books on the history of Faeven, of the gods and goddesses who once ruled the realm, of Maghmell and the Ether. She sifted through pages of illustrations and drawings, and sorted through a selection steeping in the different types of fae magic. She found myths on the human lands, legends of the dark fae, and an entire book devoted to familial bloodlines. That one in particular snagged her attention as it mentioned the anam ó Danua more than once. She gathered a few books into her arms and stuffed one on the history of Old Laic into the stack. Her arms burned, but she didn’t care.
