Page 153 of Throne of Dreams
With every passing second, the darkness within him billowed, threatening to overcome and overtake. He wanted to rage. To wreck and ruin. He wanted to annihilate everything in his path.
Without warning, Merrick burst through the double doors of the ballroom and skidded to a stop in front of him. His chest heaved. His blue eyes were bright.
Tiernan held his breath and time evaporated.
“They’ve got her.” The words spilled from him.
Tiernan silently thanked whatever gods might still bestow him any favors.
“Come on, my lord.” Merrick nodded toward the door. “Let’s go get our queen.”
ChapterForty-Seven
Maeve was drowning.
Consciousness barreled into her, startling her into a state of hysteria. Bone-chilling water engulfed her, her lungs seized, and with one arm she fought her way to the surface. Until a hand that felt like cool silk curled around her wrist, tugging her back down.
She kicked, flailing, until she saw a pair of wide-set eyes gazing back at her. They were murky green, glossy, and belonged to a merrow with skin the color of moss. The scales along his tail glinted like shards of sea glass and he wore a necklace of brown shells.
He pulled her close, his gaze flicking to the wound on her arm, before he whispered, “Be still, High Princess.” His voice crashed over her like ocean waves. Then his mouth was on hers, frigid and slick, filling her with oxygen, helping her breathe. He pulled away. “You are safe with us.”
Another merrow swam up, moving through the water with a slow, methodical elegance. She watched Maeve, unblinking. Studied her. Her tail, however, wasn’t covered in scales like the other merrows she’d seen. It was wrapped in kelp and each long, individual piece was fastened with a shiny black pearl. Like a bandage. Awareness coated Maeve’s already cold skin until fresh goosebump pebbled all over her. The merrow had been skinned. Garvan had removed her scales and sold them for gold.
With one hand she reached up, the skin between her fingers slightly webbed, and placed her palm to Maeve’s cheek. “Dawnbringer.”
Maeve nodded, unsure if she could speak for fear the brackish water would pour into her mouth.
“Good.” The female merrow smiled, revealing small, pointy teeth. She exchanged a look with the male, and he swam closer, locking his arm tightly around Maeve’s waist. “Do not fight the current.”
Without warning, the merrows started to swim. The male kept his arm firmly wrapped around Maeve, and she coiled into him, bracing her injured arm between them both as the water flowed over and around them.
The wide expanse of water narrowed into a channel, racing over a riverbed of smooth stones and silt. Again, her lungs felt tight, and she stiffened in the merrow’s arms. She squirmed, unable to catch her breath as they passed through the river. The merrow pressed his mouth to hers once more and she inhaled, greedily sucking in the oxygen he offered her. He anchored Maeve to his chest as the current quickened, winding through small rapids, and she squinted into the darkness. Cold bit through her skin, down to her bones until her fingers and toes were numb. It was just as Lir had said. The merrow slowed, holding her well below the surface, as Maeve struggled to see through the water that was as dark as night.
The Black Lake.
“Almost there, High Princess,” he murmured.
Suddenly, they stopped swimming, and the female held up one hand. “Keep the High Princess below the water and out of sight.” Her tail swished as she drifted away from them. “I will ensure it is safe first and that the High King of Summer is ready to retrieve her.”
Tiernan.
Maeve’s heart soared at the mere mention of his title.
A moment later, the female returned. “It is safe. We will bring her to him now.”
At once, they surged upward and broke through the surface.
She gasped, sputtering and coughing as the merrow lifted her onto a bank of dry land. Collapsing onto the bank, Autumn welcomed her. She toppled onto the ground, her cheek pressed firmly into the damp earth while leaves swirled around her, while the cool breeze sifted over her. Water dripped from her hair. Her skin was like ice. She could barely move, barely breathe. And gods, her armhurt.
Behind her, the merrow boosted her onto the shore of the Black Lake. She shivered, teeth chattering, and gradually dragged herself forward with her good arm, pulling herself out of the water.
“There she is!” Lir bellowed.
“Thank you,” Maeve choked out, easing herself into a sitting position as the merrow slunk back into the water, his glassy eyes focused on her. “I owe you a life debt.”
He shook his head, his long black hair flowing around him like ink. “The debt was paid when the Aurastone chose you.”
She opened her mouth to object, but he dove back into the water, the female following swiftly behind him. Then they vanished, as though they’d never been there at all. She looked up to see Tiernan running toward her. He slid onto his knees, capturing her face, his hands warm against her chilled skin.
