Page 11 of Throne of Dreams
“Lir said she walked right through the glamour.” It was still impossible. His wards were expertly crafted, his glamour was some of the strongest in the realm. But Maeve had simply paraded right through, as though he hadn’t spent dozens of years perfecting his craft. The lagoon was sacred to him. It was the one of the places he could go and be alone with his thoughts. Just himself and the quiet beauty of his Court. Now, however, it seemed he would be sharing it with a certain High Princess from Autumn. “He said she vanished right before his eyes.”
Ceridwen stared hard at Maeve’s sleeping form and a slight frown wrinkled her brow. “Who in the seven hells is this girl?”
Hissirra, that’s who. The one to whom his soul was bound.
He knew Ceridwen watched him and he schooled his expression into one of neutrality.
She lightly bumped her shoulder against his. “Aran wants to see her tomorrow.”
Tiernan ground his teeth. “I’m aware.”
There was a weighted pause between them. “And?”
“And I’ll allow it.” He couldn’t refuse Maeve the chance to see her only family, even if Aran had been the one to cost him most of his own.
Ceridwen drifted back toward the bedroom door. Her lips twisted to the side as she gave him a once-over, noting he stood clad in nothing but a pair of black shorts with a sword in his hand.
“You should get some rest, too. Especially if you’re going to betrainingtomorrow.” She threw her hands up at Tiernan’s look. “But seriously, at least try. I know you haven’t been sleeping well.”
He nodded in silent consent. He hadn’t slept soundly since Maeve’s arrival in his Court.
“Thank you, Cer.” He glanced pointedly at Maeve. “For helping her.”
“Of course.” His twin flashed her signature smile and slipped out the door, closing it behind her.
Tiernan knew he should go back to his own bedroom. It would be better for both of them to have that constant distance. Besides, Maeve was safe now. She slept, and he should, too. But he couldn’t take that first step, he couldn’t cross back over the threshold that divided their rooms. Instead, he settled down into the leather chair by her bedside and laid his sword across his lap.
He didn’t sleep at all.
* * *
At some pointduring the night, Maeve thought she might be delirious.
She knew she’d had a nightmare. The ones involving Fearghal made a habit of lingering, of drenching her in sweat, and were difficult to forget. But in the early predawn hours, before the glow of the sun filtered past her sheer curtains, she could’ve sworn Tiernan was in her room.
She’d rolled over in her bed and her eyes had fluttered open, lost somewhere between the state of dreaming and not quite being awake. Over by her balcony doors, she’d noticed a shadow. One brief, fleeting moment of panic had consumed her, and her fingers had curled around the Aurastone tucked beneath her pillow. But there was no mistaking the High King’s silhouette. Broad shoulders. Trim, narrow waist. Sculpted muscles from head to toe. He was staring out into the night, with one elbow propped against the glass pane of the door leading to her balcony. He was glorious despite being a complete asshole, and something purely feminine stirred inside her. A flicker of heat.
Minutes ticked by and she realized she was staring at his back, at his rather perfectly sculpted ass clad in a pair of snug black shorts.
Without turning around, he whispered, “Go back to sleep.”
Exhaustion easily dragged her back under and she gave in to the abyss. When she finally woke up, sunlight filtered into the room, basking her in the soft glow of dawn. She rolled over to face the balcony. The adjoining door to his bedroom was closed tight, as though he’d never been there at all.
ChapterFive
Maeve stood in front of the double glass doors leading to her balcony. It was the same place Tiernan had been standing last night. She knew because the tempting scent of him still lingered. She inhaled, taking it all in. The sun-drenched palm trees. Warm sandalwood. Plumeria. She wondered what he was thinking about, why he was even in her bedroom at all…
A foolish notion.
The last thing she needed to think about was whether or nothewas thinking about her. Those types of thoughts only led to trouble. It didn’t matter if she found him terribly attractive, he’d made his sentiments about her quite clear.
She pulled open the doors and a rush of summer warmth flooded into the room, cooled by the delicate breeze rolling in from the sea. The air shimmered, dense and powerful. The wards and charms Tiernan placed around her living quarters remained strong.
Her stomach gave a small gurgle.
She pulled on a pair of leather leggings and her boots and strapped her Aurastone to her thigh. Searching through the wardrobe, she shoved aside the elegant gowns and grabbed one of the bejeweled corsets that reminded her of the sun and the sea. Beads and jewels in shades of turquoise, pale blue, and gold were stitched onto the soft fabric like armor. Even the thin straps were studded with gems. She freshened up in the bathroom, ran a hand through her mess of waves, then yanked open the door to her bedroom in search of breakfast,
Maeve wasn’t at all surprised to see Lir waiting for her in the hall. She smiled up at him.
