Page 74 of Throne of Dreams
“So,” the female fae purred. “This is the pretty little Autumn princess?”
Maeve said nothing. She couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. She could only stare, unable to look away. Something dark and vile contorted inside her. Trembles wrecked her body, but she kept herself locked into place. She would not show her pain to him. She wouldn’t show anger. She wouldn’t show weakness. She would give him nothing.
The female ran her finger down Tiernan’s neck, and he visibly stiffened. She tossed a careless glance over to Maeve. “Did you need something?”
Maeve cut her down with one hard glare. “Not from you.”
The fae startled and her blue eyes widened in disbelief.
“Maeve,” Tiernan tried again, his voice firm. But the female was latched onto him, and he couldn’t disentangle himself from her lithe body. “This is Ciara, the High Queen of Winter.”
Ciara.
Merrick’s sister. The one Tiernan had fucked.
She whipped around to face Merrick, and the cruelty of his deception cut through her like the sting of a frostbitten blade. He ducked his head, a flush scalding his cheeks. He at least had the decency to look ashamed.
“Well.” Maeve crossed her arms to protect her heart. “At least now I know where we stand.”
Tiernan’s voice filled her head.“Maeve, listen to me.”
“Get the fuck out of my head.” Her voice was breathy and low as her power surged, radiating around her. Fury boiled her blood. “Whatever bullshit excuse you’re about to give me can be said out loud.”
“It is not what it looks like,” he ground the words out.
“It sure as hell doesn’t look like anything else.” Humiliation burned her, branded her. She’d given herself to him. Fully. And this was the treatment she’d received in return? “Is this what you meant by having to play host? Is this how you plan to show all the females your appreciation for coming to your bullshit birthday party?”
She shook her head. Her nose tingled, and the burning threat of tears pricked the corners of her eyes. But she wouldn’t blink. She wouldn’t let them fall. Not for him. Another horrible thought slithered its way into her mind. No wonder he came into the library, demanding she defend herself against him, asking her how she would handle sexual advances.
“It makes sense now, you know. Why you wanted to ensure I wouldn’t let another touch me, but why you carefully avoided promising the same thing to me.”
She stormed toward the open door of his bedroom, determined to put as much distance between them as possible. If she never saw his face again, it would still be too soon. Perhaps she should blast a hole through his wall anyway; he’d be lucky if she didn’t incinerate him right then and there.
“Where are you going?” Tiernan demanded.
“None of your fucking business.” She didn’t look back.
Merrick’s arm shot up to stop her, and she raised both of her hands in response, ready to fight. “Don’t you dare,High Prince. You knew. You knew and you saidnothing.You’re no better than him.”
Maeve shoved past him and barreled down the hall toward the main courtyard, half-tempted to set fire to everything in her path. Her magic raged, her power ignited. She stalked across the stone path, heading for the palace gates, as flames spat from the tips of her fingers. Out of nowhere, Lir appeared and fell into step beside her. She could sense his silver eyes upon her, reading her, gauging her.
She held up one hand. “Not a fucking word.”
He nodded, following her in silent consent.
Anger.
Goddess above, the anger consuming her was enough to summon the wrath of the realms. She hated Tiernan for what he’d done to her. He made her think there was something between them, a mark worthy of the fates. She thought hecared. It was a foolish mistake, one that would haunt her. She might be fae now, but maybe she was still in possession of a mortal heart. Or at least, what was left of it. Being heartbroken shouldn’t hurt this much, it shouldn’t ache to the point of despair. Sun and sky, the bastard had crushed her, then did nothing but watch her inner turmoil.
A single tear burned down her cheek and she hastily swiped it away. No, she would not cry for him. He would never be worthy of her tears. She hated their stupid bond, hated the fact that he’d forced it upon her with that godsforsaken mating dance. She wanted to burn it from her skin, to watch the pretty Autumn leaf and the gold sun of Summer catch fire until there was nothing left but charred flesh. She wanted to scour it from her, carve it out of her, just like Fearghal had done.
Shards of lightning ripped across the sky as Tiernan’s voice grated through her mind.“Stop those vile thoughts at once.”
Maeve fired back.“If you slip into my mind one more time, I’m going to cut off your dick and force Merrick to wear it as a fucking necklace.”
Silence answered her.
Good.
