Page 81 of Throne of Dreams
He studied her and if Maeve didn’t know any better, she would’ve sworn he could hear her thoughts the same way Tiernan could. The fae commander tilted his head and his silver eyes turned molten, like liquid stars. “You already have a plan.”
She looked away from him then. She wasn’t ready to see the disappointment in his face when she confirmed what he already knew. “I do.”
“And you weren’t going to tell me?” Accusation lit his tone, and his words stabbed her like scorching daggers.
“No.” Maeve forced herself to meet the intensity of his stare. “Not because I don’t trust you, because I do. With my life. But I know if Tiernan asks, you’ll feel torn between your loyalty to him and your promise to me.” She shook her head and tucked an errant curl back behind her ear. “I can’t ask you to do that.”
“Ask him to do what?” A low baritone rumbled from the shadows of the cove, and she was suddenly overwhelmed with the scent ofhim.Warm sandalwood. Palm leaves. Plumeria.
She spun around to see Tiernan lounging against one of the cavernous walls. He looked so carefree, so godsdamned gorgeous, and she hated him for it. “Leave.”
He reared back at the demand but recovered quickly. A scowl marred his handsome face. “No.”
Lir took a cautious step toward her in the sand, and she remembered his vow, his oath to protect her from everyone, no matter the cost.
“Get away from me, Tiernan,” Maeve warned, and the magic in her blood thrummed to life. “Get away right now, or else.”
He had the balls to smirk. That callous, cruel, manipulative smirk. The same one she faced down daily before…before the mating bond made its mark.
“Or else what?” he taunted.
She didn’t even warn him. She blasted him. With all her strength. All her energy. All her magic. It rose in her like a tidal wave and came crashing down with brute force. Her power slammed into him, this intense eruption of fire and smoke, of absolute creation. Tiernan was thrown backward, and his body slammed into the cavern wall. Bits of rock and stone crumbled around him. He bit out a swear and the look he sent her, that vengeful, furious glare, told her all she needed to know.
He was pissed.
And she couldn’t be happier.
Maeve didn’t wait for him to fire back. She summoned her sphere of protection, but it was more than that this time. Not only did it keep her safe, but it kept him out. It shimmered over Lir and herself, enveloping them, blocking out all sound so the world within was still. There was no birdsong echoing outside the alcove. No gentle lapping of the waves along the sandy shore of the lagoon. Even the whisper of the wind had vanished.
But Tiernan…heraged. Over and over, he tried to walk through her bubble, to force entry, but her magic held firm against his onslaught. He was yelling, she was sure of it, demanding she let him in. She watched in silence as he paced the outer edge, gesturing wildly, likely pleading with her to stop her foolishness. But she didn’t care. Not really.
Maeve looked over to where Lir stood, his mouth slightly agape, like he couldn’t quite believe she’d just thrown his High King into a damn wall. Her shoulders fell.
“I understand if you need to go with him.”
Lir snapped his mouth shut. He shook his head once. “I’m sworn to protect you.”
“Very well, then.”
Maeve stood, hands fisted on her hips, until Tiernan slowed his pacing. Until his withering looks of disdain morphed into something that could be mistaken for sorrow, or regret. He stretched his arm out and placed one hand on the shield. It shimmered but it didn’t give way, and his chest rose, then fell in defeat. He ducked his head, pressing his lips into a firm line. The shadow in his eyes resembled shame, but she held her ground. She wouldn’t be swayed by him or his sad eyes. She wouldn’t be guilted into feeling remorse for blocking him out, for protecting herself and her heart from him.
Seconds dragged by into minutes and eventually, the High Kingfadedout of the cove.
Exhausted, Maeve collapsed onto the sand. She pulled her knees into her chest, wrapped her arms around her legs, and looked out to sea.
Lir lowered himself to the ground beside her. He leaned back on his hands and stretched out his legs, kicking one ankle over the other. “Do you want to return to the palace?”
“No.” Her voice cracked.
“Do you want some company?”
Maeve rested her chin on top of her knees. “Yes.”
The sphere remained in place around them, drowning out all sound, all remnants of the outside world. Together they sat on the shore, watching the sun as it sank deep into the western sky, its vibrant colors bleeding across the horizon and painting the Lismore Marin in shades of gold, deep violet, and crimson. Slowly, stars dotted the heavens and wisps of inky clouds rolled by like tufts of cushiony velvet. But Maeve wouldn’t go back to the palace. Not until the promise of sleep could drag her under, leaving the day as nothing more than a distant memory.
* * *
Tiernan assumedthe role of dutiful host; and hated every minute of it. Every forced smile caused his jaw to clench and his temples to pound like they were being crushed between two boulders. Every nod and incline of his head made his fingers curl into white-knuckled fists. His magic simmered and clawed beneath the surface of his skin, and he silently dared anyone to look at him the wrong way.
