Page 63 of Void of Endings
“Such a valid point.” Parisa offered another venomous smile. “But taking his eye will hurt you so much worse, won’t it, my pet?”
She nodded toward one of her guards, and he removed a ring of keys.
“No!” Maeve screamed, wrenching herself forward. Iron scalded her neck, choking her. “No, please!”
The guard unlocked Lir’s cell, then strode in. Two more followed in after him, forcing Lir to his knees, holding him in place.
Lir remained silent. Stoic. Unfaltering.
A broken sob escaped Maeve, shattering her resolve. “Lir.”
“Be brave, my lady.” The corner of his mouth lifted into one of his rare smiles.
“Please!” Maeve tried again, shoving one arm between the bars in an effort to reach him. The cold iron burned hotter against her skin. “I beg of you!”
“There will be plenty of time for begging later, Maeve.” Parisa entered Lir’s cell, capturing his chin, and forcing him to look up at her. “Silver is such a pretty color. I can’t wait to add it to my collection.”
Maeve was unable to tear her gaze away. She couldn’t bring herself to look anywhere else. She stared only at the fae who’d been sworn to protect her from anything and anyone, who was now staying true to his vow. She bit down on her tongue until the metallic tang of blood coated her mouth as Parisa used the Aurastone to carve out Lir’s left eye. He tensed as the blade sank into his umber flesh, but not once did he make a sound. Not a single groan or cry of agony. Instead, he watched Maeve the entire time with his remaining eye.
Hot, silent tears fell down her cheeks as her own dagger was used against someone she loved. She cringed at the sucking sound as the blade sliced through his skin, and then there was a distinctivepop.
Maeve paled.
Parisa caught Lir’s eye in her hand and he slumped to the ground, his handsome face etched with unimaginable pain.
“Yes,” Parisa murmured. She pierced his detached eye with the Aurastone, then held it up for closer inspection. Bits of tendons still clung to it and drops of blood slid down her wrist. She swiveled it, smiling. “This will make a fine trophy indeed.”
She strode out of Lir’s cell, nodding once.
“Take this pathetic commander back to his Court. Dump him there.” Her papery lips puckered in thought. “As a gift. A promise of things to come.”
“Lir!” Maeve shouted as the guards hauled him out of the cell. Even after being brutalized, as they dragged him away, he fought. For her.
Her breathing grew shallow, her stomach heaved.
“Don’t worry, my pet.” Parisa flipped her spiny fingers in a little wave. “I’ll be back for you later.”
The click of her heels gradually faded down the corridor of the dungeon, and Maeve was all alone in the harrowing silence.
“I’m sorry.” The words were gravelly and raw. Meaningless. “I’m so sorry.”
Maeve’s gaze slid to the cell across from her, where flies feasted on a puddle of crimson. She clutched her stomach and retched, emptying herself until bile burned the back of her throat. Until there was nothing left.
Chapter Seventeen
Tiernan stared at the thick expanse of woods bordering the Winter and Spring Courts. His gaze drifted to the overcast sky where clouds of gray blocked out the sinking sun. Random snowflakes fluttered down, collecting on the shoulders of his armor, and he brushed them off in annoyance. His patience was waning. It didn’t matter if Maeve was still pissed at him, the hour was growing late and before long, darkness would descend upon the Winter Court.
Surely Lir would have convinced her to return by now.
He glanced around the field where Winter and Summer soldiers alike were burning the bodies of the fallen giants. The wind carried away the stench of burnt flesh, the snowfall lightly covered their ashes and the scarlet staining ground, erasing all traces of battle.
Three Winter warriors lost their lives during the attack. Malachy placed silver medallions upon their closed eyes, then encased each of them in a thin layer of ice. They would be transported back to Ashdara for a proper burial, where they would be mourned and remembered beneath a tree with leaves that sparkled like sapphires. Brynn was making her rounds witha few of the healers, tending to wounds and injuries, of which thankfully, there were not many.
Tethra and Dian appeared slightly restless, shifting back and forth, their odd glowing eyes focused on the outlying forest.
The crunch of snow sounded to Tiernan’s left as Merrickfadedin next to him.
He bowed. “Niahvess and Summer’s borders are secure, my lord. As of now, there’s no threat to us or our Court.”
