Page 50 of Evil Eyed
:That doesn’t make a bleedin’ lick of sense,:Doran replied.:He must know you’d tell us it be naught but glamor. The danger is less if we’re not actually stepping into Faerie, and his power be limited here. Why would he do that?:
It dawned on me that Doran could actually hear Warwick’s answers in my head. I didn’t think that had ever happened before. Evidently I was becoming the conduit for more than just magical workings, which I guess made a ton of sense after all the sex we’d shared.
:I don’t think he expectedmeat all,:Warwick answered.:A leprechaun was never part of his plans. Why else would he go to such an elaborate ploy to get Riann into a position to need his assistance with the human police? He meant to lure her in before she knew what he was. Having a fae walk into his headquarters changed everything. He may appear to be as confident as ever, but you’ve already shaken him, love. Keep him reeling and off balance as much as you can.:
Boss Man swept his arm to the side, carrying the shimmering veil aside. “Welcome to Dún Bhalair.”
:He didn’t want you to touch it since it’s not the actual veil,:Warwick said.
:If I think it’s real, then I’ll believe that we can’t get out,:I said.:Like Fhroig’s lair.:
:Exactly.:
I dug in my heels, giving Boss Man a wary look. “What do you always say about Faerie, Aidan?”
“Faerie be a fucking dangerous place.” He spat over the side of the bridge. “Naught but trickery and illusion.”
Boss Man nodded. “Aye, so it is, but aren’t you weary of fae trickery and illusion? How can we come to an agreement if we don’t even talk through our options?”
Aidan snorted. “Sure now, are you planning on dismembering us first or merely tossing us into the sea for your creatures’ enjoyment? Or did you have some other option on the table? I’m all ears.”
“Ah, Slaughterer, we would make better friends than enemies, don’t you agree?”
“So it’s hospitality you offer us,” Keane drawled, patting his stomach. “I could definitely eat and drink.”
Boss Man inclined his head. “My table is yours, Cauldron, though I’m sure my feast is nowhere near as great as yours be.”
“You heard the man.” Doran slapped Ivarr on the back and grinned down at me. “Time to eat, love.”
More than a little bewildered, I nodded and allowed him to lead me through the parted veil into Dún Bhalair. I glanced back at Boss Man, not surprised that I couldn’t see him through Aidan, Warwick, and Keane, who’d formed a wall at my back. On this side, the veil appeared to be a milky opal, blocking the view outside.
:A sure sign that we’re not in Faerie,:Warwick said.:If we’d truly stepped into Dún Bhalair, you wouldn’t see the veil, just as you didn’t see it in Fhroig’s lair. It’s an alternate dimension, a place that you can only reach through magic or clear intention.:
Without the hag stone, I couldn’t see the shining magic that made up the glamor—only the illusion that Boss Man wanted us to see. Fine white marble covered every surface of the castle walls and floor, giving the place a luxurious yet sterile feeling. Unlike Warwick’s home, there were no flowers or magical plants. Colors and sounds didn’t assault my senses. Though if I’d never been to the Summer Isle, I might have been convinced that this place was in Faerie.
Everything was too perfect and ostentatious, I decided as we neared a long table set with gold place settings. A whole roasted pig dominated the center of the table, but the entire surface was laden with food. Dishes I couldn’t recognize. Pitchers of ales, bottles of wine, loaves of bread, fruits from all over the world. A feast, right?
But my mouth didn’t water. Nothing smelled as delicious as what Keane had made for me in our kitchen at home. Even shepherd’s pie, which he’d insisted was a simple dish, had been orgasmically good. On the surface, everything on the table looked fine, though it didn’t tantalize my senses. The more I looked at the dishes, though, the less appetizing they were. The fruit was too ripe, approaching squishy or even rotten. I couldn’t tell what kind of meat or vegetables were in the biggest pot of stew. Which unfortunately made me remember Keane’s tale about Cúchulainn.
My stomach quivered. I didn’t know that I could eat a single bite, even if my life depended on it.
Glamor, again. A fake feast.
I could only hope it wasn’t our last.
* * *
KEANE
I shookmy head in disbelief at the so-called feast he’d laid out for us. This was insultingly bad, even for Evil Eye.
“The food isn’t to your liking?” Chuckling, he sat down at the head of the table. “I know it’s not a cauldron-level feast but I freely offer food and drink to my guests. Be welcome at my table.”
To keep Riann as far away from him as possible, Doran sat her at the opposite end of the table. Warwick and Doran sat on either side of her, the first line of defense, while Aidan and Ivarr took the next seats. Leaving me to choose whether to sit on Evil Eye’s left or right hand. Both seats would leave me looking at one of the suckling pig’s bulging eyes, which seemed alarmingly alive and aware.
:This feast be a trap,:I warned the others in case they hadn’t seen through the glamor.
:It doesn’t even smell good,:Riann replied.:What is it?:
