Page 34 of Beneath a Shattered Sky
The others eventually figure out there’s no threat and turn to glare at Lore. I see the exact moment they figure out what’s been going on, because Drystan’s glare turns smouldering, and Caed jerks like he’s been gut punched.
The low snarl that echoes out of me makes the Fomorian turn away. Good. He doesn’t deserve to see her like this, all soft, relaxed, and well-pleasured.
Those things are only for her mates. Caed doesn’t get to use that title. Not when he spat on his oath. My beast’s desire to rip his throat out is almost as strong as his need to bond with Rose. Only her charm is keeping the Fomorian in one piece.
“Lorcan,” Drystan growls. “I thought you were supposed to be on watch?”
“Why would I deny the púca his brooding time?” The redcap whistles innocently. “He’s been up in that tree all night.”
A glance up reveals Bree crouched among the branches of an ancient, crooked pine, staring out across the area with his wings wrapped around him like a shield.
Concern for him tugs at me, but Rose recaptures my attention when she moves towards the fire, which bursts back to life at Drystan’s silent command. She smiles gratefully at him—a look I never thought I’d see her level in his direction—and starts fixing herself some food.
“I assume we need to get moving,” she mutters under her breath. “Maeve wants me to do some drills, but after that, I’ll be ready.”
“Drills?” I choke.
Rose meets my eyes for a second, before flicking her gaze over to the winter lord who’s gone stock still at her announcement. The stubborn tilt of her chin makes me certain that whatever she’s about to say will piss him off before she even opens her mouth.
“Maeve is training me to fight—well, really, I’m learning to dodge. I think that’s probably something to prioritise now that we’re fightingtwowars.”
“Rhoswyn…” he begins, predictably.
“No.” She cuts him off with enough imperiousness that I flinch on his behalf. “We did things your way. I ignored my instincts, played the good little doll, smiling and looking pretty, and look what happened. Prae is right. Iamthe Nicnevin. If I’mgoing to lose anyone else, it damn well won’t be because I sat back and did nothing when Iknewsomething was wrong.” Her voice cracks, raw pain bleeding through the words until my wolf howls in the back of my mind. “That ends now. If I’d been able to defend myself—if I hadn’t given in and compromised on this after my fever—Bram might still be alive.”
The pain in her words is so sharp that I’m surprised she doesn’t draw blood, and none of us is brave enough to argue with her.
She’s right. We fucked up. Which is exactly why I need to get her alone to explain…
“Lore, are you coming to help us?” Rose asks, grabbing the redcap and dragging him away from the fire and out of the glade.
Probably for the best. I’m not sure I could take seeing anyone raise a blade to her right now without shifting.
“We owe her an apology,” Bree murmurs, almost to himself. “We failed her in Siabetha.”
Drystan’s fists tighten at his side, and he starts clearing away his bedroll rather than answering.
“I’ll talk to her,” I agree.
“We can’t bury our heads in the sand and hope Eero goes away,” Drystan snarls from across camp, strapping his gear to the saddle a little too roughly.
Good luck convincing Rose of that. She’s lost Bram, and as a result, she’s even more committed to saving Florian. I have a terrible feeling that when all her loved ones are safe, Danu’s vengeance on Siabetha will be swift and brutal.
“Yes, but she’s also right about the threat from Elatha,” I concede, throwing a sideways glance at Caed and Prae, who have their heads pressed together.
What are they plotting?
Whatever it is, I don’t like it.
“Fomorian,” I snap. “Tell us about whoever it is Eero’s allied with.”
“Draard?” He rolls his eyes and gives me a half-shrug. “He’s a dumb, vicious brute with an attitude problem that rivals the headless grump’s. It’s a miracle he’s gotten as high up the ranks as he has.”
“Not a miracle,” Prae corrects, rolling up her own bedding. “He has a strategy that works for him—attaching himself to someone smarter. It was Lev and Reyna before Caed and I killed them for assaulting Rose; now it’s Elatha. Obedient muscle is still dangerous.”
Assaulting Rose? My wolf’s teeth gnash in the forefront of my mind, and I know my eyes are flickering gold.
“He’s got a temper,” Caed continues, brushing aside the fact that some now-dead Fomorians assaulted our mate like it doesn’t matter. “You can use that against him if you ever lock blades. His death is mine, though. It’s been a fucking long time coming.”
