Page 99 of Beneath a Shattered Sky
He knows I did, and perhaps that’s why he doesn’t insist on an answer this time.
Long blue fingers trace down my cheek in a mockery of a paternal gesture before gripping my chin between long, pointed nails that dig into my flesh.
“If you want to be treated like them so badly, I’ll oblige. Caedmon Fomorii”—my breath whooshes out as icy hands reach into my gut and clench hard—“tell me why you chose to leave my halls and take up with a weak fairy rather than returning her to Fellgotha.”
He’s using my name, and that’s how I know I’m not getting out of this alive.
It is unacceptable for a descendant of Balor to have that weakness. Which means he no longer considers me his son, no longer considers me Fomorian.
And though I struggle, I can’t help the words from falling free. “I left because Danu cursed me, and I stayed with her because—” I choke, the words pulling from my chest. “Because I love her. I couldn’t let you hurt her.”
The confession shocks them as much as it does me. Elatha drops my face like he’s been stung, only to rear back and slap me so hard that lights twinkle across my vision. Even Draard is silent, like he understands how close his king is to snapping and killing everyone.
I let out a hoarse laugh at my own stupidity. Of course, it would take my psychopathic father forcing the truth from me for me to finally realise the depth of my own feelings.
I’m in love with the fae queen.
I really should’ve realised it sooner. Loving anyone has only ever brought me pain, and from day one, Rose has been no exception.
Since meeting her, I’ve been imprisoned, flayed, tortured, beaten… and now I’m going to die for her. Perhaps Danu’s curse is really a blessing because all of this hurt will finally end.
Elatha’s boot drives into my gut, winding me until my laughter cuts off.
He’s not done.
“Caedmon Fomorii, tell me everything you’ve seen or heard about the fae’s war plans and strategies, and then explain how you’ve been cursed.”
“I heard nothing,” I laugh. “Nothing you can use, anyway. They don’t trust me.”
For the first time in my life, I’m grateful for the dullahan’s insistence on keeping me out of every single strategy meeting. Elatha’s fury when I know nothing of consequence is painful, but the idea of him using that knowledge against Rose is worse.
But my name still compels me to answer his second question. The sordid details of my curse spill out of me like a flood, pulled free like splinters from my throat. When I tell him about the mark, Draard scoffs.
“You were literally by her side for months, and yet you only managed to get two of them to trust you?”
Elatha examines my arm. The wolf’s head is a deep grey that’s almost half as dark as the top hat now. I was so close to winning Jaro’s trust. I grimace at the memory of how hopeful it made me when I first saw it.
My father grabs a scrap of my torn shirt and wipes at the marks. Neck aching, I swallow a grimace as I realise there’s the faintest outline of a harp in the frame closest to my wrist.
“Almost three,” he murmurs. “This changes things.”
No. No, it doesn’t,I think, desperately. “Just torture me, kill me, and be done with it.”
“Why would I do that when I possess the very things needed to finally make you useful?” The king steps back. “And I must say, having your unquestioning obedience is growing on me. I should’ve done this sooner. You were never a fitting heir of Balor, but you’ve always been a useful weapon.”
Goddess, I pray, hoping she’ll take pity on me for once in my life.Please, let me die.
Thirty
Rhoswyn
“We’re going after him,” I say, looking straight at Drystan as I say it to make sure he understands that this is non-negotiable. “He did the same for you when you were captured. I want to leave now.”
I’m striding back across the camp in the mushroom ravine, my steps determined, with the rest of my males surrounding me like a flock of grumpy hens. Deep in my gut, guilt churns. We had a restful night, sleeping safely in a little cave while Caed was battling Fomorians alone and was captured.
“The bear shifter didn’t see which way he was taken. We don’t even know where he is.” Drystan tries to reason with me, but I shake my head.
“I feel the Call to him too, remember?” My confidence is boosted by the way Lore is checking all his knives, ready to go. “He’s northwest.”
