Page 13 of Atop the Faerie Throne
Drystan
By the time I manage to convince the redcap to blink me back to the Court of Blades, it’s long past dark. Lore holds out his hand as soon as we arrive, and I sigh, drawing out his payment.
“Don’t lose it,” I grumble, dropping the enchanted blade into his palm without ceremony. “And remember, you need to bring me back?—”
“Before Rose wakes up, and don’t tell anyone about this.” Lore waves me off, examining the gold blade and ruby pommel. “Calm your frostbitten tits. I’m mad, not stupid.”
We’ll have to agree to disagree there. I don’t know what he has planned for my mother’s favourite dagger, and I’m not going to ask. Goddess, knowing Lore, he’ll probably wrap it up and gift it to Rose.
He disappears with a parting spank to my arse, meaning that I have to deliberately unclench my jaw as I force myself to face the door to his dungeon.
“Goddess,” I whisper into the empty corridor. “I need you to make him tolerable. Just for one night.”
For Rose’s sake.
Ever since her confession last week, I’ve been stuck on the same awful thought.
I can lay blame at Caed’s feet for a lot of things, but if I kill him, I’ll break our mate’s heart.
Unacceptable.
So here I am. Searching for a solution I might not be able to accept.
Perhaps I shouldn’t have made her undo her charm. No. I’m a winter lord. I can control myself. Even if the urge to punch him is like a constant itch beneath my skin.
I twist the polished doorknob, sending a second prayer to the Goddess for patience as I slip into what the redcap calls his ‘cosy dungeon.’
The Fomorian sits on the cot at the far end of the only occupied cell, looking much the same as before, except he’s wearing fresh clothes and he’s cleaner. I’m not sure if that was Praedra’s or Rose’s doing, but he’s undoubtedly the most pampered prisoner the redcap has ever hosted.
His ash-blond hair reflects the torchlight as he lifts his head just enough to see who I am, then drops it back into his hands with a huff.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” His voice is still rough. “Actually, no. Let me guess; you’re here to tell me how you’re going to take pleasure melting the skin from?—”
“Shut up.”
I need him to talk, but Goddess, he just can’t help riling me every time he opens his mouth. I’d rather be stuck in an inn with a bunch of rowdy leprechauns yammering about the fluctuating price of gold than listen to him.
But here we are.
Danu, I hope Rose is aware just how much I love her. I wouldn’t even consider doing this for anyone else.
“You’re going to make me forgive you, Fomorian,” I snap. “We have all night. Go.”
The asshole looks at me then,reallylooks at me, and lets out a low laugh.
“You’re not serious?”
I drag a stool from against the far wall to just in front of the bars. If we’re going to be here a while, I may as well sit.
“You have until the redcap comes to collect me at dawn to convince me your sorry ass is worth keeping.”
Arranging myself so one ankle is resting on the opposite knee, I lean forward and wait. For several drawn-out minutes, we’re just two males, staring one another down.
The longer it takes, the more angry I become.
It’s not like I’ve asked him to do the impossible. I’m here, aren’t I? Listening like Rose would want? Ugh. Who am I kidding? The Fomorian won’t change. He can’t.
The stool scrapes against the floor as I shove away, intent on forgetting this ever happened, but a blue hand on my arm stops me.
