Page 70 of A Dark and Lovely Devastation

“Silence,” I snapped. “You will not interrupt while your queen and a lady of the court speaks.”

A low murmur rolled around the throne room.

Eimear had gone pale. “I—I—”

Reaching out, I touched her hand. “I will protect you, I swear it. Let me see your arm.”

She offered me her good arm, but I gently took the one she favored in my hands. She flinched.

“Trust me,” I said, and she nodded. With the utmost care, I rolled her sleeve back.

A gasp rippled through those present.

A dark burn mark covered Eimear’s arm up to her elbow. Horror slashed through me as I recalled the feel of similar burn marks lacing my body. Except it was clear by how the skin bunched and scabbed, how it was slightly green with an infection that Eimear had not received care for her hurt arm.

“Why have you not sought care for this, Lady Eimear?”

Eimear appeared as if she wanted to pull away. She trembled under my grip. “He-he said I could not seek healing.” Her voice was barely a whisper, but with the silence in the room, it came off as a near shout. “He said it was my punishment for not being good enough.”

I willed my grip not to tighten and my emotions to remain even. My parents had held me to such high standards… standards I could never meet. It is what drove me to put on a facade of perfection in high school, and when I couldn’t measure up, to resort to intimidating others to help me maintain it. I knew what it was like to feel not good enough. But I had never physically hurt anyone. And when I could no longer hide my imperfections from my parents, they certainly had never hurt me for it.

A swell of both pain and affection rolled through my chest for the people who raised me.

“Did Tadhg do this to you?” I asked.

She hesitated, uncertain.

I looked her in the eye. “Answer your queen,” I commanded.

A courage gathered in her expression. “Yes,” she hissed.

Tadhg’s face had gone beet red. “Surely you do not believe this, my queen. Surely—”

“What are you suggesting, Tadhg? That a lady of this court lied to her sovereign? That she is even capable of it amazes me. Wouldn’t it you?”

He jerked to Dagda, but the king scowled at Tadhg before turning toward me, a spark of pride shining in his eyes.

I backed away from Eimear, returning to my throne. “Your actions, Tadhg, have dishonored you and your position. You have acted in violence against another member of this court. According to The Rules of the Court, your dishonor demands restitution. And I plan to provide it.” I sat on my throne and stared him down. “I strip you of your rank and title. You are no longer a member of this court. You are no longer a member of the nobility. Your lands, your money, all of your assets now belong to Lady Eimear. Your guard is also dismissed. I will provide her new guard.” I leaned forward, my lip curling. “And if you know what is good for you, you will stay the hell away from Lady Eimear.”

Tadhg stepped toward Dagda. “My king, surely you do not approve. Iama member of this court.”

“Your queen has spoken,” Dagda said, his voice as hard as his gaze.

Tadhg paled, and those standing around whispered and whispered, casting startled or dismissive glances in his direction.

“Take Lady Eimear to a separate room from Tadhg, and set a guard outside both their rooms. Send a healer for Lady Eimear’s arm,” I said. “After lunch, I’ll oversee that everything she wants is worked out.” Turning, I faced Dagda. “I believe that wraps up things for now.” I gazed on those in attendance. “You are dismissed.”

After the last faeries filed out, Dagda escorted me into the waiting room where our food rested on a small round table.

“That was…” His expression was pure awestruck. “How did you know about Lady Eimear?”

“It was a guess,” I admitted. “Although after observing how he treated her, not to mention what his nephew said to me…” Dagda’s fists balled. “...it wasn’t that much of a guess,” I finished.

“You were flawless. Reminding those in attendance of Eimear’s place on the court before establishing his guilt.” He sighed. “Some creatures of the Otherworld treat their females poorly. It is an affront to faeriekind that Tadhg lives by such terrible customs.”

A rouge tint to the windows pulled his attention. His brows drew together for the briefest of moments. The clouds beyond looked dark and heavy with a blood-red coloring to them. I turned away. I didn’t want my mind to play tricks on me. Didn’t want my trauma to come out in the wake of my victory.

I sat in the chair next to my food. “Should we eat?”

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