"Ireland, the human world in general, isn't the place you remember, Midir. They will not tolerate your raiding and other nonsense. It is a world of iron and technology now," Taranis replied.
"But it is fine for your nephews and your brothers to journey there? You yourself have gone and gotten a pretty little human wench, and yet you would begrudge me doing the same?" Midir demanded. "You just don't want to share."
"For starters, Quinn is my mate and queen, not my wench," Taranis growled before taking a breath. "And my nephew, Kian, already had a kingdom in England and has a right to be there."
"Your queen?" Midir looked at the lords and knights. "You let a filthy human be in charge? They were created to serve us. They will always be lesser creatures. I thought you dragons were meant to be proud. How can you hold your head up when that lesser creature is on your throne and that feral beast sits at your table playing lady?"
Yelena's eyes shimmered with silver, but she remained silent. Valentine wanted to reach through the mirror and knock Midir's perfect teeth in.
"She isn't a beast," Valentine snarled. "She is worth a hundred of the likes of you."
"Another human. This one is powerful, at least. What do you all care about the human world? It is nothing to you. Taranis and his family are being ridiculous over such a small thing," Midir said, throwing up his hands in exasperation. "I only wish to explore this new time like he does. The Dagda gave the barrow in Ireland to my father, so I have every right to reclaim it as Kian reclaimed his ancestral lands."
"He does have a point," one of the lords said, looking uncertain. "What do we care what he does? It's none of our business, and the humans will fight back if his warriors overstep."
Taranis glared at him. "The humans are barely tolerating the fae there now after Morrigan's rampage. It won't just be a war with Midir's people. The humans will turn against all of the fae because they don't know the difference."
"If they are that small-minded, why not let us rule them like in the old times? They haven't evolved enough to look after themselves and could use some immortal guidance," Midir saidand smiled warmly. "If anything, we would be doing them a favor."
Valentine's jaw ached from clenching it so hard. The lords around him had no idea about the human world. Human lives were fleeting to them—their dying world meant nothing to them—and if it weren't for Taranis and his brothers returning to help with magic, then both worlds would have suffered. They would never understand that they were connected and that what happened to one would always affect the other.
"You have given us many things to think about. I will consider your request," Taranis said, trying to be calm.
"My request? I am not a lord of yours. This isn't a request. I will find my way back there with or without you. How much bloodshed it takes will be on your hands." Midir turned to look at Valentine. "When they turn on you for becoming too powerful, and they will, you will always be welcome in my court."
The king in the mirror disappeared, and Valentine took a breath. He looked across the table at Yelena. She had her hands in her lap, her fingers rubbing against the back of her silver hand. It was a small tick, but Valentine saw it and knew she was worried. It made him hate Midir even more.
Valentine got out of his chair when the others did, but no one left the room. Servants came in to refill wine glasses and the trays of refreshments.
"Perhaps you should just let Midir have his barrow. If it was Dagda blessed, who are we to deny him?" one of the lords asked.
"You don't remember what Midir was like. He would try to go back to his old raids, hunts, and kidnappings. Humans won't tolerate it. They have formidable weapons and would use them to fight back," Taranis argued, getting up to pace. "The fae have a tentative peace there now. Kian makes sure of it."
"And they are Kian's people. Why not let Midir make a treaty of his own?" Afon asked, gesturing to a servant to fill his glass.He walked around the mirror where Midir had been. "He isn't yours to command, my king, and you know he won't stop until he gets what he wants."
"We would be trading fae lives for human ones," Avallach pointed out. "I've seen what kind of hospitality Midir gives to those whom he believes are lesser."
"And it is my lands he will invade in retaliation! My people will die first for this," Afon argued back.
"Taranis's people," Yelena corrected coolly. "You may be a lord, but Taranis is king."
"And you are nothing but a pet he trained," he snarled.
Valentine stilled. "What did you just say?"
Afon turned a red face to him. "You heard me. She shouldn't even be sitting at this table, and neither should you. We all know you are sleeping with her. Just because you humans are into bestiality doesn't..."
Valentine vanished and reappeared in front of Afon. The lord made a startled sound, and Valentine's fingers whipped into his mouth and grabbed his tongue. The blade of his dagger rested against Afon's cheek.
"I have had enough of your tongue disrespecting Yelena. Just because she is willing to tolerate the insults doesn't mean that I am," he whispered, the edge of his blade digging into Afon's skin.
"Valentine," Yelena's voice cut through the rage that was turning his vision red. "Let him go. He's not worth your anger or your blade."
Valentine's grip on Afon's tongue tightened. "Take care with this tongue of yours because next time, she might not be around to stop me." Valentine let him go with a shove.
Not a single person in the room moved as Afon straightened his robes. "You might be able to turn into a dragon, human, but you are not one of us and never will be. Go and fuck your beast.You're no more fae than she is." He whirled away, leaving the room without asking permission from Taranis.
"Valentine, let him go," Taranis said, the growl in his voice stopping him from finishing what he started. "I will deal with Afon when he has cooled down. Yelena? I apologize for his words."
