Tarian lifted his eyebrows at that, and Daisy laughed. He’d been out of the loop. If the High Sovereign had known they were reduced to gold, “second best,” they hadn’t told him. For all their arrogance, they likely tried to ignore it.
“I see you’ve finally gotten the rings around your pupils,” Eldric continued, ignoring the exchange. “I wondered about that. Some of the texts mention that sometimes the markings will hide to keep the chalice safe. Since you’ve killed the king, it is safe to reveal what you really are, I think. Now, you might want to remove your clothing. There are some records that mention flames licking up from the power. I can only imagine this means the chalice being set on fire, and clothes will make it burn hotter. Fuel, you know. That does not sound like a pleasurable experience.”
“Will any of this be a pleasurable experience?” She shrugged out of her dress, leaving just her underwear.
“No, but there is also no reason to make things worse. Don’t you agree?” He glanced at Tarian. “You as well, sire. Welcome back, by the way. I was privy to the situation, of course. My kind are known for the information they are able to obtain?—”
He cut off as Tarian unbuttoned his shirt. His eyes widened, and he waited for Tarian to finish revealing his torso.
“What…” Eldric looked back and forth between them. “What happened? How…” His eyebrows pinched together, and he stepped forward quickly, looking into Tarian’s eyes. “Why do you have diamond dust and not gold? What…” He looked back and forth again. “I must’ve missed something. I don’t recall reading anything about this.”
Tarian took off his pants. “Given my ignorance about the crystal chalice magic, that doesn’t surprise me.”
“Yourignorance doesn’t mean anything. You’re supposed to be ignorant. As one of the order,Iam not. Is it…a mutation caused by fornicating with the human?”
Now Daisy’s eyebrows lifted. She gave Tarian a crooked smile. “There could be worse side effects of fornication…”
Tarian chuckled, running his hand across her shoulder before pulling her closer. “Very beautiful side effect you have there, human.”
She spared him a kiss, then copped a feel before walking to the edge of the configuration. The objects all hummed and glowed. The diamond chalice gleamed, a solitary item amidst its kind.
“Okay, enough stalling. Let’s get this done,” she said.
The smile fell from Tarian’s face. His expression cleared and hardened.
“Yes, fine.” Eldric frowned at her. “I would’ve liked more time to look into the ink situation, but fine. I suppose the sooner we deal with the rot that has been allowed to escape this court, the better. Head into the middle there. Tarian, you with her.”
She did as instructed, careful not to disturb the setup. Tarian followed, his hand on her shoulder before sliding down to capture her hand.
“I hate this,” he murmured as she stopped beside the diamond chalice. Its magic sizzled within her middle, white hot and ready to expand. Tarian stared down at it for a long moment, then at everything around it. His breath was heavy, but he didn’t say anything further.
What was theretosay, really?
Except, “I love you.”
“You’ve been my blessing in an otherwise cursed existence. You are the first rays of the sun that peek over the horizon at dawn. The beautiful colors washed across the sky at dusk. You’ve made me the best version of myself, my little treasure, and I will cherish you for it, always. This is merely a parting. I’ll see you soon, remember? We won’t be apart for long.”
“Well, just so no one is caught off guard…” Eldric paused in looking at his scroll. “She won’t survive this. Not unless she stops the progression. Which…given how painful it is said to be, she might. But if she?—”
“We’re aware, thank you,” Daisy said dryly. “For all the shit you give humans, it’s as if you never hear yourself.” She looked deep into Tarian’s eyes. “If there is a way you can avoid trading yourself, I want you to promise me that you will take it. Do not die unnecessarily. Live for as long as you can. Become king and make sure Faerie stays balanced. Take a surly queen that scowls at everyone so you might remember me. Live your life to the fullest, Tarian. I’ll wait. Hell, I’ll be dead. All I’ll have to do is wait. Time won’t matter to me. Lexi has said that often enough about other spirits that I know it is true. Live. That’s all I ask.”
“There will be no living without you.”
She took a shaky breath, her heart breaking, but she was determined. Wanted the best for him. “There will. Give yourself time to heal, and you’ll forget. Plus, bonus—you and your dad will have something in common. If that isn’t anin, I don’t know what is.”
Tarian kept shaking his head, but Daisy ignored it. She motioned for Eldric to get going.
Eldric’s lips pursed. “Yes, let’s begin. It seems you’ve already ignited the chalices, so bend and pick up the diamond chalice.”
“Hold on to me,” she told Tarian. “The last couple times, this thing knocked me flat on my ass. I’d hate to mess up Eldric’s hard work.”
“That did not sound genuine,” Eldric mumbled.
Tarian turned her to face him and took her cheeks in his hands. They bent together. She reached for the diamond chalice.
“I am so sorry, Daisy. I am so sorry that I dragged you here. That I forced you into this.”
“You gave me a way to repay my family for everything they have done for me. This is the best way to go.” She closed her hands over the diamond chalice and expected the kick. Instead, the white-hot power in her middle intensified. Strength filled her. The magical currents in the room flowed perfectly naturally.
