A faint smile appeared on Cliona’s face. “This may not be your fault, Lord, but it is your responsibility. Not everything was a lie, you’re right on that point. But there were things happening before the influence that still would have brought you to this point or something close. Maybe you would still have your people beside you, but I am not so sure you’d still have Evie.” She stood and touched my shoulder. “I am sorry for this, for what is happening now, but I do not know if you can fix it. Only time will tell. Love fixes many things. Give her the space she needs.”
“The Shifter Lord has proven time and time again he is incapable of personal boundaries,” Cernunnos drawled.
Cliona shot him a reproving look. “Perhaps this is one of the many lessons he will learn after losing so many precious things.”
On that note, she followed Evie outside, Tess and Moira rising to follow behind.
Cernunnos didn’t speak until the door was completely shut. When he did, the coldness in his tone froze me to the spot.
“You cannot love her like she needs to be loved.”
I grappled for the right words. “Does that matter if she loves me regardless?”
The fae king snorted. “Asking such a question is an insight to your character and shows you would not let her go even when keeping her caged is slowly killing her.”
“We will get through this.” I had to believe such. If we couldn’t, what had it all been for? The pain, the fights, then the eventual joy of being together…it couldn’t have been for nothing.
“You have much bigger problems than trying to win Evie back. Lugh might have returned Tess, but I know him well enough to know he does not give up so easily. What will you do to free your territory from his influence?”
I didn’t give a shit about Lugh, but the god posed a danger I couldn’t ignore. “If I couldn’t fight this, how can I fight him?”
Cernunnos’ hands glowed with power, a small ball of golden and green light forming inside his palms. When the light went out, a small charm rested there.
“A stag?” How appropriate.
He dropped it onto my lap. “Wear this. His illusions will no longer affect you.”
“And my people?”
A flash of teeth. “Your people are your concern.” He jerked his head toward the charm. “Consider this a one-off thank you for teaching my daughter what not to want in a mate.”
The barb struck home. “She cannot know who you truly are and love you still.”
Cernunnos chuckled and stood, his terrifying visage morphing to that of a thirty-something athletic man. Power still clung to him, and if I saw him on the street I would cross to the other side. Quickly.
“Evie takes after me more than she likes to believe. She has done terrible things for those she loves, and I do not see that stopping now that she is queen. Evie is now a target for everyone holding a grudge against me and my kind, as well as for those who seek the power she now holds.”
“She is untrained. Why would you allow her to be crowned?”
“Evie is far more powerful than you, evenuntrainedas she is, and you are Lord, are you not?”
I glared at Cernunnos. He merely smiled and strode to the door. “Wear the charm, if not for yourself, then for Evie. Regardless of everything, she still loves you. Love does not disappear overnight.”
“That is why we will survive this.”
His eyes swirled with ancient power. “Perhaps,” he said, tilting his head in acknowledgment. “A fool’s hope is better than none at all.”
Chapter
Thirty-Six
Mom finished her inspection of Tess and declared her well and truly free from Lugh’s influence. Dad stepped outside not long after and passed out silver stag charms to everyone, instructing them not to take them off until Lugh’s threat had passed.
“Give this to your dryad friend,” he said, dropping an extra into my palm.
“What about mine?” I tucked the charm into my pocket.
Dad shook his head. “Your kind is resistant to magic, especially that of illusion.”
