“Um, sure,” I waved Cat off when she shifted into canine form and started to follow us. “We'll be back soon, Cat.”
She huffed and went to find Conri.
The Star's Guard gave us knowing looks as we headed away from the camp, into the thicker part of the woods. We didn't go too far, just enough to have some privacy. Tiernan found a mossy boulder and gestured for me to have a seat. I shook my head, preferring to stand. I'd been on my butt for hours. He blinked, realized my issue, and then chuckled.
“I want to talk to you about Killian,” he started.
“No,” I held up my hand and tried to walk past him. “I'm not talking to you about Killian. You don't have the right to ask.”
“Seren,” he grabbed my hand, “I approve.”
I froze.
“What did you just say?” I looked at him in horror.
“He's a strong match for you,” Tiernan sighed. “He would cement an alliance with the witches, and he's a new breed of twilight fey, so he'll be accepted in any fairy court. He'd be a solid consort.”
“What the hell is this?” I laid a hand on his forehead. “Are you ill?”
“Funny,” Tiernan took my hand from his head so he was holding both of mine. “But I'm serious, Seren. If you can convince Raza to do what he originally intended, and allow you to have consorts, then Killian would be a good addition.”
“A good addition?” I gaped at him. “Exactly how many consorts does a queen usually have?”
“As many as she wants,” Tiernan shrugged. “As many as her king permits. It's not a 'usual' thing. It's a very personal thing.”
“Yes, I get that,” I sighed. “You'd really be okay with me sleeping with Killian?”
“Do I like the thought?” Tiernan grimaced. “Absolutely not. The man is tedious and annoying. Just seeing his face makes me want to break it with my fist. But he's also capable and smart when he isn't being foolish. If that makes any sense.”
“Tiernan, you're making me crazy here,” I pulled my hands away from him. “You tell me you love me more than our goddess, but then you want to give me to another man?”
“Notgive,” Tiernan laid his palm to my face. “Can't you see? It's because I love you so much that I'm willing to compromise. I want you to have what you need. As a princess of Fairy and as a woman. You are my priority. I've thought a lot about you, and what would make you happy. I believe Killian could contribute to your happiness.”
“Seriously?” I whispered.
“He can give you something neither Raza or I can,” Tiernan swallowed hard, and I saw how painful it was for him to admit it. “Humanity.”
“He's not all human anymore,” I was clutching at Tiernan's hand, automatically trying to comfort him.
“He's human enough,” Tiernan smiled sadly. “You know he is. His very nature appeals to you. Even if his blood changed completely, Killian would still be human. Here,” Tiernan tapped his temple. “He's a link to your mother's people, a way to keep yourself from becoming completely fey. I understand that now, and I see the importance of it.”
“I thought you wanted me to be fey.”
“I did,” he said. “And I was wrong. You are what Fairy needs. You, all of you, including your human nature. Your humanity makes you the most unique fairy royal there has ever been. It gives you a perspective that no other monarch has. And that perspective is what will unite Fairy as well as keep the peace between the realms.”
I stared at him as shivers coasted over my skin. His words had the ring of fate to them.
“Ironic, isn't it?” Tiernan asked with a lopsided smile. “That it takes a princess with human blood to unite the fey?”
“I'm glad you have faith in me,” I sighed as I leaned back against a tree. “I was beginning to lose it.”
“You are not to blame for Bress' abduction.”
There it was again, Tiernan knowing me, knowing exactly what was bothering me. It was so easy to slip back into our old relationship, that comfortable closeness we'd shared. But that comfort could lead to other things. I was already itching to throw myself into his arms, to hold him tight again, and breathe him in. Amber and sandalwood. A rich, slightly sweet scent that was still so masculine. So Tiernan.
“She's going to hurt him, Tiernan,” I whispered, forcing my thoughts back to Bress. “And he was doing so well.”
“I know,” his hands went to my face, and he leaned his forehead to mine, then his whole body eased forward.
