It wasn't sexual, just his way of being there with me, sharing the weight of my worry. And the fact that it wasn't a seduction made it even more alluring. Am I making any sense, or has my reasoning fallen prey to my hormones? Whatever it was, I felt at ease there, with Tiernan. My anxiety over Bress slipped away, and I began to breathe deeply. As soon as Tiernan felt my calm, he pulled away and kissed my forehead. Then he looked at me steadily, his silver eyes liquid with yearning. His hands slipped away from my face and went down to mine. Tiernan lifted my hands, like we stood in the middle of a fairy court, and kissed each one tenderly.
“We will win this war, my love,” Tiernan vowed. “We will get Bress back, we will kill Moire, and then we will settle things between all of us. Leave the dragon be for now. I have faith that he will come to accept our destiny on his own.”
Beautiful words, just what I wanted to hear. But I'd seen Raza destroy an entire fey village once because they had dared to threaten his son. That was not a man who accepted anything he didn't want to accept. Not on his own at least. No, the dragon would need to be led. I just wasn't sure if I was strong enough to do the leading.
Chapter Twenty-Five
My father didn't take the news of Bress' disappearance well. He called his sister several unkind names and some things which weren't names at all, but which were both shocking and appropriate. Then I told Keir where we were when Bress had disappeared, and about the invoice we'd found for the iron weapons. He lost his fairy mind.
Things were thrown. A few of them were quite large. Bigger than Cat even.
After his fit, I told Keir about our conversation with the elves... and Danu's involvement. I prepared for more violence, but he only deflated, landing in a chair like an empty balloon.
“Danu is siding with Moire?”
“According to the elves,” I shrugged. “She hasn't spoken to me since I've returned to Fairy, so I'm inclined to believe them.”
“That's insane,” he whispered. “Why? She supported Raza. Why change her mind now?”
“I don't know, Dad,” I glanced out his bedroom window. “And twilight's coming so I need to cut this short.”
“You're going to Raza?” Keir asked.
“I need to tell him about all of this, and see if he's gathered suvanis flowers for the Extinguishers yet.”
“I'll have some collected here as well,” Keir offered. “One of the knights can take them over to San Francisco.”
“That would be appreciated,” I nodded. “I hadn't even thought to have them gathered here. I don't know why.”
“You have a lot to deal with right now,” he said gently. “Go to Raza, I'm sure he'll help ground you.”
“Kind of ironic since he's a dragon,” I teased, and was rewarded with a smile.
“Perhaps it's the opposite,” he shrugged. “You ground him, and by doing so, you are steadied as well.”
“I think you're right. We're good for each other,” I kissed his cheek. “I love you, Dad.”
The stars over Keir's amethyst eyes sparkled, “I love you too. Be careful, Seren. Just because you have a dragon at your back, it doesn't make you invulnerable.”
“Don't I know it,” I murmured as I left.
I went out into the hall, intending to twilight over to Craos-Teine from my bedroom, but a chiming caught my attention. I rushed straight through my bedroom, and into my library to answer the scry. It was Killian of course. I'd nearly forgot.
“Where you at, Twilight?”
“I'm here, at home, but I'm leaving for Unseelie soon,” I said as Cat came in and leaned against my leg.
She huffed at Killian through the crystal ball. It seemed as if Cat and Raza were the only two left who weren't climbing aboard the Killian train.
“Okay, I'll meet you there,” he waved the connection away before I could say anything more.”
“I guess that settles it,” I looked to Cat. “You ready?”
She whined and looked pointedly at the door.
“I'm not going to bother the Star's Guard,” I huffed. “They need a rest. Besides, I'll be with Raza. If something can kick Raza's ass, my Guard wouldn't stand much of a chance against it.”
She sighed and settled against me again.
