“We do, but don't you also think that she may be truthful with the second option as well? Perhaps more truthful. And if you show her love instead of alienating her with your anger, maybe she won't run from us as Rowan predicted.”
Things got real quiet.
I wanted to rush into the silence to reassure Raza that I would never run away from him, but I had a feeling that Tiernan knew what he was doing.
“What did you say?” Raza finally whispered.
“I assume Killian told you about Rowan's prediction. She said Seren would leave. What do you think could drive our wife away? Would five loving husbands make her flee, Raza?”
“What has happened to you? Why are you speaking like this, Tiernan?”
“I've had an epiphany this morning. This thing with Astaroth—Seren keeps hiding her problems with him from us. Have you ever wondered why?”
“If you fucking say that it's our fault because we get upset that our wife is flirting with another man, I'm going to fly to Seelie and give you a new scar!”
Tiernan just stared at Raza.
“Fuck!” Raza snarled.
“It's not our fault, but we are not entirely free of blame either.” Tiernan sat down in the chair next to mine, crossed one leg over the other, and leaned back, utterly calm.
It was kinda sexy. Okay, it was really sexy. Few people could even meet Raza's stare when he got like this, but Tiernan looked like an English gentleman about to have tea—utterly composed and pleased with himself.
As if he could hear my thoughts, Tiernan smiled at me and then returned to his conversation. “How long have you been trying to scry her?”
“What? Why?”
“Just answer me, Raza.”
“Hours!”
“Yes, hours. Do you know why she hasn't picked up?”
Even silent, I could hear Raza glower. “Killian said you were having sex.”
“That's correct. I've just finished making love to Seren for hours, and the only reason we're not still in each other's arms is that you interrupted. Making love, Raza, not having sex. Not fucking. It's been a very long time since I've connected with Seren like that. Really felt our bond. When was the last time you made love to her without any dark feelings between you?Nothing holding you back. Just pure love flowing from you to her and back. When was that, Raza?”
My jaw fell, and it wasn't because of Tiernan confronting Raza. It was Tiernan's choice of words. Without any dark feelings. Meaning that Tiernan had no dark feelings to cloud his love for me. Was he right about the blight? Did it clear his mind?
But the other fairies—they were too calm. Too unemotional. “Unemotional,” I whispered.
Tiernan had said they were in the blight's embrace for too long. Maybe it had taken too much, moving on to the lighter emotions when all their darkness was gone.
“What was that, my love?” Tiernan asked me.
“Ah, nothing, sweetheart. I was just thinking out loud.”
He smiled at me. “All right.”
“Put her on the fucking phone, Tiernan!” Raza shouted.
Tiernan stared at Raza. Waited.
“I will be understanding,” Raza relented.
I took a deep breath. “Uh, there was something else I didn't get a chance to mention earlier.”
Tiernan lifted an eyebrow.
