Tiernan frowned, but then he closed his eyes.
We waited.
A few minutes later, Tiernan opened his eyes and shook his head. “No, I feel nothing.”
“Now I want you to think back to the time when you called upon her, and she did not answer. How did it feel? Did you sense her at all then?”
Tiernan considered this. “It was so long ago.” He looked up at Keir. “It was different. There was something back then. Even in my darkest hour, when I was banished from Seelie, I felt . . . something. There was a presence that comforted me. That was her, wasn't it?”
“Yes, Son.” A tear slid out of my father's starry eye. “She was with us. Whether we weren't listening or she wasn't speaking, she was there. She gave us what she could—led us as best she could. That tells me she spoke the truth. It was we who stopped listening to Danu, even as we cried out for her to speak.We just didn't believe that she would answer us. And belief is powerful, especially for fairies.”
“Powerful enough to block out the voice of a goddess?” I asked.
“Yes, Seren. Your beliefs affect you the most. If you believe you can't hear Danu, you won't.”
“Did the Council respond well to that?” Tiernan asked.
“It was mixed.” Keir shrugged. “I've done all I can here. I've defended my daughter and my goddess. My opinion has been voiced and noted. It's time for me to go home.”
“Thank you for standing up for us, Dad,” I said. “And thanks for straightening us out.”
He chuckled. “Always, Seren.” Then he looked at Tiernan. “Son, may I have a moment with Seren?”
Tiernan's eyes went wide. “Yes, of course. Goodnight, Your Majesty.”
“Goodnight,Your Majesty,” Keir shot back at him.
Tiernan grinned and kissed my cheek. “I'll wait for you at our table.”
I nodded and watched him go before looking back at my father. “What is it?”
“I spoke to Raza. He's here.”
“On the Isle?”
“Yes, he came to look for Danu as well.”
“How is he?” I whispered.
“Not well, Seren. He . . .” My father shook his head. “He's very angry with you. Still, he nearly attacked the entire High Council when they implied you were at fault.”
“He did?” My chest shivered. “That's my dragon.”
“Yes,thatis loyalty. I'm so glad you married him. That man would fight the Gods themselves for you, even when he feels betrayed by you. Love like that is rare.”
“Yes, Danu was good to me when she gave me Raza.”
My father snorted. “Shoved him at you more like.”
“As I recall, you did some shoving as well.”
“A father knows best.” He grinned. “I don't regret my actions at all.”
“Did Killian tell Raza how I tried to protect myself at night? And how Tiernan was successful?”
“Yes, but Raza is in the depths of anger that has been building for a long time, Seren. It won't be easy for him to let go.”
“I see.”
