“Seren, don't!” Tiernan hissed when I lowered my hand to touch the flower.
I jerked my hand back.
He took my wrist and eased it back. “Remember what Lady Mariya said. King Solas cut himself on a flower.”
“Welcome, Your Majesties. Don't fear the Garden. It won't hurt you. Please, touch the flowers. They've been ignored for so long.”
Tiernan and I spun toward the center of the cavern where the King stood, his darkness like a void in the middle of a million stars. Beds of flowers grew around him in natural patches that somehow gave the impression of being tended. Even with our enemy standing there, I couldn't tear my attention away from the beautiful garden.
“Why isn't it black?” I asked.
“The Garden of Regret feeds on dark emotion. It is not a dark emotion in itself. It is magic.” The King strolled toward us, his hand trailing over the flowers. “If you keep away from the sharp points, they won't cut you.”
The plants bent as normal plants would, but tinkled when they hit each other. Seeing that, I couldn't resist touching the flower I'd been admiring. I gently tapped the underside of a petal.
“It's soft!” I exclaimed.
“Seren!” Tiernan grabbed my wrist again and yanked it back. “Just because he says it's safe, it doesn't mean it is.”
“I don't think he has lied to us, Tiernan.”
“The Queen is correct.” The King of the Garden stopped several feet away from us. “I do not lie. I see no point in it.”
“You could be lying about not lying.”
The King inclined his head. “That is true.”
Tiernan shot me a warning look before he focused back on the King. “So, you appear dark because you are the manifestation of dark emotions?”
The King shrugged.
“If the Garden feeds on darkness, and it's starving, how can it manifest you?”
“It is not a feeding that destroys.” The King waved his hand out to indicate the glowing fields. “Think of the Garden as a repository. It contains those emotions, and the emotions sustain the Garden. It is hungry because it was made to grow. It has languished too long, waiting for new blooms. Give us your pain, and we will give you a flower in the Garden.”
“A flower? A single flower?” I looked across the cavern. “How many kings and queens have you taken from?”
“The Garden did not start with the Seelie.” The King's face twitched.
“Who did it start with?” Tiernan demanded.
“Danu.”
Tiernan and I went still.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“When the Gods were born, Danu claimed Fairy, and Anu left to create his own worlds. The Goddess suffered without her brother. She mourned his absence even though they remained connected. Her heartache hindered creation. So, she tucked her pain away, deep into Fairy. Here, where she felt a connection to her brother.”
“The Garden of Eden.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. The Twin Gods have always mirrored each other. Anu created the Earth, and to rule it, he made humans. I don't know the human story, but in a place bound to this one, Anu wept for his children. That sorrow called to Danu's. She left her pain here, an echo of her brother's. It helped her focus on making the most wondrous races ever created.” He held a hand out toward Tiernan. “So lovely and so monstrous.” He dropped his hand when Tiernan remained where he was. “But the pain of a goddess cannot lie dormant. It grew into this.” He looked at the Garden. “And then it called to Danu's children.” The King met my stare. “So, you see. I am not your enemy. I am part of your goddess. Leave your pain with hers, and free her.”
“Free her?” I whispered. “Is Danu here?”
The King looked away.
“Where is she?!” I roared, causing the flowers to shiver and clink.
