“Fallon?” My father’s voice tears my gaze from Lore’s.
“I’m sorry,Dádhi. What?”
“Pack your things.” He whirls on his tall boots.
“Pack my . . .?”
“I’m flying you to Shabbe.” He’s already striding toward the tavern’s exit.
Lore must yell into my father’s mind because the huge man stalls in the doorway and glares over his shoulder.
“You may be my king, but she is my daughter, Lore.”
“And you may be my closest friend, but she is my mate, Cathal. You will not take her away from me.”
I pull away from Lore and stick a hand on my hip. “I’ll remind the two of you that I’m endowed with both an opinionanda voice.” The twin glowers they hurtle my way make my chin lift a fraction.
“Which she will not be using.” Phoebus clasps his wineglass between whitening knuckles, a grimace scoring his pretty face.Please, he mouths.
But I use it. “Until Meriam is bled dry, I will stay here.”
My father’s dark eyes simmer with rage. “You set even a toe outside the Sky Kingdom,ínon,” my father says, “and I’m carrying you to Shabbe. Is that clear? And, Lorcan, find someone else to send on your fool’s errands to Nebba, because I’ll be staying right here with my daughter. It’s about time we bond.” My father’s smile is rather terrifying. “I’ll be by to pick you up at sunup, Fallon.” As he becomes one with the darkened hallway, he adds, “I recommend you get to bed soon. And alone.”
Oh. My. Gods. My father did not just say that.
Body temperature near combustion, I look up at Lore, who is simpering at the blackened space which used to house my father’s body. I try to press away from the Sky King, if only to allow fresh air to sweep around my skin and into my lungs, but there’s no give to Lore’s hold.
How can you smile at a time like this?
Lore’s gaze falls on my mouth.The most magnificent woman in the room belongs to me and everyone, including herself, is finally aware of it. How in the world could I not smile?
I wet my lips with my tongue.Because this woman’s father wants to delimb you. As for belonging—
You are mine, mo khrá. The same way that I am yours. From now until the end of time.
His declaration of everlasting love not only steals my breaths but also my heartbeats. They tumble from my chest into my bloodstream, then press against my skin, desperate to penetrate Lorcan and gather inside his fierce heart.
His thumb sweeps across the indent at my waist.We should get you fed.
I blink out of my daze, puzzled by his change of subject, until I hear the riotous gurgle of my stomach.
You will need sustenance before we retire.
“You mean, before my morning excursion?”
I’ll see that you are fed before then as well.
His insinuation makes everything inside of me blaze hotter.
He commandeers a larger table and has a mountain of food set before me. Well, before all of us—Phoebus has made his way back to my side—and a few more members of the Siorkahd have taken seats. Only my father, Cian, and Bronwen departed.
Although Lore drinks, he doesn’t eat. He merely strokes up and down my spine with his fingertips, which earns me a rather dour look from Imogen, who sits across from us. In the past, I would’ve labeled it jealousy, but she seems more upset with me than anything. A lot like Reid.
“Reid?” Lore’s murmur smacks my lobe.
I pretend not to have heard him by asking the man beside Imogen—Erwin—about life in Nebba since that is where he and my father were stationed for the last few days.
What has Reid said to you?
