“You know, painted wooden panels written with large block letters: IF YOU KILL MERIAM, FALLON KICKS THE CAULDRON? Actually, that expression may be misconstrued. Probably best to use a more direct verb likeperishes.”
I feel a shadow skim my cheekbone.
“I’m afraid to report that the wards distort words, Fallon.” Justus shoots me a gentle smile.
I’m about to say,then let’s wait, but a glance at my father’s dejected expression makes me give in.
Are you certain, Behach Éan?
I nod.
“Can it be done here?” After collecting many frowns, Justus adds, “Doesn’t the Sky Kingdom block Faerie and Shabbin magic?”
“You’re not spellcasting, Rossi,” my father murmurs. “You’re magnetizing blood.”
Justus bobs his head, then squints hard at the gray rock. When he shuts his eyes, I think he’s failed to make the rock bleed, but then he retracts his hands, and my trapped inhale comes out as a thready gasp.
Fifty-Two
Justus peers around the table. “Though I don’t believe anyone but Meriam or I can alter it, I do suggest no one touches the stones until the last one is collected.”
No one but me meets his stare for everyone else’s gaze is riveted to the pattern of blood.
“May I go visit my son now, Ríhbiadh?”
My mate nods. As Gabriele leads him toward the massive entrance cut into one of the murals, I ask Lore how Vance is faring.
Lazarus got his bleeding under control, but the male has yet to wake.He reclines in his seat, golden eyes sharpening on my bare legs.Change before heading to the tavern.After a beat, he adds a,Please.
Though that was my intent, I cannot help but ask,Isn’t everyone in the Sky Kingdom aware I’m your mate?
They are, but that does not preclude any of them from looking.
A smile slowly blossoms on my face.So, you love me again?
Though he doesn’t rise from his chair, he must ferry a few of his shadows my way because I feel a finger glide from the hollow of my collarbone to the point of my shoulder.I never stopped, Behach Éan. Even if you’d married Dante for love, I wouldn’t have stopped. I physicallycannotstop.
I press my lips together.Your declaration was touching until you brought up the awnos duffen.I close my fingers around the disheartening symbol inked into my skin.
Lore’s shadows rush toward me—all of them—and he tows my chin up.Forgive me.
I nod because I do forgive him, but boy, does the memory of the blood-bind put a damper on my mood.
I’m afraid your mate is an insufferably jealous man, mo khrà. Find it in your heart to keep loving him in spite of this flaw?
I love you all the more for it, Mórrgaht.I stare into the glimmering depths of his eyes. I must lose myself in their beauty because his shadows brighten into skin and everyone in the war room winks out of existence, save for us.
I’m not sure if I’m inside Lore’s mind or if he’s inside mine, but I take full advantage of him being in skin to roll up onto my toes and press a closed-mouth kiss to his lips. His strong hands grip my waist, and his lips, so plush yet so hard, part my own.
For a delicate moment, we just stand there, heart to heart, breath to breath. I can almost pretend that this isn’t some mystical daydream that will fritter away when whoever carried the other out of reality lets go.
He presses his forehead to mine, robbing me of his lips.Perhaps I should’ve insisted Rossi weaken the wards. If only to have another Shabbin fetch my fallen crow.
What if another Shabbin saving you interferes with the Cauldron’s designs on my curse-breaking?
He sighs but must decide my worry is not entirely misplaced because he doesn’t snap out of our bubble to call back Justus.I need to return to my meeting, but as soon as we finish, I will come find you. Go enjoy yourself for now, my love.
Though I wish I could enjoy myselfwithhim, he is king, and kings—true ones—cannot spend their days at taverns, reveling as though everything in the world is dandy. Especially when the world is so verynotdandy.
