The fire-Fae, who’s currently slouched against the ice bar, charming two giggling Faeries while idly assessing the ass of a serving girl, must sense Lorcan’s stare, because he looks up and salutes the Crow King. The man’s vile but according to Salom, far too lazy and superficial to be a threat like his son.
“As I was saying…” I continue. “Since I value your family, I will warn you against doing further business with them.”
“I expect a more in-depth explanation at a later date.”
“My door is always open to you.”
“Especially now, right?” He tucks his lips inward. “I tried to dissuade her.”
“I wouldn’t have expected anything less from a concerned father. I imagine Fallon is of the same mindset?” When he keeps silent on his wife’s mindset, I ask, “Did she return with you?”
A muscle feathers in his jaw. “No.”
When he doesn’t offer a reason, I return to the topic of his daughter. “I can assure you that I will guard Isla to the best of my capabilities. But if you don’t trust me to keep her safe, then perhaps ask Meriam to fashion another amulet.”
“Perhaps I will.” His irises seem liquid tonight, like nuggets of gold tossed into a crucible and fed to a kiln. “If only to keep Isla safe from herself.”
I snort as I peer past his bladed shoulder at the woman I’m about to make mine.Publicly. Defeat is a distant memory.
“One last thing. Do not take advantage of her. She may not be naïve but she is impressionable still. Do I make myself clear?”
Had the warning come from anyone else, I would’ve delivered a stern rebuke. “Nothing untoward will happen.”
“I prefer oaths to promises.”
“Don’t we all?”
He waits for me to deliver one.
Unwilling to give another Ríhbiadh power over me, I say, “Your daughter isn’t interested in me in that way.”
A ripple of unease disrupts the set of his mouth and spreads, first to his pupils that seem to cave in on themselves from how fast they shrink, and then to his throat that contracts around a strained swallow.
Why does my affirmation cause Lorcan Ríhbiadh such distress? Is there a chance Isla doesn’t find me repulsive?
20
ISLA
“Icannot believe he’s your mate, yet now that I think of it, it was so obvious from day one,” Ilya proclaims through curled lips, having swooped past Lev to take my arm when Dádhi went to see my “mate.”
The air puffing from the brass instruments flutters my voluminous sleeves, while his conviction that his brother and I share a magical connection flutters my erratic pulse. “What gave it away? His bleeding lip? His bruised ears?”
Ilya grins. “Though I’ve no doubt that contributed to catching his attention—after all, it’s not every day Kostya gets his ass handed to him—what made it obvious to me was how his eyes were glued to you at the Lodge.”
I pat his hand. “You misconstrue irritation with fascination. Your brother was probably trying to devise a diplomatic way of expulsing me from Glace without enraging my father.”
Ilya pats my hand right back. “It’s difficult to be both pretty and discerning. Very few of us achieve this, so I wouldn’t beat yourself up about your shortcomings.”
I laugh. “Between you and Izolda, I sense my stay in Glace will be much more enjoyable than I anticipated.”
It’s only when his eyebrows bend that I realize my faux pas. I’m supposed to have found my true mate yet don’t even list Konstantin?
“I’m a little anxious about moving away from home. Especially since your brother is king, so it isn’t as though he can ever relocate.”
That smooths Ilya’s brow. “I didn’t even think of what an adjustment it will be.”
“Naeva promised to stay for a while. That should help with the homesickness.”
