I dragged my gaze away from the books to meet the hobgoblin’s gleaming eyes. “You want me to sleep in thelibrary?”
Clearly a level up from the frigid room, but there wasn’t a bed insight.
“I have found you a very special room for your visit this time.” Uisnech led me upstairs and pushed open a door. Inside, a large guest room sat empty. A fire flickered in the corner, casting orange hues across a four-poster bed. It was a hell of a lot nicer than the place I’d stayedbefore.
But I’d been a spy that time. And Lugh had known I was aspy.
Hell, he’d probably given me the coldest room in the castle just for shits andgiggles.
Uisnech stopped just inside the door and opened his arms. “What does the noble warriorthink?”
I smiled down at him. “You know, as much as I love the nickname, you don’t have to call methat.”
His eyes flashed. “I know I don’t. Which is why I will continue to do so. Now, the room. Are you pleased by thefire?”
I twisted on my heels to gaze around the guest room. A crimson carpet stretched across the hardwood floor, trapping in the soothing warmth of thefireplace.
“It’s perfect, Uisnech.Thanks.”
“Good.” He gave a nod. “Settle in. Get some sleep. Explore the library if you like. The plotting begins first thing in themorning.”
Uisnech disappeared through the open door and left me staring after him. Suddenly, I felt very alone, even if I was now in a castle full of fae. I hadn’t expected to be led straight to bed and given the goodnight. I’d thought Lugh would be waiting for me. We’d bicker, we’d argue, but at least we’d once again be in the sameroom.
Instead…he’d avoided seeingme.
With a sigh, I dropped my bag on the bed and decided to give myself a tour of the library, even if no one else would. Maybe I would even be able to find a book about erasing prophecies. Yeah. I nodded to myself. That sounded like a brilliant plan. Squaring my shoulders, I headed back downstairs and began to browse theshelves.
As I walked down the first aisle, I ran my fingers along the spines and drew in a deep breath of musty, bookish air. I imagined the stacks strewn across Lugh’s bedroom. His love of the written word had been the first thing that had drawn me to him, and it was impossible to see a book now without remembering the way he made me feel. A hollow ache took the place of my heart. Lugh hadn’t been lying. Fate wascruel.
“Moira,” a voice growled from behind me. I whirled on my feet, heart banging against my ribs. Lugh stood before me, his dark hair falling into his eyes, a book tucked under his arm. With a sharp gasp, I stepped back and slammed into the bookshelf. He strode closer, a slight smile playing across his devilish lips. With cheekbones that could rival a Greek God statue and eyes that were as dark as night, he emanated power. I found it impossible to do anything butgape.
“I didn’t expect to find you in the library,” he said as his piercing gaze roamed across mybody.
I hadn’t expected to find him here either. Although I should have. The King of Wraiths practically slept with a book in hishand.
“I, um.” I cleared my throat. “I thought I’d take a lookaround.”
A frown tugged at his lips. “You’reangry.”
A flush of irritation filled my gut. “A bit, yeah. I haven’t heard anything from you. At all. No texts. No calls. Not even a damnemail.”
His hooded eyes darkened. “You were the one who left, Moira. And you made it clear you did not wish to bechased.”
I fisted my hands. “And yet you had Uisnech track me down so that you could summon me to your Court again. What, you couldn’t come yourself? Even though it’syouwho needshelping?”
Very slowly, as if preserving all of his energy, Lugh slid the book back onto the shelf. “I did not summon you here. It was Uisnech’s idea, and I tried to stop him. When I realised he had run off unannounced, I knew where he had gone. I would not turn you away at the gates, even if the very sight of you makes me want to tear this roomapart.”
My heart thumped. “You should have called me,Lugh.”
Narrowing his eyes, he strode closer, power and magic rippling off his body in waves. My own body ached to respond, to arch toward him and give in to the need brewing inside of me. Our mating bond sparked to life, filling me up with an intense magic that filled my ears, my head, and myheart.
I could barelybreathe.
“You,” he said in a low whisper as he dragged his thumb across my chin, “did not contact me either. Enjoy thelibrary.”
And with that, he turned his back on me and disappeared into thenight.
3
