Emperor Lir strode inside, his ridged chest gleaming against the glow of the fire. He loomed over her, scowling.
She sighed. “Can you please go away? I’m reading.”
“What the hell is this?” Lir lifted the book and read the cover. His eyes darkened as he dropped it back onto the table. “You’re researching the Dionadair. Why?”
His voice had taken on an eerie, dark tone that sent fear skittering along Eislyn’s skin. Swallowing hard, she snatched the book from the table and hugged it tightly to her chest. “Because it’s killing our people, in Tir Na Nog. I want to find a way to stop it. It sounds like it has something to do with the Dagda? He was a Fomorian, like you?”
He gave her a long, curious stare before taking the book and tossing it into the flames. Her mouth fell open as she watched the fire curl around the pages, blackening the parchment and transforming it to dust.
“Are you crazy?” she gasped, pushing up from her chair. She reached out to snatch the book out of the fire, but it was too late. If she tried, she would only get burned. “How the hell could youthrow a book into a fire?”
“You shouldn’t be reading the contents. If I have to burn it to prevent that, then so be it.”
“But…” She pointed. “It’s a book. There are words on that page. Knowledge, information—”
“Knowledge that is far too dangerous for you to have,” he said.
She curled her hands. “I hate you. You burned a book!”
“So you’ve said.” His lips curved into a wicked smile. “You’re not going to like what happens next.”
She blew out a hot breath. Before she could even think about what she was doing, she stabbed her finger right into the center of his very hard, very muscular, very sleek chest. He felt like stone. “Get out of my quarters. Leave me alone.”
He grabbed her finger and brought it up to his mouth. Out of nowhere, he nibbled on the tip of it, his teeth skimming along her skin. Sparks of strange fire flickered down the length of her arm. Gasping, she tried to yank her hand back, but he held it tight.
“You are a naughty little thing. It seems you can’t be trusted.” He nibbled her finger again. “I’m going to have to keep you in my quarters so I can keep an eye on you.”
Growling, she yanked her hand away from him. For once, she managed to win. “Absolutely not.”
“You don’t have much of a choice, Eislyn.”
“I don’t want to stay in your quarters with you.” Her heart broke out into a gallop, desperate to charge right out of her chest. “You said you’d never touch me. You can’t change your mind about that. Please.” She hated begging, but this was one thing she could not bear. “Please, I don’t—”
“Eislyn,” he said in a surprisingly tender tone. “I am not going to touch you.”
“You just nibbled on my hand.”
“You’re right. But I didn’t mean it like that. I will not claim you in bed. All I plan to do is keep a close eye on you. You can even bring your owl along to watch over you. I have a feeling if I tried something, he’d peck my eyes out.” He grinned.
“This doesn’t make any sense,” she whispered. “I’ve done what you’ve said. I’ve stayed locked up in this room, and I’ve only left with Druid Evin for food and walks. All I’ve done is read some books.”
“Books about the Dionadair.”
She threw up her hands, frustrated. “What’s wrong with that?”
A strange expression flickered across his face. “I can’t tell you.”
“Why not?” she shouted. “You clearly know something about it. You and the Fomorians survived it. You still have your magic, and you’re as strong as you’ve ever been. Why can’t you let me read about it? Why can’t you let me find a way to stop—” Realization crashed over her. She took a step back. “You don’t want me to research it, because you don’t want me to find out how to stop it. You want the Dionadair to spread across Tir Na Nog. You want us all to die.”
With a growl, he turned his back on her and stalked toward the window. “You silly little fae. You have no idea what you are dealing with.”
“Well, then tell me,” she cried out, following after him. “Help me understand. Tell me what it is.”
“I won’t,” he hissed. “I can’t.”
“Because you want all of us to die,” she whispered. “At least admit it. Tell me you don’t want us to know because—”
“I don’t wantyouto know, Eislyn.” He whirled back toward her, his eyes flashing. “This has nothing to do with Tir Na Nog, and everything to do withyou.”
