She could see now that his mind was made up. In her failed attempt to protect them both, she’d wounded him. Perhaps it was better this way, as much as she longed for one more night in his arms. They could break the bond and begin their new lives apart. She could sail for home first thing in the morning.
When he and the druid joined her in the entry, Lir stood as far away from her as he could get, refusing to meet her gaze. The druid took up his spot before them, opening an old tome and rattling off a few words that she didn’t understand. After several moments, he snapped the book shut.
“It is done,” the druid said.
Eislyn frowned. “I don’t feel any differently.”
“Good. You shouldn’t feel anything at all.”
“I…”
“Good night, Princess.” Lir spun on his heels and stormed out of the lobby, leaving her alone with the druid.
“I’ll show you to your bedchamber for the evening,” Druid Evin said with a kind smile. “It will be the same one you enjoyed when you first arrived in Fomor.”
“That’s alright,” she said sadly, her eyes locked on the spot where Lir had vanished through the doors. “I know where it is.”
“Very well, Princess. Enjoy your evening then. It will be your last one here.”
39
Reyna
“Ican’t believe we finally made it back to this dreadful place,” Nollaig muttered beside her. They crouched in the brush on the edge of the city’s boundary. A looming wall rose up before them, the gates locked shut. There were no guards in sight.
That didn’t mean they weren’t there.
“You got any of that Buntata on you?” Reyna whispered. “I could use some liquid courage.”
“Can’t say I do, Shieldmaiden. All out of potatoes. I’m looking forward to that crop you’re going to grow for me.”
Reyna’s lips twitched. “Did I say a whole crop? Or just a plant?”
“Oh, it’s a crop. And I have the perfect name for it…” Nollaig snickered. “The Reyna.”
Reyna bit her lip to stop herself from laughing out loud. “Stop it. You’re going to get us caught.”
“Honestly, Shieldmaiden, I might rather us get caught than what we plan to do. This whole curse the curse thing seems bloody stupid now that we’re staring at the Murias wall.”
“It seemed stupid underground, too.”
Nollaig sighed. “Well, I suppose we better get you inside.”
“You sure you don’t want to come with me?” Reyna asked sweetly.
“Nope. Absolutely not. No fucking way. You already did that to me once, and I will not be having you do it again. Keep your feathery mitts off my cloak.”
“It’s just a little flight. It would only take a few seconds.”
“I’m not letting you carry me over a wall again, Shieldmaiden.”
“I can do it,” Glencora whispered, popping up beside them. “Thane helped me test out my wings.”
Reyna scowled. Bloody Thane. “It’s not safe, Glencora. I don’t want you involved in this.”
“I want to help,” she said.
“No.”
