Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter
Thirty-Four
Liadan
I stand at the back of the crowd, watching the party
going on in the middle of the village square. It isn’t lost on me that almost
no one greets me, but then they rarely do. I haven’t exactly made friends in my
time here, but then that wasn’t the point.
I don’t make friends, don’t believe in the concept. Other
beings are either allies or they’re prey.
I’m looking for prey tonight, and that’s precisely why I’m
mingling with this crowd. Prowling. Hunting. I stop behind a duo of young
ladies I know have been spending time with the human queen. One of them might
do.
“They look so perfect together.” The miller’s daughter sighs
to her friend. She can’t be more than sixteen, with soft skin and shiny hair.
Her eyes are wide and clear, and her mouth is a perfect bow on her heart-shaped
face.
I hate her.
I hate her and all the little twits like her. They take
their youth and beauty for granted. They waste those perfect years. They don’t
deserve their fine porcelain skin or firm bodies. If they understood an ounce
of what I have to go through for a fraction of their youthful glow, they would
be staggered by my strength.
“Bri, you’re such a romantic. My mum feels sorry for the
queen,” the girl’s equally young friend says.
The golden-haired girl named Bri looks offended. She’s
obviously a fan of the twins. They sit at the edge of a crowd gathered near a
huge bonfire. There’s much entertainment at this celebration, but Bri keeps
watching the kings and their queen. Beckett Finn has returned, and the
villagers are effusive in welcoming their warrior king back.
It looks like he’s finally taking his true place as their
leader, as one of them. It’s everything I feared would happen if he managed to
find a bondmate. Beck is cool and holds himself back. Cian is too soft. People
love him, but they don’t see him as a person who can truly lead. I’ve always
known if they could bridge their minds Torin will be in trouble.
If Torin is in trouble, my sisters are in trouble as well.
I’m in trouble.
“How can anyone feel sorry for Queen Meg? She has two
gorgeous, strong husbands,” Bri argues.
The brown-haired friend shakes her head. “My mum says that
the queen must be sore all the time. I don’t know why. Do you think they make
her work the fields with them?”
I stifle a laugh. I’m pretty sure the girl’s mum is right.
Now that Beckett Finn has given in to his bride’s charms, I’m certain little
Meg has her fill of men jumping on top of her. Beck was polite and careful with
me physically, but he’s a big man, and he can last forever. I felt his
possession for days after that first time with him. I can’t imagine having to
sexually satisfy both of them.
Queen Meg sits on one of the brother’s laps. I think it’s
Beck from the arrogant way he holds himself. His arm is firmly, possessively
around the woman’s waist. He adjusts her, and I can see he’s pulling her firmly
against his groin to hide his erection. Cian leans over with a knowing smile
and whispers something to their wife. The queen laughs with far too much
enthusiasm for a royal lady and kisses Cian full on the lips. The easy
affection disgusts me. The human comports herself with all the subtlety of a
tavern whore.
“The queen doesn’t work the fields,” Bri says smugly. “That
is King Cian’s duty. He’s the Green Man.”
I feel my face lose its mask of cool indifference for a
moment. They can’t possibly take the old myths seriously. I close my eyes and
call on my inner calm. I need to be practically invisible tonight. I move back
into the shadows.
It’s worse than I thought. If these idiots begin to believe
the twins have gained true triad powers, Torin’s rule will come into question
from more than mere Finn Loyalists. Even our alliances will be shaken if that
rumor gets out. The Fae have not seen a true triad for a thousand years. The
last set of symbiotic twins to bond with a strong enough mate took over Tír na
nòg, and their line ruled for hundreds of years.
I don’t believe for an instant that Cian is a Green Man or
that Beck has incredible reserves of strength. They’re mere sidhe, but
the idea that they could be something greater will cause as much trouble as it
actually being true.
The political ramifications alone are awful. If the vampires
become involved, Torin will have a fight on his hands. He’s already forced to
deal with a rebellion every few months. If word gets back to the home plane
that the twins are alive and have ascended to virtual godhood, there will be no
stopping the citizens.
They will come for Torin, and his army of mercenaries won’t
be able to stop them. To keep Torin on the throne, the twins must die. The
first thing I need to do is get rid of the bitch in Beck’s arms. It’s the
simplest way. Cian will fade quickly if his beloved abandons him. Megan Finn
needs to leave her husbands. I have only found one way to make that happen.
I need to place a call to a very specific deliveryman.
Unfortunately, I can’t send a note and ask him to call upon me. I need
something to tempt him. Little Bri will work perfectly well. There’s no way
that idiot isn’t a virgin. Demons highly prized virginity for some insane
reason.
This is a favor that will cost me my soul, but then I
haven’t had much use for it anyway.
There’s a purring sound at my feet, and I sigh in delight.
Ain always knows when she is needed. I reach down and pick up the black cat. I
hold the familiar to my breast, enjoying the purring sensation along my skin.
Ain has been with me since I was a child. The familiar has always been a strong
presence, reminding me of her unique talents in a world of mundane idiots.
The cat’s huge eyes glow in the dim light.
“You know who I want?”
The cat licks her lips and purrs contentedly. She knows what
to do. I wink at my familiar and place her back on the ground.
“Bring her to me.” I don’t need to add the admonition to be
careful. Ain is always careful. She will work her magic and lead the miller’s
daughter to the proper place at the proper time. No one will suspect that I
have anything to do with what happens next.
If asked later, a few of the villagers will remember that I
was at the festivities all night long. I will be sweet and friendly, but a
little sad. They’ll shake their heads and feel sorry for the woman who lost her
husband to an accident and her lover to the queen.
I hate their pity, but it’s a useful thing.
I withdraw to the woods as Ain curls herself around Bri’s
ankles. It won’t be long, and I have to be ready.