10. Lira
10
LIRA
“ L eave now, or you will be punished,” Father bit out, turning his steely gaze on Eiric.
She lifted her chin to say something that would seal her fate. She was a glutton for protecting me, but even if she took his wrath, it wouldn’t help.
So, instead, I beat her at her own game and wielded my finger like a weapon. “Don’t take your frustration with me out on her. She’s merely concerned about leaving me alone with you.”
He refocused on me and said, “It’s not her place to be concerned with your well-being around me and your mother.”
I nodded toward the door, telling her it was okay to leave. The warm spot in my chest next to my bond with Tavish seemed to intensify, but it was probably my imagination, especially with Father being here.
Eiric hesitated, but when I leveled a stern look at her, she obliged, but I knew she wouldn’t move from the spot right outside my door.
Father watched our interaction, his face flushing golden, clearly not liking that Eiric was accepting my permission and not his orders.
When the door shut, announcing he and I were alone, silence hung heavy between us.
He arched a brow and ran a hand through his chestnut beard as if waiting for me to begin the conversation.
The two of us were in a standoff, but I wasn’t the one who’d barge into his room, so I sat on the bed and crossed my legs as I waited for him to begin the conversation. He might be centuries older than me and more experienced with this sort of situation, but I had one clear advantage: I truly didn’t want to say a damn word.
I was rather positive I could spend the rest of my days happily never speaking to him again. I had fond memories of the times we had together when I was a child, but as I looked back, it was me being bossed around by him and not in the way Dad had done on Earth, where it had been for my safety. My father had been determined to mold me into the woman he wanted me to become, and any time I’d stepped out of line, he’d found an effective way to punish me, either by isolating me from others or keeping me from the water I cherished.
Time ticked by, so I spread out my wings and lay back on my bed with a yawn. It was late, and with the cool night air blowing into my room, the thought of drifting off to sleep was welcoming… or would have been if Father hadn’t been hovering over me.
“Is this a game to you?” he spat like something tasted bad.
“Game? No.” I sat back up, refusing to chance him seeing me as a coward. “You’re the one who came here and demanded that Eiric leave. I assume you have a reason other than to scowl at me.” I crossed my arms, meeting his gaze head-on.
“You humiliated me in front of the Unseelie nightfiends and the queen and guards.” His neck corded. “I was hoping you would admit that your actions were wrong.”
“If you’re asking whether I regret preventing you from stabbing my fated mate in the arm, the answer is no.” I couldn’t lie, and I didn’t want to mince words with him. He needed to know that my loyalty was with Tavish and for the good of both the Unseelie and Seelie people. I didn’t believe it had to be one or the other but that we should find a way to live in harmony. “Do I hate that running into you was the only option? That answer is yes, but I doubt you would’ve listened if I’d asked you not to stab him.”
His breathing quickened, and he closed his eyes as if to choose his next words. He exhaled and gritted out, “Princess or not, you don’t have the authority to challenge your king and father. Your mother and I make the decisions for all the Seelie people, and you’re no different from the rest.”
In other words, this was a dictatorship. Even though I understood that, the human Lira couldn’t stand the idea of not having a voice in the actions that related to me. The two worlds I’d lived in were grossly different and conflicted in a way that made me want to scream and shout.
The only thing keeping me from telling Father where to go—not that he’d know the reference to hell anyway—was Tavish’s request. I clearly didn’t belong here, and more importantly, I couldn’t remain in a family or society that would keep my fated mate captive. I needed to be with him. The tug in my chest was hard to ignore; the only thing I wanted to do was run to him and hold him in my arms.
The pain he’d experienced at my father’s hands made talking to Father with any sort of respect harder.
I swallowed the scream in my throat and tried to remain somewhat calm. “Even though he’s my fated?”
“ I am your king . And you are to wed the dragon prince.” He spread his wings out as if to look imposing. “The Unseelie king is none of your concern. Do you understand? Or do I need to make you?”
“I understand.” I lifted my chin, meaning those two words, but that didn’t mean I agreed or gave a damn. So I gave in to the game that most fae enjoyed, and in this moment, I did too, because I wanted Father to feel the same sense of betrayal as I did. “You’ve made everything perfectly clear.” I forced a smile to hide some of the venom I couldn’t completely eliminate from my voice.
“Thank the Fates.” His wings lowered, and his shoulders relaxed. “I feared you would continue to be irrational, but this proves your fae heritage is part of you and merely needs time to resurface. I’m so relieved because if you have an outburst like that again or go against me or your mother, you will be punished in the best way I know.”
Understanding his threat clearly, I couldn’t swallow past the lump in my throat. I’d revealed my hand to him, and the best way to punish me was through Tavish. We’d both made our fated-mate connection clear.
A slight smirk crossed his face as he suspected I understood the hidden message. It was the same expression he wore when he made the opposition crumble.
I struggled to reconcile the man who stood before me with the one who had taken Mother and me to the waterfalls where the three of us had spent the day laughing and using our magic together… or the man who’d taught me to dance for the solstice parties once I was expected to take part in the balls. Even though we’d had tense moments, he’d never talked to me like this… only the people who challenged him.
There were so many things I wanted to say to him, and none of them were nice or good, so I forced my lips to stay shut. Instead, I yawned, hoping he’d get the hint and leave me alone.
His face softened, and some warmth returned to his eyes. “You’ve had a long couple of weeks, and I never intended for you to reacclimate to Ardanos quite like this. It might do you well to take a bath, change, and get some rest. We can meet for breakfast and hopefully spend better time together.”
That was the last thing I wanted, but maybe if he focused on me, he would spare Finnian and Tavish some of his spite.
Despite knowing I wouldn’t be able to sleep, I desperately needed time alone to clear my head. Since I’d woken up here, I hadn’t had time to process everything that had occurred. “That sounds good to me.”
He smiled. “Now there’s my little girl.” He gestured to the closet next to the bathroom door. “And it’ll be nice to see you back in Seelie garments.”
I nodded, though I didn’t want to remove these clothes. They were the closest thing I had to Tavish.
When he bent over, I tensed, ready to defend myself. But he kissed my cheek, his beard tickling me the same way it had the last time he’d kissed me, right before I left for Earth.
Tears burned my eyes, and I wasn’t sure if it was from fond memories or the irony of the situation. The last time he kissed me, I hadn’t wanted to leave him, but now I wanted to be as far away from him as possible. Still, my heart ached for the relationship we’d lost and may never have again.
“Good night, darling.” He leaned back and touched my arm. His eyes glistened in a vulnerable moment.
In less than a minute, he’d gone from happy to think he’d broken me to tearing up at having his little girl back. The two emotions felt like whiplash, but I had to remember the way of the fae. They loved with all their heart but being feared meant more to them than anything. In that way, he was no different from Tavish, and maybe I would’ve been the same way too, if I’d remained here, but Earth had allowed me to see a different path… one with mercy and compassion.
With as steady of a voice as possible, I replied, “Night, Father.”
He backed away, and I hoped, for her sake, that Eiric had overheard the end of the conversation and wouldn’t be camped outside the door.
I headed to the closet to the right of the bathroom just as Father opened the door to leave. Eiric was missing, and I exhaled in relief.
Thankfully, the wardrobe had been updated with outfits to fit my adult body. My hands ran over the gowns, and I noted the golds, blues, and greens that were predominately my future wardrobe. Then I came to the section with my nightclothes, which were all nightgowns. I shouldn’t have been surprised, seeing as they were similar to the ones I’d worn with Tavish.
I removed a white silk sweetheart-cut gown with a matching thin jacket, then locked the bedroom door and headed into the bathroom, eager to cleanse myself of the day.
The moon shone through the window over the white tub and lit up the entire bathroom. My feet hit the cool, sparkly sea-green tiles, and I noticed a white, fluffy towel hanging on the rack beside the tub. I turned on the water and stripped off my clothes. I needed to take off the Unseelie outfit and wash off the Unseelie smells if I wanted them to believe I was conforming so that Tavish, Finnian, and I could escape as soon as we had the chance.
Not waiting until the tub filled, I stepped in and settled down in the corner, looking out the window. Lights glowed from the windows of the cottages at the bottom of the hill, and another mountain range towered behind them, giving a majestic view. The high fae who worked in the palace lived in this village. Only the high fae could hold jobs as advisors, guards, or any other important station within Caisteal Solais or protecting Gleann Solas.
The water tingled, providing relief for my tense muscles, and my eyelids grew heavy. But the more refreshed I felt, the more the lack of warmth from my connection with Tavish came to a head, and the strength of the strange, warm magic in my chest took on a whole new life. I shouldn’t get to feel this sort of comfort when he was chained against his will.
This had to be similar to what he’d experienced when he was forced to play his role while I took part in the gauntlet. The knowledge that a guard could enter his cell at any time and kill him while I sat here safe in a tub had my skin crawling.
I held my breath and dunked my head under the water to get clean. Even though Tavish had told me to listen and behave, I couldn’t sit here and not check on him.
My water magic pulsed in my chest, wanting to be let out, but I didn’t have time for that. I stepped from the tub and let the water drain as I toweled off. I quickly slipped on the nightgown and grabbed a wooden-handled brush with thorns as the bristles. I ran it through my hair, despite there not being any tangles, and set it back on the countertop made of vines that resembled the ones in my fated-mate tattoo. The ache of his absence stole my breath once more.
Determination and adrenaline pumped through my body. I stepped back into the bedroom and tiptoed to the door, then placed my ear against the wood. I held my breath, listening for sounds of anyone walking by or guarding me. After a few minutes of not hearing any sounds that concerned me, I determined the time to move was now.
Taking the lantern that sat on the thorned nightstand, I walked into my bathroom, shut the door again, and locked it. If anyone came inside while I was gone, I hoped they believed that I’d fallen asleep in the tub.
I moved to the wall between the countertop and the tub, squatted, and pressed the latch underneath the vined bottom drawer. A thorn poked my finger, and the wall in front of me separated into a door and opened. I stepped inside the dark secret passage and forced the door closed.
I lifted the lantern as I stepped into a cobweb. A chill ran down my spine, but I remembered that no spiders actually lived in Gleann Solas. It had to be dust.
Taking deep breaths, I began the journey toward Tavish.
With each step, the warm magic inside me continued to pulse steadily. I wasn’t sure what was going on. I’d felt a pulse like that only a few times, and usually when I was injured.
I was fine.
My bare feet brushed the cold stone floor, and I regretted not putting on any shoes.
I was moving at a slow, steady pace when a voice startled me.
“Did you hear about how she injured the king to save the Unseelie thornling?” a deep voice spat.
I spun around and lifted the lantern, expecting to find someone behind me.
I was all alone.
A raspy male voice replied, “Yes, and I can’t believe she didn’t get punished.”
“The king always had a soft spot for her,” the other person replied.
I wanted to laugh. If that was the king being soft, I felt sorry for the Seelie people.
“I heard the Unseelie king took a beating for it.”
The humor died, choking me.
Tavish had said it wasn’t bad.
The urgency to reach my mate had my feet moving faster than was safe. Still, I didn’t slow down. I needed to reach him.
Panting, I ran down the passage, keeping my footsteps light. I didn’t want to chance anyone on the other side of the wall hearing me. If they informed my parents, they’d know what I was up to. Right now, I hoped they wouldn’t consider that I’d use the secret passage to see him. After all, it was forbidden for me to be in it alone. The last time I used it, they’d assumed Eldrin had kidnapped me from my room when he saved Tavish.
Even though I sprinted, it felt like hours had passed before I reached the hidden door that led to him. As long as they’d kept him in the holding cell…
Shit. I hadn’t even thought that far ahead, but I was here. There was no turning back now.
Even though I wanted to burst in, I forced myself to take a deep breath and control my breathing. Then I placed my ear to the wall.
It was late, past midnight at this point, so there shouldn’t be anyone with Tavish. But who knew what they’d do with me here and two Unseelie in their prison?
I forced myself to wait longer. I needed to be more certain than ever that no one would catch me in there, or I would most definitely be watched for the foreseeable future.
When I couldn’t take it any longer, I squatted like I had when I was a little girl and pricked my finger to open the door.
When it opened, my breath caught.