Chapter 24
KORMAC
I paced the room, ordered to wait in Valance’s chambers until he returned.
When would that be? What was he doing with the spy and rebel? Torture? Had he made a new version of his orchid garden here?
The dragon roared, the beating of her wings like a drum. I hurried to the balcony, watching her take flight with Valance on her back.
I rubbed my eyes, unsure I saw his billowing silver hair for a moment. But it was him, vanishing into the distance on the beast.
“What are you doing?” I spoke to the air.
I went to the door, yanking it open to be greeted by Brigid. I jumped back, going into a battle stance.
“What’s going on?” I asked her, straightening up.
“I’m not sure,” she answered.
“You’re not sure? Aren’t you his advisor now?”
If she could shake her head, she probably would have. “A title I wish held more power.” She licked her dry lips. “No one is telling me anything.”
“He just flew out of here on dragon back.”
“I’m not blind.”
I offered the hag my best scowl. “Get out of here.”
“I wanted to check on you.”
“Why? You’re the one who—”
“Yes, yes. I know. I’m sorry about everything. I did it for—”
I cut her off this time. “Save it. Just save it.”
“You don’t believe in your king? In your lover?”
“He has so much power,” I said softly.
“Incredible, isn’t it?”
She made me uneasy. “It depends.”
“On what?”
“How does this end?”
“He told you how it ends, Kormac. In peace. In change.”
“Right. But what happens then?”
“We live in the new world, the old ways broken. This is his destiny you helped to shape.”
“I—”
“And now you get to be his lover.”
“I—”
“I had to make this happen, Kormac. I had to make sure you, or another of your kind, was called.”
“You shouldn’t have looked that far beyond the stars.”
“But I did. It is done. And you can still be part of his destiny, help him to be happy after he has lost so much. He missed you tremendously.”
I missed him too… “I’m worried about him.”
“As am I.”
“You only care about power.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Yes, Kormac. How observant of you.”
“Don’t mock me.”
“Then don’t cast aspersions at me.”
“Can you blame me? You manipulated—”
“I helped you. I kept you as safe as I possibly could. Yes, I wanted Valance to claim his power, to bring the Tuatha back through way of your angelus gift. But does that mean I didn’t care about him or you?
No. But believe what you will. I made mistakes.
I underestimated your bond. How many times must I be sorry? ”
I didn’t know how to answer that.
“I want what’s best for him and now for you,” she said.
“Until you stick the knife in my back.”
She rolled her watery eyes. “You sound like a petulant child.”
My hands curled into fists. Oh, to punch that floating, withered ball. But then, what good would that do? She’d been right to call me a child.
I unfurled my tightly balled fingers. “I’m done with this conversation.”
“As am I. I only wanted to see you were all right.”
“I will be when Valance comes back.”
“Me too.” She floated away, and I closed the door.
Checking on me? I didn’t trust her, no matter what she said.
Locking the door, I went to the balcony to await my lover’s return.
I laughed to myself. Lover. Valance. Some would call me lucky. I’d call it a strange turn of events, and incredibly satisfying.
Hurry back, Valance.
Please.