22
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My quick loyalty to Raegan was definitely going to get me killed one day.
“It was not a mistake!” Howling, I cared little for how desperately Killian was yanking at my arm to calm me. “How can you not see that? How can no one see that? What was he to do? Claim one throne and face a war between Cluaineach and Choilltean?”
“Yes,” Queen Tonn sighed. “That is exactly what he should have done.”
Even Tadgh frowned across from me.
“I say this with… No, fuck it, I say it as I mean it: I am disappointed in you, Queen Tonn. You are like the rest of them. You would have condoned the war of Cluaineach and Choilltean because they are not your pixies, isn’t that right?”
Killian was surprised that I swore, considering I had kept that under wraps for most of my stay. Tadgh wasn’t, though. He was enjoying it.
“Yes,” Queen Tonn deadpanned. “That is exactly right.”
“So how is it any different now? What is it about him having Cluaineach and Choilltean that causes you to be so furious!”
Her eyes warned me once more to calm down, but I couldn’t. I was running away with my rage, happy to let it drag me every which way.
“Raegan owns the land now, Olivia. That should concern me. I wouldn’t have minded if he had stayed in the trees, or taken over the meadows. But now he has both. How easily could he turn his attention to the waters? To the skies?”
“He doesn’t want that!”
“You say that. And I am inclined to believe you. But what about when he grows bored? We live long lives, do not forget that, Olivia. In a hundred years, Raegan of Cluaineach and Choilltean could look for more.”
“And the world could implode! We are dealing with hypotheticals here, when the option to focus on guarantees is right there in front of us.”
“You are correct. It is a guarantee that I will march on Cluaineach, and I will end that reign once and for all.”
“You are so sure,” I spat. “And what if you force Raegan’s hand? What if he does, indeed, slaughter all of your people in the process?”
I was so far from gaining her allegiance that I couldn’t see how to get back to it.
“You have met Stoirm, have you not? I will win, Olivia. I have allies both new and old. And a dragon. Yes, Raegan has one, but–”
“Two,” I hissed.
Her eyes widened. “You have so quickly chosen a side?”
“Just as you have.”
Something was pulsing through me. Some sort of arrogant confidence that made me feel primitive, just as the pixies around me were. It was what they fought for – honour, valour, and respect. And I was throbbing with it.
Killian seemed to have forgotten that he was supposed to be an inanimate object as he spat out, “New allies? Who have you summoned, Queen Tonn?”
“Like I would divulge that,” she cackled. “Just know that there are fair folk in this world who would very much so like the meadows of Saoghal for their own.”
Killian’s gasp was horrifying due to the fact that Killian Faiche’Rugadh did not gasp.
“Look,” I sighed, palming my forehead. “I allowed this conversation to get heated, Queen Tonn. I do apologize.”
She only shrugged. “Do not apologize for defending Saoghal, Olivia. I just might lose all respect for you if you do.”
Her smile was knowing and made my brows relax. “I am not good at this. I am not well spoken nor am I knowledgeable in your ways. Please, come to Cluaineach. Come and speak with Raegan and see for yourself what is in his heart.”
To my surprise, she didn’t shut me down right away. That was why I motioned for Killian to retrieve her necklace.
Even though we were underwater, it slammed down on the table between the four of us and sat there with a certain sort of heaviness.
“Is that…” Queen Tonn’s voice broke. “You… You offer it to me?”
“Yes. Freely. Raegan wishes for you to have it. He acknowledges that it was never his to keep.”
Her eyes were slightly moist as she looked up at me, a whole new expression on her face.
I couldn’t handle the sincerity of it, so I dared a quick glimpse at her son.
Tadgh looked impressed from where he sat across from me, his broad arms crossed over his body, his Prince-aura damning from that small distance.
“Tell Raegan I will meet with him.”
“Great,” Killian sighed at last. “Cluaineach was to host Imbolc, as they do every year. But with what has been happening… It was delayed. But Raegan would like to host, in your honour, at the end of this week.”
End of this week.
Shit – Rory.
I swallowed that, and the expression that it sprouted across my face.
“Tell your King that I will be in attendance.”
At this point, it would have been redundant to comment on her tone.
Every pixie around me had their own motives, their own ploys and slyness, and hers was just another in a long list to keep track of.
But it did mean one thing – Killian needed to double Raegan’s guards for Imbolc. It was just an innate feeling I had.
~
Urram, not punished to eat spinach for the rest of his life, allowed both Killian and I to utilize him for the fast, powerful swim back to the surface.
There, we bade farewell to Bryn and conveniently forgot to give our water-rings back.
Well, I was going to, but Killian nudged me and told me to stay quiet.
I was so run through with exhaustion that I collapsed on the side of Mount’s Bay and was content to remain there until I was old and decrepit.
I should have known Killian would not share the same sentiment.
“Come on, Olivia,” he grunted as he grabbed my arm and hoisted me to my feet, somehow balancing my complete dead-weight over my trembling legs. “You’ve got human things to show me.”
The noise that came from me was so tortured I was surprised he didn’t consider me dead. “You still want to do that?”
“Of course.” Nothing was capable of deterring Killian, I needed to remember that. “Honestly, it was the only thing getting me through that gods-awful chat.”
One thing I could always count on him for – making me laugh. Even though it burned my chest and I was sure I coughed up an angelfish, I nodded and let him brace all of my weight against his body.
“Where do you want to go first?” he whispered, so excited that I nearly melted.
“Well…” I grinned, his excitement transferring into me and renewing my excitement. “Killian, have you ever had coffee?”