Page 56 of The Dark Will Rise

They came in the morning, when the air was heavy with dew and the morning sun peeked over the horizon, settling on the border between the Day Court and the Night Court.

The wedding cups had been emptied and the feasts eaten, though their chieftain remained unmarried, and his Gods-chosen mate was not amongst their people.

I hadn’t appreciated what that meant for the wedding nymphs, and in the hours afterward, I had been too focused on the strange mating mark to realize.

The Shay Mac Eoin bloodline would likely end. Though I could beget him a child, that child would only be half a nymph. Even then, undine lives were long-lived. Immortal, save for injury by blade or magic. Shay would live a short life compared to mine. If I gave in, I would have to watch him die. Maybe not now, but one day.

Too many thoughts swirled in my mind, though none formed a cohesive plan. Tor no doubt sensed my turmoil, as the kelpie had been restless all morning.

The village was both hungover and in a state of flux. I did not envy Shay's job cleaning up the mess I had accidentally caused.

Guilt, thick and heavy, coated my skin. I couldn’t think of a way to repay what I had cost Shay Mac Eoin. I had little to offer. No house, treasure, or loyal staff.

Just as the Mer folk had announced their presence with a conch call and a procession of armored guards, the Undine arrived at the nymph village with a single calming note from an Órán Sídhe.

Undine usually manifested one of three types of magic. Troid Sidhe favored physical strength and resilience. Weavers could imbue their will on artifacts, and Órán Sidhe could influence others with their voice.

A wash of calm descended on the groggy, hungover nymphs as the undine group crawled out of the water, blinking and rubbing their throats like they’d never been on land before.

I didn’t recognize any of the guests, though I doubted they had come for the wedding, to be arriving so late.

I walked back, hoping to melt into the crowd of nymphs emerging from the village and drifting to the beach.

The Órán Sidhe had muffled some of the nymph's anger, but their emotions pressed against the shackles of the false calm.

I hadn’t seen Shay in the camp, even as Tor, Rainn, and I had milled about in the search for food, but the leader of the nymphs emerged from his tent, pristine and swathed in leathers. His braids stood to attention, and his colorful eyes flickered as he approached the beach as if he had all the time in the world.

He was entirely at ease. Unruffled. He showed not a single care that his wedding had ended so spectacularly the night before.

There was no good reason for the undine to descend on the nymph village.

King Irvine had committed so many atrocities against the other creeds of the lake. I wasn’t going to let his flunkies commit anymore.

I stepped forward, my feet moving before my mind had caught up. All of the nymphs forming a crowd were reluctant to move as I shoved my way to the beach. Rainn and Tor seemed to have more luck as they followed on my heels.

The crowd spat me out on the sand, and I fell one step before righting myself. Shay glanced at me, a bittersweet smile on his lips.

“Perhaps your minders have come to collect you?” Shay said dryly. “One can only hope.”

I bared my teeth. “I don’t think they’re here for me.”

“Do you know these undine?” He kept his voice low as we approached.

I shook my head, my lips pursed.

Rainn and Tor stayed on the crowd's edge as Shay and I strode toward the guests. Three undine had emerged from the water; each wore the markings of the esteemed undine court, their adornments glittering in the morning light.

Jasper. Quartz. Agate. Common enough stones.

The Órán Sidhe was a willowy female with the delicate frame the court fashions favored. Her pointed ears poked out amongst a nest of braided hair. Her face was covered in pink freckles. Two male Sídhe stood by her side, their bulky appearance implying they were troid Sídhe. Both wore the armor of the royal guard, with helmets that covered their features save for their eyes.

The female Sídhe cleared her throat, and Shay pulled his weapon. No doubt, realizing that she held the most significant threat.

The Órán Sidhe held up her hands.

“What is your name?” I called out.

The female Fae licked her lips and glanced at the blade in Shay’s hand. “I am Finula Yva of the Esteemed Undine Court. We are following the trail of a beast and believe it has come to this side of the lake.”

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