Page 70 of The Dark Will Rise

My jaw clenched so hard I thought my teeth would crack.

“What do you want from me?” I spat.

“I need you to sit on the High Throne.” Elaine seemed troubled by the admission.

“Why?” I laughed, the sound bitter and frightened. “You’re a God, aren’t you?”

Elaine ignored the jab. “The High Throne belongs to Belisama. Gifted by Dagda.” She said as if that answered the question. “Only a Cruinn may sit on the High Throne.”

“Frightened?” I sneered.

Her hand reached out so quickly my eyes could not track the movement, and her fingers tangled in my hair. Her long nails dug into my skull as she pulled my face closer to hers. Her features dissolved again, revealing the holes once more as if her face was made of coral.

“It is you who should be frightened, little girl.” She crooned.

Elaine, or rather Balor, dragged me to the tower, pulling my limp body through the hatch until we reached the forgotten room at the top.

The High Throne sat alone, its magic pulsing against the water. It’s hunger enough to turn my stomach, even from the other side of the room.

Every scar on my body began to itch. From the wounds on my back, given by Irvine for my defiance, to the marks that covered my forearms where the throne had sunk its teeth into my skin. I was coming out of my skin as the scars turned from an itch to a burn.

“No,” I whispered, unsure if I was answering a question or voicing my disapproval.

“If you don’t, I’ll kill your Shíorghrá.” Elaine shrugged. “Sit and tell me what you see.”

I didn’t move.

“I’ll peel your selkie’s skin from his bones first and leave them baking in the sun. Then the Kelpie… perhaps I’ll tie each limb to a reed-steed and tell the horses to pull.”

“Stop.” My hand pressed against my stomach. I was going to be sick.

“As for the nymph, I’ll cut off his cock and push it into his throat. Choking him with it. If he survives, he’ll never fuck again.”

I curled over where I stood as tears leaked from my eyes, unable to fall under the water.

“As for the Mer. I’ll fillet him and serve him to the Undine Court.”

“Cormac isn’t my mate.” I pleaded. Even if I hated him, the idea of eating a Mer like an ordinary fish made me gag.

“Isn’t he?” The God of the Deep laughed. She reached forward, gripping my bicep and dragging me to the throne.

I tried not to fight, knowing I would put their lives at risk if I did, but some primal part of my brain associated the throne with pain.

I wriggled, scratching any part of Elaine I could reach as she dragged me to the throne with strength I didn’t expect.

By the time we crossed the room, I was a blubbering, limp mess. She kicked me in the stomach, and I fell back. When my back met the High Throne, the teeth exploded out of the armrest, pinning me in place.

I screamed.

I screamed until my voice was nothing but a dying ember on my body.

“What do you see?” Elaine clapped her hands together, her eyes alight with glee.

“Balor of the Deep. Your death comes quick, and the price too steep. The curse comes end, and your army dead. Dagda’s child will take your head.”

“It’s time you understood the Heart of the Lake, Liam.” Lady Elaine’s voice filtered through the gloom, but I couldn’t raise my head. My tongue tasted of bitter metal, and I was certain I’d bitten right through it. My arms were locked in place by the throne’s teeth as it sucked my blood down like a hungry babe.

“Maeve?” Liam Cruinn called out. “What’s wrong with her? Why is she on the throne?”

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