Page 34 of The Court of Thorns and Wings

LIRA

“Leave 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 myfated matein 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?”

“Iam yourking. Andyouare towedthe dragon prince.” He spread his wings out as if to look imposing. “The Unseelie king isnone 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 tomelike 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.”

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