Page 48 of The Court of Thorns and Wings

I straightened my shoulders, and Mom touched my arm gently and whispered, “Remember what we just spoke about. Don’t allow your emotions to guide you.”

She didn’t have to addlike usual. We both knew that I reacted on instinct, unlike Mom, Dad, and Eiric. They were more controlled and even-tempered, which made sense now that I knew they were guards.

Trusting her, I stepped into the study, wanting to make my presence known. I dug my fingernails into my palms, embracing the agony so I had something to focus on other than Father’s ignorant words.

This is driving me mad, feeling all your emotions and knowing that the ashbreath is here,Tavish linked.

The study was exactly the same as I remembered. Four dark-blue couches sat in a square with a wooden table in the center.There was enough legroom for even the tallest of fae to have space. However, no one was sitting.

The dragon prince stood in front of the large wall of windows that overlooked the waterfall. Worse, he was no longer dripping water, probably courtesy of Mother. Evidence of her wind magic showed by the way the couch cushions were askew, along with Pyralis’s and Father’s hair.

I’ve been summoned to the royal study, but Mom promised not to let the dragon prince touch me.

Your Earth mother?Tavish asked.

Yes.

He replied,I like her more than the queen already.

Father stood behind his desk with Mother at his side, framed by huge bookcases.

As soon as I entered, all three sets of eyes focused on me.

“If it was an illusion, then how are they still on her body?” Prince Pyralis arched a brow. “Unseelie can’t enter Gleann Solas, which means any remnants of their magic shouldn’t work here either. Unless there’s something you need to tell me. You are rather excellent at excluding my family from important knowledge.”

I lifted my head, refusing to cower. Still, I held my tongue, not wanting to say anything and risk exposing additional information that my father would rather he not know.

“Nothing we’ve done has affected the vow of Lira’s hand to you in marriage in the slightest.” Father rubbed a hand along his earth-brown tunic. “We made decisions for our kingdom that didn’t impact the dragons at all.”

“Sending my betrothed to Earth should have been a decision we all made together.” Prince Pyralis flicked his hand at me and wrinkled his nose. “If you didn’t feel that you could adequately protect her, then she should have come to live with us.”

The memory of how Father and Mother had rushed me away the morning after Tavish’s escape resurfaced, and I wondered if this might have been the exact reason why.

“She wasten.” Mother laughed forcefully, trying not to sound angry. “Way too young tolivewith her one-hundred-year-old betrothed.” The way she spat the last sentence made her feelings clear.

Some of my anger toward them thawed. They’d tried to protect me in the best way they’d known.

“And now she’s returned with the very nightfiend you tried to hide her from.” Prince Pyralis’s face twisted in disgust. “And she has fated-mate marks all over her body. I must say your decisions haven’t been the wisest.”

Father’s face flushed yellow.

“Yet, it was their decision to make.” I expanded my wings to ensure I didn’t look timid. “I’m sure you haven’t made poor choices, like grabbing me and trying to force me to go with you.”

Dad stepped into view from the far-left corner of the room. I hadn’t noticed him until now, but the way he glared at the dragon prince told me that Pyralis hadn’t informed them of why I’d reacted the way I had.

“He thorn-clutched you?” Father’s jaw dropped.

I didn’t look away from Pyralis as I answered, wanting him to feel all my anger for him. “That’s why he came in here soaked and angry.”

The corners of Father’s lips turned up before he puffed out his chest and focused back on the dragon prince. “She’s not yours to force into anything, even when she becomes your bride. Do you understand?”

Some of the walls I’d placed around my heart when it came to my parents began to crumble. Mom was right. They did care for me.

Feeling Tavish’s worry, I linked,Father and Mother are taking my side this time. They’re not happy with the dragon prince.

That’s good. We need them upset with him in order to keep the dragon prince from you.

Pyralis nodded. “I let my anger get the best of me. That won’t happen again, but everywhere I turn, you are keeping something from us.” He moved toward me with both hands raised. “Which is not your fault, and I should never have taken that out on you, Lira. I vow to you that isn’t how I will treat my bride, nor is it how my father treats my mother. From this moment on, you’ll be treated like the most precious treasure. One I would kill for.”

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