Page 39 of Sigils & Spells

“Your task is completed?”

“Yes, sire.” His chest puffs up with pride. “It is my finest work so far.”

Anticipation courses through my veins as I open the box. My breath is stolen from me as I see the two matching items nestled on a bed of indigo silk. The first is a silver crown with an intricate rose design. I carefully lift it from the box and examine it from every angle. The workmanship is flawless.

I place it back on the box and pick up the second item, a silver collar. It is a thing of beauty. It carries the same rose design as the crown, but has an inscription etched on the inside.This woman belongs to Fionn, King of the Laidir Fae.

“Does it please you, sire?” the old man asks.

“It does, Airgid, very much. But tell me, will it work?”

“Aye, sire, it will.”

The collar has been imbued with magic that will prevent my queen from ever stepping outside of our realm again. It will fit snugly at her beautiful throat, a constant reminder of who she belongs to. My subjects will see it and know that all must bend to my will.

Once the collar is secured around her neck, she won’t be able to remove it. if she tries to leave Laidir, the collar will send a wave of pain through her so intense she will be incapacitated for several minutes. She will soon learn not to try to escape.

“Thank you, Airgid. You may go and enjoy the festivities.”

The old man nods, but I know he won’t join the others. He will return immediately to his workshop on the outskirts of the village, and get started on his next project. His commitment to his craft is impressive.

As I return the collar to the wooden box, a smile touches my lips. I can’t wait to see the look on Cait’s face as I fasten it around her neck and realizes she’s bound to me forever. But first, I have to make sure she co-operates during the ceremony. The last thing I need is for her to make a fuss in front of the assembled dignitaries. For the sake of unity, they must believe she is returning to me of her own free will. I scrub a hand over my face. I’m going to have to pay her one more visit before tonight.

CHAPTER8

Cait

I haveno idea how many hours pass before the door to my room is finally unlocked, but the light in the sky has dimmed, so I’m guessing it’s late evening. Rowan steps into the room, flanked by Connor and Alex. They’re obviously here as muscle, in case I misbehave and lash out at Rowan. I want to yell at them for betraying me, but we were never really friends. They were just my classmates for a while. They don’t owe me any loyalty.

I get up from where I’ve been crouched on the floor since they left me in here. My legs are stiff, so I lean back against the wall to support my weight. Rowan comes a little farther into the room, a wary expression on her face. She has a glass in her hand, filled with a green, sludgy liquid.

“I am not drinking that,” I say before she can speak.

“Now, Cait, there’s no need to be difficult about this.” Rowan’s tone is pleasant, as though she hasn’t been complicit in locking me in holding me prisoner all afternoon. “You don’t want these boys to hold you down and make you drink it, do you?”

I glance at the grim faces of Connor and Alex, weighing my options. It’s doubtful I could get past them and even if I did, the others would probably stop them before I managed to escape. There’s no way I can fight them off if they try to force me to drink. Being made to swallow it would be deeply unpleasant, so I acquiesce.

“Okay, I’ll drink it.”

“Good girl.” Rowan holds the glass out, making me go to her to collect it.

I take a sniff and screw my nose up in disgust at the pungent smell.

“What’s in it?”

A few herbs, some botanicals, nothing harmful.”

“And what will it do to me?” I know she hasn’t brought me this concoction because she thinks I’ll enjoy the taste.

“It will help you to relax.”

My pulse quickens as suspicion floods my mind.

“Why do you need me to relax?”

Rowan throws back her head and laughs.

“You always were so full of questions,mo bhanrigh. Now, drink.”

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