Page 119 of The Forever Queen

Niamh considered the thrones more closely. “With my entire being.” The raw truth of her words buzzed with thedraiocht, the Forge acknowledging their purity.

“Come,” Niamh invited Aisling, waving her arm for the sorceress to enter more fully into the hall.

Niamh lifted her dress slightly, ascending the dais. The Seelie queen took her seat in one of the thrones. She sank into its structure, perfectly tailored to her body.

“Join me,” she said, tapping the throne beside her.

Aisling dithered for a breath, eyes darting between the Seelie queen and the empty throne. A pit formed in her stomach, staining her gut with dread. She did her best to swallow it, yet her instincts hadn’t led her astray thus far.

Aisling toyed with the wolf headdress in her hands, hesitating a moment too long.

“Is everything alright?” Niamh asked, her voice, hardened and sharp.

Aisling straightened, glancing one more time at the second throne before approaching.

“Of course,” Aisling lied. “But I should be returning to my chambers with the Goblet. It’s late?—”

“Nonsense,” Niamh said, waving her hand as if shooing away Aisling’s protests.

Aisling swallowed hard. Niamh grinned, but it lacked all warmth. Her trove of shimmering teeth, stolen from the maw of a forest ghoul and stacked behind pale blue lips.

“You must learn to channel your magic if you’re to sip from the Goblet,” Niamh said.

“How does one channel magic?” Aisling asked.

“With practice and time. Both of which you don’t have. But your strength alone could be enough to either destroy or protect the gateway if wielded properly,” Niamh said, her voice straining with emotion. “These thrones are more powerful, more impactful—” She stopped herself short, her thoughts suddenly trapped inside her throat. “Even these thrones were once channels of power. All things are. The wind, the trees, the heart—our most powerful weapon.”

“I don’t understand,” Aisling said, unafraid to hide her discontent this time.

“Yours and Lir’s power when combined will destroy everything—but it’s possible yours alone is enough to protect the Forge on its own,” Niamh said, leaning forward in her chair. Aisling stepped back instinctively, her tongue turning to ash in her mouth. “We both recognize your power, your potential. As did Ina. You and I, Aisling…” Her voice trailed off, attention darting to the figure who stepped into the hall.

Aisling followed Niamh’s eyes.

Lir leaned against the archway with his ankles crossed, twirling his axe easily.

The room grew several degrees hotter, forcing a shudder from Aisling. The sorceress blanched.

“How villainous,” Lir said, straightening. He tipped his head back, amused. And without knowing how, Aisling recognized the sharp cut of his smile and the bloodthirst it implied. He summoned hisdraiocht, snatching the Goblet with his vines and returning it to Aisling’s waiting hands. The sorceress smiled despite herself, appraising the Goblet she’d won anew.

“Leave us be, Lir,” Niamh said, a vein pulsing in her throat.

“And pray tell me,” Lir said, “why would I do that?” The Sidhe king padded forward. Niamh turned rigid as stone. Her eyes fixed on Lir as he approached. Instinctively, he stopped a pace before Aisling, his shoulders, shielding her from Niamh.

“This doesn’t concern you,mo Damh Bán,” Niamh said. The Seelie queen gripped the arms of her throne till her knuckles turned bone-white.

“How not?” he asked, the depth of his voice sending shivers down Aisling’s spine.

“You are neither champion nor king to Aisling here, and so, we owe you no explanation,” Niamh bit.

Lir took another step forward, twirling his axe between his fingers. Niamh appeared to count his steps, expression hiding her anxiety well.

“I serve the Lady Aisling as sorceress, as queen, as curse breaker, and as knight. As should you. And so, an indignity to Aisling is an indignity to me. You dishonor her and I make you suffer.” Lir lifted his brows, asking if she understood him.

Niamh shifted.

“Arrogance doesn’t become you,mo Damh Bán,” Niamh said, holding Lir’s gaze. “Remember you made anoath.”

Aisling looked up at Lir from where she stood, studying his expression. He concealed his thoughts well, his face betraying nothing. But there was an unforgiving, vengeful forest growing beneath the cool shadow of his exterior. A fury Aisling both recognized and understood.

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