Page 95 of The Forever Queen

“I don’t know,” Niamh confessed, finding her footing once more and straightening. “Yet, I sense it’s afraid.”

The entire party glanced at one another now. A chill ran through each of them, sending shivers down their spines. There was a spirit present that hadn’t been there before. When Niamh had opened the gateway, so, too, did she wake something else. They each felt its consciousness and tasted its fear.

Something was coming, and the gateway understood.

“Lir,” Niamh called.

Lir flicked his eyes to the Seelie queen.

“Unfortunately, you’re the most likely to survive,” Niamh said. “Yourcaerabonds you to Aisling, and so, let that be your guide as you pass.”

Lir worked his jaw. He felt that intangible cord pulling at his chest, straining painfully. Thoughts of her haunted him, tightening the cord. A violet phantom finding him in every breath the day sighed before its end. And so, he found himself eagerly awaiting the agony loving her inspired.

The rest remained quiet, bracing themselves against Niamh’s cloudburst. Fionn, however, scalded Lir’s periphery with his icy glare. But when Lir half expected his brother to protest, he did not. Perhaps it was the shame of having failed to protect Aisling, or perhaps Fionn knew the alternative wasn’t possible. Either way, Lir rejoiced in the silence.

Lir dropped his arms from where they’d been crossed at his chest. He reached back with both arms, unsheathing his axes. He spun the hafts between his fingers, familiarizing himself with their balance.

“Glad we agree,” Lir said. “I was prepared to resort to the blade had we not.”

Lir stepped forward and toward the dream tree. The beast swayed, shuddering in the presence of the Sidhe king. Intangibly, it whispered to itself.

Lir waited, looking into the gateway.

To those who were blind to magic, the gateway appeared like an old, gnarled tree with a giant split at its center. An opening that widened at the bottom and thinned into a sharp archway, curving at its middle. Beyond, was nothing more than the field in which they stood.

But Lir felt its magic already familiarizing itself with him. Vibrations that thrummed through the earth. Thedraiochtwas monstrous here, rolling over like bears in deep sleep.

“Return swiftly,” Galad said.

“Both of you,” Peitho chimed.

They all looked up at him, expressions solemn. For a moment, Lir half wondered why, and then it dawned on him: the risk he was undergoing was of mortal consequence. He’d hardly cared, not only willing but eager to give his life for Aisling. And so, Lir realized, he’d forgotten the vows he’d sworn to Annwyn: his kingdom and the heart of the Sidhe. His life didn’t belong only to Aisling, even if his heart did. All which made a liar of Lir. For it dawned on the Sidhe king that, if forced to choose, he’d always choose Aisling. As he did now.

Lir winced, resisting the urge to grab his chest.

The Sidhe king met Galad’s eyes. His first knight nodded his head, and Lir tipped his chin in response.

Nothing more was said as Lir turned and stepped through the gateway.

CHAPTER XXXVIII

AISLING

“Sister,” Starn spat from the doorway.

Aisling sat on the floor of the room, back against the wall. She didn’t care to lift her head, only her eyes in acknowledgement.

“Rise,” he commanded. “Your presence has been requested on the main deck.”

Aisling looked up then. She searched past Starn and at the staircase beyond where torchlight, the taste of salt, and stars spilled from above. Aisling wasn’t certain how long she’d been held captive. There was scarcely any light, and the ocean rocked her to sleep at odd hours. And so, an opportunity—thepossibilityof fresh air––sent Aisling’s heart racing.

Aisling stood, hiding the quivering of her knees after days cooped up.

Starn unhooked the chains from the walls of her cabin. He carried them like a leash, tight and wrapped around his wrists.

Her brother led her up the stairwell and onto the main deck.

Aisling was fed a second life when the waxing moon’s light embraced her. She inhaled, eager to gulp breaths full of ocean air. The chains around her wrists suddenly became less heavy.

---