Page 30 of Throne of Dreams

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But those were the days of before…

“So,” Merrick drawled, pulling Tiernan’s attention back to their current conversation. “Are you planning on letting Maeve return to Kells?”

“Maeve does what she wants,” Tiernan grunted. Good thing she wasn’t here to hear him saythat.

His friend’s bright eyes darkened. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”

“She won’t rest unless she sees Saoirse safely back in Faeven with her.” A strange tingle prickled over his skin, but he brushed the sensation off. Maeve was with Aran. She was safe. Aran wouldn’t let anything happen to her. “You know as well as I do she wants the Scathing destroyed. For some reason she still has a soft spot for the lives of innocent mortals.”

“She thought she was one, once.”

“I know.” Tiernan leaned back in his chair and propped his hands up behind his head. “But yes, she’ll beallowedto go. And yes, I’ll be going with her.”

Merrick watched him for a long time, silent and studious. Over lifetimes, they shared everything with one another. They knew each other’s greatest achievements, darkest secrets, and greatest fears. Merrick was his best hunter; he could track down anything in less time than it took most. He was also one of the most observant males Tiernan had ever met. So, it made sense when his voice dropped an octave and he leaned forward to whisper, “It’s her, isn’t it?”

Tiernan spoke the word into his mind.“Yes.”

Merrick rocked back in his seat and pinched the bridge of his nose. He squeezed his eyes shut. “Fuck.”

“An appropriate term,” Tiernan agreed. “Yes.”

There was another tug this time, a pull of…concern. Or worry. Maybe even a lick of fear. It rushed over him like a wave. The sun slipped behind the clouds, dousing them in shadows and shade. His blood cooled and the hairs along the back of his neck stood on end. Cold, palpable fear slammed into him, so harsh and so fast, it stole the breath from his lungs. Icy panic licked up and down his spine. Sweat broke out along his brow. Terror. There was so muchterror. He lurched forward, his fingers curling around the arm of his chair until his knuckles turned white.

Merrick’s brow furrowed. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

Before he had time to recover, Ceridwenfadedonto the balcony. Her eyes were wild, her lips pulled tight, and it looked as though all the blood had been siphoned from her veins. Tiernan and Merrick were on their feet in a second.

“Where’s Maeve?” His twin’s gaze sought the skies, looking everywhere but at him.

“She’s with Aran.” But even speaking the words out loud did little to ease the dread building in his chest. It lodged there and threatened to suffocate him. She couldn’t be with Aran. She would never be this afraid in the presence of her brother. Unless someone else was there with them.

“No.” Ceridwen shook her head violently. She wrapped her arms around her stomach like she was trying to keep herself from getting sick. “No, Isawsomething. She’s not here. She’s not with Aran.”

A wall of terror slammed into him, fresh and piercing, and its icy grip wrapped around Tiernan’s throat and squeezed. This pain, this fear, was dark. It was violent. Like a memory. A terrified gasp ripped from some awful place inside his sister, and Merrick was there in less time than it took to blink, catching her before she hit the ground.

“Something’s wrong!” Ceridwen cried and clutched a hand over her chest because she, too, could feel the sheer fright crashing over him. Over Maeve. “This isn’t right.” She trembled in Merrick’s arms and her wide eyes, reflecting dread, latched onto him. “Tiernan, this isn’t right.”

His gaze stole to Merrick. “Where is she?”

Merrick ducked his head, carefully lifting Ceridwen from the ground and pulling her to her feet. “She left,moh Ri.”

“Left?” Tiernan ground the word out, and his tempered rage bubbled up inside of him. Maeve and Aran were supposed to be within the walls of the Summer Court. She wasn’t supposed to leave. It wasn’t safe. “What do you mean, she left?”

“Don’t come at me,” Merrick fired back, leveling him with a glare of his own. “You’re the one who pissed her off.” He jerked his head toward the railing surrounding the balcony. “She jumped off the ledge.”

“What?”Tiernan boomed.

“She flew, Tiernan. She flew to Aran. I’m assuming they went to his ship.” Merrick’s blue eyes were frosty and accusing.

His friend was right. He’d been the one to piss her off. He was the one who insulted her, who humiliated her. So, of course, she would take her rage out on him in the worst way possible. By fleeing the protection of his palace. Sun and sky, she was infuriating.

“Lir!”Tiernan called to his commander through his thoughts, something he only ever did in grave situations.

Lirfadedin and appeared right in front of him. He bowed. “Here, my lord.”

“Go to theAmshirat once.” Tiernan directed, then nodded toward Merrick. “Mer, the shore and anywhere else you detect any trace, any scent of her. Ceridwen, you search the cove.” His midnight wings exploded from behind him in a burst of wrath. “I’ll take the skies.”

Another damning surge of terror slicked him with sweat, and he bolted skyward. Fuck, this was all his fault.