Page 6 of Throne of Dreams
She stood upon the sand of his shore, and instead of changing back into the dress she’d discarded upon a rock, she glamoured herself clothing—tight black leggings, a scarlet top covered in crushed rubies that was cropped right below her breasts, and shiny black boots that came up over her knees. Maeve shook out her hair and the curls dried instantly.
Impressive. She was improving greatly in terms of glamour.
She turned away from him and bent over at the waist, clearly pretending to adjust her boots. Intentionally putting her entire backside on full display for him. “I can feel you staring, my lord.”
His cock jumped, but he tamed it and kept his desire for her in a tight grip, far from where it could cause harm. “My Court, my rules.”
She stood abruptly and faced him, her face a mask. “My body, my rules.”
“Oh, believe me,astora, you are in complete control of your body.” Tiernan rose out of the water and enjoyed the way her gaze drank in every solid inch of him, lingering for the barest of seconds below his waist, where he no longer had an erection. “What you do not control, however, is how my body reacts to you.”
It was a low blow, and he knew it. But it was necessary. For both of them.
Humiliation burned her cheeks, colored them a vibrant pink, and she muttered a few choice words before running off back through the glamour. Away from him.
Good.
It was far better for her to hate him than anything else. Because the High Princess of Autumn was hissirra. His soul answered to her alone. He’d known it from the first moment she landed on the shores of his Court, and once her cuffs were removed, her magic sang a melody, and he knew the words by heart. He would destroy worlds for her. Fall to his knees for her. But he could never tell her the truth of his devotion.
Because if he did, he would lose her forever.
ChapterTwo
Maeve hated him. She could notstandthe High King of Summer. He was arrogant and callous. Maddening and infuriating. He insulted her on purpose and got pleasure from seeing her shamed.
Mortification scalded her cheeks as she burst through the glamour surrounding the cove and raced back onto the long strand of beach. Her legs fired her faster over the pink sand, fueled by her own frustration. She wanted to run away, far from Tiernan and his smirks, from his flippant remarks and pointed jabs. If she could, she’d flee the Summer Court altogether. Except she had nowhere else to go and no way out.
She ran as fast as she could until her feet barely touched the ground. Until warmth bloomed from the center of her back and the cool breeze rushed past her at incredible speed. It was like flying.
A burst of color flashed, and she caught sight of it from the corner of her eye.
Wings.
She hadwings.They carried her up, higher and higher, so she soared on the wind. Maeve threw her arms out in front of her, desperate for purchase. Warm air glided through her fingertips and her wings continued to beat, full and wide. It was exhilarating and petrifying all at once. Dread bubbled up in the back of her throat and she swallowed a scream.
She needed…
Tiernan was there before his name fell from her lips. Except he was on the ground, and she was not. His gaze shot to the sky and zeroed in on her. Those twilight eyes widened in shock and an emotion she couldn’t place before he concealed it.
“You’re flying,” he called up to her.
“Yes, obviously.” She hovered in the air, about the length of a palm tree above the stretch of beach where the sand met the sea. “Please get me down.”
Lir and Ceridwenfadedin a breath later and both of their gazes latched onto her.“Shit.” Lir ran his hand over the twists of dark brown hair on top of his head. “She has wings.”
Ceridwen’s ruby lips lifted at the corners, and she clamped a hand over her heart. “She’s glorious.”
“I want to come down.” She didn’t want to be admired like a rare piece of artwork. Already more fae were pouring onto the beach from the floating city of Niahvess and pointing up at her. Some gasped, some applauded and cheered. All of them stared. “Just tell me how to land!”
“Keep going, you’re doing great.” Lir ignored her pleas and crossed his arms like he was enjoying the spectacle. “It’s actually quite impressive.”
“But I don’t know what I’m doing!” Maeve’s heart pounded and her stomach flipped as she kept her arms outstretched for balance. The warmth at the center of her back spread and she realized it was coming from the two little scars shaped like crescent moons. The ones she assumed were from some lost memory from her abhorrent childhood. With every shift of the breeze, her wings coasted, sending her higher.
“You’re doing wonderful.”Tiernan’s voice infiltrated her thoughts as she bobbled in the air. The compliment startled her, and she stole a glance at her wingspan.
Theyweremagnificent. Feathers of soft ivory stretched out on either side of her, and the tips were dusted with rosy gold. They were magical and real. And they were hers. She wondered if they looked like her mother’s, if Fianna’s wings had been just as stunning. A knot of emotion twisted inside her chest and the distinctive tingle of tears threatened to slide down her cheeks.
“What’s wrong?”
