Page 156 of Throne of Dreams
The corner of Tiernan’s mouth ticked up. “Indeed.”
“I’m sure we have much to catch up on, just as I know you likely have many questions.” His gaze skimmed the woods, the Black Lake. “Allow me to answer what I can.”
Then he told them a story. “Losing Fianna left me devastated. I searched for her everywhere to no avail, until the mating bond between us was severed, silenced by her death. But by then it was too late. Garvan had already fallen to Parisa’s corruption and in doing so, he’d spelled me, making it impossible to shift back to my fae form.”
Dorian paused, blowing out a low breath. “I’d been trapped in the body of a fox for years, unable to escape the prison of my own magic. Gradually it became increasingly difficult to remember I’d ever been anything else. My mind slowly slipped into madness. The longer I remained a fox, the more I took on animalistic traits.” He looked at Maeve. “Until the night I found you by the Black Lake.”
Her heart lurched, aching to hear whatever he was going to say next.
“I saw you and mistook you for Fianna. I thought she’d returned to me.” He shook his head and his eyes darkened. Pain etched its way into his hardened features. “But you, my daughter, you reminded me of all I was…in you, I saw myself. I saw your mother. I saw our Court.”
Maeve reached out, took his hand, and squeezed. “I’m glad you’re back.”
“As am I.”
Tiernan’s hand slid to the small of Maeve’s back.
Dorian tracked the movement, one brow arched in question. “Taking her away from me already, are you?” There was a hint of amusement in his tone.
Tiernan’s grin widened. “Only if she’ll have me.”
Maeve’s Strand, her mating bond to the High King of Summer, warmed, and Tiernan dropped onto his knees before her.
* * *
Maeve’s piercing eyes widened,but Tiernan captured her hands, clasping them in between his own. With the sun at his back, he spoke to her, and only to her.
“Maeve Ruhdneah, High Princess of Autumn, High Queen of the Furies and Spring Fae…Dawnbringer.” He swallowed. Fuck, he didn’t think he’d be this nervous. He supposed much of it had to do with the fact that her father was watching his every move, eyes as keen as a fox. “From the moment I first laid eyes on you, I knew you were mine, and that my soul would never search for another.”
A sheen of tears sparkled in her eyes, and he hated he was making her cry. Even if it was to give her the whole of his heart.
Tiernan pressed a kiss to both her hands.
“You eclipse the moon and shatter the stars. You are the object of my every desire. You are dreams and eternal promises.” He bowed his head before her. “I will only ever kneel before you.”
Maeve sucked in a breath.
“Are you asking me to marry you?” Her voice pitched. Whether she was on the verge of complete happiness or total hysteria, he couldn’t be sure.
“I’m asking you to be my wife. My queen.” He slid the ring he always wore off his pinky finger. The one with the vibrant bluish-purple stone set inside a golden sun. He slid it over her ring finger and held it there. “This belonged to my mother. She told me once before she died that whoever wore it would be the one to bring me to my knees.”
“Yes.” Maeve’s head bobbed once and then she launched herself into his waiting arms. He caught her up before they both toppled to the ground, then spun her around twice before setting her back on the ground. She threw her arms around his neck and whispered, “My soul is yours, Tiernan. Always.”
He captured her tear-stained cheeks, kissing her full and lush lips that tasted lightly of salt and deeply of warmth and spice. He ran one palm down her soft curls, tucking them back from her face, then he broke the kiss. Just barely. His mouth hovered over hers when he said, “You are mine.”
Then he was kissing her again, dipping her back, sliding his hand down her thigh and lifting her leg to his waist.
“Alright.” Merrick cleared his throat. “Let’s get back to Summer before the two of you start trying to extend the Velless bloodline right in front of us.”
“Mer,” Brynn scolded and thumped him on the back of his head.
“What?” He threw his hands out to both sides. “We wereallthinking it.”
Dorian cleared his throat, and Merrick’s face turned scarlet. He shoved his hands into his pockets and ducked his head. “I beg your pardon, my lord.”
The High King of Autumn chuckled. “You’re forgiven…this time.”
Maeve, however, was flushing beautifully.
