Page 17 of Throne of Dreams
The minutethey were back inside her room, Lir pointed an accusing finger in her direction.
“Are you trying to get us killed?” He pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger and squeezed his eyes shut.
Maeve crossed her arms and shifted her weight. Lir had never been mad at her before. “He started it.”
Not her finest comeback, but it was all she had at the moment.
His eyes flew open, the silver of them ignited, then he lifted his gaze to the domed glass ceiling above their heads.
“Gods, my lady.” His voice had calmed but held an edge. He pressed his lips into a thin line and took a staggering breath. “You cannot throw me into the middle of your quarrels with my High King.”
When he looked at her again, his stunning face held a kind of earnestness. Almost like a plea. “I swore an oath to protect you with my life, remember?”
Maeve scoffed. “But surely that doesn’t mean from the High King himself?”
The look he gave her stilled her heart, and he rolled the sleeve of his shirt, revealing a Strand of turquoise in the shape of ocean waves that curled around his arm, just above his elbow. “I pledged my loyalty to the Summer Court, to my High King. And to him, I vowed to fight for you until my death, to protect you from anyone andeveryone, no matter the cost. This Strand, this magic, binds me to my word.”
“Oh.”
It was a weak response, but she hadn’t realized the depth of Lir’s promise.
“I’ll be more cautious with my tone when you’re around.” Her gaze wandered to the open doors of her balcony, to where the sky remained an ominous shade of gray. “Besides, I’m pretty sure I can take him anyway.”
It was a dangerous boast, but Lir laughed.
“Of that, I have no doubt.” He shook his head. “I’d say the two of you are pretty squarely matched.”
Matched, an interesting term, and one she all but forgot when Lir offered her his arm. “To the library, my lady?”
“You read my mind.”
They passed by one of the many Summer courtyards where palms stretched out and shaded the crystalline pools lined with turquoise stones. Beneath the shade of one tree, lounging against the wall, she spied Merrick and Brynn.
“Your Highness.” Brynn gave a wave and dropped into a curtsy.
Merrick flashed his dimples and bowed, his rush of hot pink hair falling across his brow.
“Merrick!” Maeve leapt over one of the sparkling pools and launched herself into his arms. He caught her mid-jump and stumbled backward.
“Hello to you, too, my lady.”
“You’re back.” She knew he was, Tiernan told her as much, but seeing him alive and in the flesh made it real.
“I am.” His smile faded as he watched her silently ask him for details, for any update on Saoirse. “She’s alive.” He casually draped one arm around her shoulders and squeezed gently. “She’s living in what remains of Carman’s fortress on the Cliffs of Morrigan.”
“Oh, thank the goddess.” Maeve’s heart lurched. Just knowing Merrick had seen Saoirse in the flesh was enough to cause her nose to burn and her eyes to water. She sniffed, straightening her spine, adjusting the bodice she wore.
“Don’t worry,” he said, his voice soothing as his arm fell away. “She’s just as fierce as ever and in perfect health.”
A shift occurred. His bright blue eyes darkened for only a moment, but it was just enough for Maeve to take notice.
“What?” Maeve searched the soft planes of his face. “What is it?”
Merrick pressed his lips together and dropped his gaze to the petals that fell from the plumeria tree blooming nearby. “I asked if I could bring her back.”
Maeve’s heart sank. “She said no.”
It wasn’t a question and they both knew it.
