Page 47 of Throne of Dreams
Tiernan knew it was a long shot taking on a giant. It had been close to a hundred years since he last fought one, and for good reason. He’d almost gotten his arms ripped off.
It wasn’t that giants were more powerful. In fact, they were far from it. They simply took longer to kill. And once they were raging, they were nearly impossible to stop. This beast was no exception. The ground shuddered as he trudged toward them, knocking fully grown trees out of his way like they were a simple nuisance. Forest animals scattered, darting out of harm’s way. The giant smashed a sapling into the ground with his foot; the weight of which would be enough to shatter a fae’s bones to dust.
“Watch his arms when he swings!” Tiernan called to his scouts. The giant’s movements might be sluggish, but they were lethal. All they had to do was keep him distracted and away from the Spring fae until Lir arrived.
The giant bellowed, baring his yellowed teeth. He stretched his arm back and took aim. His meaty fist, the size of at least two boulders, was lobbed straight at Tiernan. He ducked down and hit the forest floor, rolling out of the way. The gust of air that swept over him reeked of rotten garbage and his gut clenched.
He jumped up from the ground and called upon his magic. Summer churned overhead, clouds of the darkest night roiled, and Tiernan struck out. Slashes of violet exploded from the tips of his fingers, cutting across the space between himself and the giant in jagged bolts of lightning. They scorched and singed his body, charred his skin, melted his face. The giant howled. Destruction rose inside Tiernan, turbulent and demanding, begging for release. But he would not give into the temptation of such power. Not yet. He stole inside the giant’s mind, sifted through his garbled thoughts until he found what he was looking for…
Spring fae trying to escape from Suvarese through the Pass of Veils. Dark fae following in their wake, chasing them down and slaughtering them. The giant being whipped and beaten until he was no longer submissive, but instead a rage-filled beast. Fearghal taunting him, torturing him, then releasing him upon the fae attempting to flee the Spring Court. Parisa was bringing ruination upon them all.
There would be no way around it. The only way to stop the giant would be to slay him. If he had more time, he could attempt to subdue the creature, but his mind was too far gone for saving. Except Ceridwen—damn it. If he had her on the battlefield with him, her magic could easily suppress him. But she was back in Niahvess and there was no more time to waste.
Already glamoured in his armor, Tiernan withdrew both of his swords and charged straight ahead. Two of his scouts darted around to the back, maneuvering the barbarian into a position of weakness. If they could flank him, he’d be easier to bring down. The giant roared, raised his fist, and slammed it into the ground, unleashing a wave of tremors that sent all of them sprawling. Tiernan’s back collided with the solid earth, and his head smacked hard. Pain coursed down his spine and a glare of stars darted across his vision, temporarily blinding him.
“Move, Your Grace!” a voice shouted from somewhere off to his right.“Move!”
Tiernan rolled, his body absorbing the impact of rocks and debris as he looked up just in time to see the giant’s fist pounding into the ground where his body had been only a moment before.
That was far too close for comfort.
Jarred from his stupor, Tiernan fought to stand and gain his bearings. Splintering pain tore across the back of his head and temples as he staggered to his feet.
The giant grabbed a broken tree trunk, hoisted it over his head, and snapped it in half. The crack was deafening. He wielded the trunks like weapons, one for each hand.
Shit.
Now they were in trouble.
Tiernan felt him before he saw him. Lir appeared a second later in full armor, with at least fifty of their best warriors, all armed with blades of nightshade. It was ruthless. And lethal. But necessary. There was no other way to bring the giant down, and Tiernan refused to let his Court fall prey to its chaotic destruction.
“What the hell is going on?” Lir called over the clamoring of warriors poised for attack. They surrounded the heaving giant, the tips of their blades ready to strike. Energy filled with an eagerness for bloodshed rippled through their ranks.
“That’s a great question.” Tiernan blasted his magic again and watched as violet streaks assaulted the giant once more. It exploded from him, crashing, lashing out, casting everything and everyone in a rich purple hue of power. “And one I’ll have Merrick explain to you in detail once we return home.”
Lir grunted and raised his arm, signaling the warriors to prepare for attack. “Can’t wait for that story.”
His hand cut through the air like a blade through silk, and the Summer fae warriors began their assault. They hurtled through the forest in a wave of cobalt blue and gold, ready to destroy. To pummel. To kill.
“Not you.” Tiernan grabbed Lir’s arm before he could storm into the fray. “I need you to protect Maeve.”
Lir’s silver eyes widened. “You brought her?”
He bit down on the urge to snarl. “Like she gave me a choice.”
At that, his commander smiled, the faintest uptick in the corner of his mouth. “Very true.” The humor vanished. “Where is she?”
Tiernan jerked his head. “Over by the tree line, she…”
But when he looked to where he’d last left her, she was gone.
* * *
Stingingwind whipped past Maeve as she rushed to protect the fae. Her cheeks burned and her face prickled as her hair sliced across her skin. Her heart raced, anticipation and magic pumping through her veins. But she didn’t stop. It didn’t matter if she was running into danger, she was doing as she’d been ordered.
Protect the innocent.
Tiernan’s words reverberated through her mind as she sprinted toward the faerie pool. She leapt over stones and fallen logs, letting the storm of Summer carry her.
