Page 24 of Realm of Nightmares
That was the last thing she wanted to discuss. “It’s a long story.”
“Oh good.” Laurel sneered, running a hand down her svelte figure. “I’m not that interested, anyway.”
Maeve gaped at the fae’s audacity.What the fuck was her problem?
“The theater,” Aed reiterated, his gaze lit with amusement at their snarky interaction. “At sunset. Don’t be late.”
Maeve found herself unable to refuse his request. Even if she tried, he’d worded it in such a way that it was more of a command than an entreaty.
She watched as they walked away, two ethereal, stunning beings, who were obviously made for one another. When they rounded a corner and vanished from sight, Maeve looked up at the lingerie shop. It was quaint, with white blossoms overflowing from baskets perched on the windowsills. Displays showcased satin nightgowns in cream, gray, and black. There were scraps of lace that many females considered undergarments and other pieces of fabric that held very little to the imagination.
She considered going in and just browsing, though she had no one to wear lingerie for except herself. There was something about lace she never found comfortable, but silk, on the other hand…
Without a second thought, Maeve strolled into the shop.
ChapterEight
Tiernan stood outside the door to Ceridwen’s bedroom.
He hadn’t had the chance to talk to her about her visions, but since the Archfae of the Four Courts had returned to their homes, he supposed now was as good of time as any.
He rapped his knuckle against the hard wood, and her soft voice sounded on the other side.
“Come in.”
He walked in and found her sitting on a chair out on her balcony with her knees curled into her chest. She was gazing over the city, but it was unnaturally quiet. Whereas usually there was music or a flurry of activity in the streets below as the citizens of Niahvess prepared for any number of evening festivities, now there were only hushed murmurings. Even the charming trickling of the canals had gone silent. There was no birdsong. No merriment.
It was as though the entire city was holding its breath in expectation of what was to come—the impending war with Parisa and the deterioration of Faeven.
He would stop at nothing to protect his Court. His citizens weren’t warriors. They weren’t battle-hardened soldiers who could step away from their livelihoods at a moment’s notice and stand up arms. They were crafters, creators, and artisans. The Summer Legion would be enough to defend their borders, but they wouldn’t be able to stave off Parisa’s advances forever. Not with an army of dark fae at her back. Not after what he’d witnessed at the Black Lake, when she sent drove after drove to attack them. It didn’t matter how many dark fae were slain, more would appear in their stead.
Defeating them with only his army would be all but impossible.
Tiernan strode out onto the balcony to join his twin, leaning his back against the railing. He would wait for her to speak first.
Only the wind whispered between them.
Finally, she sighed. “I don’t have the answers you seek.”
He tucked his hands into his pockets, gauging her. “I didn’t ask a question.”
“You didn’t have to.” She looked up at him, and he noticed the faint smudges of purple beneath her eyes. She still wasn’t sleeping well. “I’m your twin, Tiernan. I can see it in your heart, hear your every doubt, every worry, every fear…because those same questions echo in my mind.”
He didn’t want his obligations, his responsibilities, or his concerns to trouble her. “You shouldn’t have to bear the weight of my burdens.”
“And you shouldn’t feel you have to carry those burdens alone.” Ceridwen shifted, her golden plait of hair falling over one shoulder. “I don’t know why my visions are suddenly stronger than before, but they are, and all I can do is accept them.”
She’d slept for ten hours after the last one. The intensification of her capabilities as a seer was making her vulnerable. She was completely defenseless when lost to a vision, and the thought of it left him unsettled.
“What if you’re alone the next time it happens?”
“Then I fall on my ass and hopefully I don’t hit my head on the way down.” Her lips curved. “I don’t need a babysitter, Tier. I’m not a child.”
He rolled his eyes to the gray heavens. “Forgive me if I don’t want to see you hurt.”
Ceridwen’s whisper of a smile vanished. “You won’t always be able to protect me.”
His flesh crawled, pinpricks of alarm stabbing into him as foreboding dripped from her words.
