Page 51 of Realm of Nightmares
“I can’t believe you’re making me do this,” she muttered, sparing the god of death a look of pure hostility before sharpening her gaze. “What areyoustaring at?”
Maeve glanced over to see Rowan glowering at Laurel, his hands shoved into the pockets of his pants.
He tilted his head, scrutinizing her. “Just trying to figure out how such a pretty face can have such an ugly mouth.”
Laurel moved so fast, Maeve almost missed it. Her blade cut through the air, the tip of it aimed for Rowan’s throat. He didn’t even flinch when it stopped a hair’s breadth from his skin.
“Watch yourself, Nightweaver,” she warned, fury radiating from her. “Or I’ll cut out your tongue.”
Rowan only grinned, incensing her further.
“Let’s get this over with.” Laurel whipped away from him and tossed one of her swords toward Maeve.
She plucked it out of the air, pivoting and planting one foot behind her, ready to spar. Laurel laughed, rich and decadent, the beautiful sound of it floating through the space between them.
Maeve’s brow furrowed, and a barrage of questions jumbled their way into her mind. What the hell was she laughing at? Were there rules she was supposed to follow in the Ether, or some type of etiquette she didn’t understand? Ensuring her weapon would meet its mark, Maeve’s gaze slid to Rowan for some kind of guidance, and Laurel attacked.
She moved like a serpent, striking with deliberate intention. Her sword arced through the air, the sting of her blade slicing across the flesh of Maeve’s upper arm.
Crimson soaked through the fabric of her blouse, and Maeve hissed. “You cut me.”
“What are you going to do about it?” Laurel taunted. She lifted her blade, examined the shiny coating of blood along its edge, and her lips curved into a sultry smirk. “Your girlfriend is bleeding.”
Rowan’s hands clenched into fists. Every line of his face hardened into rage. “Not my girlfriend,” he ground out.
“No?”
She sauntered over to him, her hips swaying with each click of her boots. Trailing her free hand down his chest, she traced the line of the scar that was just visible from beneath his shirt, then slid her hand lower to the front pocket of his pants. His entire body went rigid, so still Maeve wasn’t even sure he was breathing.
Laurel was outrageous, wielding her audacity and sexuality like a weapon, knowing he wouldn’t fight back. Knowing everyone, the god of death included, tracked her movement, Laurel’s sinister smile only widened as she kept her diamond-like gaze locked on Rowan, searching his pocket until she pulled out a ring.
It was a stunning bluish-purple stone, like twilight set on fire, set in a gold band shaped like a sun.
“Not your girlfriend,” Laurel murmured, sliding the ring onto her finger, “yet you failed to return her engagement ring. How curious.”
Maeve’s stomach plummeted. That ring, that washerring. Rowan hadn’t returned it to her, and worst of all, she’d forgotten to ask for it back. She thrust out her hand. “Give me back my ring.”
Laurel’s sensual laughter rang out once more. She swiveled around, slashing Maeve’s other arm. “Come and get it, Dawnbringer.”
With that, deep purple wings burst from Laurel’s back, and she shot skyward, disappearing into the blanket of gray clouds.
Outrage pumped through Maeve’s veins. Her own wings ripping free in a frenzy of wrath and retaliation.
“Laurel!” Aed bellowed, his vexation rumbling across the training grounds like a collision of boulders. “Flying was not part of the deal!”
But it was too late.
Maeve bolted toward the heavens after Laurel, cutting through the cloud cover like a knife, provoked by indignation and raw loathing.
ChapterFifteen
Tiernan knocked on the door to Ceridwen’s bedroom.
“I have the stones you requested,” he said when she opened the door, and pulled them from his pocket.
“Thank you.” She gathered the smooth, black stones in her hands and stepped back, allowing him entry. “I’m going to scry again, if you’d like to stay.”
Instantly, the soothing scent of citrus and rose engulfed Tiernan. At once, all the tension in his muscles melted away and for the first time in a long time, he could breathe.
