Page 58 of Realm of Nightmares
Tiernan looked at Lir and Merrick, they both nodded. But Ceridwen wouldn’t meet his eye.
“Very well. The High Prince of Autumn will travel with me to Maghmell.” He offered Aran a slight smile. “Does your father know you’re doing this?”
Aran’s full, good-natured laugh drowned out the roar of the sea. “What he doesn’t know can’t hurt him.”
Brynn groaned. Lir winced. But Merrick cracked a grin. It faltered when his gaze slid to Ceridwen.
Tiernan pinched the bridge of his nose and inhaled sharply. They would have to come up with an excuse for him. The Autumn High Prince was no fool, but there was no doubt in Tiernan’s mind that Dorian would not look too kindly upon his heir making the treacherous journey to Maghmell.
“No one can know we’re gone,” he stated, addressing Lir, Merrick, and Brynn. “We don’t want to give Parisa, or anyone else for that matter, any sort of motive to attack during our absence.”
They nodded in agreement.
Aran’s emerald eyes sparked with mischief, and he adjusted the cuffs of his crimson shirt, rolling them up as though preparing for a fight. “Now, when do we leave?”
Tiernan clapped him on the back, not affording him the opportunity to change his mind. “Tonight.”
ChapterSeventeen
Maeve followed Laurel away from the House of Death, down into the sprawling city below. Though she knew a thing or two about stealth, she’d never been one to stalk, and Laurel certainly didn’t make it easy for her. She walked at a clipped pace, dipping in and out of crowds and tossing such hasty glances over her shoulder that on more than one occasion Maeve was forced to dart into an abandoned alley to avoid being caught.
They wove through the uneven streets where most of the shops had their doors propped open in welcome. Patrons were already strolling into taverns or sitting in chairs perched in front of quaint cafes, enjoying the cool, early evening air. The rain had finally dissipated and though the sun was nonexistent, for once the skies didn’t look menacing. There was no ever-present mist, no howling wind or sideways rain, and Maeve found herself distracted by the otherworldly beauty of the Ether instead of remembering to follow Laurel.
The fae in question came to a halt in front of a nondescript building of crumbling cream colored stones and worn grayish-blue shutters. The exterior was covered in crawling vines that curled around the display window, creeping all the way up to the roof.
Maeve ducked behind a pile of crates stowed outside of a storefront a few buildings down, pretending to adjust the laces of her boots while ignoring the way others stared at her like she had grown a second head. Laurel’s suspicious gaze flicked up and down the street, then she reached for the handle.
Holding her breath, Maeve counted to fifteen. If Laurel discovered she was following her, she was certain the fae would never let her hear the end of it. Even worse, they’d likely end up fighting again, and this time, Maeve had no intention of letting her walk away without some kind of confrontation.
When she finally gathered the nerve to look back up, Laurel was gone.
She’d either walked inside the store or she’d left, likely disappearing around some corner down another street.
Maeve waited a minute, then two, before approaching the rather unremarkable store. A wooden sign was painted in flowing ruby script and read “Pleasantries.” She half expected it to be the sort of place to buy bottles of wine, embroidered dish cloths, or even bouquets of faux flowers. Why Laurel would’ve come in here, she hadn’t the faintest idea, but her curiosity was piqued and there was no going back. Mentally preparing herself for whatever kind of conflict lay ahead, she opened the door and stepped inside.
Almost immediately, she realized her mistake.This was not some ordinary store with the customary housewarming wares for sale.
It was a toy store…foradultpleasantries.
A distinctive flush crawled up her neck and bled into her cheeks.
The space was quaint and tidy, with open wooden shelves housing rows of scented candles and jars of lotion. Jewel-toned bottles of perfume were neatly displayed on a glass case alongside containers of what she assumed to be all manner of lubricants. Below were mosaic baubles and silver trinkets nestled in cushions of black velvet. A handful of customers perused the selection of romance novels tucked along the far wall, while a female cast furtive glances at anyone who looked her way before quickly slipping behind a long, draping black curtain.
It was an absolute novelty, and Maeve suddenly found herself more than a little desperate to know what was hidden beyond the mysterious black curtain. Pressing her lips together, she pulled the heavy drape back and ventured into the more secretive section of the shop.
At once, her senses were assaulted. The cloying scent of fresh blooming roses filled her nose, and she blinked, trying to adjust her eyes to the dim twinkling lights that scarcely illuminated the room.
Maeve had never seen so manythings.
Corded whips hung along the far wall, some made of smooth leather, others studded with spikes of gold. There were fur-lined restraints, onyx nipple clamps, and a rather extensive assortment of beads in varying sizes. Glossy wooden paddles made from ebony and mahogany were stacked along a ledge. Coiled ropes twisted with velvet were piled beside a box filled with satin blindfolds. Sleek black boxes were propped open, showing off a surprising number of lifelike instruments modeled after a male’s shaft to suit a female’s…needs. Some were made of swirling glass, others vibrated, but the most intriguing of them elongated and grew in girth to ensure the maximum amount of pleasure.
Maeve attempted to swallow, but her throat was suddenly dry, as though stuffed with crumpled parchment.
She tore her gaze away from the exhibition of mesmerizing erections and found herself drawn to an array of vials filled with shimmering liquids. The descriptions were precise, each one labeled with the desired effects of its contents. Lust potions, creations that could conjure elaborate fantasies and dreams, but one in particular caught Maeve’s eye.
An elixir capable of producing an illusion of the user’s deepest longing.
She reached for the vial.
