Page 14 of Void of Endings
Moonlight spilled around him, reflecting a golden pink braid.
“Fuck.” Tiernan darted toward the center of the throne room just as Rowan landed, carrying a limp Maeve in his arms. “What happened?”
“She’ll be okay.” Rowan lifted Maeve, gently transferring her into Tiernan’s hold. “She just needs to rest. It was…a lot.”
Tiernan glanced over at his commander, and Lir stepped forward. “What did he take from her in exchange for her memories?”
Rowan’s gaze slid to Maeve and he shoved his hands into his pockets. “I took care of it.”
Lir bowed, and the tense silence evaporated between them. “We appreciate it more than you know.”
He lifted his shoulders, shrugging off the gratefulness as though it was nothing. “It was the least I could do.”
Maeve curled into Tiernan’s hold, and he clutched her against his chest. “I’m assuming you’ll stay here for the duration?”
“If you don’t mind.” Rowan made a little clicking noise out of the corner of his mouth. “I can’t imagine Parisa would be very welcoming if I showed up again.”
No. Probably not.
Lir gestured toward the main courtyard. “I’ll show you to your quarters, my lord.”
Rowan’s entire body tensed, and for the first time Tiernan could ever recall, the fae looked painfully uncomfortable in his own skin. “I’m not?—”
“You are Archfae,” Tiernan interjected, keeping his voice low and firm. “Your mother was Brigid’s sister. Not only that, but you’re the Nightweaver. I’m fairly certain you’re worthy of the title owed to you.”
Rowan remained silent. He inclined his head in acknowledgement, then followed Lir out into the courtyard.
Shifting a sleeping Maeve in his arms, Tiernan carried her to his bedroom. He laid her down, carefully removing her armor so as not to disturb her. Though her breathing was deep and he knew she slumbered, it was fitful and troubled. He glamoured her an oversized nightshirt, one of her favorites, then sat down on the edge of the bed. For a brief moment, he consideredundoing the length of her braid, then thought better of it. It looked far more complicated up close and the last thing he wanted to do was startle her awake.
Tiernan tilted his head back and looked up at the glass dome ceiling, where the stars sparkled like diamonds set on fire, and the moon seemed to smile down upon them.
A gripping sensation seized his heart. It was a bone-deep ache that pulled all the air from his lungs, hollowed out his chest, and gradually, his grieving soul began to mend.
She was home.
He squeezed his eyes shut.
The last time Tiernan cried was when his parents died during the Evernight War, but he couldn’t stop the single tear from sliding out of the corner of his eye.
Sun and sky, she was finally home.
He exhaled, and when he opened his eyes, he summoned his guitar.
Strumming softly, Tiernan sang for her. Only for her.
“Pulse of my heart,it beats only for thee,
Through dreams, and realms, and centuries.
Bound to you through night, and the in-between.
Soul of my soul, our lives entwined by fate,
For each breath, each sigh, I will always wait.
My once now and forever Faerie Queen.”
Warmth bathed Maeve’s skin,the touch of the sun as soothing as a lover’s caress.
