Page 81 of The Queen and the Half-blood
They were straying into dangerous waters here. His proud young wife, who’d once been so cold, was warming to him. Her pine-green eyes were soft this evening, luminous.
She needed to hide her emotions better.
And he needed to be more careful.
Taking a sip of wine, Alar considered his next words. Things weren’t going to plan at present. The warriors Lara had sent after the Shee had come back empty-handed. The Slew were a problem. His half-sister’s escape had been a blow too. Fern would return to Sheehallion and tell their father about him. What would Wynn Sablebane do when he discovered that he had a half-breed son who was now wedded to the High Queen of Albia?
Alar’s pulse quickened. Did he really care?
Meanwhile, Lara watched him expectantly. He wouldn’t continue this conversation though; it was time to change the subject. “I wonder why the Slew have become so unruly,” he murmured.
A nerve flickered in her cheek, disappointment flaring in her eyes. “Once we’ve dealt with the Shee, I intend to find out.” She swallowed, even as her chin lifted. “Then, we’ll put things back the way they were.”
Heat ignited in the pit of Alar’s gut. He welcomed it. Here was his chance to distance himself a little from his wife. “Maybe, there’s no going back.” He swirled the dregs of his wine in his cup. “Have you considered that when your father fell, it marked the beginning of the end?”
She stiffened in her chair, her fingers tightening around her cup. “I refuse to believe that.”
He shrugged. “Look around you. Albia is fractured. The faerie creatures and spirits no longer hide in the shadows. You can defeat the Shee and beat your overkings into submission, but the old order … yourfather’sworld … is dying.”
Her chest rose sharply, anger flaring in her eyes. Jaw tight, she got swiftly to her feet and slammed her cup down on the ledge above the fireplace. “And that’s something to gloat over?”
Alar put aside his own cup and stood up. “Aye … the Marav have ruled with an iron fist for too long.”
Careful,he warned himself then.Don’t say anything you’ll regret.
However, it was as if there were an imp on his shoulder, urging him on. He moved closer, inhaling her sweet scent. His breathing grew shallow at her nearness, and his pulse started to hammer in his ears. Fuck, how he wanted her. She had no idea of the thoughts that had plagued him since their handfasting. Theurges. Right now, all he wanted to do was strip off her clothes, drag her into the furs, and tumble her until they both collapsed from exhaustion. But he wouldn’t.
Leaning in, he brought his mouth close to her right ear. “It’s time for you to share power with the rest of us.”
Lara lay amongst the furs, staring up at the stone ceiling of the sleeping nook.
And all the while, the Slew screamed and wailed. She could almost taste their fury.
Right now, it matched her own. She glanced over at where her husband slept a few feet away. Alar had rolled over with his back to her, although she could tell by the rhythm of his breathing that he was sleeping.
Her jaw clenched.Callous prick.
However, the anger that churned in her belly wasn’t just at him—but herself.
She’d walked right into that.
What was she doing, being so vulnerable with the Half-blood? He’d sniffed out weakness and gone straight for her throat. Even now, the glint she’d seen in his iron-hued eyes, the roughness of his voice as he leaned close made her curl her hands into fists.
He hadn’t needed to be that harsh, yet he’d been making a point.
She squeezed her eyes shut then. They were gritty and sore. She was in desperate need of sleep, yet it eluded her.
Humiliation burned like a hot coal in her chest. Thank the Gods that Bree, Cailean, or Mirren hadn’t overheard that exchange. They’d think she’d lost her wits.
And she had. For a few moments.
But then, Alar had emptied an icy pail of water over her head. He’d reminded her that vulnerability was a weakness and that trust was a luxury she couldn’t afford. He’d told her the old order was ending, that there was no saving it, but he was wrong.
And she’d prove it to the bastard.
29: BEYOND THE WALLS
LARA EMERGED FROM the broch and halted on the top step.
