Fragile Eternity
Page 25

But I amnotalone. That simple statement made the difference. There was a person on the other side of the wall who loved her, and there was a faery who was a part of her. Seth gave her courage; Keenan gave her sunlight. She let herself draw her own and Keenans sunlight into her skin; that familiar warmth chased away the thick shadows that had invaded her body. I need to go. Drop the wall.
Or?
Without any thought beyond making the Dark King bend to the Summer Court, she shoved that sunlight forward, pushing it into Nialls skin. Languor and satiation, bodies musky with summers sun, a siroccos biting windsall of it surged into him.Fair pay for the shadows. It was the full weight of summers pleasure with a tinge of pain. We are stronger now. Dont provoke himor me.
His hands were still restraining her, but he closed his eyes.
She thought shed made her point. She thought of telling him that they wished things hadnt happened as they had. She truly wanted peace between the courts. It was only a few heartbeats of hope and guilt, and before she could decide, he opened his eyes. The maw of the abyss watched her from inside him.
Youre thinking like a mortal, Aislinn. He licked his lips. Or maybe youre thinking like Keenanflashy displays of power dont intimidate me.
She took a fumbling step backward, trying to pull away from him.
Even if Seth wasnt my friend, I wouldnt try to seduce you. I would, however, reach out and break those delicate bones of yours. He was chest-to-chest with her. I am the Dark King, not some young pup to be impressed by a display of temper. I lived with Irial. I learned to fight alongside Gabriels Hounds.
Niall squeezed until she felt how breakable she still wasto him, to another faery ruler.
Seth pressed against the shadows again. His hand was on the outside of the barrier. If he could force his way through it, he could touch her, but he couldnt cross the shadows. The frustration on his face was awful to see. As she looked at him, fear plain on her face, Seth cursed. He shook Keenan, but the Summer King was unresponsive.
Several Hounds waited around Keenan. They neither helped nor interfered with Seths attempt to rouse him. Other Hounds stood at the door barring any faeries who tried to enter.
You can be a good queen and a good person, Aislinn. Dont let your belief in Keenan lead to hurting Seth, or I will exact the cost of every hurt youve been forgiven. Niall released her and simultaneously lowered the wall.
She fell to the floor.
With seeming indifference, Niall walked past the mortal hed been defending, past the king hed once served, past his own faeries.
Seth stopped him. What in the hell are you doing? He felt the last bit of calm hed worked so hard to build inside of him fleeing. You cant
Seth. Dont. Niall gripped Seths arm. The Summer Court needed a reminder that I am not theirs to command.
Im not talking about the court. ThatsAsh. You hurtAsh.
Listen very carefully. Niall looked at Seth as he spoke, each word clipped and precise. She is un-broken. Frightened, but thats not a bad thing. If she were truly hurt, youd be nursing her, not lashing out at me. You know that as well as I do.
Seth had no answer to that. Arguing would be a lie, andas he did with AislinnSeth tried to never lie to Niall.
Two shadow dancers pressed against Niall; their bodies were almost as tangible as living beings. One male stood behind Niall. His diaphanous body was extended, elongated so that his arms draped over Nialls shoulders. His hands met over Nialls ribs. The second shadow dancer was beside Niall; she held one hand flat over his heart, centered above the hands of the first shadow dancer. Absently, Niall reached up and caressed the entwined hands.
She followed me, Niall reminded him. I am who I am, Seth. I spent centuries wearing the Summer Courts leash. I wont be anyone or anything other than myself again. I gave her the chance to walk away, and she threatened me.
Because you knocked out Keenan
Niall shrugged. We all have choices to make. She chose to try me. I chose to point out her follies.
What you did was jacked up.
She is physically uninjured. Niall frowned, but his voice softened. I dont want discord with you, my brother. I did what needed done.
Whatever happens. Whenever Seth knew he couldnt ask for any promises. Aislinn had eternity as a faery queen, a ruler who didnt exactly approve of Nialls court. All Seth could say was, I want her to be safe.
And Keenan? Nialls voice was emotionless. Do you fault me for injuring him?
Seth paused as he tried to find the words to answer. Niall waited, still but for the steady rise and fall of his chest under the hands of the shadow dancers. A few breaths later, Seth caught and held Nialls gaze. No. I want her safe. I want you safe. And I dont want him to ever get away with manipulating or hurting either of you.
Niall sighed in obvious relief, and the dancers vanished, retreating into whatever void they lived in. Ill do what I can. Go see to her.
And Seth had to face herhis beloved, the one he couldnt have saved, the one who was cradling someone else. She had been in danger, and he had been useless to her.What happens when it isnt someone like Niall? What would I do if Niall had hurt her? He was mortal-weak.
Keenan wasnt any help either,Seth reminded himself. The difference, of course, was that Keenan could go after Niall, and if he had been conscious, he wouldve done so when she was trapped.
Sometimes being human sucks.
Chapter 10
Are you sure you should move? Aislinn cradled Keenans head in her lap. He seemed more embarrassed than injured, more upset than angry.