Fragile Eternity
Page 28
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Seths heartbeat sped. Suspecting your death had been discussed so coldly was one thing; hearing it confirmed was entirely different. Is that why you dont do it?
In part. I had hope that I could be with Donia, at least for a while. Instead, Aislinn and I are both worried over the lovers we cant keep. Its not the way Summer should feel. Our court is about frivolity, impulse, and that dizzy blur of pleasure. Its not love I feel for Aislinn, but our court would be stronger if she were mine. Every instinct I have pulls me toward her. It drives a wedge between Donia and me. We all know that if you werent in the way Aislinnwould be mine.
Seth watched the Summer King watch Aislinn. His mouth was dry as he prompted, But?
With effort, Keenan pulled his gaze away from Aislinn. But I dont kill mortalseven those who stand in my way. For now, Ill deal with the way things are. It wont last forever. He sounded a little sad as he said it, but Seth wasnt sure if Keenan was sad that Seth was in the way or that hewouldnt always be in the way. So Ill wait.
Later, Seth would ponder it, but just then, Aislinn slid into his arms.
Aislinn motioned toward Damali. Shes good.
They both murmured assent.
It makes me want to dance. She swayed in his lap. Do you want to?
Before Seth could reply, Keenan reached over and touched her hand. Im sorry, but I need to leave.
Leave? Now? But
Ill see you tomorrow. He stood slowly, moving with the faerie elegance that seemed to announce their Otherness. The guards will be outside to escort youwherever you go tonight.
Seths, she whispered. Her cheeks flushed.
Keenans expression didnt change. Tomorrow then.
And then he was gone, moving faster than mortal eyeseven Sighted onescould follow.
Chapter 11
Seth wasnt surprised when Aislinn became restless a few songs later and wanted to walk. Shed been that way before she became a faery. That was one of the things that hadnt changedlike keeping things from him. Shed always had to keep secrets, and her first instinct when she feared rejection was to continue to do so. Understanding why she was secretive didnt mean accepting it, though. Theyd only gone a block or so when he asked, Are we going to talk about whats bothering you?
Do we have to?
He raised his brow and stared at her. You get that I love you, right? Seth leaned his head against hers as he said it. No matter what.
She paused, tensed, and then her words tumbled out too fast. Keenan kissed me.
Figured that. He kept an arm around her as they resumed walking.
What? Her skin flickered as her anxiety spiked.
He was being weird. You were weird. Seth shrugged, but he didnt alter his pace. Im not blind, Ash. I see it. Whatever this tie is between you two is getting worse as summer comes.
It is. Im trying to ignore it, but its not easy. But I will. Are youmad ?
He paused, weighing his words before telling her. No. Not pleased, but I expect it of him. Its not about what he did. Tell me whatyou want.
You.
Forever?
If there were a way. She held tight to his waist like he was going to vanish if she let go. It hurt. His skin was mortal, and hers wasnt. There isnt, though. I cant make youthis .
What if I want that? he asked.
Its not something you should want.I dont want to bethis . Why would She slipped in front of him and looked up at him. You know I love you. I love only you. If I didnt have you in my lifeI dont know what Im going to do when youshe shook her headbut we dont have to think about this. I told him no when he kissed me. I told him that I love you, and hes only my friend. I resisted him when I was mortal, and Ill do it now.
But?
Its like a pressure inside me sometimes. Like being away from him iswrong . She looked desperate, like she wanted him to tell her the lies that she was trying to tell herself. Itll get easier with time. It has to. This being-a-faery thing is new. And his being unbound is new. Its justithas to get easier with time or practice or something, right?
He couldnt tell her what she wanted to hear. They both knew it wasnt getting easier.
She looked down and lowered her voice, I asked Doniabefore. About you becomingthis. She told me it was a curse, and she couldnt do it, and neither could Ior Keenan. Keenan didnt change me or the Summer Girls. Neither did Beira. That was something Irial did. Its not something we can do.
SoNiall
Maybe. I dont know. She leaned into his embrace, but her words werent ones he wanted to hear. But maybe its better this way. You getting cursed so we can be together isnt cool. What if you hate me someday? Look at Don and Keenan. Theyre stuck dealing with each other forever now, and they fight all the time. Look at the Summer Girls. Theyll wither away without their king. Why would I want that for you? I love youand being thisMy mother died rather than be a faery.
But I want to be near you always, he reminded her.
But youll lose everyone else, and
I want forever with you. Seth lifted her chin so he was able to look directly into her eyes. The rest will fall into place if I can be with you.
She shook her head. Even if I didnt think it was a bad idea,I cant make it happen.
If you could
I dont know, she admitted. I dont want to have power over you, and I dont trust Niall, even if he couldand She was getting more and more upset as she spoke. Sparks flickered from her body. I do want you with me, but I dont want to lose you. What if you were like the Summer Girls? Or
In part. I had hope that I could be with Donia, at least for a while. Instead, Aislinn and I are both worried over the lovers we cant keep. Its not the way Summer should feel. Our court is about frivolity, impulse, and that dizzy blur of pleasure. Its not love I feel for Aislinn, but our court would be stronger if she were mine. Every instinct I have pulls me toward her. It drives a wedge between Donia and me. We all know that if you werent in the way Aislinnwould be mine.
Seth watched the Summer King watch Aislinn. His mouth was dry as he prompted, But?
With effort, Keenan pulled his gaze away from Aislinn. But I dont kill mortalseven those who stand in my way. For now, Ill deal with the way things are. It wont last forever. He sounded a little sad as he said it, but Seth wasnt sure if Keenan was sad that Seth was in the way or that hewouldnt always be in the way. So Ill wait.
Later, Seth would ponder it, but just then, Aislinn slid into his arms.
Aislinn motioned toward Damali. Shes good.
They both murmured assent.
It makes me want to dance. She swayed in his lap. Do you want to?
Before Seth could reply, Keenan reached over and touched her hand. Im sorry, but I need to leave.
Leave? Now? But
Ill see you tomorrow. He stood slowly, moving with the faerie elegance that seemed to announce their Otherness. The guards will be outside to escort youwherever you go tonight.
Seths, she whispered. Her cheeks flushed.
Keenans expression didnt change. Tomorrow then.
And then he was gone, moving faster than mortal eyeseven Sighted onescould follow.
Chapter 11
Seth wasnt surprised when Aislinn became restless a few songs later and wanted to walk. Shed been that way before she became a faery. That was one of the things that hadnt changedlike keeping things from him. Shed always had to keep secrets, and her first instinct when she feared rejection was to continue to do so. Understanding why she was secretive didnt mean accepting it, though. Theyd only gone a block or so when he asked, Are we going to talk about whats bothering you?
Do we have to?
He raised his brow and stared at her. You get that I love you, right? Seth leaned his head against hers as he said it. No matter what.
She paused, tensed, and then her words tumbled out too fast. Keenan kissed me.
Figured that. He kept an arm around her as they resumed walking.
What? Her skin flickered as her anxiety spiked.
He was being weird. You were weird. Seth shrugged, but he didnt alter his pace. Im not blind, Ash. I see it. Whatever this tie is between you two is getting worse as summer comes.
It is. Im trying to ignore it, but its not easy. But I will. Are youmad ?
He paused, weighing his words before telling her. No. Not pleased, but I expect it of him. Its not about what he did. Tell me whatyou want.
You.
Forever?
If there were a way. She held tight to his waist like he was going to vanish if she let go. It hurt. His skin was mortal, and hers wasnt. There isnt, though. I cant make youthis .
What if I want that? he asked.
Its not something you should want.I dont want to bethis . Why would She slipped in front of him and looked up at him. You know I love you. I love only you. If I didnt have you in my lifeI dont know what Im going to do when youshe shook her headbut we dont have to think about this. I told him no when he kissed me. I told him that I love you, and hes only my friend. I resisted him when I was mortal, and Ill do it now.
But?
Its like a pressure inside me sometimes. Like being away from him iswrong . She looked desperate, like she wanted him to tell her the lies that she was trying to tell herself. Itll get easier with time. It has to. This being-a-faery thing is new. And his being unbound is new. Its justithas to get easier with time or practice or something, right?
He couldnt tell her what she wanted to hear. They both knew it wasnt getting easier.
She looked down and lowered her voice, I asked Doniabefore. About you becomingthis. She told me it was a curse, and she couldnt do it, and neither could Ior Keenan. Keenan didnt change me or the Summer Girls. Neither did Beira. That was something Irial did. Its not something we can do.
SoNiall
Maybe. I dont know. She leaned into his embrace, but her words werent ones he wanted to hear. But maybe its better this way. You getting cursed so we can be together isnt cool. What if you hate me someday? Look at Don and Keenan. Theyre stuck dealing with each other forever now, and they fight all the time. Look at the Summer Girls. Theyll wither away without their king. Why would I want that for you? I love youand being thisMy mother died rather than be a faery.
But I want to be near you always, he reminded her.
But youll lose everyone else, and
I want forever with you. Seth lifted her chin so he was able to look directly into her eyes. The rest will fall into place if I can be with you.
She shook her head. Even if I didnt think it was a bad idea,I cant make it happen.
If you could
I dont know, she admitted. I dont want to have power over you, and I dont trust Niall, even if he couldand She was getting more and more upset as she spoke. Sparks flickered from her body. I do want you with me, but I dont want to lose you. What if you were like the Summer Girls? Or
