Page 27

“Much,mo ghra. Much.” He leaned back and busied himself with cleaning up their bowls and spoons, placing them carefully back in the basket. He poured out two small cups of tea and handed one to Moira, then settled back against the bench with his arm around her shoulders. “I’ve sent Thierry to watch over Rihanna as she seeks heranam carain the mortal realm. He reports back to me about her obstinate approach of staying in the shadows. She’s but a ghost in the daylight, daring not to disrupt his life and his relationship. Aye, if ’twas another man aside from heranamcara, I’d admire her decision. Instead, she insists upon tearing apart a heart traumatized by her past instead of trying to heal it.”

“Maybe she’s scared. Scared of suffering the pain again.”

“She resists because she doesn’t wish to cause heartache unto his current partner.” Shaye sipped his tea as his emotions for Moira bordered on maddening. “I can’t fathom a momentwithout you if ’tis not necessary. These summons I attend tear me apart inside, leaving you and knowing not when I’ll return. Not a memory or vision compares to having you here, beside me, where I can hold you and kiss you and hear your voice. Smell the lavender on your skin. Watch your eyes shine with excitement and contentment.”

Moira scooted closer, tucking herself tight against his side. “I’ll always be here, Shaye. Always. You have me now. I won’t be easy to get rid of.”

She plopped a playful kiss to his jaw. He couldn’t help but smile, even as the weight of his impending revelation pressed hard against his shoulders.

“Ah,ghra. ’Tis I who shall be difficult to be rid of. I have no intention of going anywhere.” He finished his tea and rested the cup on his thigh, lazily stroking her arm. “Never a day goes by that I don’t remember how close I came to losing you. You are my greatest comfort and my sole salvation. I find as much protection in your arms and safety in your words as you find in mine.”

“We are one together. Our relationship is an even give and take. An ebb and flow of energy and emotions.” She tipped her head up and waited until he looked down and caught her eyes. “And it’ll only grow, get stronger, manifest with more love, more compassion, as time goes on.”

“Aye. ’Tis so. Peace and happiness is all around us,ghra.”

He lowered his hand to her belly, splaying his fingers over her curve. For a few moments, they sat in silence, her hand covering his, basking in the subtle motions of their child.

“After the birth of our son, your body will be well enough to ingest the Fae potion Dagda gifted upon you and Chase. You, my beloved, will never change, but your body’s resistance to time and illness shall increase tremendously.” Hereached up to her face once more, molding his palm against the curve of her jawline. “Should you wish it, of course.”

“I’ve been thinking it over. Though I was hoping for a pair of points to my ears.”

Shaye laughed, tugging her into his lap. She smiled, straddling his legs, and playing with the fancy Celtic knotwork embroidered along his high collar.

“Nay. I wish for you never to change. I love you as you are.” He teased the neckline of her dress, tracing her soft skin along the V. “You bring me a peace you’ll never understand.”

“Peace,” she whispered. Her playful mood shattered and she caught his hand between hers, stopping his trek along her cleavage. He raised a brow, but quickly resigned himself to revealing what truly bothered him. “You don’t believe we have peace, do you? Something happened at Court that has to do with this peace, and the prospect of it being destroyed. Shaye”—she leaned closer to him, tracing his brow with the tips of her fingers—“what’s going on? I feel it inside you. The distress you’ve been trying to mask since your return.”

“Should I tell you, you must promise me you will not worry. The issue is being handled and shall not affect you, Chase, Terrek, or anyone else. ’Tis a matter that is Dagda’s top priority and will be taken care of efficiently.”

Moira sat back, a crease forming across her forehead. Her eyes gleamed with worry.

Shaye frowned. “A secret vault was breached and an item of extreme concern was discovered missing. The spells surrounding the vault were some of the most complex, secure spells. Alas, they were removed without incident, it seems. Naught was left behind. Not a single clue. Dagda has launched a full investigation into the theft.”

“What’s missing?”

Shaye pressed his lips together. Though he wasn’t certain,he—and all the council members—had their suspicions. Very few things were kept under such heavy security. Those items that earned a place in Dagda’s vault were invaluable at the least, destructive at the most.

“Dagda did not divulge what might be missing. I can only speculate what would cause such panic and upheaval.” Releasing his hand from her fingers, he smoothed his palms along her curls. “Immortality is highly sought and deeply hidden. A gift bestowed upon you may have become a priceless object of theft for another.”

That furrow deepened over her brow. She chewed her lower lip. He witnessed her mind work, her thoughts churning behind her expression.

“Everyone in Court is immortal.”

Shaye recalled Aspen’s wise words. Words his cousin confided she’d shared with Moira. ’Twas true. Although hard to kill, Fae could die. ’Twas usually at their own discretion.

“Aye. All Fae are immortal”—he sighed and shook his head—“until we’re not.”

Her lips parted on a soft gasp. A moment later, her eyes widened. “No.”

“There’s one who had been stripped of immortality.” He infused Moira’s body with comfort at the first detection of stress. “Easy,ghra. Terrek feeds off your distress.”

“You really think someone is trying to…bring her back?”

Putting on a calm smile that he didn’t feel, Shaye gathered her into his arms and brought her to rest against his chest. “Worry not, beloved. Naught will happen to you.”

Lifting his chin, he watched the gauzy white clouds cross over the sun, casting the Talaenian world in patchy shade. His land was one bursting with serenity and peace, but behind the beauty of blooming flowers and subtle breezes, he detected a sinister vibration in the ground. The spirits of this worldsensed impending tribulation. They were predicting unrest. He could feel it in his blood. In the energy that flowed through his soul.

On the surface, peace resided. For now.