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“Shaye—”

“Sweet Goddess!”

Shaye’s twisted expression slackened the instant his gaze landed on Moira. He crossed the living room in a few long, quick strides and dropped to his knees beside Moira’s leg. Rihanna watched her brother’s fury melt to terror, relief, regret, and so many more emotions she had to look away. Moira brought out the vulnerability in the man she always saw as an immovable mountain in the face of any obstacle.

“You’re going to be the death of me,ghra. Why on this bloody Earth did you risk a sift? And not tell Horano or Thierry? Have you any idea how worried they are for you? How worried I was when I returned home to find the entire household in a panic over you?”

“I didn’t—”

“My Goddess, are you okay? Are you feeling well?”Shaye’s hands moved all over Moira, from her belly to her face to her arms, like he needed to make sure she was intact and real. Rihanna sympathized. Aye, she understood both of their perspectives more than either realized. “Is Terrek well? Are you weak? Tell me,mo ghra. What can I do to make you comfortable?”

“I—”

“A bath? Tea?”

“Brother,” Rihanna interrupted, resting a hand on his shoulder. Her touch seemed to break through his all-consuming anxiety. He whipped his head around to her, his eyes a mercurial storm of silver, gray and black. Anguish and pain unlike any she’d seen him endure pulsed from those eyes. She put on her most reassuring smile, one she could only hope would calm him. Settle his unease and allow him peace. “Rest assured, she’s been safe here with me. She sought my company in your absence, and if I were to guess, you instructed Thierry and Horanonotto sift with her in her current state.”

Shaye turned back to Moira, one brow furrowed. “’Tis so? You wish for Rihanna’s company? But why risk the sift?”

Moira’s lips pursed, the rosy hues of her cheeks deepening. She leaned forward to place her tea on the table. Shaye helped her, a hand on her back, one guiding the mug to the table, like Moira would break if she weren’t careful. His concern and love was endearing, a love that filled the room with warmth and promise.

A love that resonated in Rihanna’s heart.

“I’m fine. I promise. I was lonely at home. Rihanna always cheers me up.” She held up her hand, showing off the gemstone ring Horano created for their eve at the nightclub six months ago. The eve Daeanna last wreaked havoc on their lives. “I still have the transportation ring.”

Shaye cupped her face, leaning up to press a kiss to Moira’s mouth. With a relieved exhale, he rested his forehead against hers. “I bloody damn near lost my control when I couldn’t find you. Please,ghra. Please, I beg you. Never disappear like that again. If you wish to visit Ri, I’ll be sure to make arrangements, when ’tis safe.”

Rihanna straightened her shoulders. “’Tis true then? Youdobelieve a Fae potion has fallen into Daeanna’s hands?”

Shaye’s fingertips curled in Moira’s hair, but he tipped his head down on a vague nod.

“Aye. Dagda had two of his guards locate her, but they’ve since disappeared. We haven’t any lead as to her whereabouts. He believes she’s in this realm, but there’s no certainty.” He leaned back, leveling his gaze with Moira’s. “Which means ’tis not safe for you to remain here. Should she discover you in this realm, you’re most vulnerable and I fear she’ll hold naught back.”

“Brother, allow her to rest the day and mayhap the eve. Despite her words, the sift may take more of a toll on her now than she knows. I’ll remain with her.”

Shaye shook his head. “Nay. I’ll stay.” He reached up to Moira’s cheek and stroked her with heart-cinching tenderness. “If the Court needs me, they can come find me, my love. You are my only concern. Naught else.”

Hiding her smile, Rihanna left her brother with Moira and retired to her room. ’Twas a sleepless night, and enduring the long wait to see Bryce again would become unbearable soon enough.

Naught a long nap couldn’t mediate, for when she woke, she’d be closer to seeing heranam caraonce more.

20

The knock on the door came as a surprise, since ’twas early yet for Bryce to arrive, according to Rihanna.

Shaye climbed off the sofa, only to have Moira follow close behind him, her fingers laced in his. Since locating her, they refused to separate. The only time he allowed her out of his sight was to go to the bathroom, which had become a regular pattern in these later days of her pregnancy. They’d spent the majority of the morning and early afternoon curled up on the sofa, watching silly sitcoms or classic movies, engrossed in each other’s arms and forgetting any impending threats that might lie beyond the walls of his townhouse.

“I didn’t think you’d invite anyone over,” Moira said, her voice thick with fatigue. As they approached the door, she leaned her head against his arm, wrapping her free hand around his biceps.

“Nay. My guests wouldn’t have needed to use the door.”

“How thoughtful of your guests to pop on in.”

He chuckled, sensing no threat beyond the front door.Still, he took the precaution for the sake of Moira’s safety to use the peephole before opening the door.

A young woman stood on the stoop, dark eyes alight with anger that her otherwise carefully controlled face masked. Two diamond-studded clips held her asymmetrical hair from her face, a face that might have been pretty had he not detected a small flame of jealousy behind it.

He suddenly realized who this woman was.