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Slowly, she traced his strong jaw before closing her eyes. The simplicity of listening to his breaths, his heart beat, his voice were trivial moments she’d never take for granted.

When she opened her eyes, she was met with the brilliant green of Bryce’s gaze. Though wisps of residual pleasure clouded the outer rims, a reassuring clarity shot straight to the pit of her soul.

The single word he spoke next on a fierce rumble secured her belief in his proclamation.

“Nothing.”

29

Excitement, anticipation, and apprehension created a toxic environment. One she both hated and relished. She listened to the quiet murmurs about the shocking news of Shaye’s son’s early birth.

Birth.

The mix-blooded spawn apparently survived.

None of the speculation over the child’s health mattered to her because the child survived. As Shaye’s son, the child would thrive, even if his first few days might create concern over the babe’s strength and endurance.

The only promising aspect was that there was lack of talk about Moira. Many concluded she may have passed in childbirth because there had been no mention of her, only the child.

Daeanna, hidden beneath a deep-hooded cloak and spells to shield her true appearance, scanned the crowd. Her glamour could easily be breached by these Fae, demanding more powerful spells to fool them. To her right, deep within the growing crowd on the rolling emerald hillside between the extraordinary gardens, river, and castle, she spottedKatherine and Thaddeus, both hidden behind spells she’d created. Thaddeus dipped his head to glance back toward her. She knew his displeasure at having to babysit the human, but ’twas a necessary sacrifice. She’d molded her darling Thaddeus into the perfect disciple, his detestation of mortals and half-breeds a promising characteristic as she put her plan into action.

He’d lead by her side as she restored full glory to the Seelie court. Every single creature surrounding her today lived on borrowed time.

The warm golden rays beaming down from the unhindered sun brightened a pure blue sky. Not a cloud lingered, a sign that a celebration would come of this announcement.

Whether ’twas a celebration of Shaye’s son, Moira’s health, or both, she wasn’t sure. Soon, though, she’d learn if she succeeded in her objective before the cursed woman had been sifted from her.

Minutes passed. The crowd continued to grow. How many Talaenian mixed-breeds existed? Did her pitiful father know the extent of their numbers? Did he not care to control them and their taint on the pureblood Fae?

She watched in disgust as the commotion evolved around her—it seemed animals of all sorts crept from their hiding places to take part in this announcement—and felt an uneasy prickle erupt beneath her skin. Dark eyes observed her with far more comprehension than any normal animal should. The Talaenian world remained the last sub-realm of Faery that boasted wildlife with a rare connection to emotions that mimicked those of its mixed-blood residents.

She curled her fingers into her fists, fighting the urge to cast storm clouds through the sky and bring lightning upon this disgraceful place. All this display, this decorum and merriment over a human woman and her spawn.

Ridiculous!

As she stewed in her own fury, she nearly missed Katherine’s shaded glance toward her. A small grin twisted the corner of her mouth before she turned back to the castle, tugging the cloak tight around her waist. Thus far, not a single Talaenian fool detected the shift in presence. Her magic held steady and strong.

Such pitiful fools, these creatures. Worthless fodder. If they knew of the lions prowling through their crowd…

Silence fell over the crowd. Attention shifted from quiet whispers and murmured chatter to a wide stone balcony overlooking the hillside from three stories above. Light fabric curtains rippled in the opening to the room beyond.

Her shoulders stiffened, the tension riding down her arms to her fists. Energy burned along her palms, power that screamed for freedom.

She couldn’t. She wouldn’t. If she planned to succeed moving forward, she had to remain patient.

In control.

As the silence stretched, she began to wonder if these imprudent creatures could be so easily manipulated as to believe something was about to happen.

Until one of the curtains pulled to the side and a familiar figure stepped onto the balcony.

Her nails bit into her palms, the current of anger-fueled magic hard to suppress. Behind the towering mountain that had created this magnificent—and undeserving—castle from its very rock, streaks of white swirled in the once cloudless sky. Streaks that curled and coiled, thickened into the beginnings of storm clouds. Her lips began to peel back in a scowl, but she quickly composed herself.

The clouds gradually dissipated.

Too close to mess this up. Too close.

Liam raised his arms, his dark blue and gold High Fae robes dancing in the breeze. He wore formal attire—formal attire in the presence of lowly creatures—hair plaited at the temples and a thin silver circlet resting low on his forehead. After Dagda, her father’s second in command and personal advisor held the most power in all of Faery. Unlike her father, Liam had always connected easily withallFae, garnering responses where her father’s unwavering reputation could not.