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“I told you I only swore a blood oath once before. Swore my loyalty to Dagda. I did not swear an oath in blood to protect his daughter. ’Twas what I saw inside your memories, and revealing a truth hidden, that aligned with my blood oath and overturned a verbal promise.”

Goddess, ’twas worse than he ever imagined. The Council members helpless to defend themselves against a mad princess because of an oath made as a show of loyalty to their king.

“You said ’tis too dangerous to return to Court. ’Tis too dangerous for the High Fae to remain within their own homes. We don’t know what her plan is, but she could easily dismantle the Council and devastate all of Faery. If I may, I’d like to invite the Council to stay here. If there is any place I feel is safe, ’tis my home.”

Liam’s mouth slacked, but his eyes shone with appreciation, despite the concern over the looming darkness thatthreatened all of their lands. “’Tis many people you shall selflessly open your home to.”

“I’ve plenty of room to share.” Shaye spread his arm toward the door. “We shall be stronger as a single unit. This land has always harbored peaceful intent. Should she bring upheaval and war to my world, she’ll be met with resistance from the Council and rebuke from the spirits who protect this realm.”

And while those members of the Council remained within his home, he’d work on weeding out the treasonous members of Court.

Liam stood and began to bow. Shaye quickly stepped up to him and pressed back the man’s shoulder.

“No need to bow, Liam. I only wish to help.”

Liam rested a hand over Shaye’s. His eyes flashed and his lips curled. “You have my deepest gratitude.” A shadow crossed his face and his smile darkened. “Mayhap ’tis time to give you your first lesson in Insight. That is, if you intend to seek out those who are guilty of betrayal.”

32

Feverish shouts echoed through the corridor beyond his bedchamber. Shaye shot upright in bed, but stopped shy of jumping out of the bed when Moira rested a hand on his arm. He looked down at his belovedanam cara, her face pale as she continued to heal. She wore one of his button-down shirts to make care of her wound easier, as well as feeds for Terrek.

When she began to push herself into a sitting position, he quickly turned to her aid, momentarily blocking the shouts out as he saw to her comfort.

“I can sit up, love.” She laughed quietly as he fluffed up pillows and rearranged them behind her back. “Thank you.”

“Your wound still heals,” he said, adjusting the blanket on her thighs. A pair of pajama shorts sat low on her hips, hiding her as she separated the bottom portion of the shirt to reveal the scabbed incision along her lower belly. His heart gave a little twist—the sickening churn at the memory of not being able to protect her from such harm lessening only slightly—and he leaned down to place an airy kiss right above the scar. “Regain your strength, my love.”

“Every hour, I feel stronger than the last.” Moira’s brow knit as she scooped their sleeping baby off the mattress beside them and cradled him against her breast. “What’s all the commotion about?”

“I’m not sure, but I’m about to find out.” Shaye graced her mouth with a lingering kiss before pressing away.

She caught the back of his neck and, with a bout of strength that surprised even him, pulled him to her and kissed him with unrestrained hunger. He groaned into her mouth, capturing her under the chin with his hand to take control and deepen each stroke of his tongue.

“Shaye!”

Shaye tore his mouth away, lips burning from the brash motion, and rolled to his feet, adjusting his clothing to accommodate his sudden arousal. He stirred his hand at his side, using a gentle draft to pull the curtains around the bed into place.

Horano burst into the chamber, eyes blazing like molten fire, very much unlike his normal relaxed and kind honey-gold. Rihanna and Bryce were on his heels, both disheveled, Bryce breathless.

“Horano, what brings you—”

“She tricked us!” Horano snarled, cutting his arm back and slamming the chamber doors shut behind Rihanna and Bryce with a spurt of power. His face twisted on a grimace and he stopped himself from reaching for his injured shoulder. When Shaye held out a hand, Horano threw up his own and shook his head. “My shoulder is fine, but we are not.”

“I don’t understand,” Shaye said, genuinely confused. He exchanged a glance with Rihanna, who held Bryce’s hand and arm, mouth pulled in a frown. Bryce’s green eyes glowed with an inner fury, his jaw locked. “Well, will someone fill me in?”

“Bryce spotted Moira in the village,” Horano said.

Shaye’s brow furrowed, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “Moira’s been here with me, healing. It still pains her to get out of bed. I’ve been with her since this morn.”

Horano growled. “I know. ’Tis why my panic.Brycesaw Moira.Rihannasaw no one.Isaw a mortal female.”

“Wait, what?” Bryce snapped.

Shaye stared at his friend for a few seconds before he realized what he was saying. He cut his attention to Rihanna and Bryce. “’Tis true?”

“Brother, ’tis evident magic was at play in the village today. I saw naught, but Bryce and Horano saw…someone,” Rihanna said. “If the human was cloaked beneath a spell to appear as Moira, ’twould make sense that Horano saw through the magic but Bryce did not. I have no explanation as to why I saw naught.”

“Who was it, Horano?” Shaye asked, tension sinking into his muscles. That ominous fog he’d witnessed creeping over his land and down his mountain. The air of malice and danger. A foreboding that hovered just out of sight, but made its presence known.