Page 47 of Temptation Unleashed (Talaenian Fae #3)

Her eyes began to burn. Her jaw tightened. Her soul yearned for wholeness.

“I deserve death. ’Tis my fate. ”

Her chin quivered. What the hell did he mean by that?

A hand came to rest on her back, between her shoulder blades. Gentle, warm and comforting.

“Rori, allow me to try and put your mind at ease.”

Rori sniffled, turned her head in her hands and caught the luminous lavender eyes that swelled with empathy. The ethereal woman shimmered through the coat of tears that crested Rori’s eyes.

“I didn’t ask for any of this,” she whispered, her voice shaky.

“No one expects a fated match, mo stór. ’Tis unexpected when it happens, and oftentimes a joyful surprise.

” Rihanna shifted a little closer, folding her hands around Rori’s and lowering them to her lap.

Rori sucked in an unsteady breath, turning her eyes to the baby blue sky as she fought the tears.

“’Tis not the case with you, I presume?”

“It’s…confusing. He’s confusing. And yet, it gets harder and harder to be without him.

” Rori huffed a laugh and lowered her gaze to Rihanna’s.

“He tells me everything to push me away, but does everything to keep me close. His actions contradict his words, like he wants me to hate him, but in truth, he wants me to accept him. He deliberately infuriates me one moment, heals my wounds the next. He saved me from my darkest nightmare and risked his life more than once to protect me, yet is accepting of a death sentence?”

Rori dropped her head as she pulled her hands from Rihanna’s. Her brows creased when she caught the faint scar across the woman’s palm before she turned her hands over and rested them on her legs. Cael’s haunting words swam through her mind.

Blood bond.

Blowing out a breath, and the silly notion of blood bonds and forevers, she tangled a hand in her mussed braid and laughed to herself. “Foolish human. I’m not cut out for fairytales.”

“The energy you give off says otherwise. Sometimes, we become our own obstacles on a path that was created for us. Alas, Thaddeus’s path had become riddled with obstacles not even he could overcome.”

Rori watched Rihanna begin to help herself to a plate, adding slices of fruit and a few pastries to the stoneware. She tucked a fork on the side and offered it to Rori.

“Here. Eat.”

Rori accepted the plate, but lowered it to her lap. “Thanks, but my stomach?—”

“He survived, Rori. By the will of the Goddess, he survived.”

Rori straightened up, her eyes widening.

The storm unleashing fury within her body suddenly melted into something altogether different.

Butterfly wings and heat, all peppered with urgency.

She went to put her plate aside, but Rihanna caught her with a pointed glance at the food, and cupped the side of Rori’s cheek.

“Trust in the Goddess, Rori. Her will may not always be clear, but She’ll never lead you astray.”

“I-I don’t believe in goddesses.”

Her smile widened. “Mayhap ’tis time to start believing.”

“Have you seen him? How’s he doing?” Rori leaned closer, excitement and anxiety driving tension through her muscles. “Is he still recovering?”

“Ah, Rori. I’ve not seen him. My brother refuses to allow me near him at this time. He and another friend tend to his recovery.”

Her hope faded. “Then how do you…” Her brows furrowed when realization cut through her excitement. Rihanna never said he was fine or healed or well. She simply sa id he survived. His state remained a mystery. “Your brother. What is his history with Thaddeus?”

“Centuries ago, Shaye and Thaddeus were inseparable friends. Then they grew estranged. ’Twasn’t long ago they crossed paths once again, but their encounter was not one of peace.”

Rihanna gave her so little, yet it opened up a well of questions. “Why did he bring us here if he and your brother aren’t on good terms?” Rori gave the bedroom a hesitant glance. “Where is here?”

“You’re in a realm of Faery. This land belongs to the Talaenian people. We are the creation of pureblooded Fae and mortals.”

Rori stared at the exquisite woman before her. She bore features that could easily put the most beautiful mortal woman to shame. Everything about her was elegant and pure and perfect.

“Our Fae bloodlines run strong. We hold most of our father’s genes, but our mortal mother is our heart’s blood.

” Rihanna patted her cheek before lowering her hand.

“You ask questions of lesser importance to avoid those you fear to ask. Alas, those questions you seek answers to? The answers should come from Thaddeus and no one else.”

“He hides everything.”

Rihanna picked up a small fruit tart from a platter and shook her head.

“Nay. If you pay close attention to what is unspoken, you will hear all you need to hear. If I were to guess, ’tis not secrets he holds, but shame.

Thaddeus is a man with a past, but he once was a man with envious power and promise.

” She took a dainty bite from the tart, chewed and swallowed, her eyes dimming briefly.

“He’d once been as warm as the spring sun and as light as the breeze.

A heart so pure, ’twas impossible to believe it could be tainted.

The man I’ve seen recently is cold as the winter’s snow and heavy with lifetimes’ worth of burdens. ”

The man she described was a stranger. A man Rori could imagine in Thaddeus, but a man she’d never known. She was familiar with the cold and burdened man, not the warm and carefree man of the past.

Although she’d been gifted with a different warmth over the last couple of days.

Rihanna frowned as she looked at the barely touched tart, contemplating some unspoken puzzle.

Rori wouldn’t have thought the woman was capable of frowning, and didn’t care for the weight it lent to the air.

She glanced at her own plate and tried to stomach a bite of melon, only to force the small piece down her throat.

Eating was a failed mission, at least until she ensured Cassy was safe and laid eyes on Thaddeus.

“A different man fell to his knees. A man seeking redemption, begging my brother to protect you. He entrusted Shaye to keep you safe, believing ’twas his final breath with which he pleaded.

Despite their history, he returned here, having never lost trust in my brother. My brother had never lost hope in him.”

Rori remained quiet, watching the Fae woman who appeared to speak more to herself ponder the tart as the gentle breeze teased the black strands that framed her face.

Her hair reminded her of Thaddeus’s, but midnight black.

Waist-length, rich and shiny. The sunlight danced off the diamonds in her ears, enhancing the fine points.

Her clothing was simple yet exquisite, a deep purple gown with black and silver threadwork that hugged her small frame and highlighted her pale skin.

She’d been too engulfed in her own thoughts to take notice of the finer details earlier, but sitting beside Rihanna now somehow made Rori feel extremely inadequate.

If these were the females Thaddeus could have, why the hell would he stick around her, Goddess-gifted or not?

“Leaving one’s anam cara in the care of another is not a decision made lightly. If he for one moment believed harm would befall you while under Shaye’s care, he wouldn’t have come.”

“Your brother has no reason to protect me, or host me and my friend, especially if there’s bad blood between him and Thaddeus. I’d hate to impose.”

“Nonsense. Shaye is not so simple-minded. He would take you in and protect you with all his might because you are innocent, and you are mortal.” Like a switch, the weight lifted from Rihanna and the smile resumed.

Her eyes glittered as she placed the uneaten tart on an empty plate and faced Rori.

“His anam cara is mortal-born. As is mine. And it seems you found yourself the target of traitor Fae. This is the safest place for you to be. Those who defy Dagda will not dare tread upon this land after the last battle. ’Twould bring instant death upon their heads. ”

Something in her words tugged a small thread at the very back of her mind. It unsettled her a tiny bit, but not enough to push Rihanna for more answers. She chalked it up to nerves after her latest ordeal.

“Ah, convincing you to eat shan’t be successful. ’Tis not a good time to see Thaddeus at the moment. Would you like for me to bring you to see your friend?”

Rori perked up and nodded, despite the disappointment that tweaked at her heart, followed by a sliver of guilt. Had Thaddeus been well enough to have her, she would have chosen to see him first. “Definitely.”

She put her plate on the table and stood up. She made it two steps around the sofa when she paused, glancing down at the silk pajamas she’d been changed into during her unconscious episode.

Turning to Rihanna, she found the woman laughing quietly behind her delicate hand. “You wish to bathe first?”

“That might be a good idea.”

“Come.” Once again, Rihanna linked their arms together and guided her into the room.

“I brought fresh towels, soaps and oils for you while you slept. There are a few outfits in the armoire you may choose from until Moira and I can bring you into the village. We both wish for you to feel comfortable here with us, and know you’re safe. ”

“Moira?”

“My brother’s anam cara .” Rihanna nudged her. “You’ll meet her soon.”