Page 36 of The Dark Will Fall (Twilight Lake #5)

Maeve Cruinn

As Shay Mac Eoin placed a bowl of meat stew in my hands, I realized how hungry I truly was.

Ever since the Frosted Sands, I had grown used to not knowing when my next meal would be. Though I was not fond of the feeling.

More than anything, I had grown to desire security.

I’d had my fill of adventure, and I wanted to go home.

As long as I got to be around my mates, and I didn’t have to traipse anywhere wearing the same clothes for days, I didn’t mind where we were.

The Skala Beach, the Reeds, even Tarsainn, or what was left of it.

The innocent youngling who’d led Cormac Illfinn to the Frosted Sands thought the world started and ended with Cruinn. That magical majority was the most important thing.

I’d come to realize that magic was a burden. The more you had, the more you were expected to use it.

The most powerful Fae I had met, the Dark King and the Huntsman respectively, were utterly insane, and the gods weren’t much better.

Shay sat by my side with his own bowl of stew, his eyes fixed on my thoughtful expression as I spooned food into my mouth. “I take it the afterlife was eventful.”

I nodded, my mouth full.

Rainn nudged Shay. “He’s holding back, but the Nymph in him wants to know some grand and twisty tale that he can later recount over the fire.”

I swallowed my stew. “Like the dragon that kidnapped us, or saving Brígid from wolves?”

Shay choked on his food. “Brígid? Brígid ?!”

“You didn’t tell me about that,” Cormac said thoughtfully, his eyes sparkling as he sipped his wine.

“It was during Manannán mac Lir’s trial.” I pointed out. “He took my sight, and we were attacked by wolves.”

Shay opened his mouth and closed it again.

“If you mentioned another god’s name, I think Shay is going to explode.” Cormac arched a brow.

Though Shay was preoccupied with our stories of the Tuatha Dé Danann, Rainn was not so easily distracted. The Nymph watched Cormac and me, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.

“Where’s Tormalugh?” I asked, spooning stew into my mouth.

A guilty look painted the Selkie’s features. “We sent a missive a few days ago. He’s coming here.”

“He should be here by now,” Shay added thoughtfully.

“Where are the rest of the Nymphs?” I asked, looking around the bonfire.

The drumming, dancing, and general chatter were entirely absent.

The village no longer felt warm, but abandoned, as if the Nymphs had gotten up and left without even finishing their morning meal.

Many tents were missing panels, flapping in the wind, where some were missing entirely.

“The Fomorian’s didn’t—” I couldn’t bring myself to finish the sentence.

“They’ve evacuated.” Shay rushed to say. “It wasn’t safe.”

I sighed in relief. “What are Arden and Liam doing here?” I asked in a low voice, tilting my head toward the Nymph.

Though the fire was warm enough, I was especially thankful for Rainn’s skin returning to me.

I hadn't noticed its absence until it returned, but I had been missing something vital without even realizing it.

If anything, my journey to the Tuatha Dé Danann had taught me that I could survive alone, but that I didn’t want to.

That even with my memories gone, I felt the absence of my Shíorghrá not for the bonds we shared, but because I genuinely missed them.

My mates were good fae; they were kind, selfless, but also arseholes.

“Balor has my mother,” Arden answered simply, looking up from his meal. “I wanted to storm Cruinn, but was advised against it.” He placed his bowl on the floor, his usually impassive face darkened. “Excuse me. I’m going to patrol.” Arden dipped his head and left the tent.

An awkward silence descended on us. My mates exchanged glances as Liam Cruinn, who had been silent until that moment, scraped his bowl with a spoon. The sound was shrill and jarring.

“Liam?” I asked gently. “Are you okay?”

I didn’t know why I asked. The Liam I knew and had grown up with was already rather pretentious.

Obsessed with the royal guard and protecting Cruinn.

He had always held my uncle and his mother in the highest esteem, though I’d never understood why.

Perhaps I would have felt the same if I had received the same treatment as Liam.

“Tarsainn was attacked.” Rainn declared flatly.

Cormac dropped his bowl, and the clay dish bounced, scattering pieces of meat all over the floor. Cormac cursed and flicked stew from his hands.

“You could have been gentler.” Shay clicked his tongue.

“There was nothing gentle about what happened to Tarsainn.” Rainn snapped, unusually perturbed.

“Tell me.” Cormac’s voice was hoarse.

Liam took a breath. “She boiled the city. Balor. Elaine. Whatever you want to call her.”

“Did she breach the inner wards?” Cormac leaned forward; the muscles in his jaw ticked.

Liam shook his head. “I don’t know. I left before...”

“She’s using the bodies,” I whispered. “She’s using the dead as vessels for the Fomorians. The Whispering Pass. All those bodies.” I shook my head to clear it. “She knows I’m here. She sensed me in the lake. It’s only a matter of time before Balor makes another move.”

“As long as there are bodies, the Fomorians won’t stop.” Cormac tangled his hand in his golden hair. “Lugh would not give us a weapon. We have some iron, a staff that Dagda told us would not work on Balor.”

“We don’t have much.” I agreed. “In the stories, Balor was held down by Lugh’s closest friends and stabbed in the eye with a weapon forged from his own blood and iron. Balor was also a giant.”

“I’ve seen that ugly face behind the glamour,” Cormac added unnecessarily. “Not an eye to be found.”

“What if she has another form?” Rainn piped up. “Get her angry enough and she may change shapes. Drop the glamour.”

“Elaine Cruinn has been plenty angry since you left Cruinn, Maeve.” Liam chuffed a laugh. “And she hasn’t changed shapes once.”

All of us stopped talking, one by one, turning to face Liam.

An idea formed in my head.

“We might have something she wants.” My eyes sparkled.

Liam quirked a brow.

Rainn cocked his head to the side. “The staff?”

Shay slapped his arm. “Her son, you eejit.”

Without a solid plan and exhaustion nipping at my heels like a hungry shark, we returned to one of the tents still standing in the village.

Shay Mac Eoin’s chieftain tent, at the entrance to the villagers' homes.

The first tent, located after the archway, was made of willow branches—larger than most of the others, but not by much.

I’d never known Shay Mac Eoin to enjoy ostentatious displays, and his home reflected that.

The worn leather had been patched in several places, with panels replaced by leather from entirely different animals.

The shape was less streamlined than that of the tents further away, which were newer additions to the village.

Shay led us through the tent flaps, into the darkness. He winced with apology. “Usually, one of the younglings lights the coals in the evening, to ward off the chill while I’m here.”

Cormac strutted forward, searching for flint or one of the firelighters favored by the Day Court. “Can’t even light your own coals?” Cormac tutted, muttering to himself. “Shameful.”

Rainn waggled his brow. “We can huddle together for warmth.”

My cheeks burned. “Any excuse.” I rolled my eyes, though my stomach warmed with his flirting. “Besides, I have your skin to keep me warm.”

“You can have as much of my skin as you like.” Rainn’s eyes flashed. “To keep you warm.” He added unnecessarily.

My eyes welled up, overwhelmed with emotion. I looked away, but Rainn stepped into my space. “Maeve...” He whispered, nudging my chin with his finger.

“I just missed you so much.” My eyes burned as I tried to prevent even a single tear from falling. “I didn’t realize, not really. Not until I was back. But this—” I waved a hand between us, the lump in my throat was so large it was hard to breathe. “I just missed you a lot.”

“Try not to die again,” Rainn whispered, his eyes burning. “Because I will follow you. I trusted you would come back, because I trust you, but I don’t think I can be apart from you again.”

“Jealous, Shallows?” Cormac smirked, sauntering towards us.

“I plan to make up for lost time.” Rainn’s lip twitched, and he cocked his head to the side, his gaze sharpening to that of a predator. Suddenly, it felt as if I wouldn’t be able to leave, even if I wanted to.

A sweet smell perfumed the air, and my cheeks turned pink.

“What is that smell?” Cormac sniffed.

“Maeve is putting off a Lure,” Shay remarked casually, sitting at the end of the bed.

“A Nymph lure?” Cormac’s emerald eyes widened.

Rainn snickered. “If you haven’t scented her lure before, perhaps you need to improve in bed.”

Cormac snarled.

While the Mer and the Selkie bickered, I stepped around them both, approaching Shay Mac Eoin on the bed. He shot me a lazy smile as I straddled his hips and sat on his legs. I leaned in and pressed a kiss to his lips.

“I missed you,” I whispered. “I didn’t know if we’d make it home.”

“I never doubted you.” Shay cupped my cheek. “If anyone could defeat death, it would be you.”

“Not Cormac?” I arched a brow.

“I’m not sure the Dagda accepts bribes.” Shay chuckled.

I thought for a second. “You’d be right about that.”

“I missed you, too.” Shay leaned forward and pressed his forehead against mine.

For a moment, we shared a breath. His skin smelled like incense and sweat.

Our lips met again, tongues brushing against each other, as we tasted each other for the first time in an age.

My stomach warmed, and I squirmed in his lap as he kissed me.

Shay reached forward, pulling at the ripped fabric of my shift. I’d woken in the Tuatha Dé Danann with the garment, and it turned to fog the moment it left my body. I found myself naked very suddenly, but the warmth of the fire and Shay’s body.