Page 42 of Wind and Water (Reign of the Witch Queen #2)

Mother rises, and so do the rest. She takes a deep breath and leads us to the table.

As father holds her chair for her, she says, “Liam is right, we can’t know.

We can only hope it is a miscalculation on Venora’s part.

Her shortsightedness has saved us on more than one occasion.

Let’s hope she continues to resist change.

In the meantime, we shall continue as planned.

We train and wait for Raith and the third human to arrive.

We’ll nurture the new friendships we’ve made, and together, somehow, we will save this world. ”

As soon as Mother is seated, we all take our places around the table. The meal is so good, I stuff myself. Of course, it’s been an age since I had a fully cooked meal with all the fixings. “Mother, how do you like the centaurs?”

She smiles. “Intelligent and thoughtful people. I wonder why we ever believed them to be savages?”

Niamh shakes her head. “I wonder if the old gods didn’t put these false notions of each other into our cultures.”

“But why would they keep you apart and fill you with bigotry?” Harper puts her fork down and presses her napkin to her lips. She’s a lovely woman with a forthright gaze.

“Good question.” Aaran lets out a long breath.

“I suppose they had their reasons.” I can’t imagine what they were, but I’m a soldier, not a philosopher.

Aaran has never liked anything that takes away his free will. He shakes his head. “Perhaps when we open the Watcher’s Gate, we can ask them.”

“I certainly hope if you meet the old gods, you won’t be impertinent,” Mother scolds.

“I would be,” Birdie announces with gusto.

We all laugh and make it through the dessert without any new revelations or arguments.

An hour later, Aaran lies across the bench in the garden sitting area, where we always gathered as brothers. Resting his head on Harper’s lap, he smiles. “I’m truly relieved you’ve come home, Liam. I refused to believe you were dead, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t miss you.”

“Thank you. It’s good to be home. I hope Raith will survive.” Our younger brother can be impulsive and irresponsible, but he has the kindest heart, and when he focuses, he also has a good head on his shoulders.

Wren has changed into comfortable brown leggings and a white tunic that she looks adorable in. She sits beside me with her hands pressed to the bench on either side of her thighs. “Do you think he’ll encounter more trouble than we did?”

“It’s hard to imagine,” I admit. I wish I could do something to ease the strain visible in her eyes. We’re to go to the oracle tomorrow. Perhaps they can help.

Laughing, Aaran says, “If there is more trouble to be found, Raith will find it and then find a creative way to make the situation worse.”

“Oh dear.” Wren shifts slightly toward me so that her arm touches mine.

I hug her and shift her so she’s nearly sitting in my lap. “I think we should give Raith credit. His magic is strong even if he struggles with control.”

“Some people need an urgent situation to present itself before they find their path. Raith might surprise you both.” There are hard edges to Harper’s accent, so different from Wren’s.

“When I realized how long we’d been in Coire, I thought both of my brothers would have made it back here by now.”

“He’ll make it.” Aaran’s voice is sober and strong.

“Do you think he’s fallen in love with the woman he’s meant to bring home?” Wren’s cheeks turn pink.

I run my thumb along the warm, soft blush. “It seems inevitable.”

We sit in silence, each to their own thoughts, until a soft huff and leaves moving in the bushes to our south force us all to turn.

“Dierdre is spying again, Liam.” Aaran sounds annoyed enough that if I asked him to handle my old lover, I think he would.

Wren stiffens and crosses her arms. “I’ll go inside.”

I tighten my hug before releasing her and getting up. “Stay here. I’ll deal with her.”

The look I get from Wren is tight, as if to say, Who do you think you’re ordering around?

“Please.”

Her expression softens.

Harper chuckles.

I step out of the private sitting area and walk past where I know Dierdre is spying. When she follows, I continue a few yards more. “Did you break into the castle today and stand over Wren while she slept?” There is no disguising my anger simmering just under the surface.

Her footsteps stop before she reaches me. “I-I-I just wanted to see the tiny human who has stolen you from me.”

At least she didn’t lie. Still, it’s unforgivable.

“Wren deserves your reverence, not to be hovered over in anger. She nearly died to get here to save our world. You have no idea what she endured, and yet you call her tiny human as if you are above her. She far surpasses you in every way. You are even worse than I thought. I don’t know what mental break you’ve had that, after our last several conversations, you still believe we are lovers, but if you need help from the doctors, you should seek it.

Go home and never step foot on these grounds again, Dierdre.

I will write to your father this night and tell him to keep you under control before you shame his family irrevocably. ”

As if none of what I’ve said made it past her hearing, she rushes forward with her arms out.

I step back and avoid her unwanted embrace. Her eyes, which always looked bright and sexy, are filled with a measure of insanity that I’d not seen before.

Tears fall down her cheeks. “Kyle and I are no longer together. Don’t you see, Liam, I am free to be your wife, your mate. I am the one you need by your side. I’m an elven woman who could rule all of Domhan the way it’s meant to be ruled.”

Her words and the passion in them send a chill down my spine. Lifting my hand, I send a golden shard of light into the night sky. There’s no sense in provoking her. “You need to rest, Dierdre. Go home now.”

Two guards arrive and stand at attention.

She rushes toward me again, but I hold her firmly away from my chest. Backing her to the guards, I say, “Take her to her father’s house and let him know she’s unwell and will need attention.”

Before she’s fully out of sight, Wren stands beside me.

Aaran and Harper, too. Aaran’s eyes are wide. “We heard everything. You didn’t move far enough away, brother.”

“I’ll have to go to Mother and tell her about this.” I sigh.

“Dierdre is ill; it’s not your fault.” Aaran pats my shoulder.

Wren wraps her arm around my waist. “She said she would rule with you. Does that mean she’s expecting something bad to happen to Aaran?”

“It does.” I look at my brother. “You know that I do not, nor have I ever, shared those thoughts or feelings. You will be an excellent leader should the curse be broken, and I would be honored to serve in your army.”

Giving my shoulder a tight squeeze, he smiles. “I know. I also know you would make an excellent king should my journey take a different path.” His eyes shift to Harper.

“I assume we have time for those decisions after the Watcher’s Gate?” I look at Wren in the same manner.

We both laugh.

Taking Wren’s hand, I lead the way to the castle. “Wren, I’m going to take you to my room. All of your things are there, and a maid has been assigned to help you.”

“I don’t need help.” She looks down at her simple clothes.

She’s so perfect, capable, different from anyone else. My heart expands with every moment I spend in her company. “Then send her away. Whatever you want. I have to speak to my parents before I join you.”

Wren’s trepidation about Dierdre bubbles along our connection. “You think she wants to hurt me?”

We enter through the back patio and use the central hall to reach the stairs. “I don’t know. She seemed unstable. I’ve known her a long time, and something isn’t right within her.”

“Has she suffered from mental illness before?” Wren’s soft, kind voice shows empathy rather than disdain.

“Not that I ever noticed. Though, before I left to find you, she came to the garden on my last night, and some of the things she said were similar to tonight. I thought it was rude and lacked awareness of the situation, but tonight was far worse.” We reach the door, and I open it.

“Bolt the door, please. I’ll be back as soon as I can. ”

I wait until I hear the bolt sliding into place before I head up the hallway to the queen’s apartment. If not for our connection, I’m sure my very independent woman would argue with me. However, she can feel my worry. Something isn’t right with Dierdre. She’s unstable.

I nod to the guards flanking the large double doors before knocking.

“Come in,” Father says.

I enter the elaborate main chamber. The living area is decorated in the Riordan blue with gold and white accents.

Mother and Father sit on the couch, each with a wineglass in hand.

I step closer and bow formally. “I’m sorry to disturb you, but something has happened that concerns me.

I wanted your opinion and to inform you of the possible danger. ”

Putting down her glass, Mother frowns. “Sit, Liam. What’s happened?”

I’m anxious and sitting isn’t easy, but I do as she asks and stay seated in the overstuffed chair across from them. “Dierdre Byrne has displayed some concerning behavior.”

“I thought you ended that relationship long ago.” Father narrows his gaze on me, ready to reprimand, but patient for the moment.

“That’s true. I ended our arrangement several months before I went to the human world.

She had begun another relationship with Kyle Mahony, and I was well rid of her.

However, she sought me out the last evening before I portaled and made a comment about the two of us ruling Domhan.

” I raise a hand to keep Father from flying into a rage.

I completely understand and concur with this.

“My feelings mirror yours, Father. I told her as much and had her removed from the garden.”