Page 47 of Wind and Water (Reign of the Witch Queen #2)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Liam

I n the week since our arrival, dwarves in great numbers have come down from the mountains.

They’ve made camp in the foothills, and their leader, Sandon, her mate, Fan, and their son Fancor are staying in the castle as my parents’ guests.

Fancor assisted Aaran and Harper during their journey home and is not at all princely, which I appreciate.

The fairy king, Muiredach, has joined the household with the promise of five thousand soldiers ready to come through the portal in the fairy glen.

Mother has arranged a formal dinner followed by a ball and dancing. Never before have so many different people gathered. As the first event of its kind, it will host elves, centaurs, dwarves, fairies, and humans. The household is in an uproar.

Before the festivities, I have been asked by the oracle to visit Dierdre. I protested. It’s a bad idea, but they insisted, so I’m making my way down the sterile halls within the mountain. This part is a kind of sanitarium, though very few rooms are occupied. I fear that is about to change.

Two members of the oracle stand in the hallway waiting for me, the one with long black hair who spoke to us when Wren first came here, and the other is a man with gray hair.

There are very few elves old enough for their hair to go gray.

I would guess he’s two hundred suns, probably more. Still, he’s tall and fit.

I bow to them when I approach. “I still feel this is a mistake. The last two times I saw her, she was unreasonable.”

The man speaks. “And yet, since she’s been with us, she’s been calm and logical.”

“It’s a test?” I still don’t like it.

“We’re trying to evaluate her, and she’s blocked all attempts to see within.” The woman says. “From the outside, she appears like a good citizen of the community.”

“Very well. Open the door.” If she’s not mentally ill, she can stand trial for her crimes against Wren.

“She has no weapons or means to make them,” the man says.

“Have you bound her magic?”

The woman shakes her head. “She’s not gifted enough for that to be a concern to us.”

“Then she’s fooled you more than I thought possible. She’s armed.” I step into the small chamber. The walls are soft gray. There is a window, but I can feel the magic rolling off it. It’s not real, merely an illusion meant to give comfort. The single bed is the only furniture.

Lying in the bed, in a white robe that reaches her bare feet, Dierdre could almost pass for an oracle. Her expression is soft and calm. Her gaze shifts to me. She jumps from the bed and launches herself at me with arms wide and a bright smile. “Liam, you came. I knew you would come.”

Easing her away, I hold her at arm’s length. “Nothing has changed, Dierdre. I came because the oracle asked me to. Though I do care that you might be ill.”

Turning away, she drops her smile. “My only illness is this place.”

“You tried to kill one of the humans from the prophecy. Don’t you think some concern about you is valid?” I keep my voice even and without emotion.

“I did no such thing. That’s just what she said. I only wished to have a look at her.” Her voice has taken on a petulance that belongs in a child, not a grown woman.

“You hid in the wardrobe and jumped out at her with an athame, Dierdre. What were you going to do with the blade?”

She looks out the fake window. “It’s a nice day. Shall we go for a walk?”

“No. We cannot leave here. Will you tell me why you wanted to hurt Wren?”

Spinning, she looks at me as if the name stirred rage in her. “You can fuck who you want, Liam. Just remember you belong to me. When you tire of the human, I will take you back.”

“You’re mistaken, Dierdre. I will not tire of Wren.

She’s my destiny. She and I have a bond that only occurs when two souls are meant to be joined.

I will never return to your bed, and what we did there was all there ever was between us.

” This entire thing begins to feel cruel.

I look toward the door, but the oracle doesn’t open it.

“Liar!” She digs her nails into the side of my face, missing my eye by a half inch.

My inattention cost me. Blood streams down my face.

Dierdre’s hand goes back, and a red ball of energy forms in her palm. Hatred burns in her eyes. Here is the evidence the oracle was looking for.

I grab my cheek with one hand, and not wishing to harm her, I build a blockade with my magic. When she throws her orb, it shatters against my shield. Dark magic prickles along my skin as it might when a viper hides in the tall grass.

She screams and hurls more magic at me.

The door flies open and the oracles rush in. They use magic to pin Dierdre to the wall where the window was, but now there’s only more of the soft gray wall. The male keeps her still while the woman presses her palm to Dierdre’s forehead.

Dierdre screams and curses at me and the oracle. She struggles against the magic bonds that keep her still. “You let them do this to me. You tricked me.”

I ask the male oracle. “Is she hurting her?”

He shakes his head. “She’s reading her. It causes no pain, but the walls that were built up fell when she attacked you. If she is poisoned by dark magic, we will know.”

Part of me wants to help her. This is better than the penalty for treason, but my gut still tightens. “I’m going now.”

When only Dierdre protests, I step into the hallway and find my way out of the mountain.

When I reach my room, Wren is sitting in the middle of the bed, dressed for the evening, her deep-green gown fluffed out around her like a flower, and she is the precious center.

With calm concentration, she weaves some bits of fabric in an intricate pattern.

The dress shimmers in the late afternoon sun shining through the window.

Her hair is pinned up in perfect curls, and a few dangle around her face.

For a long moment, she doesn’t look up, and I am free to admire her at work.

When she feels me watching, she smiles and shifts her attention. As soon as she sees me, her expression falls. Leaping from the bed, she rushes to me and touches my cheek. “You’re hurt. What happened?”

I pull my blood-stained shirt over my head and toss it into the laundry. “The oracle got what they wanted. She let her guard down, and now they’ll know if she’s turned to dark magic, has been poisoned by it, or if she’s ill. I didn’t stay to hear the verdict.”

Stepping into the bathroom, I check my injury in the mirror. Four angry streaks of red run from below my left eye to my chin. I press my hand to my cheek and send healing magic to the deep scratches.

“They tricked her?” Wren looks almost as torn as I feel.

When I pull my hand away, the wounds are gone, save for pink lines. “I tricked her. I pushed all the right buttons to prove she wasn’t the calm, steady elf she was pretending to be. When I succeeded, the oracle came in and accessed her mind.”

Rather than expressing the disappointment I deserve, Wren wraps her arms around my waist and holds me. “That must have been terrible for you.”

“How will I ever deserve you, my love?” I hug her tight and kiss the top of her head. “It was terrible, but if she’s under Venora’s influence, Dierdre is the injured party.”

Tipping her chin to look at me, she says, “Maybe, but she did attack me. Not to mention the underlying plot to do away with your mother and brother so that she could become queen. I’m pretty sure she deserved what she got, but you didn’t. I know it was difficult for you to bait her.”

I let out the breath I’ve been holding. “Thank you, Wren.”

“You should bathe and get dressed for dinner. I sat for an hour while three of the maids fussed over me to get me to look like this.” She steps out of my arms and holds the gown’s skirt out for viewing.

“As beautiful as you look, you were perfect before they fussed over you.”

Her cheeks grow pink at the compliment. “Just a bit of a glow up. In all the important ways, I’ll be the same.”

I kiss her forehead. “Truer words were never spoken. What were you working on when I came in?”

“Nothing, just a bit of braiding. Lila brought me some pieces of cloth. I find that I miss my craft.” She shrugs.

“I’m sorry. I thought we’d have made it back here months ago.” I should have done more, been better, and protected her from harm. I’ve failed in every way.

“It’s not your fault, Liam. As much as it pains you, you don’t control everything.” She taps my chest, then lets her hand linger on my skin. “I suppose it would be terrible if we were late for an important dinner.”

As I pull her close, my cock has already alerted to the invitation in her voice. “What did you learn today when you went to the mountain?”

She presses her center tight against me and makes a little feline sound. “I learned how to make wind without the danger of death surrounding me. I almost made a portal, but it collapsed.” There’s fire in her eyes and excitement that has nothing to do with the way she’s rubbing against me.

“You like the magic lessons?” I grip her ass and lift her, but miles of fabric bunch between us as she wraps her legs around me. Another woman might worry about her clothes getting wrinkled, but not my Wren.

“I do like the magic growing inside me. I’m forever amazed that I have power after a lifetime of being small and soft.” She kisses my neck and runs her tongue to my ear. “Do you have magic that will whisk these clothes away?”

Calling my magic, I send our clothes into a neat pile on the chair. “You have always been the strongest person I’ve ever known, with or without magic.”

She presses her arms on my shoulders and lifts herself so my cock is precariously close to paradise. As she eases down, my head slips inside her soft wetness. “We’re going to be so late for dinner.”

Backing up to the bed, I sit and thrust deep inside her. “Gods, you’re perfect.”