Darkly Fae: The Moraine Cycle
Page 36
Ultan never would.
“Because of the unusual nature of his crimes,” Cathair continued, “We wish to seek an unusual ruling. We wish to seek the opinion of his primary victim before deciding on a punishment.”
Cathair looked at Aedan.
The queen looked at Aedan.
Every fae in the courtroom turned to look at him.
He thought he saw a flash of amusement in his brother’s eyes when he noticed Bree plastered to Aedan’s side.
Then the realization of what Cathair was asking him to do dawned and he couldn’t think.
Cathair wanted him to decide the punishment. He had a feeling that this was less to do with court procedure than with giving Aedan a chance to determine his captor’s fate. Cathair didn’t know the full extent of Aedan’s shadows, and yet he obviously saw that they were filling him with darkness.
Could deciding Ultan’s destiny help sweep the shadows away? If so, which punishment would send them away faster?
On the one hand, his vengeance wanted to see Ultan dead. To see it certain that he would never do to another fae what he had done to Aedan in that dark, dank dungeon. Yes, eternity in the Everdark should ensure that Ultan never returned, but there was always the possibility of escape. Or of a change in fae law that saw the banished released. Could Aedan live with himself under the tiniest chance that Ultan might some day return? Would that ensure his shadows remained in place?
He looked down at Bree. She gazed up at him, her face carefully blank. She was there for him, to support him, never to judge him. She wouldn’t think less of him whichever punishment he chose.
That, more than anything else, made his decision. How could even the faintest shadow remain if Bree’s light was in his life?
His choice made, Aedan released her and stepped up to the half wall that separated the spectators from the court itself.
“What Ultan did to me and what he attempted to do to the entire fae realm is unforgivable,” Aedan said calmly and carefully. “And I do not forgive him.”
He looked at the convicted traitor, looked him straight in the eye.
“Were the tables turned, I have no doubt what your decision would be,” Aedan told his captor.
Ultan smirked defiantly, as if he knew what to expect.
“But that is what makes me the better fae,” Aedan continued. He turned his attention back to the dais. “Eternity in the Everdark.”
Cathair nodded to him. Then, to the court, he proclaimed, “Ultan Kavanagh, I hereby sentence you to an eternity in the Everdark, to commence immediately.”
Aedan couldn’t be certain, but he thought he saw a triumphant smile on the traitor’s face as the guards reached for him. As if perhaps this fate had been his goal all along.
Chapter 20
They got separated by the crowd. Bree stepped aside to let a fae woman congratulate Aedan, and then found herself being swept away with the sea of bodies. For a moment, she tried to return to Aedan’s side. But there were too many people, too much excitement and energy in the room.
As the sea swept her toward the door, she moved with the flow.
The crowd urged her through the doors, into the hallway outside the courtroom. Once free, she stepped to the side and huddled against the wall. She watched as fae after fae streamed out. None of them Aedan.
The stream thinned, and still he did not appear.
She started to worry if maybe he had slipped out the private entrance with his family. Should she head up to his chamber? Or to the training room?
She shouldn’t have felt so desperate to find him, but she wanted to be at his side, to make sure he was as okay as he had seemed. Surely his family felt the same way. He must have left with them.
When no more fae emerged from the courtroom, she peered around the doorway, just to make sure he wasn’t still inside.
She was surprised to see a lone figure sitting in the first row of benches, arms resting on the half-wall. She would recognize those dark curls anywhere.
She walked up the aisle toward him. As she approached, he slid over to make room for her without even looking up.
“Hey,” she said as she dropped onto the bench next to him.
His eyes stared forward, unseeing, at the seat Ultan had occupied during the trial.
“Hey,” he replied absently.
They sat in silence for several minutes. But it wasn’t an awkward or uncomfortable quite. It felt…normal. Content.
Finally, after what felt like ages, he leaned back against the bench.
He looked at Bree, a neutral expression on his face. “I thought you left.”
She smiled. “Not on purpose. I may be tough, but I’m no match for a rowdy fae crowd.”
She reached out and took his hand, pressing their palms together like she had during the verdict.
“That was…” he began, and then shook his head. “Harder than I expected.”
Bree nodded. She couldn’t really understand what it had been like, but she could imagine. Knowing that it was probably a hundred times worse than her imagining gave her shivers.
“You are stronger than you think,” she told him.
He stared down at their entwined hands. He was quiet for a long time. So long that she started to worry that she had said something wrong.
He smiled and opened his eyes. “You make me strong.”
She half-laughed, trying to lighten the mood. “Yeah. Every time you make me mad.”
“No,” he said, more serious than she had ever seen him. “You make me strong. Not with magic, but with love.”
Bree couldn’t speak, couldn’t respond. Her heart was too full.
“You give me the strength to face my nightmares.” He traced his fingers gently over her cheek. “You gave me the strength stand in this room and tell the truth. To choose the right fate.”
When Bree couldn’t stand the emotion any longer, she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his beautiful mouth. She brought her hands up to his face, and poured herself into the kiss.
Aedan groaned and pulled her closer.
“Ahem.” A loud throat-clearing broke the magic of the kiss.
Bree leaned back, but did not break the embrace.
Prince Cathair stood over them, with his love Winnie at his side. He had a huge smile on his face. “The banishment ceremony is about to begin.”
Bree had a feeling he wasn’t grinning about the ceremony.
Aedan nodded. “We will be there in a moment.”
Cathair nodded at his brother, then he and Winnie walked from the courtroom, arm in arm.
Bree felt a sudden rush of disappointment.
“What?” Aedan asked her.
She knew he could sense her emotions, the negative ones at least, but it was still unsettling when he proved it. “Nothing.”
“It’s not nothing.”
“It’s just…” She shook her head at her own silliness. “It’s about to be over. That means my assignment is coming to an end.”
“It doesn’t have to.”
“What do you mean?” she asked. “The imminent threat is gone. You won’t need constant protection.”
“How would you like to be assigned to my security detail permanently?”
Her first instinct was to shout, Yes. But then rational thought intruded and she knew she couldn’t—she wouldn’t—accept his offer.
She frowned at him. “No.”
“Why not?” Aedan asked.
“Because it’s a conflict of interest,” she explained. “I don’t want to get special treatment because we’re…”
She gestured between them, trying to encompass the vague nature of whatever their relationship was—and was becoming.
“Involved?” he offered.
“Exactly. I’ve worked my entire life to be taken seriously.”
“If this is about what other people think—”
“It’s not,” she said. And he had to know she meant it, because he would sense her guilt if she was
lying. “It’s about wanting to earn my own way. I wouldn’t take special favors from my family. I won’t take them from you.”
“Very well, I will stay out of it.” When she opened her mouth, he added, “And I will inform my brother to stay out of it as well.”
“Thank you,” she said as she let him take her hand.
They walked out into the hall.
Aedan gave her a cryptic smile. “We shall let the queen decide.”
The queen? Bree had never even met her.
“Does she…? Will she…?”
He pulled her against his side. “I am certain she will love you.”
“Aedan…”
“In a purely regal way,” he insisted.
She winced. “If you say so.”
As they passed through the archway that led into the courtyard, where the banishment ceremony would be held, Bree was filled with warring sensations of endings and beginnings. Her time as Aedan’s bodyguard was done. The terror that Ultan caused throughout the fae realm was about to be over. It was a new beginning for the Clan Moraine and the entire fae realm.
And it was a new beginning for her and Aedan.
She knew the shadows of Ultan’s torture would never entirely leave him, but she would do her best to keep them at bay.
They walked out into the light, hand in hand. The future was looking downright magical.
Dear reader,
The works in this volume were inspired by the opening line of “Rosanella” by the Comte de Caylus and included in The Green Fairy Book by Andrew Lang.
Everybody knows that though the fairies live hundreds of years they do sometimes die, and especially as they are obliged to pass one day in every week under the form of some animal, when of course they are liable to accident.
From that single sentence an entire world was born. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading the stories of the Clan Moraine.
If you want to spend a little more time with these dark fae and the humans who love them, you’re in luck. Get a free copy of the Darkly Fae epilogue by going to:
teralynnchilds.com/morefae
This book is subtitled The Moraine Cycle because the stories all involve members and intrigues of the Clan Moraine. There are other clans, however. Twenty-five others, to be exact. Someday there will be other cycles....
Tera Lynn Childs
About the Author
Tera Lynn Childs has never met a fae in real life, but she’s visited their world countless times in books and dreams. Whether it’s the mythological realm of Oh. My. Gods. and Sweet Venom or the mermaid kingdoms of Forgive My Fins, she prefers her stories with a scoop of magic on top. She lives among the cacti, scorpions, and desert fae in Las Vegas. When not searching for the veil or cooking up tasty vegan treats, she spends her time writing wherever she can find a comfy chair and a steady stream of caffeinated beverages. Find her online at teralynnchilds.com.
More by TLC
the Oh. My. Gods. series
Oh. My. Gods.
Goddess Boot Camp
Goddess in Time
the Forgive My Fins series
Forgive My Fins
Fins Are Forever
Just For Fins
Pretty in Pearls
the Sweet Venom trilogy
Sweet Venom
Sweet Shadows
Sweet Legacy
the Hero Agenda series
w/ Tracy Deebs
Powerless
Relentless
the Creative HeArts series
w/ Tracy Deebs, Emily McKay & Shellee Roberts
Ten Things Sloane Hates About Tru
How Willa Got Her Groove Back (by Emily McKay)
Crazy, Stupid, Fauxmance (by Shellee Roberts)
The Secret of the Dream Girl (by Tracy Deebs)
Falling for the Girl Next Door (coming soon!)