To Wed The Goblin King (The Realm Trilogy Book 2)

by Lisa Manifold

  I finished my breakfast, and stood up. “I would love to go and get myself together,” I smiled at Brennan, not willing to let him into my thoughts on his brother. “Since it sounds like we’re going to be really busy.”

  He returned the smile. “The Queen’s rooms are yours. Iris. They are right through there.” He pointed to a small door off the study.

  “Great. I’ll leave you all to it, then,” I met the eyes of the other men around the table. “I don’t want to, but let me know when you need me for the cleansing, Taranath.”

  Drake laughed. “You’re not getting out of it anyway, Iris. Better you than me!”

  “Thanks,” I muttered.

  Brennan stood. “I’ll be in to see you later,” he said, kissing my forehead.

  The warmth of his love spread through me. How did he do that with simple touch? Happier, I left, knowing that a hot bath and clean clothes were in my future.

  Brennan

  He watched her walk through the door that connected the king and queen’s chambers. The pleasure this gave him was indescribable. He, Iris, his father, Drake, and Taranath had enjoyed part of breakfast together, compiling the lists of things that needed to happen in order to pull off a wedding within a week.

  He didn’t enjoy the thought that Iris may have been harmed in some manner. Taranath’s tale of a bride under a spell made him uneasy, in spite of the face he’d put on for Iris. Cian had already managed stronger magic than he’d thought possible. The idea that Iris might be suffering under magic he couldn’t even detect made him afraid in a way he’d not been afraid ever before. Jharak came to stand beside him. “We will fight this, Brennan. We know that Cian has a great deal of skill at his disposal. I don’t think, however that this is his doing—meaning, he is not the one with the skill. I believe it is others. There are not that many around him who are his allies and confidantes—”

  “And you know this for sure?” Brennan whirled to face his father.

  Jharak shrugged. “What Cian plans is an ambitious plan. He cannot tell many, because it increases the risk that someone will alert me, or others. So his plans must be confined to a small, select group. We already know who they are. Ailla, Dhysara, and Eilor. Eilor has dragon magic at his disposal, but we know that Aine is not his ally. So that means that Taranath must construct protection spells that ward against those four in particular. They will be our biggest threat. Can you do that?” He turned towards the mage.

  Taranath stood, tapping his chin. “I can, but it will take some time. I will need to do some reading…yes, I believe it can be done.”

  “Whatever you need, do it. I give you permission to take whatever steps you feel are necessary,” Brennan said.

  “Let me have a look at some of your books in here, Majesty?” Taranath waved a hand around.

  “Of course,” Brennan answered.

  Taranath immediately went to a shelf and pulled a book from it.

  “Now, let us concentrate on the things we can control, Brennan,” Jharak spoke in a manner that was meant to ease his worry.

  It didn’t, but Brennan appreciated it nonetheless.

  “I need to take care of the things we discussed about the wedding, to make this as easy as possible. I’ll also contact your mother.” Jharak patted the shoulders of both Brennan and Drake and left.

  The wedding. He couldn’t even think about it right now. Being married quickly had even more appeal than it had before.

  His father worried they’d offend all the realms, but Brennan had suggested that he and Iris marry quietly and invite everyone for a huge celebration: tell all the neighboring realms that haste had been necessary, but they didn’t want to stint on celebrating with everyone, and throw a week-long party. A week to carouse and carry on at the expense of another would silence most of the talk. It would also, he thought suddenly, potentially allow them to see if there were any other allies of Cian.

  And if the Eidolan did come for Iris, she would leave this world as his wife, as the Goblin Queen, and as his heart.

  The odd thing—he hadn’t seen the Eidolan last night. His head had been full of Iris, so perhaps she just had found no room to make herself known. Or she was cruel, and merely waited to allow him to fall into a sense of security. Regardless, he would face her if she came again.

  When she came again.

  Drake clapped him on the shoulder. “Lordship, I couldn’t be happier for you.”

  He knew that Drake referred to the fact he’d finally decided to enjoy the time he had with Iris. He turned to his brother, clasping his arm. “Thank you, Drake. Thank you for coming to me last night. Had you not—” Even with all the aspects of this that were troubling, he could not let them cloud the fact that he was happier than he’d ever been before with Iris. Because of Iris.

  “Had I not, you would not have finally made the move!” Drake laughed in his face. “It’s about time!”

  “I did leave it too long, didn’t I?”

  “Well, better late than never. You always were a slow learner,” Drake snickered. “But I remain hopeful that one day, lordship, you’ll get up to speed.”

  They laughed together.

  “I hate to be negative, but we’ll need to be extra cautious after the wedding,” Brennan said. “Especially as we know the attack is planned. Have you heard anything more?” The fear flared in him again—it was odd, to be afraid for another after so many years of not fearing for even himself.

  “Yes. According to Aina through Carlianah—who, thanks to father, is engaged again and vows her devotion to you forever—Ailla and Eilor have had a huge falling out. Aine isn’t sure why, although she thinks Cian might be at the heart of it.”

  “Isn’t he always? The man’s a menace,” Brennan muttered.

  “True. Which is why it’s good his foolishness has an end date,” Drake said, the steel clanging in his words.

  “If you get to him before I do, you have my permission to do what is needed,” Brennan turned to Drake. “I don’t want you to hesitate.”

  “Nor should you, Bren,” Drake said, all laughter gone. “Don’t even think about hesitating. Just finish him. He can do nothing but hurt those around him now. Dhysara has no idea of his involvement with Ailla. None. She will be devastated when he dies. I remember how she looked at him.”

  Brennan nodded. He, too, had been struck at the devotion and love he’d seen on Dhysara’s face, in her entire being, when they had attempted to capture Cian at the cottage in the Dwarf Realm. She truly loved him. Not that the bastard deserved it.

  “We will be cautious,” he said.

  “Indeed we will, Majesty,” Taranath joined them. He carried three books in his arm.

  For some reason, that made Brennan feel better. To know that his mage had the knowledge needed. “How do the lessons with Iris go?” he asked. He hadn’t even had the chance to speak to Iris about it while she’d been with them, which made him feel guilty.

  Taranath beamed. “When she is fully trained, and when she stops doubting herself, she will rival you, Majesty.”

  Silence greeted the mage’s words.

  “That powerful? How can that be? She’s not even half fae,” Drake asked wonderingly.

  Taranath shook his head. “I don’t know. I don’t have an explanation for it. I just know that she grasps concepts and skills that take those of us who train in the art years to learn. I try not to let her see my astonishment at times, but I am not always successful.”

  “Careful,” Brennan smiled. “You let her know too much, and it will go straight to her head.”

  “Oh, I know the foibles of my student. But she will not be a student for long,” Taranath warned. “I must tell you, Majesty, I think we ought to consider offensive magic for her. I know you wished to wait, but—”

  “No!” Brennan’s response was immediate. “I am pleased—very pleased—that she can defend herself. I will not place the burden of anything further on her!” He knew he wasn’t being reasonable. He still felt uncomfortab
le at the thought of Iris fighting. But she had so much to bear at the moment.

  Drake and Taranath exchanged a glance, which irritated Brennan further. “Don’t think I am unaware that you two plot behind my back! I forbid it!”

  “Of course, Majesty,” Taranath inclined his head.

  “Waste of skill and talent,” Drake said, not backing down.

  “She is not a warrior, Drake. That is not her responsibility.”

  “She is a warrior, and she will be a strong one with you,” Drake shot back. “There are worse things than having a warrior for a mate. Besides, she doesn’t really have a choice anymore, does she? She’s made her choice by marrying you.”

  Drake spoke like Iris didn’t have death hanging over her head. As though they had all the time in the world together. “I don’t want to put her in the way of the—” Brennan stopped. He didn’t want to say the name.

  That ended the conversation right there. Thankfully, Jharak returned, and talk went back to the details of what had to happen to put on a wedding on such short notice. Brennan tried to calm his worry about everything they’d discussed. If Jharak was willing to focus on the wedding plans, he must feel fairly secure that the magical concerns of the cleansing, and then the wards for Iris were routine, and nothing to worry over.

  As he listened to his father talk, he ignored the feeling that his mother ought to be there. No one had spoken of it, but he felt her absence, and he was sure everyone else did as well.

  Perhaps it was better she was not there. They, even his father, spoke of Cian as an enemy. Nerida made it clear that she didn’t see Cian as such, and resented that everyone else did.

  At some point, he and Nerida would need to have a reckoning. He felt a coward for hoping he could put it off as long as possible.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Iris

  I woke to the three amigos standing—no, looming—over my bed.

  “What?” I asked groggily.

  “We need to do the cleansing. Now, if you please,” Taranath said politely.

  I looked to Brennan. He nodded his head.

  “Right this moment?” Like, while I was still in bed?

  Now Taranath nodded. “I have read it’s best to work with the subject right after they’ve woken. If magic other than yours is at work here, you are rested, and not dealing with the strains of daily life.”

  I could see there was no getting out of this. “Fine. What do I need to do?”

  Taranath looked to Drake, who grinned evilly.

  “Just drink this,” Drake said, holding out a cup to me.

  I couldn’t help it. I grimaced. Eww. A Taranath special.

  “Delaying won’t make it better,” Brennan said gently.

  “Or go away,” Drake snickered.

  Taranath rolled his eyes. “It’s really not that bad. I would expect better from three such brave fae.”

  His rebuke didn’t work as Drake burst out laughing as he moved the cup closer to me.

  “Oh, all right.” I reached for the cup. I couldn’t help sniffing it as I brought it close to my face. It smelled gross. Just as I expected.

  I brought it closer, took a breath—that was a mistake, and quickly drank it down.

  And tried not to throw up.

  Then all went black.

  ***

  When I woke, the three amigos stood over me with very worried expressions.

  “What happened?” I asked.

  I felt like hell. Total, complete hell. I’d taken the nasty potion, and then…I couldn’t remember anything else.

  “You were ensorcelled,” Taranath said calmly.

  I looked to Brennan first. He looked shaken. That was bad.

  “With what?”

  “By Ailla,” Drake said.

  “What?” I pushed myself up, trying to quell the nausea that accompanied the action. “What the hell did that bitch do to me?”

  Taranath’s eyebrows went up. Maybe I should try and ease up on the swears. But come on, Ailla again! She was like the evil Energizer bunny!

  “She set a spell on you that has been with you for some time. It was a mistrusting spell, one that focused on those you love.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t understand,” I said.

  Brennan came closer, and took my hand. “The intent of the spell was to make you stop trusting the people you should trust the most. Your family, those you love.”

  My mouth opened, but nothing came out. Stop trusting those I loved? There was no way! It must not have worked—

  I fell back, thinking. I was wrong. “It did work,” I breathed, forgetting the amigos for the moment.

  “I believe it did,” Taranath said. “Ailla is a skilled practitioner. There’s no reason to believe it wouldn’t.”

  “So I would stop trusting anyone I love? Or someone in particular?” I asked.

  “Everyone,” Taranath said.

  My gaze flew to Brennan. He gave a small nod, just one. He knew what I was thinking. All the times I’d yelled at him, not trusted him. I had to look away. I’d hurt him.

  And that nasty little voice in my head? Was that Ailla? “Would it make me hear things?” I asked carefully. I didn’t want them to think me any crazier than they probably did.

  Taranath smiled, obviously pleased with my train of thought. “You might. The spell was designed to call into question your feelings for those close to you—anyone close to you. You would question all of them. Their motives, their words, their actions, everything.”

  I looked at Brennan again, and then at Drake. I’d been a crazy to them both. “I’m sorry,” I said. I could feel the fire spread across my face, thinking about all the things I’d said in the last two months. “I am so sorry.”

  “You have nothing to be sorry for,” Drake said.

  I could tell he was pissed. I felt sorry for him, as well as sorry for what I’d said to him, the position I’d put him in before when I made him talk with me. If he had really loved Ailla, you didn’t just turn love off like a faucet. This had to hurt him, too.

  “I do. I might have been under a spell—”

  “You were,” Brennan said.

  “But I was still a maniac. I did hear a voice in my head. Every time we talked, or I talked with my parents, the voice would question them, and bring up all the snide remarks about what they really meant…” My eyes filled with tears.

  I could apologize until the cows came home. It didn’t take back the things I’d said.

  Brennan took my hand. “I must confess, I did wonder what you were thinking at times, but I never considered you might have been under a spell. I am sorry I didn’t see it earlier.”

  “As am I,” Taranath interjected. “But in truth, Majesty, Ailla is better than that. She made sure this would be well hidden. Not even I saw it, although I saw that Iris had greater magic about her. I did not assign negative intent to it, and if anyone should have, I ought to have. I apologize also, Iris,” he bowed his head towards me.

  “Why don’t we chalk this up to Ailla is a crazy mean bitch and she needs to be blasted out of existence and forgive one another?” I asked, feeling rage rising in me like a tidal wave. I hated to say these things in front of Drake, but I wanted her dead and gone, and I couldn’t pretend otherwise. She’d done her best to destroy all the relationships that were important to me. Because of Cian, or the fact that she was a hateful bitch, or whatever. She’d lost the right to any sympathy from me, and that meant so had Drake’s feelings.

  “She is,” Drake said. “And I agree with Iris.” He looked at the other two men. “When we take down Cian, we must also take down Ailla.”

  “I volunteer,” I said.

  Brennan smiled at me. “I don’t want you to take her on. She is very powerful, far more so than any of us realized.”

  “Yeah, but I’m righteous,” I said.

  “How do you feel now, Iris?” Taranath interrupted. “Do you hear the voice, or are you having negative thoughts about what you’re hearing in ou
r discussion now?”

  Leave it to Taranath to bring the heat level down. “No. I feel good, other than my towering rage at the nerve of that woman.”

  He smiled. “Good. It was a struggle to release you from her spell, but with the help of Brennan and Drake, we have freed you. We have also added wards to you to protect you from Cian and his close associates. So,” he looked around at the rest of us, “Might I suggest we plan the final defeat of Ailla’s sorcery, and move on to happier things? Such as, the forthcoming nuptials?”

  I didn’t want to let it go. I wanted to rage and hit and kick and punch and…then I looked at Brennan. I could tell he was angry, but the mention of our wedding, which was tomorrow, brought a change to his expression. Looking into his eyes, I put the thought of offing Ailla aside.

  Why focus on her when I had this amazing man to look forward to?

  “Taranath’s right,” I said. “To hell with Ailla. If you all will get out of here, I’ll get up, if that’s allowed.”

  “No, I’d like you to stay in bed for a time longer,” Taranath said. “This wasn’t an easy task, and I want you to rest and recover. If you’re doing better this evening, you may join us for dinner.”

  I opened my mouth to protest, and then shut it. He only wanted me to be safe and healthy. Thinking about the fact that tomorrow night would be my wedding night, and all the good things that would come from that—I decided not to argue.

  “Fine. Then I’ll go back to sleep. You guys still need to leave.”

  “I’ll sit with her,” Drake said to Brennan.

  I would prefer Brennan, but I knew he had much to do.

  “I’ll fetch you for dinner, my love,” Brennan said. With a last smile, he and Taranath left the room.

  “Go to sleep, Iris. You need it.” Drake sounded tired.

  “Was it bad?” I asked.

  “Yes,” he said simply.

  In that one word, I could see horror, fear, anger—everything. They had fought for me. I could see it. I wasn’t going to be shitty, or reject what they’d done for me. I’d been doing that for too long while under the spell.