Brennan moved closer to Iris, taking in how still and pale she was. Not the Iris of flashing eyes and constant motion. Not his Iris. His hand moved on its own and stroked her cheek, reveling in being able to touch her.
“Your Majesty, we need to find the poison,” Taranath’s gentle voice broke into this thoughts.
“Of course,” Brennan drew himself up and whirled from the room.
He’d find the goblin and wring the truth from him if need be.
Iris
I struggled against…something. I didn’t know what it was, couldn’t tell. Everything was too dark, too heavy. I let myself slide into what seemed easiest. Let it all go.
Just as I began to relax, to stop fighting so hard for what, I didn’t know, something pierced the darkness. I couldn’t shut it out.
Gradually, light became visible to me, and I had to open my eyes.
The thing that had dragged me from my dark peace was Brennan. He was yelling. Holy hell, could he shout.
“Please…” I started. My voice came out in a hoarse whisper.
All conversation, even King Yelly Pants, stopped. I clutched at my head. Brennan also knew how to give a girl a headache.
“Iris!” He came to me and took my hand. “You’re awake!”
“Did I have a choice? Do you realize how loud you are?” I sounded like a years-long chain smoker. God, what happened to me?
He stepped back at my words, surprise and then anger showing on his face. “Do I realize how loud I am? Do you realize how close you came to dying? Why would you take a drink from a goblin you didn’t know?”
So much for being nice to invalids. I held my head with both hands now. “I don’t know most of the goblins. I thought he was someone sent from the kitchens.”
“Brennan—” Drake tried to intercede.
“No, Drake! I’ll not hear it! You left her alone! I’m extremely displeased with you as well! I told you specifically Iris was never to be alone! For this very reason!”
He was close enough to me for me to grab his arm, and I did. He jumped at the touch of my hand on him. “Drake didn’t mean for me to be hurt. It was an accident.”
“This was no accident! This was a deliberate attempt on your life! One short moment of carelessness,” He glared at Drake, whom, I was glad to see, stared back defiantly, “And you nearly died. The poison used would have killed you but for your fae side.”
I laughed a little, which made Brennan’s eyes nearly fall out of his head. “Guess it doesn’t suck to only be part human.”
“Your fae side barely saved you, Iris!”
“God, could you shout any louder?” I glared at him.
Brennan whipped around, forcing me to let go of him and turning his anger on Drake and Taranath. “Would you please leave us for a moment?”
Neither of them looked all that thrilled with his request, but, I guess since he’s the king, they both shuffled from the room. Drake left last, closing the door behind him as he gave Brennan major stink eye. There was a lot of that going around here.
The two of them leaving meant that I got to be the focus of King Yelly Pants.
“You need to go back to the Human Realm! I cannot—” He turned away, and I saw his hands come up through his hair.
“I don’t want to leave.” I spoke quietly. I couldn’t speak any louder. My head might fall off and bounce around the room. This was worse than when I snuck the Black Seal rum from the liquor locker on Sorcha and drank too much when I was sixteen. I had a terrible hangover and my parents made me get up at sunrise and do chores all morning, not caring that I threw up over the side four times.
He faced me once more. “You have to leave!” He shouted. “What will it take for you to understand you are not safe here? I can’t protect you! Someone got to you in the heart of my castle, in my home! I can’t keep you safe, Iris! Why can’t you understand that?”
At that, half the glass bottles in the room shattered. It made me jump. Taranath was certainly going to be the loser from this whole affair. It was his potions and whatnot that had just exploded.
“Have you no sense of self-preservation?”
“I do.”
He rolled his eyes at me. God, these fae were worse than girls. Lots of eye rolling.
“I do. But I don’t want to leave Fae. I don’t want to leave you, Brennan.”
“You have to leave, Iris! If you don’t,” His voice dropped, and I could hear the anguish. A few more bottles shattered. “You have to go! Can you not see that I am close to hurting you? If someone else doesn’t kill you, I will!”
I ignored them, and sat up from the pillows I was propped up on. I stretched out my hand to him. “Brennan.” This was more than me being hurt. The anguish in his voice deepened to a knife of pain that cut me. I couldn’t imagine what it did to him.
He looked at my hand, and then to my face. Slowly, as though moving through water, he took several steps towards me. Glass crunched under his feet. He took my hand carefully, as though I were a bomb that could go off at any moment.
“Anything could happen, Brennan. Anything at all. But is it worth it to see if this,” I squeezed his hand, and covered it with my other hand, “Is something worth taking a risk for?”
“Not if you die before we…not if I hurt…” He stopped and looked away. I could see the struggle on his face.
“Brennan. I want to stay. With you.”
His eyes met mine, and I saw, behind the anger, the fear. In the fear, I could tell he had the same spark of hope that I did. I looked at him, and gave him my hope. And my trust.
“I don’t want to kill you, too, Iris,” He spoke softly, no longer yelling.
Thank god.
I tugged on his hand, pulling him closer, and he let me. Then he stopped, and his free hand reached out, stroking my cheek. Before I could think any further, his hand slid behind my head and yanked me towards him.
I caught a glimpse of his face and his eyes were hot and ferocious.
Then he kissed me.
I’d kissed a few boys. Mostly as we traveled, never anything serious, or even where I’d see the boy again. Even if they’d been memorable, I didn’t think anything in this realm or any other could measure up.
I could feel Brennan. His hope, his exhilaration at kissing me, claiming me. For himself. As his. He offered himself to me in that kiss.
I took it. I took him, and his crazy, bottle-exploding temper, and Yelly Pants tendencies, and I gave him all that back. And more.
He pulled me tight to him as I wound my arms around his neck, kissing him as my body went up in flames, and then flamed even hotter.
I’d never known that kissing someone could feel this way.
The door banged open and Brennan and I jumped so high that we nearly hit the ceiling.
Glynan burst in, her eyes wide.
“I asked that we not be disturbed!” Brennan snapped.
“I am sorry, Majesty, but the Lady Ailla is here! With her father! They wouldn’t take no for an answer! They’re on the way from the great hall now!”
Brennan
What on earth did Ailla mean, coming back again? After finding out that the old king’s widow had lived in the Dragon Court for all these years and raised her children there, Brennan’s suspicions were at an all-time high.
“Stall them. Now.”
Glynan hurried from the room
Brennan rose, calling out for Drake silently as he did so. No time to send a goblin for him. “Iris, it will be best if you are not visible during their visit. I can’t predict what they’ll say, or why they felt they needed to come here in this hasty manner. Come here, and I’ll take you back to the lounge. I don’t want you far away from me.” He gave her a look that made her blush.
She should be blushing. He felt that he’d fallen into a fire pit with no way out. Ailla could not have picked a worse time. Not to mention he really didn’t want to think about his fiancée at all.
He scooped Iris into his arms, and felt the
same thrill he’d felt kissing her when she wrapped her arms around him. She must be able to see his mind, he thought as she twined her arms around his neck and snuggled her head into his shoulder to gaze at him.
“Will you tell me what happens?” She had the look of a child being tossed out.
He grinned, although he felt no joy. “I shall do better. Since you are involved in this, I’ll show you where you may listen. Remembering, however, that you might not care for what you hear.”
Color bloomed in her cheeks, but her gaze stayed steady on him. “I understand.”
“Then come.” The fact that he needed to deal with a betrothal lay between them, on the ashes of what they’d just shared.
He strode out of Taranath’s rooms, taking a back corridor normally used by the goblin servants. He didn’t want to run into Ailla or her father, Eilor. Too many explanations. He made it back to his chambers and came into his bedchamber. He walked through the study, bringing Iris into the lounge. “Here. You’ll be able to hear from this spot. I don’t know whether you’ll be able to see much, but as it will only be Ailla and her father Eilor, and Drake, and I, you’ll be able to keep all parties straight.”
He could feel Drake. The door in the study burst open.
“Bren?” Drake called out.
“Stay here. Stay silent.” He touched Iris’s cheek, and then moved quickly from the lounge, closing the door behind him.
“What is it? Where is Iris?”
“Safely hidden. Ailla and her father are here.”
“What?” Drake had time to get out before the door from the corridor opened again. Glynan came in, curtsying as she did so.
“Majesty, his Majesty, the Dragon King and Lady Ailla.”
She stepped backwards as the king and Ailla came into the room. Once they were in, Glynan carefully closed the door.
No one spoke. Brennan looked carefully at their faces. Nothing. They were skilled at hiding emotions.
“To what do I owe the honor of your visit?” He asked. “Will you be seated? Lord Drake and I were sitting down to order some refreshment. You are welcome to join us.”
Drake moved closer to him. The air vibrated with a tension that Brennan couldn’t decipher.
Then he saw it.
Ailla’s nostrils flared.
“Why is she here?”
Brennan cleared his mind, allowing no thoughts of anything to cross it. “What are you talking about, Ailla?” He sat down in the chair he’d been sitting in before. Drake didn’t sit, but moved to stand next to him.
Guarding him.
Alarming that Drake, too, felt the danger present.
“Word reached us that you are once again harboring a human,” Eilor said. His voice had a deep, basso rumble.
Anytime he heard Eilor speak, Brennan wondered how much dragon was in the fae of that court.
“Harboring a human? As though it’s a crime?” He kept his voice light, in contrast.
“You know it’s not done.” Ailla’s eyes flashed at him.
“Well, there seem to be a great many things happening that aren’t done. Such as not being truthful about members of your court.” He kept his eyes on the table in front of him. He knew Drake watched the pair like a hawk on the hunt.
“What do you mean?” Ailla challenged.
“Why did you never tell me the old king’s widow resided in your court? That she had a daughter from the old king? Or sons from a man in your court? Did you not think I might find such information interesting, at the very least?”
He glanced up as he spoke. Eilor kept his countenance, but Ailla flushed.
Ah ha, he thought. They had kept it hidden. Before this moment, he hadn’t wanted to believe it was deliberate, in spite of his fears.
“I don’t see why that matters. You are the rightful king, and have been for many years.”
So smooth, Eilor. But I see through you. “It matters when the daughter of the former king and her lover attack me.” Brennan saw no need for further niceties.
He watched carefully.
Ailla and her father both affected expressions of shock, but a moment later than if they had truly been surprised.
“I am grieved to hear that you have been attacked.” Eilor said.
“Oh, I’ve been attacked more than once, as I am sure your daughter has informed you. Or perhaps you already knew?”
He felt Drake start next to him. He knew Drake didn’t believe both father and daughter knew, and he also knew that such directness normally would not be the method he chose. Fae tended to subtler negotiations.
“You dare,” breathed Ailla. “Having the human here has allowed you to forget all manners.”
Back to Iris again. Why did Iris bother her so much?
You know why, his head answered. For the same reason it bothered him as well.
“The human has nothing to do with this. Experiencing an attack from someone with ties to your court twice in a span of days does. I do not wish to navigate through clever evasions. Why did you not tell me of this before?”
For the first time, Brennan saw a flicker in Eilor’s eyes.
“I did not think it relevant.”
“Did not think it relevant?” Brennan repeated slowly. “Were you aware of the negative feelings that the widow or her daughter might have harbored? The daughter, at least, definitely has them.”
Ailla and Eilor glanced at one another. No more than half a second, but Brennan saw it. His heart sank. While he didn’t love Ailla, he also didn’t want to know that she took part in this…whatever it was.
“I allowed her to marry and retire to the Dwarf Realm. I’ve heard nothing of her since,” Eilor rumbled.
“Well, lack of news doesn’t mean lack of reason for concern. I am now very concerned.” He allowed anger to creep in.
“Had you sent the human back, none of this would have happened!” Ailla burst out. “She has ruined everything!”
Silence greeted her words. Brennan almost wanted to shake his head to clear it, to be sure of what she’d said. Slowly, choosing his words carefully, because he couldn’t fathom why Ailla had fixated on Iris, unless she knew somehow of his feelings, he said, “I don’t see how having the human here ruins anything. She saved my life. I should think you grateful to someone, even a human,” He looked up to see Ailla’s face, “Who saved the life of your betrothed.”
“Oh, please stop with your benevolent act!” Ailla shouted. “If you hadn’t kept the stupid girl here, we’d be on the way to being married, and I would…” she stopped, realizing that her anger had led her to speak more freely than perhaps she wished to.
Eilor wouldn’t look at his daughter, and Drake, next to him, took a step forward.
“My lady Ailla, I am sure you don’t mean…” his voice trailed off as Ailla’s eyes blazed even more brightly.
Brennan was startled as he looked up at Drake. There seemed to be almost a note of pleading in Drake’s tone.
“I mean everything I say! Brennan, I tell you this now. You will send the human home and be done with meddling in that realm. Or I shall end our engagement!”
Fine! Brennan wanted to retort. He knew he needed to keep silent, if but for just a moment.
“Ailla, no need for haste,” Eilor tried to calm her.
“No, Father, this has gone on long enough. Once, I could overlook. But to bring her back, and keep her here—”
How does she know that? I barely made the decision! Brennan thought. She could not be jealous. She didn’t care for him in any romantic way. No more than he cared for her. He had no doubts of that. What drove this hatred of Iris?
“This goes too far. Well, Brennan, what say you?” Ailla faced him, hands on hips.
Brennan had laughed with Drake about seeing those of the Dragon Court lose their temper, but he now knew it to be no laughing matter. Ailla was most fearsome.
“I will be ordered by none, Ailla. Particularly not my intended who has been plotting against me.” He made his words co
ld.
Ailla flushed more. “Then on your head be it, Brennan. You and your pathetic human! Remember that you brought this on yourself!” She whirled around and yanked the door open, slamming it with a resounding crash into the wall, and stalked out.
Eilor looked at Brennan with an unreadable expression. “It did not need to come to this, Brennan. I will…” he looked after his daughter. With another look to Brennan, and Drake, he left the room without another word.
Brennan knew Eilor lied. That he knew it would come to this, and while not pleased, Eilor was not surprised. The entire visit had the sense of something planned. Only Ailla’s anger felt real, and Brennan thought it probably was. It made no sense, because her hatred of Iris bordered on irrational. Regardless, it was there, and he needed to be aware of it. Ailla would hurt Iris if she could. To avenge herself on Brennan, and because she wanted to hurt Iris. One more thing to worry over. Worse that his suspicions were correct, and there was some plot afoot. But what?
Brennan glanced at Drake again. Something shifted in his brother’s face, and Brennan saw such a private, heartbroken expression that he lost whatever he’d been about to say.
“Brother?” He asked quietly.
As though a door closed, Drake’s expression changed and he turned to Brennan. “I cannot believe they have been at work against us.” The stern look brooked no further discussion.
“I feared it, but I didn’t want to believe it.” He looked down, the shock of it still reverberating.
“Iris!” He leapt up and threw open the lounge door.
She jumped back from the peephole in the corner.
He could see shock on her face as well.
“Well, guess that’s one marriage shot to hell,” she said.
Iris
I couldn’t believe it. In an instant, Brennan no longer had a fiancée. I should be sad for him, but holy hell, she was one wicked bitch. I remembered his mother mentioning it at some point but I hadn’t really thought of it. I ought to be mad at him. Kissing me like that while engaged. Then I thought about the fiancée. I didn’t feel all that bad.
I could not be sad. Elation that he no longer had an obligation, and to such a nasty piece of work, raced through me.
Heart Of The Goblin King (The Realm Trilogy Book 1) Page 20
