“My lord Odran.”
“Shana of Talamh,” Yseult announced. “Brought to you, my king, my liege, my all, as promised.”
No, Shana thought, she would not begin this way. She remained in the curtsy, but lifted her head.
“Come to you, my lord, by my choice. With gratitude to Yseult for her help.”
“And why do you come?”
His voice was music, and her heart danced. “To serve you how I can, and by serving you take my vengeance on all who betrayed me.”
“So you come for your own purpose?”
“I am your guest or your prisoner, as you will. I have hope that my purpose and yours, my lord, are one.”
He gestured, languidly. “And what is my purpose?”
“To take Talamh, or destroy it. And rule the worlds beyond it.”
“You are of Talamh, are you not?”
“No longer.”
“You have family in Talamh.”
“What are they to me now? Nothing.” And indeed, she felt nothing for them. Odran’s eyes mesmerized. “I am with you.”
“And what do you bring to me?” Long fingers tapped, tapped, tapped on the wide arms of the throne. “Have you no tribute for a god?”
“I bring you all I am. All I know. And all the power of my hate for what is behind me.”
He gestured, and a woman hurried to him with a goblet. He drank lazily as she bowed and hurried away.
“Hate can cool in time.”
“Mine will not cool.” She held out her scarred hand. “She did this to me, your granddaughter, the one you seek to have. She marked me, and my hate burns as my flesh burned. I wish what you wish, for you to drain her of power. All that I have I give for that purpose.”
He gestured for her to stand.
“We will see. We will see if you bring more than beauty and a dark heart. Those are easily come by. We will see if you prove useful, and if you do, you’ll have what you seek. If not?” He smiled and drank again. “You’ll find the judgment here is not so soft as in Talamh.”
“I will be useful. In any way you wish, in all ways you demand.”
“We will see. I’ll send for you. Go and wait until I do.”
She curtsied again, and with trembling heart left. The guards flanked her once again.
The doors shut.
Odran drank again. “We will see,” he repeated, and looked at Yseult. “She may be useful, or merely an amusement. But her hate, it’s real.”
“She wishes to rule with you, not under you.”
Now he laughed. “She will have whatever I give her. But for now, Yseult, I’m pleased with what you’ve brought me. See that she’s brought to me tonight.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
In tune with the world, herself, her friends, Breen walked back toward the farm with Morena and Aisling.
“That was the best time! It’s so great, sitting around with girls, drinking wine, eating cookies, trashing a psychopathic elf. And did I tell you? When I walked in, Finola was telling Nan about having sex with your grandda last night.”
“You didn’t, no,” Morena said as she cringed and Aisling laughed. “And I can say with truth I wish you hadn’t.”
“It was adorable. They’re girlfriends! I’ve got girlfriends. Is it going to be weird if I keep sleeping with your brother?”
“I’ve no objections in that area.”
“Good. Great. Because I’d really like to have sex with him again. And if Odran gets his hands on me and sucks me dry, at least I’d’ve had really good sex first.”
“Don’t be saying such things.” Aisling gave Breen a quick shake. “We’re none of us going to let that happen.”
“Because we’re girlfriends. And we’re going to kick his ass.”
“We are,” Morena confirmed. “And that slag Shana’s for good measure.”
“I really want to do that. It’s all so violent, and I don’t even mind it. We have to save the worlds, right?”
“That we do.” Aisling rubbed a hand on the side of her belly.
“Is she kicking? Could I…”
“Well, of course.” Aisling took Breen’s hand, pressed it against the movement.
Life. Light. Energy. Promise.
“Oh wow! Oh, that’s amazing.”
“Most of the time, not counting the middle of the night when you only want sleep. Have you never felt the kicks and bumps before?”
“No. I mean, I knew women, pregnant women, but I never felt comfortable asking. Hey, it’s Marco! Marco’s back.”