Inevitable. Nuala believed that a relationship between us wasinevitable. And why would she not? According to a courtesanin Lystby,dreíochacould ensnare any male of their choosing in order to use his strength and magic and to share in his immortality. But I also recalled her saying they needed proximity to their target, which meant there might still be a chance to escape Nuala’s thrall.
Neither Ciaran nor I had heard ofdreíochabefore that night because our people did not have tales about such creatures. Which I realized now was why my uncle had not known what to make of Nuala. I wanted to tell myself it was why I had not thought of it either, but I knew deep down I’d always suspectedsomethingdifferent about her. Something that I had never wanted to have confirmed when Nuala was so useful to me. I needed her Sight to help me deal with the Fuath, Aoibheal, and the Vale King. And she would undoubtedly prove valuable when it came time to bring war to Uile Breithà as well.
So the truth, if I were honest with myself, was that I’d intentionally embraced an excuse of ignorance with her in order to keep the witch close to me. Ilether deflect all of my inquiries, and what was even more abominable, I had been deflecting my brothers too.
But this…Dreíocha?That was unexpected and much worse than I could have imagined. Had I known this was her dark secret, then I might not have been so complacent in my own deception.
I leaned back against the table as the thud of my heart grew unbearably loud in my ears. My magic began to roil, and I hated that it was not simply reacting to the threat of adreíochatrying to own me. I would have to send Nuala away if I wanted to preserve my freedom, and the thought ofthatmade my shadows want to revolt.
It was out of the question. I decided that as soon as the thought occurred to me. Not only was she too useful to my war efforts, but I had made a promise to protect her. But neither would I ever submit to her, or toanyoneelse, which meant I would need to find a way to keep her close without becoming avictim of her thrall.
“Nothing is inevitable. I haveneverdesired a mate so whatever convictions she has invented are all irrelevant! Nuala will be my Seer and nothing more!” I informed Ornella and Ciaran sternly.
I meant the words, and yet they tasted rotten enough to turn my stomach. Which meant her claim was already in effect and may have already been affecting my behaviour. The thought of that enraged me.
But I was the only one who seemed angry. Ciaran had pursed his mouth in uncertainty of my declaration while Ornella winced in sympathy for Nuala. The realization that neither of them understood the sinister nature of this possible bond felt like an even worse betrayal to me.
There was no counting the number of people before Nuala who had tried to find ways to command my power, and I had resisted all of them. I had stood firm against the attempts of my parents, the Sua, my friends, and countless lovers and politicians across the Four Courts to make me into their creature. Saviour. Defender. Conqueror. Villain. The name they used for me had changed, but the intention to wield me as a weapon never did.
I turned angrily away from my riders to face Nuala and ensure she understood, in no uncertain terms, that I was not something she could exert a claim over.
But the sight of her almost brought me to my knees.
Her expression was not the indignant scowl I’d come to recognize from people when their grab for power was thwarted. This was different. There was suchdevastationin her face that it made my chest seize with the regret that perhaps I’d misjudged her. I quickly quashed that thought before it could take root in my heart and then turned away from all of them as I tried to regain some composure.
“Well… this is awkward,” Ornella murmured after a long moment. “Maybe Ciaran could portal her back—”
“She is not going anywhere,” I snapped impulsively andturned to glower at the dryad again. But I hesitated again at the sight of Nuala who had faced the wall with her arms wrapped around herself. Her back and shoulders heaved like she might be fighting to hold back sobs.
“I think she should go back to the yurt. It seems like maybe she could use some privacy,” Ornella pointed out with a hint of disapproval.
“I’ll take her,” agreed Ciaran, but then he froze when someone poked their head through the curtained door.
“Your Highness?” called the tiefling guard named Iraj. “We just received word that there is an emissary from the Winter Court approaching the camp.”
My head was still spinning from the revelation about my Seer, but as usual, there never seemed to be time for me to process my own grievances.
“Send them in when they arrive,” I directed, and Iraj nodded before ducking back out of the tent.
“Rian, let me take her—” Ciaran attempted to speak, but I held up my hand to silence him.
I was furious, with both Nuala and myself, but I had no wish to hurt or humiliate anyone.
“Nuala, I would like to—”
“I do not wish to discuss it anymore, Rian. I heard you very clearly,” she cut in coldly.
“I need to—” I tried again to apologize.
“The emissary brings word that the altars will soon be awakened. You must not allow that to happen until you have replaced the monarchs or they will be too strong. Good night,” she added more quietly, and then turned for the front of the yurt with her face averted from me.
I reacted before I could stop myself and stalked into her path to grab her arm.
“You cannot walk around the camp alone!” I objected. Although it was the thought of her walking away after I’d clearly hurt her that had my heart in my throat.
Nuala did not look back at me but raised her head to look at Ornella who stood with her arms crossed.
“I’ll take you,” the dryad reassured her and marched over to dislodge my grip on Nuala.
