But I felt nothing.
Nodding, I looked away. “You were right. Father was the best I could hope for."
Ethna took a deep breath. She blinked a few times before her gaze returned to Cierthine. "They must have given you hell over this. Quinn mentioned they tried to kill you."
"You're right," I snapped. "They did. Luckily, there was a man of Forlaith there to protect me." Spinning on my heel, I stalked away.
"Does that man of Forlaith know who you are?" She called after me.
My hands curled into fists. "And who am I, exactly?" I threw back at her.
"You belong to the shadows, Mare. Had I known back then what I do now? I never would have left you there."
Her next words sank a dagger into my soul.
"You belong here."
My teeth ground together until my temples exploded with pain. "I don't belong anywhere," I gasped.
Everything I'd longed for fell away. I'd spent my life yearning for something that had never been real.
My legs moved before my mind had caught up, carrying me away from the woman who'd brought me into this world.
Mere days before abandoning me.
Retracing my steps, I wound my way through the city back to the hut where Quinn had brought Liam. I'd take my brother and leave.
And that would be the end of it.
"Do you think they will let you leave?"
Drawing Cierthine, I whirled around.
The fae lord, Vaf, stepped out from beneath a hut's porch and sauntered toward me. He tossed one of the pale pink fruits and caught it.
"You've learned their secret." He paced around me, watching me with his one, golden eye. "Do you really think they'll let you wander back to that Paragon?"
My grip on Cierthine wavered. He was right.
"Tell me." Vaf touched a gloved hand to my chin and lifted it. "What makes you so loyal to Forlaith?"
I ripped away from him. "Isn't it obvious?" I asked, sheathing Cierthine. "They aren't the ones slaughtering people in the streets."
"But theyareburning them in the streets."
My teeth ground into my lip. "What do you want?"
"You look so lost and confused." Vaf smiled wryly. "And I'm feeling generous. Secrets, secrets, and more secrets. Care for the answers to a few?"
"Ha," I laughed bitterly. "I'd kill for someone to be honest with me for once."
"Tsk, tsk." He waved his hand, and a ball of fire erupted in his grip. "Did you not heed Brighid? You should watch your words around fae."
I wanted to answer, but my tongue and lips froze. Mesmerized, I could but stare at the flame growing in his palm.
And the shapes taking form in its majesty.
The world around me became fire, and as its embers dulled and cooled, I stood in another place. In a living tale, like the play about the Diath he'd put on for me.
