Page 29 of Where Broken Wings Fly

“Never, Your Highness,” Rory bowed yet again and I looked to see Raegan clenching his jaw. “You would never be denied access to Cluaineach.”

But his father would.

It wasn’t just his hair that was far more ethereal than the pixies of Choilltean, Rory had clothes that seemed to be woven from satin, the material light and airy. Sparse, too. Instead of covering every inch of him, his muscular arms were revealed to the world, just as were his ankles and an inch of his midriff.

“You have a human with you?” Rory nearly gasped as his eyes met mine. I felt my ears again, sighing with relief when I realized they were covered. How was it possible that he knew?

“Yes,” Raegan simply said, offering no further explanation.

Rory needed one though, apparently. “I can grant you entrance, Your Highness, but the rest of your companionship must remain here.”

“That’s ridiculous–”

Killian was halted when Raegan lifted a royal hand.

“I need to speak with your leaders. Do you have any?”

Rory narrowed his eyes ever so slightly at Raegan. “Well, we do not have a monarchy, as you surely know —”

“I’m aware,” Raegan hissed, “but you have someone with authority that I may speak to?”

“Of course.”

“The human is to come. Her witness to events that have transpired will be required.”

“I’m not sure, Your Hi–”

Raegan looked near combustion, his jaw flickering harder with every passing second. “You will not deny me this, Rory Faiche’Rugadh.”

Rory’s face scrunched as he bore the full extent of Raegan’s intensity. Having only received a shred of it myself, I didn’t envy him.

Doing what any normal person would, Rory nodded and granted Raegan’s request.

I spun on my heel to Killian. “I don’t want to be separated.”

Judging by his face, he felt the same. “Nor do I, Olivia. But you must go.” He took a large step across the dirt, his body arriving in front of mine within seconds. “You said you wanted to help, right?”

Biting down on my lip, I nodded.

“Then do this, please. For me. For all of us.”

Glancing over my shoulder, Raegan waited patiently at Rory’s side, his face unimpressed as ever as he watched our goodbye.

Killian pressed a hand to my cheek. “Trust no one.”

Nodding, I looked back at Raegan again.

“No one, Olivia.”

I understood his meaning. Turning back to face him once more, I hoped that this was not the goodbye. Surely, Raegan would not be without his ceadan for long.

“Do not fear, Raegan will protect you.”

Finally breaking away from Killian, my slow strides bringing me closer to Raegan, the look on his face suggested he would not.

12

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