Page 45 of Why Broken Wings Fray

Tadgh, Prince of Uisge, flicked those hauntingly-mystical lavender eyes across the room until they landed on me. Then they creased, his smile grew wild, and he placed a hand to his chest to bow to me.

Tadgh, the son of Queen Tonn, had been full of natural charm and prince-like charisma since the day I rescued him from the oil-spill. Never had he made it so obvious as he did now, going the extra mile to dip his chin at me as if the bow wasn’t enough. Then again, perhaps there had always been another pixie in the room keeping him from doing so.

Killian wasn’t thrilled about it at my side, but he had the good mind to stay quiet about it. Something that his best friend lacked, and I was all the more glad that he wasn’t here.

“Olivia Loughty,” Tadgh said, his voice smooth and alluring in every way as his eyes glistened. “What an honour to see you again – to bestow upon you my utmost gratitude once more.”

“Tadgh,” Queen Tonn grumbled. “Sit down, foolish boy.”

Foolish boy was the best way to describe Tadgh as that sarcastic grin of his remained firm on his face while he sought the seat directly across from me. I was glad of the distraction, because up until that moment, I had been staring at him. Not his face, nor the slight-blue colour to his skin, but his body. Everything from his shoulders to his biceps, his abs to his back, it was all a collected mass of muscle that only swimming every hour of every day could craft. I was glad we were underwater, because I was quite sure I drooled. Which was as disgusting as it sounds.

He wasn’t exactly making it easy as he stared at me across the table, that suggestive curve to his lips as enticing as ever.

Killian nudged me and I snapped back into the Olivia that had more than a lizard brain.

“What is it that you want, Olivia?”

Queen Tonn had such a sweet face, such a soft voice, that it would have been easy to consider that a genuine question. Except my time with the pixies had revealed their sly, ulterior motives.

Killian went to pull the necklace from his pocket, but I placed a hand on his and stilled him.

“Saoghal is changing, Your Majesty, and I wish to speak to you about it.”

She scoffed as she crossed her arms over her chest. “I knew that slimy King would stoop so low, but I am surprised that you would.”

Killian was quick to object. “Hold on–”

Queen Tonn turned a furious, seaweed-shrivelling gaze to him. “You are her shield, are you not?”

Killian looked so proud as he nodded.

“Then stay as one. Be quiet.”

Prepared to protest in support of his honour I went to open my mouth, only for Killian to grab onto my hand and squeeze.

Not the time, that silent statement said.

I was just so sick of everyone looking at Killian that way. Like he was nothing more than a sword and a shield. There was so much more to him.

But he was right, this wasn’t the time.

“We shall hear her out all the same, Mother.” Tadgh was a whole new level of sly, something a little more malicious yet mischievous than Raegan. Something that I knew not to completely trust, whereas I saw Raegan as one of the only ones I could trust.

I nodded my thanks to him and turned back to Queen Tonn. “I am not here on behalf of King Raegan.”

I didn’t miss the way her face scrunched at his title or his name.

“Yes, he wanted me to speak with you, but my reasons for coming are my own.”

That was enough to intrigue her. Killian, too, who looked at me as if he didn’t know me.

“I am listening,” Queen Tonn said.

“I do not claim to be well versed in politics. Even less in the ways of the pixies. So let me put this as simply as I can, Queen Tonn – Saoghal will not survive a war of the kingdoms.”

Tadgh’s interest piqued then, too. He placed his elbows on the table and leaned against his wrists.

“You are correct,” Queen Tonn sighed. “I do not believe there will be much of it left. But that does not mean it will not come to pass.”