Page 73 of The Stolen Crown

I bolted upright, screaming.

“Mira!” Tait was at my side, hair loose around his brow, one palm near my shoulder, a little breathless.

Call it a bit of madness left over from the horrid nightmare, but I let my forehead fall to Tait’s chest, seeking a bit of warmth. He sucked in air through his teeth in a sharp hiss, but I could not find the strength to pull away.

The steady thrum of his heart soothed the flood of fear until I pulled back. “I did not mean to wake you. Sometimes I still see battles that are long over.”

Tait remained stiff, but his palm hovered near as though he might’ve been reaching out to touch me.

Slowly, I settled on my side and tucked my hands beneath my cheek. Tait maneuvered into a similar position to face me.

His brows furrowed. “I have nightmares of the war too. The only thing that’s calmed them so far are damn herb smokes.”

All at once, I did not mind his proclivity to smoke.

Emotion quivered on my chin. “I wish I could help keep them away until you get more. I’m sorry you were forced to fight when you were only a boy.”

Tait didn’t look away. “I’m sorry your house was tormented by mine.”

I rested a palm on Tait’s forearm. “You should not feel shame for your father’s actions.”

He did not respond, but I could see he did not agree.

After a pause, he arched his brow and his mouth curved upward. “You do not need to answer my next question.”

A cautious smile broke over my mouth. “Tait Hearttalker, I’ve yearned for the day you would be the first to inquire about me without grunting with reluctance.”

“I don’t grunt.”

“You are, in fact, the gruntiest.”

“Do you want to hear the question or not?”

I went quiet, utterly curious what a man of few words might finally wish to know.

“Why did the dark fae, who joined my father against you, hate your clan most? There is a reason you said your mother deserved the killing blow.”

I closed my eyes for one breath, two. “He was once my mother’s consort.”

Tait pulled himself up to sitting. “Truly?”

“Yes. Long before she met my father, of course. Battles that divided the earth fae centuries ago were spurred by his betrayal of her and the ancient fae kingdom.”

“Good hells.”

I nodded. “He wanted her power. Maj’s glamour is stronger than mere shapeshifting. It is like the blood crown of the Ever, in a way. Her power is chosen by the land to rule. He wanted it for himself, then planned to overthrow every other earth fae kingdom. But they fought him. He was wounded badly and disappeared into the sea.”

“And came to the Ever.”

“Yes. No one knew where he’d gone, of course.” I mimicked Tait’s position and sat up. “I know my mother has shielded me from the more horrid truths of her past, but…he tortured her when he was supposed to be the man who loved her. He”—I winced—“he let others use her for his twisted pleasure, all so he could break her into submission. I’m sure you’ve seen her scars.”

When I looked at Tait again, his face was pale, his fingers curled into white-knuckled fists.

“Anyway,” I said, “that is the dreary tale of why my mother deserved to kill him.”

“Did he ever touch you?” Tait spoke as though he’d swallowed a handful of sand.

“No. He only shouted threats of taking me. That was the nightmare, from the night he found us again. In the dream he always steals me away.” I hesitated. “No doubt he was a snake in the Ever as well.”