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Ash
“I don’t want a fucking drink,” I seethed, still being dragged along by Mol. “Get the fuck off me.”
“Not until you calm down,” Mol said cheerfully, stoking my rage further. “A nice cup of ale will help you—”
“Enough.”
Nua’s furious voice stopped Mol in her tracks. Her fair eyebrows rose as she turned to look at him marching toward us.
“Let go of him,” Nua bit out, green eyes flashing with rage.
Mol did, finally releasing my sore ear and lifting her hands into the air placatingly. “Now, prince, I was only trying to—”
“Stop treating him like an unruly child.” Nua wrapped his arm around me protectively. I felt like a child as I huddled into his side, rubbing at my ear. “He is allowed to be angry. He is allowed to be devastated. He has already lost so much, and you are acting like he should just accept the fact that Lonan is gone, just like he was expected to accept everything else that has happened to him in such a short span of time.
“He lost his parents. Parents who loved him, who gave him a happy life before all of this.” He pointed at Fioda, who was watching calmly. “You don’t have parents, so you can’t know what that feels like. He lost his home. He lost his entire life and was forced into this one, and he is trying to make the best of it, to do what’s right, and he is allowed to struggle. He is allowed to find it difficult. You have no right to speak to him that way, let alone touch him, hurt him.”
Nua exhaled a steadying breath and stood taller, his fingers tightening on my arm. “I apologise for losing my temper. But if you hurt Ash again, Mol, I’m afraid I will have to hurt you back.”
Fioda’s calm expression hadn’t changed, but Mol looked stunned. Then, after a beat of silence, she burst out into loud, hearty laughter.
“My goodness, prince. That was quite unexpected.”
Nua stiffened against me. “It is not funny.”
Mol sobered, glancing at Fioda as she took a step back and crossed her thick arms. “You’re right. I apologise. I’m sorry, little king,” she said to me. “I shouldn’t have done that. I just get protective of my lady.”
“I’m sorry too, Ash.” Fioda stepped closer and gestured towards the forest. “I am not trying to patronise you by keeping you here for now, but you must let Lonan do what he needs to. And I know it is irritating to hear, but you are very young for a king, and you have only just become full fae. I am trying to help you, not hurt you.”
I rubbed my face, suddenly feeling exhausted. “If I’m so unsuitable, why am I king? Nua would be better at it than me.”
“If it only came down to that, do you really think the likes of the Carlin and the Brid would end up on the throne?” Mol asked. “No one makes those decisions, laddie. Not even the Higher Spirits. They are just decided. They just happen.”
Even though I’d hated the idea of the Higher Spirits deciding every part of my life, that answer didn’t make me feel much better. I sagged into Nua’s side, feeling weary and restless at the same time. My mind wanted to shut down, to not think of anything at all, but churned with worry for Lonan.
Where was he? Was he alright?
“Come on, king.” Mol’s voice had softened as she took Fioda’s hand and the pair of them slowly started walking towards the palace. “Let’s go sit and have a drink. You’ll feel better.”
I shook my head, but let Nua lead me after them. “I don’t want a drink.”
“Some water, at least,” Nua murmured, squeezing my arm. “And some rest. It has been a trying day, Ash. There is nothing you can do for now. You must trust that Lonan knows what he is doing. He’s smart and capable.”
I didn’t think those things would necessarily help when it came to facing the Carlin, but I knew if I started talking about it, I’d just get murderously angry again. I was tired of being angry all the time. I was tired of feeling like I had no control over myself.
Gillie met us in the front hall of the palace, looking worried. The guards had scattered, and the palace staff seemed to be avoiding the area. Avoiding me.
“Are you alright, lad?” Gillie approached, his silver eyes concerned. He looked at Nua. “What happened, love?”
As we followed Mol and Fioda into the main dining room, Nua squeezed my shoulder before letting go so he and Gillie could step away. I stared blankly at the dining table as I listened to my brother murmuring behind me, explaining everything that had happened to Gillie. Mol had vanished, but Fioda gestured me over.
I licked my lips and walked towards her, my steps stilted. “Please,” I said when I reached her. “Please. Just let me go and see for myself that he—”
“I’m sorry, Ash,” she interrupted. “But not yet.”
The back of my throat ached. “Please—”
“Seven days.” She gently took my hand between both of hers, solid gold irises gleaming in the afternoon sun coming through the windows. “Just wait seven days, and then you can go.”
