Shapeshifter by Holly Bennett

Author:Holly Bennett [Bennett, Holly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUV000000
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Published: 2010-03-31T20:00:00+00:00

FOURTEEN

Daireann was white-faced with shock.

“What do you mean, leave off ? We are to be married!”

Far shook his head. His eyes were tender and sad.

“No longer, I fear. Your father and grandfather have set themselves against us.”

“Oh, and what of it?” She tossed her hair back with a sniff. “They were against my mother’s match as well, but she made her own decision and is the happier for it. Do we need their approval to live our lives?”

“Daireann, stop.” The voice, still gentle, held a hint of the cold iron will at its core. “I will not show our great ones such disrespect as to defy their wishes for their family. And I will not cut you off from your own people.”

Daireann flung herself at him, clinging to the blue silk of his tunic, stroking his chest, trying desperately to spark in him the love she thought they shared.

“I don’t care about that! I don’t care about them! Far, I love you and you love me. The rest doesn’t matter.”

But he was prying her away from him, holding her back with a stiff, locked arm. His expression cold, the iron unsheathed.

“Leave me.” The words were flung at her like a blade, and she flinched as if they could actually cut. The green eyes bored into her, held her like a vice. “I do not love you. I will not marry you. You will leave my sight and never approach me again, or I will take up my rod and compel you.”

She backed away slowly. Now she saw the sorcerer that others feared, and yes, she was afraid, so afraid her legs drained of their strength and could hardly hold her. But she was also, more than ever, attracted to his power. She had been his chosen one, his love, and now he cast her off as carelessly as a cloak.

Suddenly she was released from his gaze. The handsome face became dreamy and faraway. His hand clutched at the pendant at his neck.

“She stirs,” he murmured. “She reveals herself at last.” His lips curled into a small, private smile. “And where have you ended up, my pretty one?”

Finally Daireann understood. Her fear was subsumed in her rising anger. The blood rose hot in her face, her legs grew strong again with rage.

“It’s her!” She fairly spat the word out. “This has all been about her! You never gave her up at all.”

The green eyes locked on hers once more. His smile was cruel and careless. “And yet you proved to be of little use. A waste of time, in fact.”

Red with humiliation, Daireann could hardly wait to be rid of the sight of him. But she had never been one to give up the last word.

“Go to her then,” she snarled. “Spend your life chasing after your precious Sive, for all it is to me.” She turned, trying mightily to sweep grandly out of the room when everything in her wanted to run.

And as she went through the door, talking more to herself than to Far, she said, “I hope she has gone to Finn.

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