Beyond the Pale: A Thin Veil Novella (The Thin Veil Book 3) by McIsaac Jodi

Author:McIsaac, Jodi [McIsaac, Jodi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: A Thin Veil Novella
Published: 2014-02-15T18:30:00+00:00

* * *

Kier hurried back to the Hall to tell Brogan about the prophecy. If they could find this dyad, perhaps they could avoid war after all. She ran ahead of her guards, who stayed outside once she entered the royal living quarters.

“Brogan!” she called, before almost running right into him. He looked surprised to see her, and a strange expression crossed his face. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing,” he answered quickly. “Were you not going to spend the day at the library?”

“I was, but—” she started to answer, then paused. “Are those…herbs?” Clutched in Brogan’s hand was a large cloth bag that smelled distinctly of oriendal leaves. “Where are you going?”

“Just taking these…to Felix,” Brogan muttered.

There was the sound of breaking glass from behind them. Kier turned to see the shards of the goblet of Manannan mac Lir lying on a side table. Brogan swore. “I forgot that was there,” he said. “I mean—”

“Apparently I should be grateful that Ruadhan left it here,” Kier said, as the truth began to sink in. “Where are you really going?”

Brogan looked nervously at the shattered goblet, then back at his wife. “She’s learning herb-lore,” he said quietly. Out of the corner of her eyes, Kier saw the goblet reforming, but she kept her gaze fixed on her husband.

“You told me you had closed that sidh,” she said, unable to hide the shaking in her voice. Her blood was pounding in her veins, and she closed her fists to keep fire from escaping them.

“I did,” he said quickly. “But…I have reopened it. On occasion.”

“Are you insane?” she burst out. “Is this all a game to you? Lorcan wants to conquer Ériu. He wants to kill and enslave your precious humans. And yet you are leaving a sidh open for him to go through?”

“Ruadhan closes it,” he muttered, his face turning red.

“Oh really? Every time? He just sits around waiting for you to come back so he can close the sidh? It’s never just there, waiting for someone to find it?”

“It’s very well hidden,” he said sharply. “You yourself have said it: I am the king, and I can do as I like.”

“Not if it brings about the destruction of an entire world!” Kier screamed. She was starting to feel quite hysterical, so she took several deep, calming breaths. “Listen,” she said after a long, slow exhale. “It is obvious that you care about this woman very much. And that’s something we can talk about—later. But if you truly love her, you need to close that sidh. You must ensure there is no way Lorcan can get to Ériu. He hates you. Think of what he would do if he found her. If nothing else sways you, perhaps that should.”

Kier felt her anger draining away as exhaustion overtook her. She didn’t even realize she was falling until she hit the floor, and then all was dark.

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