Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 127026 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 635(@200wpm)___ 508(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127026 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 635(@200wpm)___ 508(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
“I have not seen its like in a long time,” Titania said. She brought the ring up to the light and twirled it once. “Fath don mes gathrian de noux.”
Fordham’s eyes widened. “Find no passage through me.”
“Correct,” Titania said.
“That is the Ring of Endings,” he said reverently.
“It has been called that. But when it was forged by my son Belenus, he wanted to create an object that could harness his power of healing.”
“Healing?” Fordham choked. “Isn’t it known for vanquishing its enemies?”
“Life and death are two sides of the same coin.”
Kerrigan blinked at them both. “What are you talking about? I was given this for my eighteenth name day because it’s immune to magic.”
“That is one of its characteristics. More a consequence than its purpose. After all, it did not stop you from entering my abode.”
“Then, what does it do?”
Titania’s eyes glittered with mirth. “It depends on the intention of that who wields it.” She placed the ring back on Kerrigan’s finger. “Take care with this.”
Kerrigan pressed her hand to the ring, which felt much heavier than when Dozan had slipped it onto her finger a few days earlier. “I will.”
“Now, my wishes have been fulfilled,” Titania said with a knowing smile. “I will permit you to stay with me for the evening, and tomorrow, you will leave with my blessing.”
“Even me?” Kerrigan forced between her lips.
Titania lifted her chin. “Even you.”
“In these tales, the human is meant to stay forever.”
“You’re not human though, are you?”
“Half-Fae,” Kerrigan blurted out, as if the mother of Fae couldn’t tell the difference.
Titania’s smile was full of mischief. “It would be a test of wills to see if I could stop you.”
Kerrigan gaped at her, but Fordham guffawed. “At least she can read you.”
“Now, baths for the both of you and then bed. Morning will come sooner than you know.”
And there was nothing to do but agree.
When Titania, the mother of Fae, told them to bathe and bed down, they went without complaint.
32
THE ONLY BED
The bath was glorious. Kerrigan hadn’t known how much she needed it until she was dipped into the hot spring and scrubbed clean by a pair of Fae. She wanted to ask where they had come from, but having met Titania, she realized some things were beyond understanding.
Once she was towel-dried and her hair heated until it was no longer wet, a fresh navy silk robe waited for her. She drew it around her body and stepped into the adjoining room.
Fordham sat with his back to the door she had entered. He was draped in a black-and-silver robe of the finest quality. His head bowed over a piece of parchment as his fingers flew over the page.
“Sad broody-boy poetry?” she teased, leaning against the doorframe.
He jerked around in surprise. “Kerrigan.” His throat bobbed. “I thought you’d have your own room.”
“Apparently, there’s only one bed.”
Fordham arched an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
“I’m not going to question it.”
“We just walked through a palace the size of Kinkadia. She can surely give you a second room.”
“I’m sure she could,” Kerrigan said, crossing to where he stood. “Are you going to question her judgment?”
He paled slightly. “No, that doesn’t seem wise.”
“I agree.”
She dropped her hands onto his shoulders and then slid into his lap. His arms came around her waist, tugging her close to him. He buried his face into her neck and breathed her in.
“Here I thought, you’d prefer me to sleep elsewhere,” she teased.
He nipped at her shoulder. “I wasn’t sure we’d ever have this moment.”
“Whose fault is that?” she demanded.
His gray eyes were wide and sincere. “I can admit when I was wrong.”
“Can you? I’d like to hear it then.”
He laughed softly. “I was wrong. I should never have left you behind. I couldn’t have survived this place without you.”
“Oh,” she whispered, leaning back against his chest. “Oh, that was very good. I like that very much.”
“You’re insufferable,” he said with an arched eyebrow. Then, he brought her lips up to meet his. “But you are mine.”
“Mmm,” she groaned against his lips. “That, I am. And we just faced down Titania together.”
“The mother of the Fae,” he breathed. “Who knew she was still alive?”
“I have no idea how it’s possible. She spoke about her children as if it had been days since she’d seen them, not millennia.”
“And your ring.” He found it against her thumb and circled it. “I cannot believe you bear the Ring of Endings.”
“Dozan would be very displeased if he learned its true identity.”
“Dozan,” Fordham said with a sigh. “Why am I not surprised? He gave this to you?”
She nodded. “It was as much a good-bye as a name day present.”
“A good-bye? Where is he going?”
Kerrigan pushed his chest. “I think he realized that I would never give up on you. That I had already made my choice.”
“That never stopped him before.”