Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 132138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 661(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 661(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
“You’re going to fight this until the end, aren’t you?” Lach asks. “Do you deny our claim on you? I know you feel the connection. So it has to be something else. Did you honestly believe what the hag said?”
The hag looked straight at me and said that all my husbands want out of me is a crown. She said they wouldn’t have a problem getting rid of me once they secured my kingdom.
I’m not at all sure they don’t want the crown. Certainly Gillian wants them to have it. But I am fairly sure of one thing. They don’t want me dead. The hag doesn’t understand what it means to be a bondmate. Lach and Shim might not believe in my abilities, but they want me alive. They need me.
“I’m not an idiot. I know you don’t want me dead.”
“And I don’t want your brothers’ crown. I’ll prove that to you when we go back to the Unseelie plane and stay the hell out of this war. Your brothers can have this plane. We have our own kingdom.”
And that’s just one of my problems. This is my plane. “You can’t expect me to walk out on this war.”
“I can and you will. This isn’t your war anymore. You’re the princess of the Unseelie, and you will rule over that plane. Your children will be in line for the Unseelie throne. I won’t allow you to stay here and be slaughtered for a crown that isn’t your own.”
My fists clench in frustration. This is exactly what I worried about the whole long trek to the river. And I can’t even think about children. Except I might have to. My marriage was consummated. I woke with the evidence of it all over my thighs, mingled with my virgin’s blood. And still, my children will be half-Seelie. And no matter what Lach says, until my brothers produce a child, I’m still in line for the throne and my children will be, too. In line for the throne and in Torin’s line of fire. “I am not leaving until Torin is dead.”
“You’ll do as your husbands request. And your brothers. They want you safe as well. They don’t want you in this fight.” He reaches for my hand, catching it before I can move away. “Come along. Shim is waiting for us. It’s time we had that talk.”
I hurry to keep up with him. “Talking requires one person to listen. I doubt that’s going to be you.”
A single shoulder moves up and down. “Shim was always the better listener.”
He’s frustrating. “Lach, would you abandon your plane if it was at risk?”
“Never really thought about it, and it’s not the same. This was never your kingdom. It belonged to your brothers.”
“By your definition the villagers shouldn’t have fought either, but they did. Not because this is their kingdom, but because it’s their home. It’s where they raise their children. It’s where their parents gave them birth. Damn it, you can’t expect me to leave.”
Lach stops, taking a deep breath. “I understand. I truly do, but you’re too important. I can’t allow it, and neither will Shim.”
I turn away from him. I’m not exactly sure what to do. I’m not stupid enough to go off on my own again. That was a spectacular failure, but I can’t let them haul me off the plane. I’ll be barefoot and pregnant in no time at all. I’ll be pregnant with babies who will probably be incredibly oversized and grow into ridiculously arrogant and handsome young men.
My brothers. My brothers will be more reasonable. Well, perhaps Cian will be more reasonable. He’ll see my worth.
“I’ll stay with you for the time being.” Until I can see my brothers and make them understand.
Lach’s voice rumbles out of his chest. “This marriage is for life and you know it. You’re caught and there’s no way out. Why are you acting like this, love? I don’t understand. You’re acting like you don’t know a thing about us, like you never kissed me, never held me. We’ve been together since we were children. All of my life, I’ve known you.”
I shake my head. “You might have been ready for this all your life, but I haven’t. I didn’t think it was real, and honestly, it wasn’t. It was a fantasy. I was a lonely child and an even lonelier young woman, and what do you truly know about me? I didn’t even know your names until recently.”
“Because you’re the broadcaster,” Lach explains. “Your psychic power is far stronger than either of ours. You broadcast your thoughts and emotions, but you didn’t listen very well.”
The thought makes me stop. “I didn’t know I was supposed to listen.”
“Well, Shim and I have spent all of our lives listening to you.”
“I know you love the feel of sunlight on your face.” Shim stands behind his brother, his eyes illuminated by the firelight. “I know that when you’re alone and all you can hear is the wind rushing through the wheat you planted and the sun is high in the sky, you feel powerful.”