ChapterEight
Aislinn
Now that Aislinn had left Seth resting in her chambers, she slid from who she was able to be with him and who she had to become with her court. Sometimes that transition felt like donning a mask. Sometimes it felt more natural than being around mortals. There was a part of her that still thought and felt mortal, but she was the living embodiment of Summer itself. That came with a level of languor and a level of temper that were constant reminders that she was not the mortal she had thought she’d been when she met Seth.
Today, she was more relaxed than she otherwise would be simply due to the fact that her beloved was home and had spent the night demonstrating how much he missed her.
“My queen?” Tavish, her now-healed advisor, prompted as she strolled into the room. With him were Siobhan, as well as the former Dark King and the current Dark King.
“Seth came home unexpectedly,” Aislinn offered with a shrug. “All is well. I was simply otherwise occupied.” She gave them all a wry look as she added, “Hismothersent him to me.”
Despite the edge in her voice, Tavish didn’t reply. Later, when she was feeling maudlin about Seth’s constant absence, they’d discuss it. For now, the Summer Queen motioned for her advisors to depart. Tavish was healed, but he wasn’t needed for this. Not that she didn’t trust him, but this conversation was not for anyone to know yet.
She settled on the floor of the greenhouse-like room, so the two tiny tiger cubs—which Irial had sent to her as gifts—could reach her. The cubs rolled and romped as if they’d always been a part of the Summer Court.
“Sorcha knew he was coming here,” Irial muttered.
“Exactly,” Aislinn said.
“Shesenthim, Iri,” Niall, the current Dark King, corrected. “Of course Sorcha knew Seth was here.”
“No, love, Sorcha knew mysonwas cominghere.” Irial scowled. “She sent Seth here because she knew of Urian’s intentions. She had to have seen what was liable to happen with Urian. So she sent Seth to calm Aislinn’s rage. It was a wise move. Summer can be temperamental.”
“Sitting right here,” Aislinn reminded the older faeries. Then she looked at the Dark King and asked, “How much of an incident will it be if I am attacked again? And if I defend myself against . . . him?”
“Less so than if Winter intervenes,” Irial muttered. “You are, at the least, family to Urian. As his great-niece, you could posit that this was merely family squabbles. His actions would not be the same if Urian were to strike Winter. If he attacksthem, there will be consequences.”
“As would there be if he were to attack my court,” Niall added mildly, and Aislinn took a strange comfort at seeing the abyss guardians—seemingly sentient shadows--cling to him and his consort as he continued, “Winter or Dark would not be so tolerant with Urian as you are being.”
“But you’re . . .” Aislinn gestured between the two men, not quite knowing the words here. They weren’t wed, but there was no one who could doubt their bond.
“In love? Setting up a future? Enjoying naked hours together?” the current Dark King suggested. “Nothing there is official, Aislinn. Whatever I feel or do not feel for Irial—”
“He loves me,” Irial interjected with a smug look. “Despite my manymanyflaws, he loves me. He even admits it sometimes.”
Aislinn bit back a laugh at Niall’s frustrated expression. The Dark King—once advisor to her court—was not forthright or public with affections, but he’d become unhinged when Irial was attacked and hovering on the edge of permanent death. There was no doubt of their feelings.
The Dark King still glanced at Irial and said, “Mustyou interrupt me?”
“You’re basically her grandfather now, too, you know. It’s important for children to see examples of loving relationships.” Irial folded his arms and gave Niall a chastising look. “You know that. I bookmarked several chapters.”
“He’s reading parenting books,” Niall muttered to Aislinn. “He’s started a list of what he calls ‘love affirmations’—gifts, acts of service, quality time.”
The Summer Queen laughed. For most of her life she’d been afraid of the Dark Court, but there was something in the way they loved that was more familiar to her than the High Court or Winter Court ever could be. Dark Court love was all-consuming, destroy-the-world, grand gesture.
“I’ll have you both know I’m being perfectly reasonable,” Irial said, beaming at her. “I have missed so much time with you, though. I will be an excellent grandfather to you. You just wait.”
“I didn’t agree . . .” Aislinn flinched a little at not knowing what fathers or grandfathers exactlydid. She’d never had a father or a grandfather, and the idea of accepting what was tantamount to an alliance with the Dark Court made her pause.
“Could we please address the topic at hand?” Niall’s tone was stern, but no one there could miss the look in his eyes as he glanced at the embodiment of Chaos. The Dark King was in agreement that Irial would be a fabulous grandfather—and very visibly in love with him.
“Urian thinks he has a legitimate claim to my throne and yours,” Aislinn said, grateful for the save. She scooped one of the tiger cubs into her arms. “Does he?”
“Not in my opinion.” Niall’s abyss guardians snapped out, protecting his boots from the other tiger cub, which kept trying to bite and claw the leather. “I was declared the next Dark King centuries before this boy was born.”
“You rejected it. You left me,” Irial reminded him. “My fault, but you offered fealty to the Summer, so . . . when he was born--”
“And yet, here I am, Irial. The Dark Court is mine. Any attacks against my sovereignty will be met with extreme clarification.” Niall’s tone made Aislinn grateful that they had a peace of sorts between their courts.