House of Pounding Hearts (The Kingdom of Crows #2)(110)

“Then you will doom them all, for if a single one of your crows falls to obsidian dipped in Shabbin blood, you will never be whole again, Mórrgaht.”

“Oh my Gods.” I take a step back, because I have Shabbin blood, and yes, at the moment, all of it is contained in my veins, but I will not risk—

Your magic is bound, and unless I’m mistaken, you’re in possession of no obsidian stake. To everyone else, Lore says, “I will use a sword to remove his head. I was good with swords once upon a time.”

“You’d risk all our lives?”

“You give me too little credit, Cian.”

“I did not mean to slight you, Lore.” My uncle drags Bronwen closer even though little space exists between their bodies. “But my mate has finally found a way to remove our weakness. It’s been a collective dream of ours for centuries, and your unwillingness to heed her words baffles me.”

Rain lashes at the mountain, filling the cavern in which we stand with the sound of a thousand drums. “I took an oath, Cian.” Lore’s gaze cycles around the room, over the wide-eyed black stares fastened to him before stopping on the door that leads to the rest of his kingdom. “An oath to guide and protect each one of you until you decide to live out your days as forever-Crows. What sort of king would I be if I hid behind a magical wall and let you fend for yourselves?”

Colm shakes his head. “You cannot call it hiding when—”

“The Crows who took refuge in Shabbe still cannot shift,” Lore rasps. “My call does not carry through the wards.”

“I stand with Cian and Bronwen,” my father says.

“Of course, you do, Cathal. Your daughter would be safest in Shabbe. In truth, I should send her—”

You’re not sending me anywhere.

Lore’s mouth thins. I could not, anyway, for I am too selfish a man.

The Sky King is many things: impossible, controlling, possessive, infuriating—

Do I have any redeeming qualities?

You’re nicely muscled?

He must not have been expecting that because, in the middle of the storm he is waging both outside and inside his realm, his mouth curves with a smile destined only for me.

I’m so lost in the white glow of his teeth and honeyed shine of his eyes that I fail to register that Lore’s smoke has turned into an arm and a hand that are towing me into the body attached to them. The realization sets my cheeks ablaze.

Like you said, Behach ?an, the crow is out of the bag.

“Fallon?” My father’s voice tears my gaze from Lore’s.

“I’m sorry, Dádhi. What?”

“Pack your things.” He whirls on his tall boots.

“Pack my . . .?”

“I’m flying you to Shabbe.” He’s already striding toward the tavern’s exit.

Lore must yell into my father’s mind because the huge man stalls in the doorway and glares over his shoulder.

“You may be my king, but she is my daughter, Lore.”

“And you may be my closest friend, but she is my mate, Cathal. You will not take her away from me.”

I pull away from Lore and stick a hand on my hip. “I’ll remind the two of you that I’m endowed with both an opinion and a voice.” The twin glowers they hurtle my way make my chin lift a fraction.

“Which she will not be using.” Phoebus clasps his wineglass between whitening knuckles, a grimace scoring his pretty face. Please, he mouths.

But I use it. “Until Meriam is bled dry, I will stay here.”

My father’s dark eyes simmer with rage. “You set even a toe outside the Sky Kingdom, ínon,” my father says, “and I’m carrying you to Shabbe. Is that clear? And, Lorcan, find someone else to send on your fool’s errands to Nebba, because I’ll be staying right here with my daughter. It’s about time we bond.” My father’s smile is rather terrifying. “I’ll be by to pick you up at sunup, Fallon.” As he becomes one with the darkened hallway, he adds, “I recommend you get to bed soon. And alone.”

Oh. My. Gods. My father did not just say that.

Body temperature near combustion, I look up at Lore, who is simpering at the blackened space which used to house my father’s body. I try to press away from the Sky King, if only to allow fresh air to sweep around my skin and into my lungs, but there’s no give to Lore’s hold.

How can you smile at a time like this?

Lore’s gaze falls on my mouth. The most magnificent woman in the room belongs to me and everyone, including herself, is finally aware of it. How in the world could I not smile?

I wet my lips with my tongue. Because this woman’s father wants to delimb you. As for belonging—

You are mine, mo khrá. The same way that I am yours. From now until the end of time.

His declaration of everlasting love not only steals my breaths but also my heartbeats. They tumble from my chest into my bloodstream, then press against my skin, desperate to penetrate Lorcan and gather inside his fierce heart.

His thumb sweeps across the indent at my waist. We should get you fed.

I blink out of my daze, puzzled by his change of subject, until I hear the riotous gurgle of my stomach.

You will need sustenance before we retire.

“You mean, before my morning excursion?”