Shay Mac Eoin.
The other male had eyes the color of the overhead sky, a bright, unblemished blue. His hair was silver, and long enough to reach his ears, straight as a pin, and floppy. His eyes were round, not unlike those of a seal, with long eyelashes to match.
Rainn Shallows.
I knew them. They weremine.
How could I forget?
“Is it because I’m dead?” I looked up from the basin. “Am I dead?” I’d already asked Manannán mac Lir, but the question bore repeating.
Belisama gave me a look. The kind she used to give when I asked silly questions as a youngling.
Cormac threw his arm around my shoulder and pulled me to his side.
But neither one answered my question.
“Tor...” I whispered, my vision blurred as my eyes filled with tears. “Shay... Rainn...” I turned to my mother. “Are they safe?”
Belisama shook her head and waved her hand over the basin. Darkness filled the water. I craned my neck and looked over, unable to see much of anything. A moment passed and then another, as I realized that the darkness differed from the movement of the water. A red eye flashed, and a silver claw. Over and over. Hundreds of beasts.
“Balor has found a way to bring the Fomorians to the Aos Sí. She has opened a doorway under the Twilight Lake. They have waited for her.” My mother said gravely.
“How long have they been sleeping?” Cormac demanded.
“Waiting, and multiplying.” My mother corrected. “I followed Balor to the Aos Sí, to ensure the Fomorians were never unleashed. I spent a thousand years, and I gathered several creeds to protect the lake. Those of the Aos Sí who had no home elsewhere. The Kelpies and the Selkies, who risked enslavement, from those who viewed Wild Fae as less. The Mer, cursed and unable to live above the surface without pain. The Undine, that risked being stolen for their adornments.” She closed her eyes and took a steady breath. “Under my rule, each creed was tasked with protecting the lake.”
“But you died.” I snapped, my eyes filling with tears again. “You’re a god, and you died.”
Belisama shook her head. “Balor took the life of my mortal host. With iron.”
“If you cared about the lake, you wouldn’t have let Irvine take the throne.” I retorted. “You would have seen Elaine for what she was. You’re a god, but Irvine wasn’t.”
“Irvine was the brother of my human host. Caroihme.” Belisama told me. “I had already killed his sister. I could not take his home or his life from him.”
“And Elaine?” Cormac interjected.
“Balor was exorcised from the Tuatha Dé Danann.” Belisama found the nearest chair and slumped down. No longerthe image of godlike grace, but a harried and haunted woman. “They were a ghost. A spirit. No more than air with intention. A thousand years passed in the Aos Sí without a sign of them. I thought they were no longer a threat.”
Cormac sucked his lips between his teeth, having lost patience with her theatrics.
Belisama waved her hand towards the basin before dropping her head.
Elaine Cruinn’s face filled the shallow pool.
“You stole him from me!”Elaine’s voice echoed from the basin.“You stole Calder! You made him a puppet!”
Belisama pinched her brow.
Before the basin could show us anything else, the robed attendant strode up the stairs. They rushed to Belisama and knelt down, whispering something in her ear.
Belisama paused, an expression of uncertainty claiming her face before she settled into serene calm. She stood up, but the movement was stilted. The basin cleared, as if sensing the interruption.
“There has been an unexpected arrival,” Belisama announced. “The Quorum will have to wait. Allow theGiollato show you to your rooms. We will reconvene when it’s convenient.”
There was no room for argument, as my mother swept away with a snap of white silk.
Chapter Fifteen
