leg to heal. When she’d opened the bathroom door and seen Aed tugging at the window covering, there’d been something wrong with his face, almost as if he were wearing a mask—a mask carved in an exact replica of his features, but with none of the life of a real face.
That made her think that Aed’s actions were not his own, but the result of either orders or manipulation. And if that were the case, what else was a lie? Had he been ordered to sleep with her or merely ordered to give her what she wanted?
Isabel rubbed the heel of her hand up and down her breastbone. She hated that what had just happened between them was nothing more than a game, an intrigue.
Rolling herself up in the blanket, Isabel closed her eyes and willed herself to sleep, praying she didn’t dream about Aed.
The throne room of Tara was a place of unequaled beauty. The massive room was built of pale green and white crystal and stone. Towering white columns supported virescent marble beams on which huge curved ceiling panels of cream and pearl quartz rested. The double doors at the entrance were carved with Celtic patterns and phrases in a script and language Isabel didn’t recognize. The view from the threshold was breathtaking, with a smooth expanse of white marble floor guiding the eye to the dais at the far end. The support columns marched down either side of this pathway, obscuring the true breadth of the room.
Had she come here under other circumstances, Isabel would have loved to explore the space, to remark on the proportions and the materials. Her long life had given her opportunities to explore many interests, and in the last three hundred years that had included architecture.
But the vampire’s awe was hidden behind an impassive mask. Danger was all around her. She’d made one mistake since coming here yesterday, and trusting Aed had nearly proven fatal. She had not survived this long by making such a mistake more than once. She hadn’t slept well after the confrontation with Aed, but luckily she’d arrived a day early, meaning last night and today she’d been able to hole up in her room and rest in preparation for her meeting with the Tuatha de Danaan court.
“Isabel.” Aed spoke from just behind her. He’d been her escort to the throne room, but unlike their first night’s trek this one had been done in silence. “Be careful what you say. Do not show your strength. Do not make promises or accept gifts.”
Isabel ignored him, as she had since emerging from her chamber. He’d tried to start a conversation when she first opened the door, but she’d made it clear that she did not want to hear anything from him.
“You must protect yourself. There are those here who can influence your thoughts. Do not let your mind wander.”
His words had the ring of truth, his urgent tone that of a man imparting some secret wisdom. His warning reminded her of the strange look on his face when he’d tried to so clumsily kill her with sunlight. Maybe this was his way of telling her that he’d been influenced by someone else, or maybe he only wanted her to think he was innocent of any ill intentions as a way of luring her back into trusting him.
“Thank you, Sir Aed.” Isabel’s tone was formal and distant.
Aed shifted, metal clacking softly. “There are things I would say to you.”
Isabel’s heart clenched. “No, Aed. No more lies.”
“I have never lied to you.”
“You mean you have never spoken a lie. I heard about your people’s trick of always speaking the truth, but there are more ways to lie than with words.”
She’d lingered too long on the threshold. It wouldn’t be good to appear reluctant or hesitant. Skirt swishing over stone, Isabel started walking. The size of the chamber meant she couldn’t clearly see the throne, or the people seated there.
The closer she got, the more wary Isabel became. She’d assumed distance hid the occupants of the room from her view, but that was not the case.
The
That made her think that Aed’s actions were not his own, but the result of either orders or manipulation. And if that were the case, what else was a lie? Had he been ordered to sleep with her or merely ordered to give her what she wanted?
Isabel rubbed the heel of her hand up and down her breastbone. She hated that what had just happened between them was nothing more than a game, an intrigue.
Rolling herself up in the blanket, Isabel closed her eyes and willed herself to sleep, praying she didn’t dream about Aed.
The throne room of Tara was a place of unequaled beauty. The massive room was built of pale green and white crystal and stone. Towering white columns supported virescent marble beams on which huge curved ceiling panels of cream and pearl quartz rested. The double doors at the entrance were carved with Celtic patterns and phrases in a script and language Isabel didn’t recognize. The view from the threshold was breathtaking, with a smooth expanse of white marble floor guiding the eye to the dais at the far end. The support columns marched down either side of this pathway, obscuring the true breadth of the room.
Had she come here under other circumstances, Isabel would have loved to explore the space, to remark on the proportions and the materials. Her long life had given her opportunities to explore many interests, and in the last three hundred years that had included architecture.
But the vampire’s awe was hidden behind an impassive mask. Danger was all around her. She’d made one mistake since coming here yesterday, and trusting Aed had nearly proven fatal. She had not survived this long by making such a mistake more than once. She hadn’t slept well after the confrontation with Aed, but luckily she’d arrived a day early, meaning last night and today she’d been able to hole up in her room and rest in preparation for her meeting with the Tuatha de Danaan court.
“Isabel.” Aed spoke from just behind her. He’d been her escort to the throne room, but unlike their first night’s trek this one had been done in silence. “Be careful what you say. Do not show your strength. Do not make promises or accept gifts.”
Isabel ignored him, as she had since emerging from her chamber. He’d tried to start a conversation when she first opened the door, but she’d made it clear that she did not want to hear anything from him.
“You must protect yourself. There are those here who can influence your thoughts. Do not let your mind wander.”
His words had the ring of truth, his urgent tone that of a man imparting some secret wisdom. His warning reminded her of the strange look on his face when he’d tried to so clumsily kill her with sunlight. Maybe this was his way of telling her that he’d been influenced by someone else, or maybe he only wanted her to think he was innocent of any ill intentions as a way of luring her back into trusting him.
“Thank you, Sir Aed.” Isabel’s tone was formal and distant.
Aed shifted, metal clacking softly. “There are things I would say to you.”
Isabel’s heart clenched. “No, Aed. No more lies.”
“I have never lied to you.”
“You mean you have never spoken a lie. I heard about your people’s trick of always speaking the truth, but there are more ways to lie than with words.”
She’d lingered too long on the threshold. It wouldn’t be good to appear reluctant or hesitant. Skirt swishing over stone, Isabel started walking. The size of the chamber meant she couldn’t clearly see the throne, or the people seated there.
The closer she got, the more wary Isabel became. She’d assumed distance hid the occupants of the room from her view, but that was not the case.
The
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