Beyond the Pale: A Thin Veil Novella (The Thin Veil Book 3) (2 page)

Kier stood and walked purposefully toward him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and looked directly into his eyes. “The fact that you have this gift—and have chosen not to use it—makes you an even greater man in my eyes. Of course I still want to be with you. You’re the only one I want, Lorcan.”

Later that day, Kier waited nervously in her parents’ grandiose sitting room. The Departing ceremony was only three days away. She had considered keeping her new relationship with Lorcan from them, for fear that they would forbid it. But she wanted them to know how happy he made her, particularly since they would soon be so far away. Her happiness had never seemed to be their first consideration, but perhaps things had changed now that they were about to say goodbye.

She remembered how cold they had been when they first told her they were leaving Tír na nÓg. As much as she had tried to hide her feelings, her tears had betrayed her.

“Come, child, do not sully our goodbye with these dark emotions,” her father had said.

“I’m not a child anymore, Father,” she had answered, tilting her chin to meet his eyes. “But I still do not understand why you must go. What is lacking for you here in Tír na nÓg?”

“It is as I’ve told you. This world is too small for those of us who hail from the Four Cities. I know you believe Tír na nÓg is the most beautiful of all lands, but it pales in comparison with our true home. Each city glows with a magnificence beyond your wildest imagination. They are like four precious jewels, set apart from all worlds. Tír na nÓg is pleasant enough as a temporary home. But it is time for us to return to our land of origin, and it is a journey we must take alone. I wish you could come with us, but that is impossible.”

“And you can’t make it possible?”

Her father had smiled down on her indulgently, but Kier hadn’t felt like smiling back. “There are limits to even our power. Only those born in the Four Cities can ever return; it is the nature of the place.”

Kier had nodded grimly, knowing there was nothing she could say to change his mind. All the Elders of the Tuatha Dé Danann would leave Tír na nÓg, never to return. The only one who would remain was Brighid, but she no longer lived in Tír na nÓg. She had long ago abandoned her people to live on Ériu with the humans.

Kier was brought suddenly back to the present when her mother and father entered the room. She stood to embrace them.

“I’m so glad you’re here, Kier,” her mother said, smiling widely. “We have wonderful news for you.”

“I have news for you, as well,” Kier said, her heart fluttering.

“Our news first, darling,” her mother replied. She took a deep breath. “Consider this our parting gift to you—the greatest gift you’ll ever receive.” She exchanged a significant look with Kier’s father, who cleared his throat.

“Our family is one of the oldest and wisest of our people. We have had much influence and respect in Tír na nÓg. This is a tradition you must uphold in your new role—as queen.”

Kier took a step back, almost tripping on her dress. They couldn’t possibly mean what they had just said.

Kier’s mother mistook her look of horror for one of shocked surprise, and beamed at her. “That’s right. You are to marry the new High King, Brogan mac Airgetlam. It has all been arranged. The wedding will take place just before the Departing ceremony.”

“But…I do not wish to marry the High King,” Kier said once she had recovered her voice. She knew her parents had been meeting regularly with the new king and his grandfather, the Elder and former High King Nuadu Airgetlam, but she had assumed it was in preparation for the Departing. She had never imagined that they were planning her future. Sparks flew from her palms without warning, and she clenched them together.

Her father frowned. “Do not speak such nonsense. It is the highest honor. Do you know how much of our influence we had to wield in order to secure this agreement?”

“You should be pleased,” her mother said. “Brogan is handsome beyond measure, and will make a powerful king.”

“But I hardly know him. And that’s what I wanted to tell you. I’m in love with someone else,” Kier said.

“Who?” her father asked, his eyes darkening.

It was too late to turn back now. “Lorcan,” Kier said, tilting her chin up. “I know you don’t—”

Her father cut her off with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Lorcan? He is but a minor son of a minor house. You hardly know him, and all the better. It is time to put such childish infatuations aside and embrace your destiny.”

“This isn’t my destiny!” Kier said, feeling her cheeks grow hot. “And you are choosing it for me! Lorcan’s family connections mean nothing to me. He is clever and interesting and thoughtful, and he loves me.”

“He doesn’t even have an ability,” her father said. “He’s practically human, which is ironic given his well-known hatred for that race.”

Kier bit her lip. She had promised Lorcan she would keep his secret. “He doesn’t hate humans, he is merely proud of our great race—just as you are, Father.”

“Kier, you will be happy in this match,” her mother said in a soothing tone. “Brogan is a wonderful man, and you will look ravishing by his side. Surely you can see this is the best decision for you. We want to know that you are taken care of when we are no longer here.”

“I don’t want to look ravishing, Mother. I want to live my own life.”

“That’s enough,” her father snapped. “The decision has been made. You say you are not a child…well, stop acting like one. Can’t you see how you make your mother suffer?”

Kier didn’t see how her mother was suffering at all, but she held her tongue.

“You have been preparing for this your whole life, whether you realized it or not,” her mother said. “The people of Tír na nÓg will be privileged to have you as their queen. We did not make this decision lightly. We did it for you. Now kiss me, and tell me you will be happy. For you will, I assure you of that.”

“And if I refuse?” Kier asked stiffly.

“That is not an option,” her father said. “The arrangements have all been made. What woman in her right mind would not want to be queen? To refuse would be an unforgivable insult to us—and the king. You will do this for the honor of our family. Swear that you will.”

Kier glared at her father, but she knew him well enough to know there was no use in arguing. She had never gone against her parents’ wishes; she did not think she would be able to start now, particularly if this was their final wish for her. And if the king and his grandfather had already agreed to the engagement, nothing could be done. She felt the blood drain from her face as the truth sunk in. She would have to say goodbye to Lorcan…and marry the king.

“I swear it,” she whispered.

“Good,” her father said, letting out a loud breath. “Now all is settled. Your mother is right, you will be happy in this match.”

“I need to go,” Kier said.

“Where?” her father asked, a threat in his voice.

“I need to tell Lorcan. He deserves to hear it from me.”

Her father looked as though he wanted to argue, but her mother stepped between them. “Say your goodbyes, and then dress for dinner. We are dining with the king tonight.”

Kier left, holding in her tears until she had stepped into the bright sunshine. Then she doubled over, letting the full impact of her parents’ announcement take its toll. She sat crying in the grass for several horrible minutes, but forced herself to her feet as soon as she was able, lest someone see her in such a disgraceful position. She tried to steel her resolve as she walked in the direction of her lover’s home, her hair billowing in her wake like a golden cloud. Pink blossoms rained down on her as she passed under the cherry trees, and the brook running beside her seemed to leap with joy whenever she came near. She glared at it. Couldn’t the land feel her pain?

When she reached Lorcan’s home, she stood uncertainly outside his door. She had never been afraid to enter before. The entrance to his home was inside a ring of stones, each the size of a man’s hand.
I must tell him
, she reminded herself. Then she took a step inside the stones. For a moment, nothing happened, and she wondered if he had already heard the news and would refuse to speak with her. Then the stones began to glow, as though shot through with bright blue veins, and she felt herself start to spin, as she had so many times before.

When she stopped spinning, she was in a large, sparsely furnished room with high ceilings and tall, narrow windows that opened onto an enchanted sky. He was standing at the far end of the room, his back to her. He was tall and well-built, his blond hair brushing the tops of his shoulders. He turned at the sound of her footsteps, a smile dancing on his lips.

“Did you tell them about us? Let me guess—they don’t approve. But it doesn’t matter, they’ll be gone in three days, and we can do what we want.”

She started to walk toward him. “Lorcan, something has happened.”

His teasing expression changed the moment he saw the tears on her face. “Did they hurt you?” he demanded, all teasing gone.

“No, of course not,” she said. “But…things have changed. They have apparently been making arrangements for me to marry the High King, Brogan. The wedding is to take place in three days, just before the Departing ceremony.”

He stared at her, frozen in place. “Refuse to do it,” he said.

“I’m so sorry… I don’t have a choice.” Her voice was but a whisper.

He turned from her abruptly. She grabbed his arm and pulled him around to face her. “Lorcan, please. I am as devastated as you are.”

He looked at her then, with those deep blue eyes she knew so well. “I doubt that,” he said. Then he pulled her into a tight embrace. She crumbled inside his arms, letting the sobs wrack her body as he held her together. After a long moment, he pulled back and cupped her face, wiping the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. “Do not cry, my darling Kier. We can fix this. You don’t have to go through with it.”

Trying to stifle her sobs, Kier lifted her bloodshot eyes to his. “But I do. I cannot break off the engagement. I…I swore to my parents that I would not.”

Lorcan’s gaze deepened into a scowl. “Then break your vow. You are not some token to be passed around to whomever they choose.”

She wanted to believe him, wanted to think that this was just a horrible dream from which she would soon wake. But the weight of a heavy stone in her stomach told her otherwise. Sometimes there is no happy ending. “I am the only daughter of our great family. I must do my duty. I cannot dishonor my lineage.”

“Then you dishonor yourself,” he said, jerking away from her.

She winced as if he had slapped her. Lorcan ran his hands roughly through his hair and started pacing, his movements jerky. “You deserve so much more, Kier! Brogan mac Airgetlam is not worthy of you. He is cocksure and vain, and only has passable skills as a warrior. He spends more time on Ériu than he does here, soiling himself with human contact. The Elders chose him as king simply because he is the only one left with the sidhe-gift.”

“Let’s not spend our last moments together quarreling,” Kier urged. “Now that I am betrothed, it will be difficult for me to see you alone. I just came to say…that I love you, but this must be goodbye.” She felt the tears pressing hard against her eyes again, and fought to keep her composure.

He stared at her long and hard, as though trying to memorize her face. Then he gripped her tightly by the shoulders. “No,” he said. “I will not lose you to that swaggering idiot.”

“Lorcan, please, you must accept this. If you act against the king he will lock you away—or worse.”

Lorcan laughed, but it was not his normal laugh, not the one that still sent thrills up her spine. “Brogan is so sure of himself that he would not recognize treason if it were staring him in the face,” he said. “But do not worry, my dear. I will be cautious. I will never put you in danger.”

She shook her head. “Please, I couldn’t bear to see you hurt.” She turned to go, knowing if she stayed longer she might give in to his persuasion and break the vow she had made. As she neared the door, she stopped and turned to look at him once more. He stood tall and regal in the center of the room, his eyes fixed on her, his face expressionless.

“I would never have chosen this for myself,” she said. “I would have chosen you.”

She turned and walked through the door, but not before hearing his voice crack as he whispered, “Then why didn’t you?”

That evening Kier and her parents were joined by her older brother, Brion, who was captain of the Royal Guard. Kier and her brother had been close as children, but she hardly saw him anymore. He kissed her cheek.

“Well done, little sister,” he said, and she gave him a tight smile. He had always been the more ambitious sibling, and she was quite sure he was calculating how much his own prospects would be furthered by her new position.

Together they proceeded to the Hall, where the High King and his grandfather awaited them. Nuadu Airgetlam was an imposing figure. He had held the position of High King more than once during their people’s long history, and it was he who had spearheaded the creation of Tír na nÓg when the Danann left Ériu for good.

His grandson Brogan was very handsome. He had glowing skin, thick black curls, and a pronounced dimple in his cheek when he smiled. Kier knew him socially, before he became king, but had never considered him as a suitor…or a husband. He took her hand and kissed it. “Greetings, Kier,” he said softly.

She forced her lips into a smile and said, “Your Majesty.”

“I trust that this news was welcome?” he asked, almost shyly.

Kier hesitated, but the pressure of her father’s gaze made her nod. “Any woman would be pleased to be in my position,” she replied. The king was not so easily misled.

“And are
you
?” he asked, so quietly that only she could hear him.

Kier looked into the dark eyes that were fixed on hers. How honest could she be with this man who was about to become her husband? “I am striving to be, Your Majesty,” she said. “It was…unexpected.”