\u201cThesan,\u201d Seamus suddenly barked. \u201cI know you\u2019re about, girl. Show yourself and be braver than your mother ever dared to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mocking laughter rang out from all sides as the group paused, slowly backing into a cluster, backs together. Marin slowly drew an arrow from her quiver and readied her bow. Thom\u2019s sword rasped quietly from its scabbard and he touched his wife\u2019s arm briefly.<\/p>\n
\u201cBraver than her?\u201d a woman\u2019s voice asked. Try as they might, it was impossible for them to tell where the sound was actually coming from. \u201cShe was hardly a coward, Father. The only thing she feared<\/em> was my grandfather\u2014and my<\/em> temper. Rightfully so, I should think, for a woman who consistently deprived her only child of anyone who might have loved her.\u201d<\/p>\n Seamus stiffened. Leinth grasped his free hand and squeezed hard.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t let her bait you,\u201d Leinth whispered. \u201cHer being the way she is isn\u2019t your fault.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI beg to differ, Auntie.\u201d A slender, blonde figure melted out of the rubble. A dark gown garbed her, the hem of her velvet cloak pooled around her feet as she slowly approached them. Her eyes were bright and blue even in the dim of predawn. \u201cMaybe if he\u2019d had the godsdamned balls to stand up to her, I wouldn\u2019t be the way I am.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGive him back, Thesan,\u201d Seamus said softly. \u201cYou have no quarrel with my cousin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOn the contrary, if you don\u2019t agree to my terms, he\u2019s my only hope of winning you over. Either way, he\u2019s a means to an end.\u201d She smiled and it shot shivers down Thom\u2019s spine even though the expression wasn\u2019t directed at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou see,\u201d she continued, \u201cthe Hecate wants him. She wants him bad enough that she\u2019ll give just about anything to claim him. If you refuse me, all I have to do is give him to her and I get her help in getting what I want.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what is it you want?\u201d Seamus asked in a whisper.<\/p>\n \u201cI should think it\u2019s obvious, Father. I want my revenge.<\/p>\n \u201cI want my revenge.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cThesan,\u201d Seamus suddenly barked. \u201cI know you\u2019re about, girl. Show yourself and be braver than your mother ever dared to be.\u201d Mocking laughter rang out from all sides as the group paused, slowly backing into a cluster, backs together. Marin … Continue reading