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“I don’t take kindly to people that try to kill my Shíorghrá.” Tor’s dark eyes flicked to mine.
My brows rose up my hairline. “You’re admitting it now.”
“I am sick of pretending you mean less to me than you do. That aside, even if we were not Shíorghrá, I would defend you. You are right. He is wrong. Simple.”
“Simple,” I echoed, turning back to Cormac and the endless field of Mer soldiers.
“Where is Liam Cruinn?” Rainn called out.
Cormac halted, his lip ticked into a smug grin. “What business is the heir’s health to you, Selkie?” Cormac crossed his arms over his chest. “Want to make a trade? Sick of her cunt already?”
Shock made my breath hiss through my teeth.
Tor stepped forward before he caught himself. “I’ll cut out your tongue if you speak another ill word about Maeve,” he warned.
Cormac scoffed. “She has you fooled, brother.”
“She is innocent of whatever crime you believe she has committed.” Tor rose up, swimming forward almost lazily.
Rainn shifted closer to my side.
Cormac turned to me, ignoring Tor even as the Kelpie closed the distance. “What do you have to say, Maeve? Will you finally grace us with your words, or will you continue to allow these two males to speak for you?”
Anger surged through me, stealing all sense. I kicked off the lake floor and swam forward as well. When I reached Tor, I waved for him to stay back. The Kelpie paused, reluctant, before his eyes flicked to the knife on my belt.
“Don’t be afraid to stab him in the eye.” Tor nodded, stopping in the water. Showing that he trusted me to handle Cormac, even if I was afraid.
I stopped halfway across the clearing, no longer content to shout across the water for all to hear. I didn’t want to get any closer, but I needed to speak to him. I needed him to understand.
Cormac swam forward, and no matter how much I wanted to flee, I watched him approach. Feeling his contempt on every wash of the current lapping against my skin. Finally, Cormac stopped in front of me. His blond hair was pulled away from his face, highlighting his sharp cheekbones, full lips, and eyes filled with condemnation.
Cormac Illfin looked down his nose, his chin jutted as the muscle in his jaw ticked like a clock; I was unsure if his annoyance was due to my presence or that Tormalugh and Rainn stood by my side and not his. His trident sat on his back, the forked blades peeking over his shoulder—though Cormac made no move to draw his weapon. His red tail, a vivid ruby red, flicked, showcasing his rage, though his blank face showed nothing but irritation.
For the longest moment, no one spoke.
All the air punched from my lungs at the sight of the Mer-king.
“Your mother tried to kill me,” I whispered, knowing he could hear me.
If Cormac was shocked at the news, he hid it well.
“It was self-defense,” I continued.
A nasty smirk flicked across his face, and Cormac lifted a hand to interrupt. “You admit to it, then? To taking Lady Bloodtide’s life?” His voice echoed over the dead coral field, putting on a show of the mass of soldiers behind him.
The crowd jeered in hatred, brandishing their tridents in the air.
My lips thinned into a straight line. “Let Liam go,” I called back, changing tactics. “He has done nothing wrong. You want me, not him. Don’t punish him for my mistakes.”
Cormac cocked his head to the side, looking down at me as if I was an insect.
It took everything in me not to shrink away from his gaze.
“You will die today.” Cormac leaned forward, his green eyes flashing. “I thought I could control you as my bride, but it seems that the Mer and the Undine will always be enemies. Once I take your life, I will kill your precious friend as well. Then I’ll march on your namesake city and raze it to the lakebed.”
“For fuck sake, Cormac!” Rainn called out, swimming to my side. “Save your tantrum for someone that cares!”
“Stand down, Rainn. Tor,” Cormac said, his eyes narrowing. “This is not your fight. Go home, and I will let you live.”
