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“Because I’m not the injured party here. You are. I’m more worried about you right now and the fact I hurt you without realizing it,” Mananan said. He stroked her cheeks. “You need to tell me about your triggers, baby, otherwise I’m going to stumble right into them.”
“Sleeping and sex are the main ones,” Ella replied. She toyed with the pendant on her neck. “I just need to get used to this, and I’ll hopefully relax. I feel like such an idiot.”
“You’re not. You are perfect,” Mananan said. When she rolled her eyes, he leaned down and kissed her softly. “Perfect.”
Ella let out a shaky breath. “You’re going to break my heart, aren’t you?”
“No, baby. I’m going to take care of it.” Mananan kissed her again, and she leaned into it. Her fingers ran through his hair, and he tried not to moan at how good it felt. When she pulled back, her cheeks were glowing.
“Morning,” she said, and they both laughed as the awkwardness finally broke. “What’s the plan for today?”
“We eat, get Fragarach, and go home. I have a beast to kill and a world to save,” Mananan replied. He took some of the berries from the platter and gave them to her.
“World saving. No pressure,” she said, biting into the fruit. He really needed to stop staring at her mouth.
Mananan grinned. “The sooner I sort the oceans out, the sooner I can start doing more important things.” He looked her over so she wouldn’t mistake his meaning.
“Is that so?” Ella gave him one of her berries. “Quick, start eating. We have a world to save.”
Mananan laughed loudly and ate the berry from her fingers.
* * *
The vaultsin the castle were kept underneath the rock foundations. Mananan held on to Ella’s hand as he led her deeper and deeper underground. They walked through the treasure rooms that had her eyes going wide. Mananan was so used to the riches that he didn’t pay them much attention.
“I can’t believe you have all these just sitting here, but you’ve hidden a sword even deeper,” Ella commented.
“The sword is magical and dangerous. It’s worth more than everything else in the castle,” he replied. He placed his palm onto a crystal and pearl sigil on the wall. A sharp prick from a hidden blade had blood flowing from his palm, and the secret doors slid back. “Kynan’s sword that Bron now wields harnesses the night and the darkness. Fragarach harnesses death and feeds off it. Both are god killing weapons, but Fragarach is far more dangerous. You can’t draw it in any old duel because the smallest cut won’t heal. It stays down here, away from others and under a blood ward, unless the situation calls for it.”
“And this Fomorian monster can’t be killed by any of your other weapons?” Ella asked, her brows drawing together.
“Maybe they could, but it made the mistake of looking at you with hunger and intent. It needs to die, and there is one way to ensure it happens without fail.”
“Wait, this is all because itlookedat me? I stalked it with my vision. Isn’t Fragarach overkill?”
“Not in the slightest. It will hunt you, and it needs to die before it lays a tentacle on you.” He was more than tempted to take Fragarach to her shithead ex-boyfriend too.
Mananan activated the lighting crystals, and the chamber flooded with gold. Fragarach was sheathed and on its stand in the center of the room. The blade was made of orichalcum, a bright orange alloy that held magic like no other metal.
“It’s beautiful,” Ella said, staring at the designs on the scabbard and the red gold and black hilt.
Mananan picked up the sword and slung it over his back. He might have left it in the vault, but a part of him always felt naked without it. The magic of the sword warmed against his skin in welcome. It knew its purpose, sensed the murderous anger in him. Mananan wanted blood, and Fragarach sang the answering battle call to him.
Mananan took a steadying breath and let the magic flow into him. Ella let out a small gasp.
“Your eyes just flashed with orange light,” she whispered. She hovered her hand out to him. “God, I can feel the power coming off it. I’ve never felt magic like it.”
It’s because you’re my mate, and you feel it as I do.Mananan took a deep breath, and the power settled inside of him. “It’s an ancient sword. It’s no wonder you feel its presence. Don’t worry, Ella. It can’t hurt you.”
“I’m not worried about anything while you have that thing,” she replied and took his hand. “Let’s go kill a monster.”
Mananan pressed a hard kiss to her lips. The gods had chosen his mate well.
21
It took them until midday to make it down to the palace docks. Ella was still a little dazed by the beauty of the ocean and the castle and the fact she was in Faerie. She was in awe that this had suddenly become her life, and in the midst of it, there was a king who looked at her like she was worth so much more than she could imagine.
Mananan didn’t just make her feel better about her abilities and her past. He was a force powerful enough to override them. Ella was still embarrassed by how she had woken up that morning, but he didn’t do or say anything that upset her more. He accepted it.
