Dark Fae(43)

Bres frowned. “Luke turning you away has nothing to do with you not being able to defend ta realm?”

Twisting my hands into his, I gave a half shrug. “Does it matter if I don’t have any power?”

He smiled and pulled me against his chest. “Not to me it don’t.” He kissed me, his lips sending little bursts of shivers through my body. This was where I belonged, right here with Bres, a man who loved me no matter who I was, or what I could do. Me, he just loved me. Suddenly I understood my mother’s longing for Wil, to be loved for who you were, and not what you could do for people or the world.

As we walked, two familiar horse-shaped heads rose out of the water. The Aughisky trotted out of the ocean, water spraying up around them as they moved towards us, tossing their slick black manes.

The one closest to me had been my mount, and he was the one who spoke.“You saved the world from Chaos. We would be in your service, Lady of the Sea, if you’d have us.”

“I am no one,” I said. “I don’t have any powers left. You’d be better off serving Ashling.”

They snorted and pawed at the sand. I lifted my hands in mock surrender. “Okay, fine. Serve away.”

Bowing with one knee, they lowered their heads. “Ride with us.”

Bres and I shared a look. “Race you to the far end,” was all he said before we were leaping on the Aughisky backs, and galloping down the beach.

Wind whipped through my hair and stole the elastic, leaving my curls to trail out behind me.

Gripping the Aughisky with my legs, I held my hand out towards the water. There, just below the surface of my skin was a whisper, a faint touch of power that I recognized, one that I thought I’d burnt out saving Ashling.

I swirled my hand, and the water leapt towards Bres and his mount, slowing them down just enough that we raced past them.

With a laugh I called out over my shoulder, my eyes meeting Bres’, “I think I’m going to win after all.”