“My lord, Faolán is not who you think him to be. He is not your Heir; he was never blessed with Danu’s true branding. He has sided with the enemy to inherit the heir’s true powers. He made a deal with the Mages. They told him that if he obtained the true heir that they could drain her powers from her dead body, and make him become what he wanted to be most—an heir acknowledged by Danu. In exchange for their help; he has been helping them destroy Faery.”
“Be careful, Cailean: for treason upon the land is a serious crime and you speak of my son, who is not here to defend himself against your charges.”
I didn’t know what to do, or what to say. More people had come into the hall and were now gathering around us. I wanted to run, to sift out of the room, but, somehow, I could feel that the King was sensing my unease and ready for anything I tried.
“Tis sorry business, Lasair, but Faolán did as I said. The Mages told him that they foresaw Sorcha as your acknowledged heir. You may ask your daughter, for she watched him kill her guardians. He tried to kill her by firebombing her house just recently, but she had the protection of the Dark King’s son and men. He saved her from certain death as she had yet to Transition fully.”
“How did this happen? The brand on her neck was to prevent Transition!”
I felt my entire body shake with his words. He knew of the tattoo on my neck! I couldn’t get words out, and I felt a single tear slide down my cheek. These were the people who had left me with humans to die; this man arguing before me was indeed my father.
“I sent Faolán to retrieve her! He would not have tried to kill his own sister. He knew how imperative it was to bring her back. It makes no sense at all why he would do something so horrendous.”
“He wants war with the Horde King and has ensured whenever he can that the war will continue. Sorcha was hidden by her guardians when Faolán and the rest of his guard got there. When I arrived, her guardians were dying, and I barely camouflaged her in time. They tore the house apart looking for her.” Cailean had so much regret in his eyes as he stated his case. “Sorcha has called him to her with the purpose of killing him, Sire. She cut down some of the warriors which were part of his guard, and there the day her guardians were killed.” Cailean turned his face to me, and the plea in is eye was unmistakable. He expected me to confirm his story.
“What he says is true,” I whispered.
The king continued to look at me as if he was afraid I’d vanish.
“What were my parents’ names?” I asked.
“That matters not child, for I know as well as you do, that you are my daughter, Sorcha. Our bond has once again been connected, and I feel you are of my blood.”
“You sent me to humans, to die?” I asked, stepping back as the woman moved closer as if she would touch me.
“That’s a long story, and one that I will not discuss in this crowded room, child. You are dressed exceedingly well,” he said, narrowing his eyes on the dress for the first time.
“I was marrying the Dark Heir,” I replied.
“Marrying the Dark Heir?” He asked, looking over my wardrobe again.
“Yeah, the one they just found? I was marrying him.”
“The Dark Heir wasn’t missing. I would have heard about it before now.”
“Uh, maybe you should get out more often?”
“So, Kier lost his boy,” he said, shaking his head.
“It seems to me, that you guys seem to lose your children a lot around here.”
“We didn’t lose you. We hid you. It was to protect you!” The woman said, finally taking her hand away from her mouth.
I looked at the woman, but felt nothing from her, but the huge male was definitely connected to me somehow. I could feel him in my bones as if by coming here, he’d awoken my past. We were connected. “From what?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.
“Madisyn, not here my love. In private,” the king said, directing his words to the woman who still openly wept.
“I don’t even know who you are,” I said in exasperation, breaking up their private discussion.
“My name is Lasair, and I am the Blood King. This is my Queen, your mother,” he said kindly.
I felt a rush of emotions. These people knew about the tattoo, and I felt this man before me. I mean, I really felt him, as if he were a part of me. The man who killed my parents said I was his sister, and the man who had taken me from Adam was the one who had tried to stop the Fae from hurting my family.
The Blood King held out his hand, and I hesitated long enough for him to look me over. His eyes went to the wound in my side. “Madisyn, call a healer, now. She’s been hurt, darling.”