The Goblets Immortal, Beth Overmyer [novels to read for beginners .txt] 📗

But the words meant nothing to him.

“This ‘Circle’,” Slaíne said through a full mouth, “was it made of all women?”

The seer shook her head. “Nay, Miss Slaíne, as I think you right well can guess. You do need men for certain things.”

Slaíne made a face. “If you say so.”

The seer continued. “When a woman who is with child drinks from one of the Goblets, she temporarily takes on its powers. But the miracle growing inside her – why, the Goblet’s powers become part of the being’s makeup.”

Aidan frowned. “All right, if what you are saying is true, what was this Circle of yours? What was its purpose?”

She looked him square in the eyes, searching their depths. “To create a new world order, but of course. Now, before you say another word, let’s finish what’s in front of us. And despite what you might think, I know precious little of the Circle. It’s Meraude what you’ll want to ask these questions.”

Slaíne snarled at the mention of the mage.

Aidan thought of arguing with the seer, demanding more answers there and then, but his stomach was clenching and practically howling with hunger. So he finally gave in and ate.

* * *

Once the ladies had cleared every last crumb and morsel from all of the dishes on the table, and Aidan’s stomach could hold no more, the seer insisted that she was quite tired and in need of rest. “I’ll still be here when you two awake. Now, my room is across the hall from yours.” She passed Aidan one key. “And try not to fight too loudly tonight. The innkeeper’s wife is already thinking of turning us out.”

One key? “I don’t like this.” He was not going to leave Slaíne with this woman, no matter how much she said she was sorry for the betrayal.

“What don’t you like, Mr. Aidan?”

“I don’t trust you, with her or myself.”

Slaíne’s gaze flitted back and forth between the two. She worried her lower lip, and seemed uncertain as to what she was to do.

The woman nodded and smiled her gap-toothed smile. “Granted. If ever you were a trusting man, milord, I drove it out of you. But what does Slaíne have to do with our supposed feud?”

“Supposed feud? You tried to kill me.”

“No, I handed you over to be killed.”

“A technicality. I don’t want her staying alone with you. In your room or anywhere.”

Slaíne frowned but said nothing.

The seer threw back her head and laughed, repulsing Aidan with the sight of her blackened teeth and the smell of her fetid breath. “Is that all?”

Aidan folded his arms, quite aware that the girl might make more of his concern than there was.

When Aidan didn’t respond, the woman smirked at him. “The girl won’t be staying in my room with me.” She folded Aidan’s hand over the one key. “Good evening. Slaíne. Lord Ingledark.” And cackling, the seer left them standing together, one apparently confused, the other annoyed.

Chapter Eleven

“You can have it,” Slaíne insisted. The two of them were standing as far from the other as possible, pretending there was nothing to feel awkward about. “I’ll sleep on the floor.”

Aidan shook his head. “What sort of man would that make me?”

Slaíne laughed, a jarring sound. “Human.” She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. “You’re serious?”

“When am I not?”

“When you’re being caustic.”

Aidan drew breath to argue, but then released it with a great huff. This situation ought not be. But it was. Every other room in the inn was occupied, and the seer had long since locked herself inside her own accommodations, ignoring Aidan’s periodic banging on her door. This shouldn’t have been a problem…wouldn’t have been a problem, if he hadn’t been such a thirsty idiot. He could not recall the incident in the nymph’s camp without a shudder and prickly stab of shame in his chest. “You are not sleeping on the floor.”

“Ne’er slept on no bed anyways.”

“All the more reason why you should take it. I will hear nothing more on the matter.”

Slaíne scowled at him. “Did it ever occur to you—”

“Hush.”

“That I don’t want—”

“Not another word.”

Slaíne stomped her foot. “This is stupid. I’m allowed to talk.”

Aidan gritted his teeth. “I never said you couldn’t talk. Talk, talk all ruddy night, if you please.”

Her face grew red and her eyes sparkled with rage. “You sayin’ I talk too much?”

He groaned. “Women!”

“What about us?”

The tension from the past few weeks caught up with him in that moment, making him fatigued and lightheaded. Her Pull, ever a nuisance and frustration, did not help. The closer Slaíne came, the more he felt like either violently kissing or strangling her.

“What about us?” Slaíne continued to come at him, her face flushed, her eyes full of madness.

Maybe she felt the friction as well. Or maybe she was completely deranged and had no idea how close Aidan was to performing violence.

“Girl,” he warned, standing his ground, “I wouldn’t push me if I were you.”

She threw up her hands and spun around to face the wall. In her haste to turn away from him, her shirt dipped down over her shoulder, the one where she’d been whipped that night by the elves. It had healed over nicely. Her skin was smooth and shiny in that spot…. No, not just that spot. All over, her skin glowed with an impossibly attractive sheen of sweat. She was filthy. He was filthy. And yet….

Aidan shuddered and closed his eyes, willing himself to calm. He needed to cool them both down and fast, before any lines were crossed and he made an even bigger fool of himself. “Slaíne.” His voice broke on her name, so he tried again. “I’m going to try the wretched woman again, see if I can’t persuade her.”

He opened his eyes, and found that the girl had turned around to look at him, her expression curious but still guarded. “I’ll just go then.” Aidan wasn’t moving, but she was. Turn and leave, you idiot. The door’s just