Read Beyond the Pale: A Thin Veil Novella (The Thin Veil Book 3) for Free Online Page A
Authors: Jodi McIsaac
Tags: A Thin Veil Novella
he…still care for you?”
“It doesn’t matter,” she said, shaking her head. “He’s changed. I don’t know if it’s because of us, or if he’s always been this way and I just didn’t see it. But I believe he is more ambitious—and more powerful—than you give him credit for. I don’t think he’ll let anything stand in his way.”
“I can see that he has frightened you, Kier, but he is only one man. I will close the remaining sidh to earth. Then there is nothing he can do.”
“There is plenty he can do. Brogan…are you aware of what his ability is?”
“I was under the impression he didn’t have one…or at least not one of any note.”
“He absorbs the abilities of others after they’re dead.”
Brogan’s dark eyebrows shot up. “Are you certain? That ability hasn’t been seen in centuries, not since…”
“His great-great aunt,” Kier finished. “He told me about it himself. It’s no wonder he’s kept it a secret. But it’s true. And I think he will try to kill you to take your sidhe-gift. Then he won’t need your permission to open the sidhe.” It sounded extreme, but she was certain it was true. The only way Lorcan could put his plan into action would be to go through a sidh—and the only person who could open them was Brogan. Sooner or later, the two of them would face off.
Brogan scoffed. “Lorcan, kill me? I am ten times the warrior he is—if he dared even attempt such a thing.”
Kier let out a loud breath of exasperation. “You’re not listening. He said a war is coming—I think we need to prepare. Make sure all our warriors are on our side, not his. You’ve yourself said there are more anti-human sentiments out there than ever. If others are joining with him, you may have a rebellion on your hands. Doesn’t that concern you? Will you do nothing?”
Brogan gave her a stern look. “I already said I will close the sidh. But I’m not going to whip our people into a panic because of one rogue who cannot get past something that happened thousands of years ago. He is no threat to us, Kier, and you should not make him into one. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have business to attend to.”
Kier watched him go, knowing his “business” was just an excuse to end the conversation. The old feeling of being helpless started to creep over her. She raised a circle of fire around her, reveling in the release of power, but then quickly extinguished it before she set the whole room ablaze.
She would let Brogan calm down, and then she’d try to talk to him again. If Lorcan was starting to collect the abilities of others, whether by accident or murder, he would soon be more powerful than the king. And she knew that her former lover was nothing if not determined. When he set his mind on a path, there was no dissuading him. Look at the way he had managed to win her heart in the beginning… Though Brogan might not recognize the danger, she did. She placed the silver tiara back on her head. She was the queen, and it was up to her to protect her people, and, if she could, the people of Ériu.
* * *
It turned out she didn’t need to convince Brogan—Lorcan did it for him. Two months later, her husband could no longer deny that the upstart was a risk—politically, if not physically. Tensions were rising rapidly throughout the kingdom, as those who shared Lorcan’s desire for revenge on Ériu were becoming emboldened. The story of their defeat at the hands of the Milesians was repeated again and again, with renewed vows to right the ancient wrong and reclaim the land that had once been theirs. Quarrels about Ériu were beginning to break out among friends and neighbors, even within families. Brogan spent much of his time in heated Council debates combatting Lorcan’s lies and half-truths. Lorcan, for his part, had been clever. Neither he nor any of his followers ever spoke against the king directly enough for it to be construed as treason. And yet Kier could feel the
“It doesn’t matter,” she said, shaking her head. “He’s changed. I don’t know if it’s because of us, or if he’s always been this way and I just didn’t see it. But I believe he is more ambitious—and more powerful—than you give him credit for. I don’t think he’ll let anything stand in his way.”
“I can see that he has frightened you, Kier, but he is only one man. I will close the remaining sidh to earth. Then there is nothing he can do.”
“There is plenty he can do. Brogan…are you aware of what his ability is?”
“I was under the impression he didn’t have one…or at least not one of any note.”
“He absorbs the abilities of others after they’re dead.”
Brogan’s dark eyebrows shot up. “Are you certain? That ability hasn’t been seen in centuries, not since…”
“His great-great aunt,” Kier finished. “He told me about it himself. It’s no wonder he’s kept it a secret. But it’s true. And I think he will try to kill you to take your sidhe-gift. Then he won’t need your permission to open the sidhe.” It sounded extreme, but she was certain it was true. The only way Lorcan could put his plan into action would be to go through a sidh—and the only person who could open them was Brogan. Sooner or later, the two of them would face off.
Brogan scoffed. “Lorcan, kill me? I am ten times the warrior he is—if he dared even attempt such a thing.”
Kier let out a loud breath of exasperation. “You’re not listening. He said a war is coming—I think we need to prepare. Make sure all our warriors are on our side, not his. You’ve yourself said there are more anti-human sentiments out there than ever. If others are joining with him, you may have a rebellion on your hands. Doesn’t that concern you? Will you do nothing?”
Brogan gave her a stern look. “I already said I will close the sidh. But I’m not going to whip our people into a panic because of one rogue who cannot get past something that happened thousands of years ago. He is no threat to us, Kier, and you should not make him into one. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have business to attend to.”
Kier watched him go, knowing his “business” was just an excuse to end the conversation. The old feeling of being helpless started to creep over her. She raised a circle of fire around her, reveling in the release of power, but then quickly extinguished it before she set the whole room ablaze.
She would let Brogan calm down, and then she’d try to talk to him again. If Lorcan was starting to collect the abilities of others, whether by accident or murder, he would soon be more powerful than the king. And she knew that her former lover was nothing if not determined. When he set his mind on a path, there was no dissuading him. Look at the way he had managed to win her heart in the beginning… Though Brogan might not recognize the danger, she did. She placed the silver tiara back on her head. She was the queen, and it was up to her to protect her people, and, if she could, the people of Ériu.
* * *
It turned out she didn’t need to convince Brogan—Lorcan did it for him. Two months later, her husband could no longer deny that the upstart was a risk—politically, if not physically. Tensions were rising rapidly throughout the kingdom, as those who shared Lorcan’s desire for revenge on Ériu were becoming emboldened. The story of their defeat at the hands of the Milesians was repeated again and again, with renewed vows to right the ancient wrong and reclaim the land that had once been theirs. Quarrels about Ériu were beginning to break out among friends and neighbors, even within families. Brogan spent much of his time in heated Council debates combatting Lorcan’s lies and half-truths. Lorcan, for his part, had been clever. Neither he nor any of his followers ever spoke against the king directly enough for it to be construed as treason. And yet Kier could feel the