When Magic Dares (Darkly Fae Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

queen. What did he expect Arianne to do? Attack? Even if she had the inclination, such an act would be suicide. He must think her quite stupid.
    “My son seems to believe this is some kind of deception,” Eimear said. “That you have given yourself to our custody as part of some nefarious plot.”
    Arianne shifted her gaze back to the queen, chose her words carefully. “I can see why he would think as much.”
    “Then he is wrong?” the queen asked.
    “No, your highness,” Arianne replied. “He is not.”
    The frowned, surely stunned by the unexpected answer.
    “There is no nefarious motive in my surrender,” Arianne hurried to explain. “But there is a plot. One that will benefit us all, if we are successful.”
    Eimear arched one brow. “Go on.”
    “I do not know where the traitor Ultan lies,” she began, “but I know one who might be able to help us find him.”
    When Arianne said the word us , the queen’s head tilted slightly and from the edge of her vision Arianne saw Tearloch do the same. Though it might seem strange that she would ally herself with her captors, in truth she had no other choice.
    “And who might that be?” the queen asked.
    Arianne took a steadying breath. “Callistra.”
    The queen gasped, clutched a hand to her chest in shock.
    “The witch?” Tearloch demanded, at his queen’s side in an instant.
    Arianne nodded. “The very same.”
    “And why would she help us ?” he spat, snarling the final word like a curse.
    “Because,” Arianne said, knowing she needed to reveal at least this one secret if she were to have any chance at convincing them, “she is my sister.”

Chapter 6
    After securing the princess in her chamber, Tearloch was the last of the party to enter the seomra rioga .
    At one time, the royal hall had been a gleaming, glittering display of magical opulence. It dazzled all who entered, from the lowest peasant to the highest royal. Over the centuries, as the Moraine had fallen so had their palace. A crumbling clan with a crumbling seat of power.
    That one of their own had sought to bring the brittle remains crashing around them was the vilest sort of betrayal. They would go to any length to stop him.
    Cathair and the queen had eschewed the royal thrones in favor of one of the long stone tables that ran the length of either side of the hall. Eimear sat at the head while the prince stood at her right. His love, Winnie, sat in the chair next to him.
    Liam stood nearer the wall, almost in shadow, while Aedan lounged in a seat to the queen’s left, his boots resting on the stone table. It was a testament to the gravity of the situation that Eimear did not scold her younger son for the behavior.
    Though Cathair and Aedan shared many features—dark hair and amber eyes—their temperaments could not have been more different. Where Cathair was responsible, Aedan was reckless. The high prince was often serious, considering, and reserved. The young prince was… none of those things.
    Tearloch walked to the chair next to Aedan’s and knocked the young prince’s feet to the ground before setting one of his own on the seat and resting his weight on the back.
    Aedan rolled his eyes.
    “The council has been briefed on the princess’s proposal,” the queen told him. She turned her gaze to the others. “Opinions?” When none spoke immediately, she turned to Liam. “Master of the Watch?”
    Liam inched forward, out of the shadow and into the torch glow. “I do not think we should blindly trust the princess.”
    “Nor do I,” said the queen, “but that does not mean we should not trust her with our eyes wide open. Aedan?”
    The princeling shrugged. “I don’t see what other choice we have.”
    “There is always another choice,” Cathair said. “It is only a matter of whether we have the time and patience to seek it.”
    “And your opinion, high prince?” she asked her elder son.
    “In light of Winnie’s observations, I am inclined to say