Beyond the Pale: A Thin Veil Novella (The Thin Veil Book 3) Read Free

hot. “And you are choosing it for me! Lorcan’s family connections mean nothing to me. He is clever and interesting and thoughtful, and he loves me.”
    “He doesn’t even have an ability,” her father said. “He’s practically human, which is ironic given his well-known hatred for that race.”
    Kier bit her lip. She had promised Lorcan she would keep his secret. “He doesn’t hate humans, he is merely proud of our great race—just as you are, Father.”
    “Kier, you will be happy in this match,” her mother said in a soothing tone. “Brogan is a wonderful man, and you will look ravishing by his side. Surely you can see this is the best decision for you. We want to know that you are taken care of when we are no longer here.”
    “I don’t want to look ravishing, Mother. I want to live my own life.”
    “That’s enough,” her father snapped. “The decision has been made. You say you are not a child…well, stop acting like one. Can’t you see how you make your mother suffer?”
    Kier didn’t see how her mother was suffering at all, but she held her tongue.
    “You have been preparing for this your whole life, whether you realized it or not,” her mother said. “The people of Tír na nÓg will be privileged to have you as their queen. We did not make this decision lightly. We did it for you. Now kiss me, and tell me you will be happy. For you will, I assure you of that.”
    “And if I refuse?” Kier asked stiffly.
    “That is not an option,” her father said. “The arrangements have all been made. What woman in her right mind would not want to be queen? To refuse would be an unforgivable insult to us—and the king. You will do this for the honor of our family. Swear that you will.”
    Kier glared at her father, but she knew him well enough to know there was no use in arguing. She had never gone against her parents’ wishes; she did not think she would be able to start now, particularly if this was their final wish for her. And if the king and his grandfather had already agreed to the engagement, nothing could be done. She felt the blood drain from her face as the truth sunk in. She would have to say goodbye to Lorcan…and marry the king.
    “I swear it,” she whispered.
    “Good,” her father said, letting out a loud breath. “Now all is settled. Your mother is right, you will be happy in this match.”
    “I need to go,” Kier said.
    “Where?” her father asked, a threat in his voice.
    “I need to tell Lorcan. He deserves to hear it from me.”
    Her father looked as though he wanted to argue, but her mother stepped between them. “Say your goodbyes, and then dress for dinner. We are dining with the king tonight.”
    Kier left, holding in her tears until she had stepped into the bright sunshine. Then she doubled over, letting the full impact of her parents’ announcement take its toll. She sat crying in the grass for several horrible minutes, but forced herself to her feet as soon as she was able, lest someone see her in such a disgraceful position. She tried to steel her resolve as she walked in the direction of her lover’s home, her hair billowing in her wake like a golden cloud. Pink blossoms rained down on her as she passed under the cherry trees, and the brook running beside her seemed to leap with joy whenever she came near. She glared at it. Couldn’t the land feel her pain?
    When she reached Lorcan’s home, she stood uncertainly outside his door. She had never been afraid to enter before. The entrance to his home was inside a ring of stones, each the size of a man’s hand. I must tell him , she reminded herself. Then she took a step inside the stones. For a moment, nothing happened, and she wondered if he had already heard the news and would refuse to speak with her. Then the stones began to glow, as though shot through with bright blue veins, and she felt herself start to spin, as she had so many times before.
    When she stopped spinning, she was in a large, sparsely