Faith is Fallen (Broken Fantasies Series)

Chapter 14

Author's Note: Okay, this one was a shortie.  Maybe I'll post another one later today.  Live in anticipation...

"Cara, you look tired. Why don't you go rest?" Caiomhe said, patting her daughter's arm.

"Yes, Mother," Cara said before leaving them alone with each other.

Conall watched the interlude with interest. A blind man could see Cara's mother was formidable, possibly deadly under the right circumstances, and when she turned her focus on Conall, he couldn't help but squirm at the lethal intensity of that stare.

"So, Conall, tell me about yourself." Though soft, musical, Caoimhe's voice also held a underlying layer of iron that left Conall scrambling to impress her.

"Well, as I said, I'm the leader of this clan. We're well off, with few enemies, and many allies. Your daughter will be safe here."

A smirk crossed Caoimhe's face, a sinister twitch that spoke of unspeakable ruthlessness. She invaded his personal space, grabbing his garments to draw him closer. "You are a clever man, Conall of the clan McKay." Then she let go, as if to merely dust him off. "I would hate to see all those wonderful things you told me about your clan change."

And with that one statement, Caoimhe eternally earned Conall's respect. "I would rather slit my own throat than see your daughter unhappy."

And though he didn't know it at the time, with that one statement, he eternally earned Caoimhe's respect in kind.

#

"Mother, you're leaving so soon?" Cara said as she came down the stairs.

"Yes, my love. It's clear you are in capable hands." Caoimhe crossed the room and hugged her daughter tightly.

"You threatened him, didn't you?" she whispered in her mother's ear.

Her mother pulled back from her. "But of course I did," she said with a smile.

Cara shook her head. "You're impossible."

"I'm a queen, my darling." She chucked Cara's chin. "And someday, so will you be."

Cara shook her head again. "I don't want to be a queen."

"Oh, Cara, you shouldn't make decisions out of disaster. Your perceptions are skewed now. And you have plenty of time. Centuries. Millennia."

"They will never accept me. Not as I am now."

"As you are now? Cara, it is who you are now that makes you perfect for the job. You are strong—strong of mind, strong of magic, and strong of will."

"Okay, okay. I give up. Just give my brother hell for me."

Her mother laughed. "Oh, you will make a fabulous queen."

#

Cara waved from the wall as her mother disappeared into the trees. "You must have made a good impression. She didn't try to kill you or drag me off back to Faery."

"I think we came to a mutual understanding." Conall shrugged.

Cara raised her eyebrows at him. "Oh really? My mother doesn't usually come to any sort of understanding unless there is some form of violence involved."

"Does threatened violence count?"

"Of course. Sometimes it's the best kind."

Conall shook his head. "And here I thought you were an angel, but you're just like her, aren't you?" A grin spread ear to ear across his face, telling her he was teasing her.

She shrugged. "Yes. I'm a wicked, wicked thing."