seemed like a good plan. They could hover and sword fight there as well as anywhere, I supposed.
I’d never been in Killian’s rooms—and I’d definitely noticed that Ronan had hinted there was more than one—so I followed the group.
Still aware of my glamour, I tried to stay in character. We didn’t know if we’d cross paths with someone on our way, and it wouldn’t do to link my arm with Flynn’s, no matter how tempting it was.
Killian seemed to have the same idea. Once he’d admitted how he was feeling, he’d gone back to the rigid, perfect posture I was used to, and he didn’t drop the facade until we’d entered his rooms and the door was closed and locked behind us.
Magic tingled along my skin as my glamour disappeared as well.
The rooms were grand, spacious and open, with tall windows and skylights. This room seemed to be a gathering area, with low, plush couches, bookshelves, and a wet bar. Through an open door, I made out a huge canopied bed, and through another, what appeared to be an office.
“This is beautiful, Killian.” I studied the walls and portraits hanging on them. “Is this your mother?” I’d never met the woman who had given birth to him.
She hadn’t been the king’s only wife at the time. I wasn’t certain what had happened to Ronan’s and Flynn’s mother. I believed she’d decided to leave the king and live somewhere away from the castle, maybe even away from Tuatha. But Killian’s mother had died not long after he was born.
“She was beautiful.” She had Killian’s bright blue eyes ringed with gold and chestnut hair.
Her posture was as stiff as her son’s, but there was something in her face, a softness around her mouth, that suggested she might be regal, but she wasn’t stuffy.
Killian went to one of the sofas and collapsed onto it. He dropped his head into his hands, rubbing his temples before threading his fingers back and forth through his hair. “Fucking Culann.” He ignored my comments like he hadn’t even heard them. “And Anlon. When I win this, our cousin is going to find a new kingdom. I won’t have him skulking about, waiting for me to make a mistake he can capitalize on.” His gaze was hard as he lifted his head and stared at his brothers. “Do you hear me?”
This wasn’t the Killian I knew.
I went to him, sitting down before I draped my hand over his shoulder. I rubbed the tense muscles, concentrating on the knots between his shoulder blades. As the muscles loosened, he let out a sigh. Eyes closed, he let his head drop forward. “Don’t stop.”
Keep doing what you’re doing, Ronan directed. He needs to rest.
I wouldn’t. I kept at it, hoping some calm would infuse him and give him a little peace. He froze suddenly, eyes popping open, and turned to face me. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.” My face heated as I realized I needed to come clean. “I just wanted you to have an excuse to leave. Your knuckles were white.”
He gave a short bark of laughter, then he shook his head. “What am I going to do?” The question seemed to be posed to himself as much as the rest of us. “I couldn’t stand long enough to finish the tournament book, and that burst of power from Culann nearly sent me to my knees.” Face pale, he studied us. “What do I do?”
I wished I had magic that I could pour into Killian. He needed something. Rest, for sure, but he needed back that vital part of him that had been taken. Whatever was driving him to exhaustion had not only stolen his energy, but it had stolen the quiet confidence which had allowed him to rise to every challenge he’d ever faced.
Standing abruptly, he paced in front of us.
“Killian, sit down.” Ronan stood as well and placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Just take a moment to breathe.”
“Breathe?” Killian let out a hum, low and long. He suddenly slammed the palm of his hand against his temple. “I can’t get this fucking sound out of my head.” Ronan grabbed his hands to stop him, but Killian had a burst of strength. “I need it to stop!”
Flynn rushed to him, and I jumped off the couch. He was fighting both of his brothers, flailing wildly. Ronan was yelling as he tried to wrestle Killian into a bear hug, while Flynn went directly for the weapons tied at