Aine's Athenaeum (Knights of Vallor, #6) / Knights of Vallor (ePub)

When Moirin is kidnapped by Aine, Salia and the knights scramble to save her -- alongside the strange barbarian woman who got their daughter with child. In their quest to save Moirin from the ancient witch, Salia, Kamryn, and Fara slowly learn to trust and even like Aereth. Meanwhile, Moirin remains pregnant, alone, and trapped in Aine's tower, where she stumbles across an ancient library, a collection of books that contain the memories of Aine's prey, including the Broin sisters. Unbeknownst to Moirin, she is being spied upon by Queen Rhian, who has decided to take Moirin's child as heir to Cawic and all of Vallor. Don't miss the sixth installment of this lesbian harem romance series!

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"The Aelwith is a marsh in my dimension," returned Aereth and calmly released her grip on her sword and folded her arms, as if in preparation for a long tale. "Though calling it home were only a technicality," she went on. "I was raised by fae creatures who stole me from my mother when I was but a babe. My mother is a mighty sorceress, but even she could not break my curse, and I lived in Elwenhal for two hundred years, traveling through the dimensions as I pleased."

There was silence when Aereth had finished speaking, and Salia and the knights simply stood there, staring up at her. Kamryn's mouth was hanging open.

". . . Are you jesting?" Kamryn said at last. "Or perhaps you are drunk. Or maybe I am. Gods alive, what a load of shite!"

Aereth gazed down at them all with a completely straight face and did not answer, her bulging arms folded almost dourly across her chest. She did not like her honesty being questioned.

"I do believe she is telling the truth," said Fara weakly. She turned away. "I need a drink."

--

Aereth was walking so fast that Salia and the twins had to jog to catch up to her. The twins' armor was jingling with their quick step, and Salia's green dress kept getting in her way. She hated it and wished she had bought trousers back in Dolesea. With her golden hair streaming behind her, she hitched up her green skirts in both hands to keep up with Aereth's quick pace. Her face was twisted irritably as she said, "Mortals? I'll have you know I am the descendant of a goddess! House Ceallaigh is quite the powerful line, full of mighty warriors of great renown, and my mother is the warrior queen of--!"

"But mortal still," said Aereth, marching onward, staring straight ahead.

"And the Broin sisters," went on Salia stubbornly, "they are the descendants of a mighty line of witches! And the best fighters in Vallor!"

"But mortal still," Aereth indifferently repeated, and Salia made a scoffing noise.

--

Moirin smiled, feeling her heart fluttering in her chest. Aereth was big and strong and deadly and everything, everything she wanted! If she couldn't have her, she didn't know what she would do. She looked up at Aereth with round, admiring eyes as she said, "And you came here alone to save me?"

"Yes," said Aereth softly, taking Moirin's smaller hands into her own. She kissed the fingers tenderly. "For I love thee, Moirin. And now you are the mother of my child. I could not abandon you."