As I crouched down and traced my sharp talon-like fingernails along the bumpy tree root, I knew in my heart that Breandan was the one I was meant to be with, even though part of me still longed for Tomas. "I have to go now. I know you'll come looking for me when you wake up, so please be careful and don't do anything reckless," I said softly, knowing Tomas could not actually hear me but feeling better having said the words aloud. "I will find a way to help you and your Nest, Tomas. Just give me some time."Breandan came up behind me and pressed his body against my back in a gentle embrace. "We must leave now if we want any chance of catching up to Devlin," he urged.I patted Tomas' tomb one last time before turning away from it to face my brother. "Conall?" I called out.My brother stepped into the moonlit clearing, dressed and equipped for the hunt ahead. He seemed to emanate an ethereal glow, brighter than any fairy I had seen before, except for when Breandan and I were affected by
I scanned the swaying grass, searching for the bearded shifter. A short distance away, his mangled body lay sprawled and broken. His hands and feet had transformed into furry, clawed paws, while his face was elongated into a snout. Pointed ears poked up from his hairy head and a stubby tail protruded from his backside - caught mid-shift between man and beast. Conall stood over the corpse dispassionately, blood staining his hands. He briefly glanced my way, frowning when he saw me in Breandan's embrace. "He will never hurt you again," my brother stated bluntly.I nodded slightly in acknowledgment. The shifter certainly wouldn't be attacking anyone else. Conall looked away unhappily, missing my gesture.Breandan leaned back to gently probe the painful bruising ringing my throat, making me wince. Fairies healed swiftly, so the lurid marks should be fading rapidly. "Why isn't it healing?" I rasped out."Bruises aren't mortal wounds, and your skin isn't broken," Breandan explained patient
However, Conall's features were stamped with a frown of disapproval that was starting to get on my nerves after all of the scowling and edgy looks he had been directing my way. "What?" I asked, my voice still thick with lust, so I cleared my throat, lifted my chin, and then lowered it again when I figured I should probably be trying for meekness rather than defiance, "Conall, what is it?"His expression made it clear he was thoroughly unimpressed as he offered no other explanation except to say, "I think I need to discuss something with you."In the heat of my mortification, I snapped in irritation, "We're busy," even though I knew I should be more respectful of my elder."Yes, that is why I need to talk to you; there are certain customs that need observing," Conall replied evenly."I have every intention of showing Rae some of our more pleasurable customs," Breandan said, leveling me with a look that had me practically panting in anticipation.I inhaled deeply and as I exhaled I mur
Connor looked away, his face tense. "They were consumed by each other and out of control. They were born into two of the largest and most powerful families. They broke with tradition, with common sense, and they…” He couldn't continue. Brendan froze next to me, tension radiating into the space between us. I looked at him from under my eyelashes and saw his face, clearly worried. The brother cleared his throat and straightened his shoulders. "They gave each other their last names."My lips twitched, but I remained silent. Is this the terrible thing that these two lovers do? For God's sake, these fairies have turned melodrama into art. I tried to keep the smile from my voice. "and?"Both boys had their heads broken off. Two surprised looks told me there was something wrong with my reaction. I looked at them and shrugged timidly."She doesn't understand," Buridan whispered.Connor put his hands on his knees, opened his mouth, then closed it again. Sometimes there is a language barrier be
Sitting back on my heels, I plucked at the short grass beside me. “It doesn’t seem fair that you’re burdening me with all this responsibility,” I complained. “I get that being a Priestess was unavoidable due to my bloodline, but why can’t I pass the title to someone more capable and willing? Abdicate, or something.” “It does not work like that,” Breandan replied softly, staring at his hands as if seeking answers there. “We are chosen and must do the best we can with what we are given.”“But I don’t want this,” I insisted, biting my lip and balling my fists on my knees in frustration. “What I’m asking is for both of you to leave this place with me. We can find a new home somewhere.” I didn’t look at either of them, ashamed yet afraid not to ask. The power I had felt using the amulet was gone. Though I knew my purpose, the responsibility terrified me. How could I do this? I could barely understand my own emotions half the time. I didn’t think past my own nose, constantly inclined to
With a small sigh of relief, he pulled me into his lap and hugged me tightly. "Give your body a rest," he whispered. "I don't want to. Last time I slept I had a dream," I paused, "I dreamed about Thomas and when I woke up he was there." I wasn't afraid of my vampire, but when he approached. Things that happened to me. He confuses me, twists me, and it would be so much easier if he were somewhere else."Things like this will not happen again. I have you, relax."Brendan pressed a kiss to my temple and held me tightly in his arms, glad now that it was just the two of us openly expressing his love. I have noticed that he doesn't like to surround me with others. I wonder if it's a fairy thing or a Brendan thing.My head rested on his warm, bare shoulder and my eyes fluttered shut. I listened to his steady breathing and felt his heart beating violently under my palm. Fatigue wrapped itself around my limbs and pulled at me. The tentacles of sleep crept into my mind and a wave of exhaustion
Breandan was a powerful man. He took on every obstacle head-on and didn't give up until he had won. Every confrontation he entered was on his terms, and he was confident in his ability to win. I was forced into situations while wailing and screaming like a child. I sobbed like one, according to Lochlann himself.The thought made me flush.It should have been me demanding recompense for Lex's death, not Conall.Why hadn't I been prepared to fight and avenge my friend? In order to feel better, I started following Conall's heels as he pursued Devlin across the area, using the Tribe's need for the grimoire as an excuse to avoid my actual obligations. How deplorable and self-centered. Even worse, I was still unable to feel regret for my thoughts and feelings.Is that the reason you helped him, then?I attempted to pick up the conversation I'd lost by saying, "Say-say?".With curiosity in his eyes, Breandan looked at me.He no longer sounded indignant or repulsed; rather, he sounded confuse
Facing the angry mask, he leaned further. "The show!""If the way I behave disgusts you, why don't you just say so?" I tried to push him away. "I'm not proud of my reaction when I'm with you, but I can't control it."He let go of my wrist and walked away, hands behind his head. I sat up with bent knees and vigorously brushed the leaves and dirt from my hair and clothes. It got into my clothes and the friction made it worse. I was such a mess. Briandan turned around, fists clenched. "Why can't you see how I feel?" His voice Soft as gray, longingly floats towards me."I left home and my family. Everything I did was for you." I looked at him in amazement. My eyes are wide open and my mouth is wide open. He looked at my expression and half smiled. “The moment I reveal myself to you, I feel at peace with what to do and what to let go of. I belong to you. I choose you and I always will, but you have to understand that everything is not what it seems. When I stay away from you, it's because