“Then hurry up and speak yer piece before they return and find you here.”
The fog had lifted from her brain as he’d put distance between them, and a scene with the fiery-tempered Faerie was something she’d prefer to avoid.
“A few hours from now, we’ll wed and you’ll take my name for your own. For that, Thor requires that I give you a naming gift. You’ve but to tell me what you want. Your heart’s desire is what I would gift you.”
If this was any harbinger of things to come, her life was shaping up to be an unending series of surprises.
“You already gave me a gift. I have no need for anything else.”
His face broke into that most wonderful smile, and she very nearly climbed from the tub and went after him.
“Need is not a consideration, my love. The name change requires it, to honor Thor. It is the custom of my people and I cannot ignore it.”
“With you to be my husband, I canna think of anything more in the whole of the world that I want. Unless... a dog, mayhap? I’ve considered one after seeing the kind beastie that travels with Finn. The two of them do seem to get on happily enough.”
“A dog?” Hall’s brow wrinkled in confusion. “That’s it? That’s the greatest desire of your heart? I offer you anything in all the world, and you’d ask for a dog?”
“Well, it’s the onlythingI can think of. If I could choose my heart’s desire, though—if I had that sort of Magic at my disposal—I would wish that Jamesy might find the one person who would make him as happy as you’ve made me.”
“So be it, my beloved. Consider it done.”
The smile returned to his face, and she would have climbed out of the tub this time but for the door opening wide.
“What is this?” Syrie demanded, glaring at Hall. “Can I not trust you even for the length of time it takes your lady to bathe? Don’t you have things you need to be doing to get yourself ready? What are you doing in here?”
Brie was amazed that the tirade could go so long without the woman seeming to need to stop for a breath, but Hall took the scolding in stride. If anything, his smile was even broader by the time Syrie paused.
“I came here looking for you, Elf. These are your chambers, are they not?”
“Faerie,” she muttered, her eyes flashing as she crossed to the bed to drop the armload of fabric she held. “And what business, pray tell, could you possibly have with me?”
“I’d ask that you join me in the garden for a short talk.”
“No.” Syrie busied herself shaking out the dress from the drying sheets. “Can you not see I’m busy here? I haven’t time for a talk. Say what you need to say now and have it done.”
“Unfortunately, I cannot speak in front of her.” Hall tilted his head in Brie’s direction. “I need your help with a surprise to make this day special for my bride.”
Syrie’s lips pressed together, and Brie knew the woman would give in. If all Faeries were such romantics as this woman, Wyddecol must be a most fantastic place.
With a sigh of annoyance, Syrie tossed a drying blanket to the floor next to the tub and headed for the door. “Very well, Northman. For Brie’s special day, and no other reason. And as for you, I expect you out and dried off by the time I return,” she told Brie as she followed Hall outside.
With the door again closed, Brie slid back down into the water to steal a few more glorious moments, her mind filled with names for the dog Hall was no doubt on his way to get for her right now.
Thirty-eight
ALL RIGHT, OUTwith it. What do you want of me?”
Syrie waited, hands on her hips, and though she tried to look angry, Hall knew he’d hooked her when he’d told her he wanted her help for Bridget’s benefit. Since what he planned to ask her to do should be something she’d be happy to do, it was all smooth sailing from here.
Then again, he could never be sure when it came to the Fae. Just in case he’d read her wrong, he positioned himself at the opening of the walled garden to prevent any hasty departure she might attempt.
“With our wedding today, I give Bridget a new name. If I’m to honor Thor and keep him happy, I need a naming gift for my bride.”
And considering the havoc he’d just caused in destroying Fenrir and the scrolls, he couldn’t afford to skip any step that might keep his grandfather happy.
“Again, Northman, what do you want of me?”
“I wish to give my new wife her heart’s desire. As it so happens, her heart’s desire is to have her brother as happy as she is. I come to you to ask that you make that happen by finding Jamesy’s SoulMate and reuniting them.”
