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Chapter Twelve
Ash
“Are you alright?” Nua asked the moment I stepped inside the sidhe. He rushed up and took the bag from me, big green eyes darting frantically over my frame. “Did anything happen? Did anyone see you?”
I shook my head and couldn’t help but grin at him, feeling flushed and happier than I’d realised I would at getting my stuff back.
“It was all fine. I went in there, grabbed my stuff and left. It was empty. Didn’t spot anyone at all.”
Nua sagged in relief. “So you could get onto unseelie land alright?”
“Yeah.” I closed the door behind me and pulled off my bow and quiver. “Why do you think that is?”
“Well, she tied you to her land before.” Nua’s head cocked, green hair shifting in a wave. “The tie is broken now, but I think she irrevocably linked you to her land by doing that. Almost like… it recognises a part of you as unseelie.”
I shuddered at the thought of being linked to the Carlin in any way whatsoever. I went to say as much to Nua, but I noticed his eyes dart down to my throat, his gaze growing wary. Brows twitching, I reached up to see what he was looking at, but then Gillie appeared in the kitchen doorway, wiping his hands on a linen cloth.
“You’re back.” He shot me a big grin. “Get anything good?”
My hand dropped. I nodded, grinning widely as I took the bag back from Nua and carried it over to my pallet. “Got everything I wanted.”
“Any good books?” Gillie walked over and thumped down beside me, peering into the bag.
I nodded, pulling out my preciousAdvanced Drachmsmithone first, with its deep burgundy cover and copper trim. I remembered eyeing it up in the bookshop in the village for months, and I knew I’d had it in the cottage, so I must have mustered up the courage to buy it at some point.
Gillie whistled, carefully taking it from me. “Well, well.”
I laughed, pulling out the rest of my books and stacking them beside my bed. I tucked my pewter potioncraft cauldron and drachmsmith candle in the corner, then neatly set my notebook and fountain pen on the floor beside my pillow.
“Fuck, I forgot to grab ink.”
Gillie waved a lazy hand, theAdvanced Drachmsmithbook open on the floor in front of him. He didn’t even look up from it. “We have some.”
“Okay, thanks.” I heaved out the huge white fur throw, and Nua made a soft sound of surprise as he joined us.
“That’s beautiful.”
I smiled at him, handing it over so he could feel it.
“Yeah. I think it was already at the cottage. I didn’t buy it.” I hesitated, watching Nua run long, spindly fingers reverently through the thick fur. “Do you want it?”
He immediately shook his head, looking up to smile at me. “It’s yours.”
I couldn’t help but feel relieved, even though I felt guilty that they were feeding me and letting me stay here. They’d given me clothes and so much else. They’d given me a new arm, for fuck’s sake. I hadn’t wanted to owe them anything, but I already owed them so much, and they never mentioned it at all.
My throat closed up with emotion, and I looked down as I pulled my clothes out of the bag.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me,” I said hoarsely, sensing Gillie go still beside me. “I’m sorry I was such a bastard at first.”
“Ash.” Nua reached out and clasped my fingers in his. “You weren’t. And we understood. You don’t have to thank us for any of it.”
“Our pleasure, lad.” Gillie clapped me on the shoulder, then jerked me closer to throw his arm around my neck, making me grin through the embarrassment. “And don’t think I won’t be borrowing these books.”
I laughed. “That’s fine.”
“And maybe that fancy cauldron you’ve got there.” He nodded at it. “Whoever lived in that cottage before you had expensive taste, eh?”
I grinned and shrugged. “I guess. Mine now, though.”
