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“That’s your mistake, isn’t it? Always was.”
She danced in a circle, and though he laid a hand on the hilt of his sword, he didn’t draw it. Simply couldn’t.
“I’d have changed that, oh aye, changed that I would. But you betrayed me for the whore who belongs nowhere. I’m not to kill her. Odran wants her alive and well, to suck and suck and suck her dry. But there could be an accident. Oops!”
She tossed back her head, laughed and laughed.
“But I might let her live, as Odran’s promised her to me as a slave when I sit on my golden throne. Oh, it’s beautiful there. All the jewels and the shine, and all the blood and the screaming! Oh, and when he fucks me, there’s ice and fire, fire and ice, and fear and sweet, sweet pain, and pleasure so dark it’s like blindness.
“You never gave me that.” She jabbed playfully at the air. “And still, haven’t I come to see you? Days it took, days and nights, through the red vines, through the boiling sun, into the cold wind of man, in the machines that bump and zoom on the black roads and smell,in boats through the fog. And still, after I’ve come so far, you only stand there.”
She grinned at him. “Give us a kiss, won’t you?”
And lunged.
Morena flew straight over. “Welcome home, the both of you. And would you look at all this!”
Breen could only wince at the shopping bags. But Marco simply beamed. “There’s something for you and Harken in there.”
“Is there now? Well, give it over then.”
“We’re not digging through all this now.” If she didn’t put her foot down, Breen knew, madness would ensue. So she settled it by sending the bags, the suitcases, laptops, to the cottage.
“We’ll sort through and bring the souvenirs back tomorrow.”
“She’s gone strict on us, Marco.” Morena cocked her elbow on his shoulder. “But it’s just as well, as I’m grubby from the fields. Marg’s up with my nan.” She gestured up the road toward Finola’s cottage. “Brian’s at the waterfall, and as it happens, Keegan’s gone over to your cottage just moments ago.”
“Since I don’t get to give out presents, and don’t have to carry everything over, maybe I’ll take a ride, see Brian. I can barter for some fish on the way back. Got some fun stuff in those disappearing bags for bartering, but the Mers will give me credit. Fish and chips tonight, Breen.”
“Sounds perfect. You do that. I’m going to go unpack, maybe do some yoga. Or take a nap.”
“We kept her busy. Shopping and Broadwaying and—I’m beating you to it, Breen—drinking toasts because she sold her book.”
“Oh, that’s the best of news!” Morena jumped from Marco to wrap around Breen, wings spreading as she circled with her two inches off the ground. “Such happy news. I need to tell Harken.”
Dropping Breen, she winged off.
“I’m so proud of you, and happy for you.” Sedric leaned down to kiss her cheeks. “Will I tell Marg, or do you want me to hold it back so you can do the telling?”
“No, you go ahead, and tell her Marco’s writing that cookbook. I’ll see her, and you, tomorrow. We have lots of stories packed into three days.”
“And we want to hear every one. Do you want company on your ride, Marco? I wouldn’t mind trading for some fish myself, and I want to hear all about your cookery book.”
“Got me a New York agent.” Poking a thumb into his own chest, Marco laughed. “Life sure has taken some turns. Let’s saddle up and put on our bargaining hats. Flip side, Breen.”
“Let’s go, Bollocks. We’ll check our gardens, see what Keegan’s up to over there. Get unpacked, right?” she added as they walked up the stone steps.
“I don’t know what he’s going to think of that silly glass dragon Marco talked me into getting him, but it’s got to be better than the King Kong on the Empire State Building sweatshirt Marco tried to convince me Keegan had to have.”
They crossed from Talamh into Ireland.
“Out of one world, into another, now back again—sort of—in, what, twenty minutes tops?” Breathing it all in, she hugged herself. “Marco’s right. Life’s taken some turns, and it’s a strange and wonderful one we live, Bollocks. Strange and wonderful.”
He looked up at her as if he agreed completely, started to dash toward the stream where wild columbine sprouted on the banks waiting to bloom.
Then he stopped. His eyes changed; his teeth bared. He growled low.
He charged ahead before she could tell him to stop. Instinctively, she reached for the sword that wasn’t there. Of course it wasn’t there, she thought as she ran. But if something waited ahead, she had power with her, always.
