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“He should be worried, sir,” I respond. “You’re definitely the catch here tonight.”
Dark wheezes a laugh. “I’m keeping her,” he says, waving Darwin off with his staff. “Come get her when you’re ready to go back to that fancy school of your’n.”
I throw my boys a huge grin over Dark’s shoulder as we make our slow way to the dance floor. They trail us, Darwin with his hands out like he’s ready to catch his grandfather if he falls, although Dark’s shuffle is perfectly steady. Gabe looks puzzled, while Charlie is ten shades of amused.
“Tell me about yourself, Teddy,” Dark says, handing his staff off to Darwin and taking my waist and hand with the ease of centuries of practice.
“Manc lass. Earth-witch. Da’s a wanker. I’m in love with your grandson. I’m dead dull, sir. Tell me aboutyourself.”
He wheezes, showing teeth still white and perfect, if long with age and set in bright pink gums.
“Former Regent. Fire and Air-mage. Half of my family’s mad and the other half would be more tolerable if they were. I love my grandson more than life. He’s the best of the lot along with Cal and Donn and the girls. Rest of the boys are a waste of blood and bone. I was seven hundred and eight my last birthing day and should be dead. Let’s run away together, Teddy. You’re the sweetest tart I’ve met since I lost Darwin’s grandmother fifty years ago.”
Understanding the pun, I don’t bridle at being called a tart. Instead, I wink at him. “I’m free after Yule, sir.”
“Good girl. You’ll keep Darwin on his toes.”
“I know love ain’t enough, sir, but I do love him.”
“I can see that in your eyes. And look at him, waiting for you. He’s so anxious, poor boy.”
“You could tell him to dance with Gabe and stop hovering.” I nod at the boys, who are clustered at the edge of the dancing along with Kathleen, Leanna, and Orlaith. Darwin’s older brother, Cathal, and his platinum blonde, dragonfly-winged princess, brush by them on their way to the dance floor, but my boys keep their eyes on me. “Charlie could dance with Orlaith.”
“Ah, no, girl. He’d have to ask Kathleen first. She’s the elder.”
“Sorry, sir. I’m no good with the court ... stuff.”
He wheezes so hard I’m afraid he’s going to fall over. “You were going to say shite. Don’t censor yourself to fit in here, Teddy. Be yourself and make them rise to fit with you.”
I like that philosophy. “Yes, sir. I will.”
“Good. Darwin, boy, don’t shame me. Ask your betrothed to dance. And you, Mr. Miller, wouldn’t hurt you to work off dinner with our Kathleen there.”
The boys look like Dark has slapped them. Slowly, they move to follow orders.
Charlie’s a strong lead, has been since we learned to dance at War Hill Junior. He swirls Kathleen around the floor, her silver and green skirts flaring around them like blowing flower petals. She laughs sweetly when he dips her.
When Darwin pulls Gabe to him, Gabe’s kilt swishing around Darwin’s trouser legs, their muscular bodies moving together as one, tears prick my eyes.
Dark smiles as he changes our direction so we follow Darwin and Gabe around the floor. “You love all three of them, don’t you?”
I nod. “Charlie Miller’s been my bezzie since we were eight. I’ve loved him all my life. Gabe’s the missing piece of my soul. Darwin makes me the best version of myself. I love each of them. I love seeing them happy together. For the first time since I was twelve, I’m glad to be me.”
Dark’s smile grows misty. “You’ll face a great deal of opposition, young Teddy. But you have my blessing. Make each other happy. No, love’s not enough. You’ll need courage and fortitude. Good helping of humor doesn’t hurt, either. But love is a good start. Callan tells me you four are a natural quaternion. That so?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Haven’t had one of those in Thistlemist in four hundred years. Stick together. That kind of power is more than a weapon. It’s an inducement. There are those who will seek to break you apart, rather than see you grow stronger. There are those who will seek to bend you to their own ends. Shun both.”
“Which one are you, sir?” I ask, knowing it’s a bit cheeky, but he seems to like my brashness.
He wheezes. “I’m the worst kind, m’dear. I’m the kind who wants you to love but still do your duty. Darwin’s our future. He’ll be balancing the needs of his people against your needs for the rest of your life. The people who love him need to understand that. You probably look at me, an old man coming to his end, and think I don’t care about the future. I won’t live to see much more of it. But it’s all I think about. Darwin’s foremost in my thoughts.”
I let him lead me through the glittering dancers while I process what he’s said, and there is a lot of glittering. Me and the boys are pretty much the only ones not spangled and bejazzled. The fae sure do like sequins.
“Something I don’t understand,” I say. “Darwin’s eleventh in line for the throne. There’s a big age gap between Darwin and his older brothers. Some of their sons are much older than Dar. Surely they’ll inherit and the chance of Dar ever sitting on the throne is remote?”
“Ah, I’m not surprised no one’s told you. It’s so much a part of our culture, we don’t think about it anymore. The thrones of Faery have wills of their own. They only accept the ruler that’s best for the Realm. No one knows what a throne’s criteria for the next ruler will be, but no infertile fae has ever taken a throne.”
