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“Thank you,” he whispered unsteadily.
I kissed him again before stepping back, squeezing his hand as we started walking again. “And because you are the same, I know that you must be hungry by now. Poor Jora probably doesn’t know what to do with herself while you’re gone.”
He snorted. “As if she lives her life only wanting to wait on me. She’s probably grateful for the break. I hope she’s enjoying it.”
“How are Nua and Gillie?”
“They’re okay. They, um, they’ve been worried about me.” He flushed. “But now that I’m starting to feel better, they’re relieved. Nua said he’d handle things while I’m gone.”
I lifted his hand to my mouth and kissed his knuckles. “It will get easier, Ash. I have less work to do here—the Carlin did many terrible things, but she ran her queendom well so she didn’t have to think about it much. You are having to unpick centuries’ worth of terrible decisions made by the Brid. It takes time, but you’re doing it.” Heat crept into my cheeks, so I looked down to watch our boots walking side by side as I added, “I’m very proud of you, you know. And your parents would be too. I saw how much they loved you.”
I’d been bitterly jealous of it as a child, but there was no need to tell him that. Reflexively, I rubbed my thumb over Faulis’ ring on Ash’s finger again.
I’d had a parent who loved me, he just hadn’t been given the chance to show me. But I could finally feel it, especially when Sloga was near. Like a part of Faulis was still with him.
I hoped he was. For Sloga’s sake.
“Thank you.” Ash sounded a little shy. When he looked over at me with a grin, his cheeks were flushed. “I still want those fae lessons, though. The naked ones.”
My mouth curled up into a sly smile. “We’ll start tonight then.”
“But after breakfast, I’ll, um, stay out of your way,” he said sheepishly. “You must be really busy—”
“Fuck that.” My lip curled with disdain at the thought. After a moment of silence, Ash burst out laughing. Smiling, I looked over at him. “What?”
“It’s just funny hearing you talk like a mortal.”
I chuckled, cocking my head. “Well, it’s not like—”
A door was abruptly flung open up ahead, cutting me off. When I realised whose door it was, I tensed and instinctively dragged Ash behind me.
Bres stumbled out of his room, dishevelled and wild-eyed and barely able to stand. An amber glass bottle was still clutched in one fist, and I could smell the reek of alcohol on him from here.
It was my first time seeing him since I’d returned, but he didn’t even seem to notice me. His bloodshot eyes were glazed, but fixed over my shoulder. On Ash.
“Fucking… bastard seelie scum,” he slurred with pure fury. His bronze teeth were dull as he bared them. “I can hear you. I can fucking hear you.”
“What?” Ash muttered, sounding perplexed. I felt him tense against my back as Bres started stumbling towards us.
“What?” Bres parroted, then almost fell as he laughed hysterically. “What? What?”
“Don’t come near him,” I barked, but Bres didn’t hear me.
“You’re the only voice I can hear.” He kept advancing, swaying wildly. “Why are you the only voice I can hear?”
Ash didn’t seem to know what to say, gripping the back of my shirt to drag me back.
I only had my dagger on me, so I drew it. That got Bres’ attention. He stopped and blinked at it, then lifted his bleary eyes to my face.
“The fuck are you doing here?” he slurred, a sneer curling his upper lip. “Why hasn’t Balor killed you yet?”
“Balor’s dead.” Ash’s voice was hard as he moved to my side, even though I tried to stop him. Either Bres wasn’t listening, or he didn’t care, because he started weaving his way closer once he could see Ash fully, teeth bared in a snarl.
“What’ve you done to me?”
“I haven’t do—” Ash’s voice cut off abruptly, and his eyes darted with confusion as Bres kept advancing.
I tensed, stepping forward, gripping my dagger tight. “Don’t come closer, Bres.”
