Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 121008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
I roll my eyes. “I bloody well do. You’re not the only one who’s in trouble here.”
Cian shakes his head and dramatically turns away. “I don’t want to fight anymore. There’s no point to it. I haven’t the energy. Can’t we just get along? It won’t be long before I’m gone. I feel it. I feel death coming for me.”
“You sound like a bad play,” I say with an affectionate laugh. Cian has always been overly dramatic. Goddess, it will be good to have my brother back.
A sad sigh comes from the figure on the bed. “And you sound like you couldn’t care less. I suppose I understand. I haven’t been much use to anyone lately. Well, did you have any luck on your hunting trip? Did you catch anything?”
Cian is turned away, so I know he can’t see my sly smile. “I didn’t catch anything to eat, if that’s what you’re asking.”
I don’t mention that I actually ate Meg’s sweet pussy quite a bit the night before. I don’t think I’ll ever get my fill of that sweet treat.
“Oh, well,” comes the ho-hum reply. “I wasn’t hungry, anyway.”
It’s time to get my brother moving. I can’t leave Meggie alone for too long. She gets into trouble. “I didn’t really go hunting. I went to market and got us a wife.”
Cian sits straight up in bed. Yes, that got his attention.
“Yeah, I thought that might get you moving, you lazy bastard.”
Cian appears more animated than I’ve seen him in months. His hand goes back to smooth down his hair. “There’s a girl here?”
“Meggie’s a woman,” I correct. “She’s all woman, not a girl.”
“Meggie.” Cian rolls the name around on his tongue as if he’s tasting it. He seems to like the flavor. “How did she escape from Tír na nÒg ? Do you think Torin is hunting her?”
“No, you don’t understand.” I put a single hand on my twin’s shoulder, a silent request to calm down. “She’s not Fae.”
Cian slumps back down. “Oh, I thought you found us a bondmate. I guess I was being fanciful. Well, I hope she brings you some pleasure in our last days.”
“She’s a human from the Earth plane, and she is most definitely a proper bondmate. She’s also the most beautiful thing in all of the planes,” I say with confidence. “I already bonded with her and feel spectacular, but if you’re not interested, I’ll keep her for myself.”
Cian is on his feet before I can finish the offer. “I need to change clothes.”
He needs far more than clean clothes. I can smell him from here. “You need a bath before I’ll let you anywhere near my own sweet Meggie.”
Cian’s face turns stubborn. “Our own sweet Meggie.”
“Fine, then.” It’s good to see my brother up and about. I’m not worried about sharing Meg with him. I’ve expected it all of my life. I’ve shared everything with Cian. I want to share a life, a real life, with Cian and Meg. I walk to the dresser and pull out clean clothes and a bar of soap. “But I should warn you, she slept with me last night. She might not want you.”
Cian huffs. “Well, if she’s only had you for company, she’ll need a little intelligent conversation. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but mostly you grunt.”
“She doesn’t seem to mind the noises I make, if you know what I mean.” She seems to have forgiven me for my brutish behavior before. She was a sweet bundle of soft femininity in my arms while we traveled home. I found the ride a bit rough since I was hard the whole time, but I wouldn’t have changed it. I like holding her. After nearly losing her, I find it calms me to have her close.
Cian tosses off the pants he’s been wearing. “I can’t believe you bonded without me.”
It wasn’t what we planned. It wasn’t anything close to the traditional ceremony we should have had—nor had it concluded in a full bonding. The guilt of that weighs heavily on me, but I won’t be able to open myself fully to her. She will never be able to handle some of the things I’ve done. I have to keep part of my soul to myself. The dark parts. “You would have done the same, little brother. Trust me. Once you’ve seen her, you’ll understand.”
Holding the items in one hand, Cian walks through the bedroom to the rear door of the cottage. He looks back, the slightest hint of uncertainty in his eyes. “She’s a proper bondmate, then?”
I cock an eyebrow questioningly. “The bond works. I know. It will work with you, too.”
“That’s not what I meant, brother,” Cian says. “I was asking if she’s like the other bondmates. Is she anything like Maris?”
I remember well how Cian felt about our intended. He could barely stand the sight of her. Maris had made her preferences clear. She wanted to be queen. She would have preferred to only be married to the warrior half of the king. “Not in the way you mean. Meg is sweet, and she’s got quite the mouth on her. She wasn’t raised to be a highborn lady, but she deserves no less respect. She’s a little scared, too.”