Rituals (Cainsville 5)

Gwynn chuckled. It is indeed. This isn't over--but you know that. So while you wait, let me return you to this...

Sunlight pierced the dark room, and a breeze brought the scent of wildflowers and of Matilda, right there in front of him, still blushing, eyes open as Gwynn leaned forward and kissed her.

THE PACT

Ricky paced around the tiny room, some sort of magical cage with no exits. Every now and then he'd bang the walls and shout, "Hey! I wanna talk to someone!" Which was probably as effective as a convict clanging his cup along the bars, but at the very least, he might get their attention.

And he did. He was opening his mouth to shout again when she appeared--the woman who was the manifested format of the elder sluagh.

"Where's Liv?" he said. "Where's everyone? Gabriel, Lloergan--"

"Yes, yes, you came with many people. Some of them more important to you than others, but you will ask about every one of them. That is the weakness of the Cwn Annwn, the fault of a life spent in service to others. You might play the rebel biker, but you are as bound by your sense of honor as your Huntsmen."

"I want--"

"You want many things, Arawn. But you don't get them, do you? Or if you do, it's only temporary. Gwynn has always been just that little bit better. In the beginning, he was the kind one, the thoughtful one. Uncommonly considerate for a fae prince. But you drove that out of him. Taught him a lesson. And what happens? He comes back now, having fully assimilated your lesson, a true king of the Fae, more manipulative and headstrong and selfish than you ever were. And somehow, despite all that, he still wins. He's still better."

"Yep, I lose. So where--"

"You say that so cavalierly. But you don't feel it cavalierly, do you?" She waved her hand and a mirror appeared on the wall. "Look at yourself. A perfect specimen of young human manhood. Beautiful face and physique, with the brains to match. Add in charm and wit and compassion, and you should be the unbeatable suitor. So how does she choose..."

Another wave and the mirror turned into a window. On the other side, Gabriel sat on the floor, knees drawn up, head against the wall, eyes shut.

Asleep? Really? He was fucking asleep at a time--

Ricky squelched the indignation. If Gabriel appeared to be napping, he was unconscious. Or deep in thought.

"Or actually asleep," the sluagh said. "Resting confident in the knowledge that Matilda will choose as Matilda always chooses."

"Choose?" He turned to the sluagh.

"Shocked? Perhaps that's why she picked him. You aren't quite as quick on the uptake."

"No, maybe I just thought you wouldn't beat that dead horse again. So you're making Liv choose between us."

"Yes. Gabriel already knows. And as you can see, he's terribly concerned."

That jolt of indignation again. Damn it, yes, he wasn't quite as cavalier about this as he should be. As he wanted to be.

She's playing you.

He knew that, and yet as he watched Gabriel, he kept bristling, kept thinking...

"She chose him," the sluagh whispered. "She will always choose him. He is better. No matter what you do, what you accomplis

h, he will always be better. That pretty face of yours? Merely genetics. That brain? His works a tiny bit faster. Your success? An MBA on the fast track to leader of a motorcycle gang?" She laughed. "Not exactly Eden's idea of a life partner. Whatever Gabriel's reputation, he has a legitimate career. He has the success and the stock portfolio to show for it. You might be able to make a decent down payment on a condo...half as good as the one he bought outright when he wasn't much older than you. But all of that isn't nearly as important to Olivia as sheer strength of character. And that is where he beats you, hands down. He rose from nothing. Endured neglect and abuse and abandonment. And you? Your mommy left you, too...and let your adoring daddy take you, while she remained part of your life. As childhood traumas go? Negligible compared to his."

The sluagh leaned into his ear as he watched Gabriel. "Don't you just want to wipe that arrogance off his face? Wouldn't you like to see how confident he looks when he realizes he's lost? All those years ago, he took her from you. Stole her. He allowed her to die rather than let her even remain friends with you. He doesn't deserve her. You do."

Ricky kept staring. He thought of all the times Gabriel had betrayed Liv. All the times he'd hurt her. Ricky had never done that.

Arawn had never done that, either. It'd been Gwynn. Gwynn broke his vow and wooed Matilda and then made another vow, that if she went to Arawn, he could have her.

So arrogant. So cocky. So sure of his success. Just like Gabriel.

"Exactly," the sluagh whispered. "That is exactly right."

No, it's not, a voice whispered, deep in his mind.