Forbidden Warrior (Midsummer Knights)

Rowan stared, his jaw tight, then nodded. “Aye. It’s for the best.”

“’Tis,” Fáe agreed, looking away into the middle distance. One of Fáe’s favorite places to inhabit. Neither here nor there, a place where he could hover forever, never touching anything. Or anyone.

Máel knew the state well. It was a cold place. Thank God Cassia had melted her way through and found him, with fire and spirit and a bit of battle.

Fáelán would find his fire too. Or he would die alone.

“Good,” Fáe said, bringing his gaze down. He smiled at Cassia. “You will be fine.”

“You must find Tadhg over in Ireland,” Rowan insisted.

“Aye. I’ll hunt him down.”

“Whatever you need, he will see it done. His last words to us were that he owes you. He is indebted.”

“Good. I’ll collect.”

Rowan nodded firmly. “Make the bastard pay.”

They all grinned and started walking again. Máel said, “With me gone, that’ll leave just the two of you in the lair.”

Fáelán shrugged a little and glanced at Rowan. “Máel was shite at conversation anyhow, wasn’t he?”

“Most shite,” Rowan agreed. “Good riddance, I say.”

Their ambling stroll had brought them closer to the main bailey gates. People were climbing the stairs to the castle within, hurrying to the festivities, trailing silk and samite and flashing with gems.

He looked down swiftly to catch any wistfulness that might linger in Cassia’s eyes. Any misgiving or regret….

She was peering at Rowan and Fáe with what could only be described as rapture. Her eyebrows were up, her mouth rounded, her cheeks flushed.

She turned to him. “A lair?” she whispered excitedly.

He caught her hand in his and kissed it, then pulled her the rest of the way to him.

“We’ll be on ahead,” Rowan called as he and Fáe kept walking. Because Fáe would never stop, and Rowan was always at his side.

He wrapped an arm around her back.

“They are good brothers,” she said earnestly.

“They are bastards,” he replied, and kissed her.

Her lips on his, she said, “I cannot wait to see your lair.”

“I cannot wait to show you my home.”

“Show me everything,” she whispered. “I am ready for every adventure.”

“We’ll start tonight,” he promised, and watched her eyes fill with happy tears as he kissed her.

They were not ruined. Nothing was over.

Everything that mattered was just beginning.