Chapter 1 #2
“What’s all this?” another voice asked, and I turned.
Nevan and Neil walked toward us, perfect reflections of each other.
The twins were five years older than me and Aidan, and neither resembled us.
That fact wasn’t too surprising, as they had a different mother than both Aidan and I—Father’s second wife, Briella.
From the lady’s portrait, God rest her soul, they took after their mother.
Their black hair was perfectly coiffed, their deep blue eyes were locked on the fountain, and their long faces were in identical expressions—pursed lips and furrowed eyebrows.
As similar as they were in appearance, they were dissimilar in personality.
Nevan’s eyes always twinkled in mischief and a smile usually made a home in the corner of his lips.
I quite enjoyed his humor and the pranks he adored to play, except when I was on the receiving end, which was rare.
At most, he would tease me, but he almost never played tricks on me.
In contrast, Neil usually wore a staid expression, though every so often, usually at something Nevan said or did, he would smile.
He did share Nevan’s penchant for mischief; he was quieter but no less devious in it.
Much like his expression, Neil was a calm and reflective soul—an excellent counterpart to his twin.
Naturally, he was as dear to me as Nevan was, but in a different way.
I always felt safe to confide in Neil or seek his advice.
He would never judge me, and as he was an observant person, he often had the most remarkable wisdom to pass on.
“A gift,” I said, “from Aidan’s sister-in-law.”
“How lovely,” Neil remarked dryly. “It brightens up the courtyard in such a unique way, though, I dare say, it could move a tad to the left if one wanted it to be centered.”
Aidan’s eyebrow twitched again.
“What the bloody hell is it, and why is it steaming?” Nevan asked, cocking an elbow on Neil’s shoulder.
“As Oren said,” Aidan replied, “it’s a gift.”
Nevan and Neil looked as skeptical as I felt.
“Why didn’t you feel her pass through the gate?” I asked. Aidan could sense any fae on Sídhetír’s lands through the magical bond he had. He should’ve felt when Princess Carridwen or Princess Enah passed through the Gate of the Realms deep in the woods.
A flush started in Aidan’s cheeks before consuming the whole of his face. There was a good chance I didn’t want to hear the answer to my question.
“I was distracted last night,” Aidan said, glancing at Cethin, who still hugged him from behind.
Sweet Lord, they’d been fucking again. At least they’d done it in the privacy of their own room this time, which was more than I could say for all of the other times I or our family had caught them in more public places.
They couldn’t quite contain their ardor to more practical locations, like say, their bedroom?
That would be my preference if either of them deigned to ask.
Cethin chuckled. “I did keep you rather entranced last night.”
More heat swarmed Aidan’s face, making it a deep red, and he wasn’t alone. My own burned, making me feel quite warm on this winter day.
Nevan laughed and Neil shook his head, both unbothered by the declaration.
To change the subject, I asked, “When are the rest of our brothers arriving?”
Aidan closed his eyes and tilted his head.
His lashes fluttered, and his breathing slowed until his chest barely rose.
He was the very land itself. I’d never experienced the sensation, but Father had told me of it many times during my lessons.
The feel of the earth stretching in all directions, the plants growing and deepening their roots, and the people moving across the land.
The all-consumingness of Sídhetír. It was addicting, amazing, and terrifying all at once.
Relief and longing twined in my chest, forming a rather potent emotion that forced me to stare at the steaming fountain.
I’d never wanted to be lord, not ever. Yet now I felt slighted that it was Aidan, and not I, who was lord.
I’d spent my entire life learning something that would never come to fruition, and I wasn’t sure how to accept it. I needed to. No other choice existed.
“Sevrin and Phineas will be here before lunch,” he said, eyes still closed.
That made sense. Their ranch was only a couple of hours from the manor.
“Thomas, Georgie, and their girls should be here before dinner. Whitaker, Frances, and their daughters have not left yet. So perhaps tomorrow?” Aidan answered.
“Excellent.” I much preferred when all of us were here at Byrne Manor, though it was often overwhelming, not to mention loud.
All of my brothers were strong-willed and opinionated.
I adored them and was close with each of them, even with our disparate ages, but sometimes the sheer noise that came with my brothers being here was too much.
Perhaps it had to do with my youth? For much of my childhood, it had been only Aidan and I, with the others popping in depending on whether they were at school or busy with their careers.
I was unused to all eight of us being together.
“They’ll be here over Christmas,” Nevan commented. “I assume Hester, or rather Cethin, is planning a ball with numerous guests.”
Cethin merely blinked. “I’m doing what?”
I fought a laugh, as did Neil. Mother was struggling to get Cethin to do many, or rather, any of his responsibilities as the master of the manor. With his marriage to Aidan, the running of the household had fallen to his shoulders, and he was ignoring said duties.
“Ah,” Nevan said, before continuing, “I’m quite shocked she hasn’t already planned something. Like a small party for all of our arrivals.”
Aidan shrugged. “Everything has changed.”
“True,” Nevan remarked, glancing at me.
I swallowed while the stone of guilt in my stomach grew heavier.
All the old plans had been tossed in the rubbish when Aidan became lord. Now we were all wading through the murky future, unsure of the waters about us.