Chapter 30
Chapter thirty
“Nothing is so good as remembering a pleasant evening.” – from the diary of Oren Byrne, age twenty.
Iwiggled in the chair, my ass throbbing.
I couldn’t get comfortable. I’d woken up to Abnus curled around me and decided a morning fuck was a good idea.
It probably hadn’t been. I was sore, but I didn’t care.
Not truly. Hearing Abnus come undone as he’d rutted into me had been worth it.
I’d had to shove my face into a pillow to muffle my scream from the orgasm that had come at the end.
I wet my lips as I thought back to his sweaty body on mine, his lips trailing down my skin.
I wanted to grab Abnus and drag him back to my room or to the library, to talk with him again about everything and nothing.
I wanted to see his eyes track my every movement, and to hear his voice as he talked about himself.
I wanted it all.
One full night in my bed, and I wanted him forever.
“Oren,” someone snapped.
I jerked, then a blush surged to my cheeks.
I was in a meeting with the magistrate, Father, Georgie, and my brothers.
The magistrate, a Miss Shaw, who was a portly woman in her fifth decade with steel hair and a no-nonsense squashed face, had interviewed the servants about Mrs. Kelly’s murder and wished to discuss her findings with us, not that she’d found much from what I’d heard.
Nonetheless, this needed to be my focus, not my hopeless infatuation with Abnus.
“Are you present?” Neil asked.
“Indeed. My apologies.” I fought the blush.
Father arched an eyebrow at me—his look was one of reproach and disbelief.
In the past, I’d been focused on the task at hand—the perfect heir—now I wasn’t even close.
But I didn’t need to be. I could just be Oren, whoever that was.
I wasn’t entirely sure, but I was finding myself in this murky water I was wading through.
Yes, I was angry about having to, but there was also a certain amount of joy at the prospect of choices, of being myself, of being able to walk the path of my choosing.
How much I had changed in only three months.
Miss Shaw ignored me and continued relaying the results of the interviews, which wasn’t much. The murder had happened late at night when no one was awake. The guards had been at the gatehouse with a few that circled the grounds. But no one had heard anything.
Magistrate Shaw had found no one bore Mrs. Kelly ill will. In fact, she’d been rather liked by all of the staff. While strict, Mrs. Kelly had possessed a kind heart and a lovely soul. No one had any reason to harm the old woman.
Mrs. Kelly also had no reason to be awake, let alone outside, at that time. Why had she even been in the garden? I couldn’t fathom why. No one else had any ideas either, not even Father, though he did listen raptly.
“Mr. Kelly wants to bury his mother today. The vicar has agreed, if that is acceptable to you, Lord Byrne?” Miss Shaw asked.
“Of course,” Father replied with a slight incline of his head. It was odd hearing Father referred to by his old title, now that I was growing somewhat used to Aidan bearing it. And yet at the same time, it felt so incredibly natural, as if I’d stepped back in time.
My gaze flicked to Abnus, and he was already looking at me. The smallest quirk of his lips soothed my tension. No, I hadn’t mysteriously traveled through time. I was still here with Abnus, even if I couldn’t hold his hand as I wished to.
The magistrate continued in her raspy monotone voice, “Mrs. Maher has prepared her body. Is Your Lordship going to be in attendance?”
I tried to remain serene as my gaze shifted to Father.
His expression was unchanged. Father was a rock and very little upset him.
Part of me desired him to say no, because if Father and Mother attended, so would I and my brothers, but another part wanted him to say yes, and recognize that while Mrs. Kelly hadn’t been family, she’d indeed been a part of our household.
“I and my family shall attend,” Father ruled.
She gave him a curt nod, then stood, heels clacking together before she bowed.
Father excused her with a wave of his hand. When the door closed, leaving just the family and Abnus inside, he took Mother’s hand and pressed a kiss to the back, making her smile softly.
Mother looked worse for wear, with dark rings about her eyes, and her white skin had gone pasty. I swore there were new gray hairs in her pale blonde hair.
“Mother, are you well?” I asked.
“Certainly,” she replied, squeezing Father’s hand.
Sevrin spoke up, interrupting before I could press her further, “Do any of you know what the devil is going on?”
Neil replied with a shrug, “Necromancer.”
“Why would a necromancer kill Mrs. Kelly?” Sevrin demanded, fist banging the table. “There was no need.”
Phineas placed a hand on Sevrin’s shoulder and whispered, “Calm yourself.”
Abnus’s hand snaked over to my thigh, gripping me.
“The necromancer could’ve been looking for a new body to control.
I do not know much about them, but they have an urge to use more and more of their magic, which results in more dead bodies.
They cannot help themselves. From my understanding, it is an addiction that cannot be conquered or controlled. "
“Wouldn’t the necromancer have taken the corpse, then?” Nevan asked. “That’s what they do. Raise the dead.”
Abnus inclined his head in concession. “True. Perhaps Mrs. Kelly was simply an obstacle for what the necromancer truly desired.”
“Which is?” I asked.
“I cannot say.”
“And what about those marks on her body?” Georgie asked, throwing a hand out in a wave. “They were far too precise to be an accident.”
Everyone looked at Abnus, and he merely replied, “I do not know.”
“We need Cethin,” Father said with a frown, and I fought a smile. Father and Cethin didn’t always see eye-to-eye, especially where Aidan was concerned. “You said he knows more about necromancers.”
“He does.”
Almost like he could sense what I was about to say, Abnus’s grip on my thigh tightened. “Lord Abnus—”
“No. I shall not leave while you remain in danger. My prince commanded me to watch you.”
Nevan snorted. “You two can drop the play. You’re fucking. Lord Abnus, you won’t leave because you want to keep burying your prick in him.”
“Nevan,” I snapped as heat rushed to my cheeks.
Father and Mother both jerked toward us. Father was glaring at Abnus, whereas Mother was smiling softly.
I was going to murder Nevan. No necromancer needed. Just leave me alone with the bastard, and he’d be dead.
“You can deny it all you want. We can hear you. Our rooms are near enough to yours, though, thank God, not right next to you. You’re louder than Aidan,” he replied.
Abnus leveled him a cold look. “I will not deny your brother, but I did attempt to keep it a secret for his reputation.”
“This is true?” Father demanded, his hands fisted.
I swallowed, holding Abnus’s hand. Shit.
They were going to make me marry Abnus, and Cethin would be right there beside them.
Out of everyone, only Cethin had the power to force his cousin to marry me.
And it was going to happen. I was going to be forced.
Well, not me. Abnus was. I didn’t wish to secure him in this way.
Taking a deep breath, I answered in a squeak, “Yes.”
Father crossed his arms as he simply breathed—a sure sign that he was trying to remain calm.
Mother was still slightly smiling as she remarked, “It always amazes me how similar fathers and their sons are.”
He glared at her, but there was no heat. Father had once found a fae exceedingly attractive—that was how Aidan had been conceived. Now, two of his sons had chosen fae partners.
“I shall deal with this after everything is solved.” He pointed at the two of us. “You two will keep proper boundaries until you are wed or I have Aidan banish Lord Abnus.”
Fuck. I refused to allow either of those options. No. I would fight tooth and nail to keep Abnus beside me, but I wouldn’t let him be forced to choose me when he didn’t wish it.
Unable to help it, I peeked at him, but Abnus was simply staring at Father, his expression blank.
Sevrin laughed, but he quickly turned it into a cough, patting his chest. “Something suddenly got caught in my throat.”
Father leveled him a look, but he didn’t remark.
“Do not threaten him with forced marriage or banishment, Father,” I said, finding my voice. “This was as much my decision as his.”
“Of that I am aware, Oren,” Father said. “We will discuss your conduct later.”
“You have no right to chastise me,” I snapped, and Father’s eyebrows shot up. “I’m an adult and the choice was mine.”
“If you wish to benefit from this estate, you will heed me, Oren,” Father replied darkly.
I scoffed. “That is Aidan’s choice. Not yours. It will never be yours again.”
Father glared at me, but I refused to back down. Yes, I wanted to cry and hide away, but I would not. I was going to protect Abnus.
Neil said, interrupting our silent fight, “If we could return to the matter at hand, instead of Oren’s private affairs.
Lord Abnus, we need Aidan and Cethin. The necromancer, as we are all but certain there is one, is here, not where the attacks happened.
And while Father has sent a letter, it will be some time yet before it arrives.
We need a faster means of retrieving them. ”
His hand gripped my thigh hard enough to leave bruises.
I rubbed my fingers over him, and he relaxed.
I knew he was going to refuse—his concern for me was too great—but we did need Aidan and Cethin.
More people couldn’t die simply because I didn’t want Abnus to leave, and he felt honor bound to remain by my side, protecting me.
“Abnus,” I whispered, holding his hand. “Trust my family and myself to keep me safe. We don’t even know if someone is after me or anyone here at the manor. This could be something else entirely, but I need Aidan and Cethin.”
He leaned closer and pressed his forehead against mine, oblivious of, or more likely, uncaring about my family staring at us. “I will be most upset if you die, Oren.”
That was the closest he could or would come to saying he loved me, but it was enough. “I will keep myself alive, and I might even succeed in keeping my brothers alive.”
With a dark chuckle, he kissed my cheek. “They’re not my concern, but do as you need.”
“I feel unneeded,” Nevan said.
“You are,” Neil replied, flicking his twin’s ear. “Come on, let’s give them a moment.”
All of my brothers slipped out, but Father remained resolutely in his seat. Mother ran her hand down the length of his arm and gave him such a soft look that I turned away, blushing.
“Come with me,” she said.
Father released a long sigh, but he stood and closed the door behind them.
Abnus nosed my cheek before kissing it again.
I wrapped my arms around him and allowed him to draw me onto his lap.
Why couldn’t we have been mates like Aidan and Cethin?
We would never have to separate. Abnus could love me.
I shook my head against him. He could love me anyway, but he chose not to, which was fine.
But with every hour that passed, it was harder for me not to spout the all-consuming love that burned in my heart for him.
I burrowed my head in his shoulder. “Come back.”
“I will, Oren, and I shall bring your brother and my cousin with me.”
“When you return, my father will want answers and he will not allow you to stay.”
His arms tightened around me. It was the end of what we were, as much as I’d fought Father in the moment. Whatever this was would end, and Abnus would leave me behind to “protect” me, or to protect his position as the representative of the Night Court.
He rubbed his forehead against mine. “And your brother might not allow me to remain in Sídhetír.”
“He will or I shall have an issue with him.”
Abnus gave a huff that could possibly qualify as a laugh. “I believe you, a ghrá.”
I slid off his lap and pulled him up. Abnus slipped his arms around my waist and held me securely against him. He patted my ass gently. “I shall be more careful in the future not to leave you squirming.”
Future? We had a future. He wanted a future. I went up on my toes but didn’t try to kiss him. “I don’t mind. I like it.”
He kissed my neck where he’d left a mark on me. “Shall I replace this when I return?”
“If you are gone long enough for it to disappear, then I will be cross with you.”
“Then I will endeavor to hurry back to your side.” Abnus held me close before stepping back.
I slipped my arm within his and led him outside.
Cold snow covered the ground, but the sky was clear without a single cloud nor did the wind blow.
Abnus squeezed my hand, then moved away.
Wings like ice slid from his back, and I smiled at them.
He was a beautiful sight. But this time it wasn’t his wings alone; his cheekbones sharpened and his chin lengthened.
My breath caught in my throat as I realized what was happening. He was shedding his glamour. Two white horns curled from his forehead, gleaming like ice. His fingers were tipped with claws and his canines had turned sharp. He looked far more feral than I was used to seeing him.
Unable to stop myself, I stepped toward him, taking in every one of his changes. My fingertips brushed his sharp cheekbones before dipping to his chin. Everything about him seemed harder, but he was still Abnus, and like all noble fae, beautiful.
His purple eyes never deviated from me as his mouth thinned as if he was expecting a response—a negative one. He wasn’t going to get it.
I pressed a kiss to his chin. “You’re lovely. All of you.”
A slight flush burned under his cheeks, and a smirk quirked on my lips. I doubted anyone else had ever made Abnus blush. I felt oddly powerful.
He caressed my cheek before stepping back. His wings fluttered and lifted him into the sky, then disappeared from view.