Chapter 2 #2
My own ambition is as much of an obstacle. Marrying Vittoria is my chance to become king and take a different path, not only giving our people the chance to survive but also thrive. I refuse to let the Blight destroy us.
Normally, Niamh is the exact opposite of my sister – she dresses modestly, doesn’t drink too much and is careful not to give any man foolish enough to wander into her vicinity the wrong idea.
Except that tonight, she looks anything but innocent.
My cock hardens at the sight of her slender, toned body barely covered by a sequinned bodycon dress, her breasts pushed up into an impressive cleavage.
The dress leaves little to the imagination and it would be so easy to slide a hand up her skirt, to part her thighs and slip her underwear to the side, to see just how turned on she would be.
An ache inside me wishes I could be there.
The more I stare at the photo, however, the more I see beyond my lust. They’re both smiling, but I can see the strain on Niamh’s features, the way she’s looking to the side, tension in her body as if poised ready for an attack.
Because deep down, despite all the human laws we choose to abide by on the surface, and all the security that’s in place around her in the club to theoretically keep her safe, she still understands what she truly is.
Prey.
Or I could bind her to me forever by promising to fulfil her heart’s desire if she accepted.
I’ve heard stories of humans being granted the most amazing voices, exceptional dancing talent, the ability to play a musical instrument with more skill than any other living being – but there’s always a catch.
One woman could only ever sing and lost the ability to speak.
Another danced herself to death. And yet another played the fiddle with such skill that everyone who heard her was instantly entranced, but as soon as the music stopped all memory of the music and the musician was gone.
What am I tempted to offer Niamh? Is there anything out there that she would be unable to resist?
I doubt it. She’s not so easily tempted.
It doesn’t stop me wanting her, though. Over the years, my thoughts have strayed to her with a disturbing regularity, and in those fantasies, my sister’s best friend is far less sweet and innocent than she is in reality.
Most of the things I want to do with her – do to her – I’m sure have never crossed her mind.
I refused to allow Rose to bring Niamh tonight.
It’s bad enough being around her the times we’ve met in the human world, but downright dangerous to bring her here, to Vincenzo’s restaurant in the Underworld.
Like most humans, Niamh isn’t aware of the presence of the Kinfolk around her all day, every day, but if she was and if she witnessed the way we operate, the things my family does to manipulate humans, her moral code would send her straight to the authorities.
And they might actually believe her. It’s a quality that will make her a fantastic lawyer – and utterly wrong for me.
Her friendship with my sister is just another way in which Rose tries to rile me up every single day.
‘Looks like your sister is enjoying herself,’ Vittoria says, looking at my phone over my shoulder. ‘And at Sussurri. Really?’ She shakes her head and exchanges a look with her father.
My phone vibrates again with a text from Sean:
She’s insistent on staying. Want me to risk causing a scene?
‘News of your sister’s whereabouts?’ Vincenzo asks.
‘Yes, her bodyguard.’
‘Such a simple task,’ he says. ‘I hope you’re going to punish him severely for his failure.’
‘He has many other useful qualities,’ I say, taking a sip of my whisky as I consider Vincenzo’s lack of empathy for the Kinfolk he employs.
I know my sister, and she doesn’t make Sean’s life easy.
Given that he’s the only man who has been even remotely able to keep an eye on Rose, while also managing to keep his hands off her and his dick out of her, I’m not willing to dispose of him yet.
But his coat is on a very shoogly peg after tonight and if anything happens to her, he won’t be breathing for long. I text him back.
Time to take Rosebud and her friend back to their flat.
Rose detests the nickname, insisting that it demeans her. But if she’s going to act out like a child, I feel justified in using it.
On it.
‘No!’ Vittoria, looking at the messages says suddenly, her expression cold, jaw set. ‘Leave her be. I’m sure she has a good reason not to make the effort.’
‘Very well,’ I say, although dressed like that in a place like Sussurri, Rose and Niamh are really fucking far from being safe in the way I’d like them to be. But I’m not ready to push things yet.
‘Rose will be fine in Sussurri,’ Vittoria assures me as if reading my thoughts.
For all her faults, she wouldn’t lie to me, not about this.
If Kinfolk lie to one another, there are harsh penalties to pay, and I’m sure my fiancée would never risk that.
Especially as we never know what it might be as Court magic decides.
The loss of her voice – or her magic? A visible mark of shame?
She would never risk any of those, so my sister should be safe.
‘I’m sure she will,’ I say, and we exchange a look.
She realises the significance as well as I do.
Rose partying in a Riali-owned nightclub instead of being here is a giant ‘fuck you’ to our marriage.
The two of them have never liked one another, and while I tend to agree with Rose’s opinions about Vittoria, our family has a lot to gain from this marriage going ahead.
Vittoria places a hand on my chest and leans in close to me and whispers, ‘But I expect you to make it up to me later.’ She nips at my ear with her teeth before sitting back and sliding a hand from my knee to my crotch.
And if she notices that I’m already hard, she doesn’t comment on it. Thank fuck.
I text Sean to leave Rose be.
‘Well, I for one am looking forward to the big day,’ says Alec Carruth, changing the subject back to our wedding.
‘My father didn’t enjoy socialising, and I’ve kept myself hidden away in the darkest depths of Ayrshire for far too long, but now that I’ve seen what I’m missing, I’m looking forward to coming into the city far more. ’
He gestures around the opulent room and Vincenzo preens.
The Rialis have always been susceptible to flattery – it’s a flaw.
To be honest, I wasn’t expecting Alec to attend.
His lands lie south-west of Glasgow and until recently his father was the Kennard and showed no interest in making connections with the other Kinfolk.
‘Are you planning to wear white?’ Alec asks Vittoria.
‘Of course,’ she says sweetly, but her expression is tight and I hide my smile at the way he has managed to piss her off without giving her grounds for a challenge. ‘Everything will be very traditional, Alec.’
The way she says his name makes me certain he’s going to pay for that comment, but he’s smiling back at her, oblivious. I can’t bring myself to anticipate what my life is going to be like married to her.
‘It’s tragic, in a way, that the eight Kinfolk families of The Unseelie Court will reduce even further, but this way at least both our bloodlines will live on,’ Vincenzo says. ‘It’ll be a day to celebrate when your oldest son fully unites both families – although I hope that is a long time away.’
I’m sure he does, because he’ll be dead. Come to think of it, that would require my death, too. Let’s hope it is many, many years in the future.
‘So few Kinfolk females, nowadays,’ Vincenzo continues, shaking his head sadly. ‘The Blight took The Seelie Court in one fell swoop, but it’s killing The Unseelie Court just as surely.’
‘Like I said earlier,’ MacGowan puts in, ‘the pollution in the human world is having an effect. The Seelie Court thrived in the light, in fresh, clean air. We’ve only survived because of our links with the darkness, and even death.’
‘Oh, Thomas, you’re making it sound like a battle of good and evil,’ Carruth says, pouring his friend another glass.
‘It has certainly reduced the number of women born at all levels of society. Only two women in this generation. You’re fortunate Vittoria has chosen you, Cillian. Soon, only your sister, Rose, will be available.’
I clench my fists.
‘At least from your perspective, Cillian, it means there are potentially fewer rivals for the position of king in the future,’ Vincenzo says, laughing. ‘Although, I’m not planning on giving up my position anytime soon.’
In order to become king, a Kennard must marry the daughter of another – and there’s a growing fear that in the next generation, no females will be born and every Kin of The Unseelie Court will die out – if the Blight doesn’t overcome it first.
‘Uncertainty doesn’t encourage anyone to breed,’ points out Thomas MacGowan.
His family has always been a powerful one, working with metal to form weapons and ammunition.
Their products are bought by both humans and Kinfolk, and perhaps one of the few universal truths is that everyone wants to be able to defend themselves – although it’s certainly convenient that those same weapons can also be used to attack.
‘Then we must work together to ensure stability,’ Vincenzo insists. ‘You two should set a good example and have as many children as possible, as soon as possible.’
I glance at Vittoria, but her face is unreadable.
I struggle to imagine her as a mother, though I have few objections to the process of making her one.
We’ve been lovers on and off for years, although ‘lovers’ seems too pleasant a term for it.
We both know what we want and we both know how to get that from each other.
No part of our relationship bears any resemblance to love.