Chapter 3 Carwynn
CARWYNN
Our house was on the outskirts of Luckland City, in a small village community called The Mounds.
I was hesitant to move in with new roommates at first, but David made the arrangements having known a couple of the Aos Si elders.
He insisted it’d be the best place for me.
How he knew them, I had no idea. And I didn’t bother asking—if I had to hear one more hollow, avoidant answer, I was going to lose my shit.
When my eyes first laid on the house, I nearly peed myself in excitement.
It was literally my mystical, magical dream home.
Quaint, adorable, cottage-y, and burrowed into a hilly mound.
Even better, it was like an exact replica of my favorite movie, one where child-sized people lived in cottage-chic holes under hills.
When I first mentioned the comparison to David, he had a good laugh, knowing exactly which one I was referring to since I forced him to watch it countless times when I was a teenager.
It made my heart happy having someone who understood my human movie references.
The Mounds village was incredible. Basically, if a fairytale impregnated a grassy hillside, it would’ve birthed The Mounds.
From far above, you’d never know there were houses or stores.
One side of town was a deep wooded forest that hugged the shoreline while the other was made up of a smaller forest that led to Luckland City.
Our cozy little home had oval skylights overhead that let sunlight flow freely in.
Although we didn’t have a cool circular door, we did have an arched one with beautiful gold trimmings.
And thanks to Breena and Aine’s Si green thumbs, the garden out front was exploding with bursts of rainbow colors.
The sun was falling, giving away to night as I walked through the streets. Each path was lined with bright orbs floating above. It reminded me of those industrial-looking string lights people would put in their backyards in summertime.
I’d never felt more like I lived in a storybook than when I walked through my neighborhood.
So breathtakingly adorable. Shopfronts had vibrant stained-glass windows in a magnitude of hues.
Some with little square window grids while others had large arched ones.
The small stone streets and pathways had a faint glow to them at night—magic that’d guide your way as you stepped.
Very clever. Who needed technology when you had magic? And the best part of all—the sound of people chatting, laughing, enjoying their night.
It was less than a fifteen-minute walk to Luckland City center. The peaceful, nature-filled walk of The Mounds swiftly turned into a busier bustling city. Charming wide gray cobblestone streets were the first sign that you’d crossed into the city’s territory.
Large stone buildings lined the streets and had rich green ivy twisting up the walls, like greedy hands trying to steal the building.
It always reminded me of those elite ivy league universities in the Human Realm, minus the douchey frat boys.
The ivy really did add a look of sophistication and class to everything.
At the immediate center of the city was the Trefoil Castle. Deep green marble illuminated with gold accents everywhere. The entire city surrounded the castle, as if swallowed up by it. Large stone walls lined its circular perimeter, so guests could only access the grounds via massive golden gates.
I walked along the wall’s perimeter, taking in the lively city. I tried to keep a brisk walk to fight off the chill in the air. Tit bit nippley, but we’ll make the breast of it!
It was nice not to hear the butchering sounds of angry horns blaring. Cars didn’t exist here since there was no need. You know, magic.
People mostly walked everywhere and when they didn’t, many could fly or catch a ride with an Enbarr. Which, by the way, looked to me like a horse, except more fluffy with pointed ears. But apparently if you called it that, it was demeaning.
There were so many different species of creatures, but most looked like they could pass as human. With my simplistic, human-raised brain, I usually bunched everyone together, referring to them as people. Sue me.
As the Golden Oak came into view, I slowed my pace.
It had a radiantly gold sign. The letters were made out to look like roots of a tree. An arch entrance on the left led into the casino while the other led into the enormous pub.
Crossing the road, I headed for the right arch, stepping inside.
I was immediately greeted by two large figures—one average guy on right and a hulking one to my left. Both were dressed to the nines in tweed suits, looking gruff as hell with their brown-and-ginger beards. Lochlainn’s men for sure.
Their eyes tunneled into me. I hesitantly crept by, unsure if they were drinking me in or trying to spit me out.
In my delusional head, I was totally glaring back at them in challenge. But in reality, it was probably more of a polite smile, avoidant of confrontation. Something I was usually pretty good at, unless there were Brownies around.
Little assholes.
Everything about the pub was decadently comforting.
Dark wooden beams lined the ceilings, along with elaborate gilded tiles.
The same dark wood covered the walls of the bar, booths, tables, and gave way to small intricate carvings scattered throughout.
A velvety, dark green carpet lined the floors.
Gold, brown, and green seemed to be the common theme here, with a dash of fancy.
The pub was bustling. Live music played in the corner of the room on a small, slightly elevated stage.
I headed straight to the bar, spotting a couple seats open.
Taking my coat off, I hooked it on the back of the chair, and slid on.
“What can I getcha, love?” The older bartender politely asked.
I leaned in to speak over the clamor.
“I’m actually here to see Lochlainn. If you wouldn’t mind letting him know Carwynn is here?”
He gave a quick nod of understanding.
“Absolutely! I’ll let him know straight away! Anything I can getcha in the meantime?”
“Hmm, maybe just a pint of—” My words were cut off by a deep voice invading my space.
“Tell Lochlainn I’m here to see him. My business is priority over—” Piercing blue eyes narrowed on me, trailing down my curves, to the swell of my hips, then back up. “Pleasures.”
Asshole!
The hot flush of humiliation swept over my skin, targeting my cheeks.
No, don’t you fucking dare look down and cower! I reminded myself.
Old habits die hard.
He leaned over the bar, shoulder grazing mine dominantly. Black hair was buzzed short on the sides, but longer on top and neatly combed back. His black shirt matched dark pants, accented by gold-embellished suspenders.
Fuck, he was hot. But also hot in a hot, steamy, piece of shit kind of way.
My aggravation built.
I held his stare while addressing the bartender.
“Actually, I’m here on business as well.”
When I turned to look at the bartender, I found he had already disappeared.
Well, shit.
It wasn’t until he leaned forward, overwhelming my space, that I realized his form. He wasn’t a mountain, but he was tall and clearly muscled under his fitted button-down.
I swallowed hard, trying not to breathe him in. I imagined he probably smelled like some nauseating aerosol cologne that cocky pretty boys bought out of a can, dousing themselves in it like their ego.
My body betrayed me as I took a whiff.
Damn it. I was off. Way off.
He smelled like a candle I used to have in college called midnight, or something cheesy like that. It was spiced and intoxicating. The kind of scent that’d leave a trail of pathetic, drooling women.
Curse him for buying the expensive stuff.
He was so close to me that I saw every curve of his face—strong jaw, furrowed dark brows, full lips, and an annoyingly pretty boy face.
Eyes lethal, he lowered his voice, leaning in.
“A business has doors that open wide to patrons.” He looked down at me again. “Not legs.”
Fury. Pure unfiltered fury flooded my system.
I don’t think I’ve ever hated someone so much after only having spoken to them for a mere sixty seconds.
Who the hell did he think he was?
Before I could think, I snapped. My words shot out without a thought.
“You’re a rude, disrespectful, fucking asshole!
” My eyes pinned him like freshly sharpened darts.
“I’m not a prostitute, you twat! Though, it sounds like you were slighted by one and now have some vendetta.
” My voice dripped with sarcasm. “Have they refused you services? Did your winning personality become so fucking unbearable that it wasn’t worth the torture of your paid company?
You must be really fucking lovable to be around. ”
My chest was rising and falling with my hammering heart. I refused to let him intimidate me. But then—
A flash of some raw emotion shadowed his face. Then it was gone.
It seemed like the air around us darkened as he slowly stepped one foot toward me. He closed the already minimal space between us. Absolute hatred painted his face.
Sharp eyes bore into mine as he raised a hand to my face.
I flinched.
He didn’t miss it, his eyes soften as he hesitated for a millisecond, before gently dragging his knuckles down my cheek in a caress. Eyes fixed on my lips.
My heart was racing even faster now, but for another reason entirely.
For the love of god, what was happening?
Voice dark, he whispered into my ear, “How much for the night?”
My eyes nearly fluttered closed from the warm tickle of his breath against my neck.
W—What? What did he—? Consciousness slammed back into my body.
Oh for fuck’s sake!
Smack!
I belligerently whacked his hand away and slapped him straight across the face. The sound was beyond satisfying.
“Don’t you ever touch me!” My throat tightened at the force of my words.
His cheek began to redden, twitching up.
A familiar commanding voice shot through the air like a bullet.
“Oi! Get ya fucking mitts off her!”
Suited like a businessman in a sharp tweed suit, but built like a boxer, the ginger-bearded brute strolled up to us, dragging a hand through his short red hair.
Lochlainn.