Chapter 13 #2
It only takes me a few moments to see Gideon’s right. Caolan’s gaze keeps sliding across to David. He’ll jerk it back to Percy, who seems to be giving him an abbreviated rundown about our situation with Tish, but then a few seconds later, it’s right back to David.
David’s noticed, of course. He always notices details, and having a diplomatic envoy stare at him during talks is a pretty big detail. Being David, the only giveaway that he’s concerned and unsettled is the slight twitch of his index finger.
Then his whole right hand flexes, and Gideon and I exchange an alarmed look. That’s akin to a public tantrum.
Before we can find a way to step in, though, Percy pauses, and Caolan seizes the chance.
“Please forgive me for interrupting,” he says politely to Percy, then turns to David. “You are the most beautiful being I have ever seen in my life.”
My jaw drops.
It’s not the only one.
And David, calm, unflappable David, begins to sputter.
Nobody seems to know what to say.
Except Caolan. He’s got plenty to say.
“From the instant I laid eyes on you, my soul has been crying out for yours. Never did I dream that in this world I would find such perfection as you.”
Whoa, this guy has some smooth lines. I make a mental note of that soul crying out one—I can use it on Aidan when I tell him we’re almost soul mates—then turn to look at David.
Honestly? I don’t see what Caolan sees.
I’m not being an ass, I swear. Objectively, sure, David’s good-looking.
Black hair and blue eyes is a combination that appeals to a lot of people.
His nose is on the bold side, but the rest of his features are even and attractive.
He’s fit, intelligent, and kindhearted, and the kind of friend who, as the humans say, I would take a bullet for gladly.
But to call him perfection… I don’t see it.
I guess I don’t have to, though.
“Dare I hope that a person so wonderful is unattached?”
There’s a moment of silence as we all stare at him, then I realize what he’s asked.
“Yes!” I shout. “He’s single. He’d love to date you. How about tonight?”
“Alistair!” David snaps, seeming to come out of his shock. “That’s a decision for me to make, not you!”
“Actually,” Percy says smoothly, “at this stage, I’m going to make it. Caolan, I’m deeply sorry—more than you can possibly imagine—but until we’ve had more time to talk and rebuild relations between our people, I cannot allow an intimate connection between you and David—or anyone else here.”
David looks relieved. Caolan bows his head in acknowledgment. “Of course, I understand. Truthfully, my king would say the same if he was here. I will wait patiently and put my effort into diplomatic matters in the meantime.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your understanding.” Percy’s voice is solemn, but there’s a twinkle in his eye that makes me think he’s not so much “saving” David as genuinely trying to get the diplomatic stuff out of the way first.
“I wish we had popcorn,” Ellie says just as Sam comes in, directing two of Percy’s security team who are carrying trays of food.
“What do you need popcorn for?” he asks as the food is set on the coffee table. I abandon my post beside the door and join the conversation circle so I can make up a plate.
Ellie fills him in, and Sam’s face lights up. “Oh! Are you paired souls?” he asks Caolan excitedly.
“What are paired souls?” Noah demands. Andrew hands him a plate loaded high. I guess that means he’s still obsessively trying to feed him up.
Sam explains, then glances at Caolan. “Did I get it right?”
He nods. “Yes. But it is a sad fact that I cannot see— sense when I meet a soul paired with my own.”
“Oh, what a shame. Well, we’ll just have to set up some kind of exchange program and bring more of your people over here so they can tell you.”
David sputters some more. We ignore him.
“How does it work?” Noah leans forward and sets his still mostly full plate on the coffee table, seemingly intrigued.
Andrew makes a sound of protest, picks up the plate, and lifts a strawberry.
“Andrew, I swear to god, if you try to feed me that, I’m going to shove it somewhere very uncomfortable for you. ”
Andrew puts the strawberry down. Too bad. I would have liked to see that.
Noah turns back to Caolan. “Are all elv— I’m sorry, how do you collectively refer to your people?”
Caolan opens his mouth, then closes it. “I’m not certain which word to use,” he admits.
“The translation spell has suggested several. In my language, it’s—” He says something that has too many consonant sounds for me to easily understand.
“The spell says fae, elf, sídhe… there are others too. I apologize for not being able to answer clearly.”
“That sounds like a problem we created,” Andrew says. “If I remember correctly, elf is of Germanic origin, and sídhe is Irish—right, Aidan?”
“Oh, aye. Folk still speak of the sídhe, especially in the countryside.”
“And fae is French—I was around when that one crossed the language barrier. So I’d say we English speakers adopted terminology from other languages that mean more or less the same thing.”
Noah looks back at Caolan. “Do you have a preference?” he asks politely. “We’ve been using elf, but we wouldn’t want to cause any offense.”
Caolan inclines his head. “Elf is agreeable. Thank you for asking.”
“You’re welcome,” Noah replies, a little awkwardly. “Uh, are all elves able to sense paired souls?”
“No.” Caolan shakes his head. “It is a… specialized skill? But cannot be learned by all. One must have the basic ability.”
“Well,” I say, putting the pastry I was about to devour back on my plate.
“It seems your king sent a highly trained and skilled envoy, since opening portals and sensing paired souls are such niche abilities.” That makes sense and makes me wonder exactly how high in the ranks Caolan is. Pretty high, I’m guessing.
He inclines his head. “Thank you. I do my best to serve my king well—as you do to serve your leader.” He looks around the group. “It is unsurprising to find so many paired souls here. Paired souls are more stable, and the life force often rewards those who serve faithfully.”
The warm glow of his compliment is still spreading through me when Ellie says, “You mean there’s more than just Sam and Gideon paired here?”
He nods.
As one, we all lean toward him.
“Who?” Surprisingly, it’s David who asks. He’s been unusually quiet, no doubt not wanting to inspire any more heartfelt declarations.
Caolan gazes at him sappily, then sighs and tears his gaze away. I’m loving this. Like… really loving it.
“Andrew and Noah,” he says, looking at them, and Andrew leaps to his feet, fist-pumping the air.
“YES! I fucking knew it !”
“You did not.” Noah grabs his arm and yanks him back down. “But now you’re stuck with me for the next sixty or so years. Finding someone else whose soul is compatible with mine sounds like too much work.”
Andrew leans in and kisses him. It’s sweet.
I look back at Caolan, wondering if I can give him a sign not to mention that Aidan and I are paired souls. I’d rather reveal it myself. He’s frowning at Noah and Andrew.
He can’t be homophobic, can he? Not after the way he gushed over David. Maybe he doesn’t like PDA? But he was fine when Sam climbed Gideon like a tree.
His gaze shifts down the couch to Ellie, and he smiles. “And you have a paired soul also, although your match is not here.”
The sound that bursts from my throat is a little embarrassing, but I sweep past it. “You’re dating someone? And you didn’t tell me? I’m your favorite cousin! How could you so malign the bond between us?”
She rolls her eyes, smirking. “You’re not my favorite cousin. Danielle is my favorite cousin.”
I gasp and fall back in my chair, my hand rising to my throat. She didn’t… did she?
“And yes, I’ve been seeing someone. I didn’t tell any of you because I didn’t want to subject them to… well, to this.” She waves her hand in my direction. What’s that supposed to mean?
“I get it,” David says, nodding. “Take all the time you need to make sure they’re truly invested before you introduce them to us.”
Now wait a second!
I stand and spread my arms wide. “How can you say such a thing?” I cry. “How can you denigrate the love I have for you all? Keep this up, and none of you will be invited to my wedding!”
There’s a beat of silence.
“What wedding?” Ellie asks. “You’re getting married? You haven’t even been in a relationship since… well, not in this century or the last.”
Oh. Whoops. I should probably have proposed before announcing my wedding.
Well, no time like the present.
I turn to where Aidan and the leech (who’s far too close to my lover, by the way) are sitting. My plan is to drop to one knee for an incredibly romantic declaration, but first…
I narrow my eyes into my most intimidating glare. “I’m Aidan’s lover .” I savor the word as it rolls off my tongue, lingering on the r . There are a couple of gasps, and someone squeaks in surprise. “Who the fuck are you?”
“Alistair!” Aidan protests, his skin flushing that flaming red color that I now know for a fact goes all the way down to his chest. My cock twitches at the memory.
The leech stares up at me, seemingly taken aback, but then his eyes narrow and he stands. He’s a hellhound too and almost my height, but I’m confident I can take him.
“Did you just call yourself Aidan’s lover?”
“I did and I am. Who are you?”
The guy turns his head to look down at Aidan. “Is he missing a few screws?”
I growl, and Aidan stands up fast.
“Okay, this is… I have no idea what this is, but it’s getting out of hand.
Manoj, this is Alistair Smythe, and yes, we’re…
uh, seeing each other.” The look he shoots me clearly says he’s not calling us lovers.
Even though we are. “Alistair, this is my assistant, Manoj. He keeps my life running smoothly, and I’ll be pissed all the way off if you scare him away. ”
The leech—Manoj—scoffs. “As if I could be scared away by him .”