Chapter 6
Chapter
Six
As they touched down on the rocky outcropping near his home, Riona jumped off his back so quickly Aiden almost didn’t shift in time to prevent her from stumbling off the cliff’s edge. Fortunately, his hands wrapped around her small waist just before she tumbled down the steep mountainside. She righted herself and pushed away from him.
“What have you done?” she screamed in his face. Riona looked around wildly. Her expression clearly showed she had no idea where she was, and it frightened her. “Where are we?”
“I’ve stolen you and brought you back to my lair.” His cozy home tucked away beyond the ridge wouldn’t pass as a lair, but he knew the phrasing would set her off. Aiden crossed his arms and smiled at her, waiting for her fiery temper to overtake her fear.
Riona’s eyes widened in surprise, and then she scowled at him. She didn’t disappoint. All traces of fear in her expression left and were replaced with outrage. “You’ve stolen me? Well, you can take me right back because I will not be some fainting damsel for you to have your wicked way with.”
Aiden laughed. No, Riona wasn’t a fainting damsel. She was the strongest person he knew, and it was time for her to be welcomed into a community that would appreciate her. The Unseelie Court needed her, and she needed the court.
Why Aiden was so driven to have her as a part of the Unseelie Fae he didn’t want to examine, but it was something he’d wanted for years. To see her Fae side freed. An image of her dancing in the moonlight with her hair twirling around her unbound and to hear her laughter. Her happiness meant something to him. It was another thing he didn’t want to think deeply about, but he knew she would be happy if he got her to court. Seeing her browbeaten and treated like a pariah by the villagers of Loch-Gaar never sat right with him.
She belongs with you. Aiden ignored the voice.
Her brilliant eyes flashed. His smile grew. This was Riona. Angry. Powerful. An avenging goddess of wrath.
“I repeat, take me back.”
Aiden closed the distance between the two of them. He leaned in until their noses were almost touching. Her expression softened, and her breath hitched by their closeness. Aiden wanted to kiss those luscious lips, but he stopped himself. Instead, he tweaked her nose. “Absolutely not.”
Riona shook herself and then frowned at him. “Why not?”
“You made a promise to me. A song anytime I want and as many as I want. I want you with me at all times should the need for a song overcome me.”
Riona rolled her eyes. “I meant within reason. There is no reason for you to lock me away in your lair. You’ll probably tire of my voice after a few songs.”
The memory of young Riona singing in the glade replayed through Aiden’s mind. He thought of their first meeting after. Her voice had bewitched and moved him in ways that no other singer ever had. He would willingly sit at her feet until the end of time to hear that sweet voice again.
“Staying in my home seems reasonable to me. I’ll have you at my beck and call.”
“I don’t agree, and that wasn’t part of the deal, Aiden. I said I would sing for you, not live with you. Don’t try your Fae twisty word nonsense with me.”
“You’re a Fae too Riona. Fae honor their promises. How will you sing to me if you are far away in your village? And why do you want to go back so badly? Aren’t they forcing you out of your home? Admit it, Riona, this is your best option.” Aiden watched Riona think hard at his question. She was looking for a way out and could probably find one. Aiden braced himself for more of an argument. Much to his surprise, a contemplative look crossed her face, and she smiled at him.
“I can’t sing for you if we’re not together. But if I stay, we’ll have to establish some rules,” she said. Her voice was hesitant. Clearly, she didn’t really want to do this, but she was capitulating for now. Aiden wanted to cheer.
“You will?” She was definitely up to something. He would figure it out. He always unlocked secrets. Figuring out Riona’s would be a special pleasure.
Riona nodded. “But you have to agree to my rules.”
“What are your rules?” Aiden braced himself for a long list of demands.
“First,” Riona held up a finger, “I will not be at your side at all times. That would drive us both mad.”
“I agree on the condition that you let me know if you wish to leave my home.” Riona gave him a look. He wasn’t about to back down though. Wandering alone in the mountains or the forest surrounding the range wasn’t safe. He added, “In case I want a song before you leave.”
Riona rolled her eyes and continued, “Second, you will give me my quarters.”
“Agreed.”
“And finally, I will not be your lover. Only songs, Aiden,” she said in a quiet voice. Her cheeks became rosy at her last condition. Aiden smirked, and her blush darkened.
Aiden knew this rule had been coming. “I expect nothing from you other than what was promised. If you wish to be my lover later… then I would not oppose.” Just the thought of Riona in his bed, her face flushed with heat and eyes darkened by passion, made him a little hard.
Riona laughed. The sound tinkled like bells but rang false. “You don’t have to worry about that.”
“We’ll see,” Aiden smirked at her.
“I would be a fool to give you my heart no matter how beguiling your smiles are.”
“Why is that?”
“Men like you aren’t forever,” Riona said. “You would only grow bored with me once you’ve made your conquest, and my heart would be broken.”
Her statement hurt. “You have a poor opinion of me.”
Riona shrugged. “You’ve only hurt me.”
The air between them became heavy. Riona’s betrayed look after he’d removed her glamour flashed in his mind. A wave of sadness welled up inside of him followed by resolve. She should never be ashamed of who she was. It was time he showed her the benefits of being a Fae instead of hiding in the shadows.
“I never meant to hurt you...” That was as close to an apology he’d said since he’d left the Seelie Court. “As a matter of fact, I want to help you.”
“Help me?” Riona raised a brow in disbelief.
“Come with me to the Unseelie Court.”
“Why?”
“Because you are one of us.”
“No, I’m not. Not really.” Riona’s expression was mulish.
“Yes, you are.”
Riona shook her head.
“Give it a try,” Aiden said in a cajoling tone.
“Why would I want to go somewhere I won’t be accepted? Again. I’ve been half-Fae my entire life openly, thanks to you. None of the Fae other than—” Aiden would be willing to bet she was going to say something about her changeling friend and son, but she caught herself in time. “Few Fae have wanted anything to do with me.”
Aiden thought about explaining how the Unseelie Court had been locked in the middle of a violent civil war for the past decade. But she would learn about that in due time and telling her the history of the Unseelie on the steps of his home wasn’t the time.
“Come with me just once.” He didn’t like the pleading note in his voice but chose to ignore it.
Riona’s silence stretched out until she finally sighed. “Once. Why do you want me to go…” Her words trailed off in a question.
“You belong there among us. The Unseelie will accept you like the humans of your village never will.”
“I feel like there is more to it.”
“I want you to be happy, and I think the court is a place that will make you happy.”
Riona laughed. “You’re hiding a soft heart if that is your only motivation.” She smiled up at him, and he forgot everything but her smile. A strange feeling of happiness settled over him.
“Only for you.”
Riona’s eyes softened. He wanted to just lean in and kiss her. Her lips would be so soft, like rose petals. They would meld against him so sweetly. He wanted to devour her. He wanted to consume her.
She was his everything.
Her expression scared him, and his reaction to her scared him even more. He couldn’t do this. Riona meant vulnerability. He couldn’t have a weakness, and Riona would be a weakness.
Riona swayed toward him. Her lips parted, and then she stopped herself. Eyes were wide in fear and shock. Her hand fluttered over her mouth.
“This is madness. You... me... Living together is a very bad idea.” She stretched out a hand to touch him and then jerked it away before it made contact. “Forget what I said earlier. I’m leaving. You can come to me for songs. That still fulfills our bargain.”
She spun on her heel and started to walk away from him. He reached out and grabbed her arm. He couldn’t be with her, but he’d be damned if he let her go back to living in squalor among people that treated her badly. She deserved better than the village of Loch-Gaar and its people. He could at least give her that.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
Riona struggled, but Aiden deftly tossed her over his shoulder. Her fists struck his back, but he welcomed the pain.
“Put me down. Now!”
“No,” Aiden said, marching to his house. “You still made a promise, and you were being pretty nice to me a second ago. If I had known how far a few kind words would go with you, I would have said them much sooner. You’re starved for affection, aren’t you?” Aiden cursed himself for his cruel words, but they achieved the effect he needed when he saw her jade eyes harden even more.
Riona growled, but Aiden carried her through the front doors of his home and then slammed them closed. He set her down, and she bared her teeth at him. His little warrior. He wanted to stroke her cheek and tell her everything would be fine, but that wasn’t possible.
“Welcome to your new home.”
“Take me back, Aiden.”
He ignored her. “I would show you around, but I am due at court. Explore. Make yourself comfortable. Settle in. I’ll be back later. Hopefully, you will be in a better mood upon my return.”
Riona growled at him. Her eyes lit on a heavy book on a table near the window. She bolted for the book. Aiden rushed out the front door, narrowly avoiding the book flying at his head.
The door slammed shut, blocking his view of Riona’s angry face. Once she figured out she was locked inside the house, there was a succession of loud thumps on the door and then a string of curses that made Aiden blush.
He slid down the door, wondering what he was thinking by bringing her to his home. He’d almost ravished her on his doorstep. Having Riona at arm’s length was going to be hell. He sat against the door long after Riona settled down, wishing he could go back in there, tell her the truth about his feelings, and comfort her. But he couldn’t fall in love. The cost was too high.