11. Chapter 11

Chapter 11

"A fae cannot lie. It is said that if they do, their very magic will curdle their blood. What they can and will do is bend and twist the truth until you believe a lie." – Lord Rhett, First Lord of Sídhetír.

T wo days. It had been two days since I'd seen Cethin. But the opportunity had not presented itself for me to escape again. I wondered how long it would take for Cethin to seek me out. I didn't know if I wanted him to come or not. Could he even get inside the manor without anyone seeing him?

I scoffed. Cethin had wings, so I assumed he could fly.

Sevrin glanced at me, and I waved off his concern. The Byrne brothers had, if possible, rallied around me even closer. Sevrin, Whit, and Phineas stuck to my side like burrs.

Thomas, Nevan, and Neil had gone to Elmbury because rumors had reached Lord Byrne's ears of a fae making deals. I'd wanted to go with them, and Thomas actually laughed in my face. They had no intention of letting me out of their sights or off the manor grounds.

Meanwhile, Oren had decided to brave the fae representatives alone today, without even Lord Byrne by his side.

We walked around the gardens while the weather held. The fall wind ruffled the leaves and stirred my hair. I couldn't help but look at where the hedge maze lay. I wanted to return to the apple orchard with Cethin again. His lips on mine. His body pressed against me. His warm chuckle in my ear. I wanted to hear more about what he liked and didn't like. Apples and winter were not enough information.

Shit, I missed him. As insane as that thought struck me, I craved him like I was starving.

An arm appeared in front of me; Sevrin blocked the way. My pulse leaped. Maybe Cethin had come for me. My eyes darted back and forth, searching for a glimpse of him, and instead, I saw Oren sitting on the bench next to Lord Abnus without another soul in sight.

The Night Court fae nodded, expression blank, as Oren talked with a large smile on his face and his hands waving through the air. I'd never seen him like that besides with us.

"He's talking," I whispered. Phineas and Sevrin both grinned. Whit stared at them with an open mouth. "Turn around. Quick before he sees us." We headed in the opposite direction, leaving Oren to continue his conversation undisturbed.

As I got undressed for bed, my mind kept going back to Oren talking to the dark fae. I hadn't gotten a chance to speak with him about it, but the scene warmed my heart. Oren struggled to speak to people, but that conversation hadn't appeared forced. Maybe they were becoming friends? If true, that would ease some of the worry I had for Oren when he accepted the mantle of Lord of Sídhetír.

I grabbed my nightshirt and paused. The thorny vines encircling my arms were the same, but on the inside of my forearm was a blue flower bud. It hadn't been there yesterday. I was sure of it.

I dashed to the mirror to inspect the tattoo. It was the same as ever, the vines growing around and through my arm, and on my left pectoral was the crescent moon and seven-pointed red star. With difficulty, I tried to look at my back. From what I could see, the tattoo only covered my left shoulder blade.

The tattoo was the same, except for the small bud. I stroked it, thinking I would feel the smooth silk of a petal beneath my fingertip, but the flower was the same as the rest of my skin, exactly like the vines. Who knew how the magical tattoo would change? Cethin probably did, but he had yet to share.

I pulled the nightshirt over my head and crawled into bed. My finger traced the bud as I stared at the darkness above me. I wondered where Cethin was and what he was doing. Was he thinking about me like I was him?

Tomorrow might give new opportunities to sneak out. I would watch for any possible way to escape so I could see him again.

I rolled over and snuggled against the cool pillow next to me, which was harder than I expected. I nuzzled it and soft strands fell over my face. The pillow must be old. Fraying. I would have to set it out for the servants to dispose of. Something around my back pulled me closer to the pillow before something soft pressed against my forehead.

With a groan, I opened my eyes. Light filtered in through the windows, showing another pleasant autumn day. I squeezed my pillow, closing my eyes, and my pillow squeezed back.

My pillow was holding me. Pillows did not do that. My eyes snapped open, and I jerked up.

Cethin was beneath me. "Aidan."

"What are you doing here? In my bed?" I whispered, glancing at the door. Someone was still guarding me, though the Byrne brothers allowed a footman to watch my door at night. They didn't trust me to not disappear.

"You did not come for me, so I came for you." Cethin leaned up to press a kiss to my lips. "I told you I would."

I flopped onto my back, blushing. "How did you get inside?"

"Your window is not locked, nor is the frame made of iron."

I chuckled quietly.

He rolled to the side and slung a leg over my hip as he drew me close. I swallowed and tried to think of innocuous things. Cethin nuzzled my neck and rocked into me. My cock twitched.

I frowned at him. "You're doing that on purpose."

"Yes. I am." He pressed a kiss on my neck.

Arousal flooded me, and I bit my lip as Cethin continued to drop kisses along the line of my jaw. I wanted to be with him, and yet, I couldn't suppress the nerves prickling my stomach. I'd never been intimate with someone. What if I did something wrong? What if Cethin didn't like it? Kissing had turned out better than I'd expected, but fucking was different.

Did I even want to? I didn't know Cethin well, but in such a short time, he had created feelings within me that I'd never felt. Perhaps this was too fast. I'd had my first kiss only a couple of days ago. Still, the thought of pulling away was too much. I wanted to get closer to Cethin. I wanted this. I wanted him.

Cethin said, "You are thinking far too much to be enjoying what I'm doing. Shall I stop?"

"No," I immediately protested.

"Then what's bothering you?"

"I've never…" I trailed off.

"Yes?"

"I've never been with someone."

His eyebrows knitted together, forming a divot in between them. Finally, he nodded. "Ah. You're a virgin."

A blush raced to my cheeks at his blatant words, and my gaze slid to the side.

He forced me to look at him with a hand on my cheek. "Why are you embarrassed?"

"Because I've never been with anyone."

"So? Why would that matter? Sex is like any other experience in life. It does not change or define you. Have you dueled someone or leaped from a cliff?"

"No," I said, unsure of where this was going.

"Are you ashamed of not doing those things, or any other activities you haven't done?"

"No."

"Why be embarrassed about not having sex, then?" Cethin asked. My mouth fell open to say it was different, but he silenced me with a harsh kiss. "Virgin or not does not matter. Everyone is ready in their own time, and some choose to never have sex. Do not be ashamed of your lack of experience."

My cheeks still burned, but some of the tension eased out of my muscles while my cock demanded attention. I pressed a kiss to his lips, and Cethin moved on top of me. His lips were firm and insistent against mine. His tongue flicked out, and I opened for him, eagerly meeting him with mine.

My hips lifted to rut against him. Cethin groaned against me, and I felt something hard swell and press into my thigh. Breathless, he said, "I need you to tell me if you want this, Aidan. If you don't, I will not be upset, but I need to stop."

I swallowed as my nerves returned to full force. It wasn't that I didn't want Cethin, because I did, badly, but some part of me refused to relax. "I'm scared."

He smiled at me, thumb tracing my bottom lip. "There's no shame in that." His smile turned mischievous. "How about I make you feel good? No need for you to reciprocate, for I will enjoy this as much as you."

My throat went dry and my hips arched when I gathered his meaning. I nodded.

"I need you to say it."

"Yes, Cethin."

He grinned, kissing me as his hands trailed up my thighs, rucking my nightshirt up. "I am glad I will be your only."

"What?" I asked, but quickly forgot what I was thinking because his fingers stroked my shaft. I grunted, then bit my lip. I didn't want the footman outside to hear me and come in. His fingers slid up and down my cock before circling the head and gently brushing my slit, spreading the liquid gathered there. His hand slid down and cupped my balls and tugged on them, which made a strangled sound come out of my throat. My head pressed back into the pillow as shocks went up my spine.

Cethin's hand disappeared, and my eyes opened as I panted. "Don't stop."

"I'm not." He pulled on the edge of my nightshirt. "May I remove this?"

"Yes." I didn't care if he saw me naked. All I wanted was his hands on me and his lips on mine.

I lifted my arms, and he drew the nightshirt off me. His eyes ran over my body, tracing the tattoo on my skin. His gaze returned to mine, and a feral gleam shone within the black depths. "You are the loveliest thing I have ever seen in my entire life."

My heart pounded because I knew it was the truth. He couldn't lie.

I drew his face to mine and kissed him, my tongue invading his mouth. He gave way, letting me slide my tongue over his. My hands moved down his body. The fabric of his shirt was soft, but it wasn't what I wanted to feel. I needed his skin on mine.

"Take this off," I growled, yanking on the hem. Cethin complied, then mashed his lips to mine. I ran my hands over his chest and felt his muscles tense beneath my touch. His hair hung around us, tickling my cheeks as he hovered over me. I yanked on the ties on his trousers, undoing them and shoving the stiff fabric down.

Cethin kicked his trousers off and laid on me, our cocks brushing. I moaned, desperate. I rocked into him, sliding against one another in perfect, silky friction.

"Shit," I forced out.

He placed whisper-soft kisses on my neck and down my chest. His tongue swirled around one of my nipples, and I swore, biting my lip. He grinned up at me before returning his attention to my nipple, sucking and biting it while his fingers played with my other one.

Pre-cum leaked out of my cock as I tried to muffle my cries with a fist. Cethin continued to suck and bite until I was writhing beneath him. Eventually, he moved away from my nipples and placed kisses along the mark on my chest and arm, licking the thorny vines.

When he reached the inner part of my forearm, he paused on the bud. "When did this arrive?"

"Yesterday," I whispered, breathless.

He pressed a gentle kiss to the bud, running his tongue over it. "Beautiful."

I wanted to question him further, but he pressed firm kisses along my hip bones, tasting the delicate skin there. Nuzzling the thatch of hair, he looked at me. "Aidan."

I brushed a hand through his hair. Cethin smiled, his eyes soft and warm. He kissed the tip of my cock, and my hips lifted. He chuckled at my exuberance. His tongue swirled around the head, and I lost all sense of self, whimpering at the sensation. He prodded my weeping slit with his tongue and lapped up the beads of liquid.

"You're delicious."

The only response I gave was a moan.

Cethin placed open-mouthed kisses along my shaft, then licked my balls.

"Fuck," I cried.

He took one into his mouth and sucked on it, tongue swirling around it; he did the same to the other one. "Do you like that?"

I nodded, biting my fist.

He tugged on my tight balls, and his mouth returned to my cock. He took the head into his mouth, sliding down my shaft. I grunted, arching into his mouth, chasing the wet warmth. Cethin pressed down on my hips, anchoring me in place with his superior strength, and bobbed up and down.

My free hand fisted in the silky strands of Cethin's hair as I moaned into my fist.

His fingers slid from my balls and circled my rim, sending arcs of pleasure up my spine. I'd never felt anything like it. I writhed under him as animalistic cries ripped from my throat, barely muffled.

He slid up and off my cock, leaving it glistening with spit. I moaned in protest. I was close. Cethin kissed my inner thigh and pushed my legs further apart and up. My breath was hard and fast. He kissed the top of my cock before moving down.

When his tongue swiped my ass, I bit out, "Cethin."

He licked my hole, his fingers tugging on my balls. Stroke after stroke, he was stealing all my rational thought until I was an incoherent mess under his tongue.

"Please," I begged, not even sure what I was asking for.

"Soon." Cethin kissed the pucker of my ass, then circled it with the tip of his finger. He licked a stripe up to my balls and took them, one at a time, into his mouth. The pleasure built in the base of my spine and everything tightened. I moaned with every breath, no longer caring who heard me.

Cethin took my cock into his mouth, and I fisted a hand in his hair to keep him there. The head of my cock hit the back of his throat, and he moaned, vibrations traveling up my shaft. A cry ripped from my throat when he swallowed around me before sliding up, sucking. My balls drew up tight. The pleasure wracking my body turned almost painful with my need to come. I reached the edge, threatening to tumble over, and then Cethin swallowed around me again.

"I'm coming," I barely managed to force out.

His mouth slid up my cock, sucking on the head, and one of his hands pumped my length while the fingers of his other stroked my rim. I moaned, eyes closing and head arching back into the pillow as I came. White noise filled my ears as I spurted, calling his name.

Cethin sucked my cock, drinking my release, and stroked my shaft, extending my pleasure. When I finally stopped coming, I sagged on the bed, gasping. "God."

"Hmm, I prefer Cethin, but if you must."

I gave him a breathy chuckle. I trembled with the aftershocks of my release, sweat coating my exposed skin. Cethin kissed my stomach, sliding up my body until he covered me, face buried in my neck. "Aidan."

His cock was hard against my spent one. I ran my hands up his back, tracing the line of his spine. "Thank you."

He laughed. "You really must stop saying that."

"Are you going to take advantage of me?"

"No."

"Then I will keep saying it."

"As you will." Cethin snuggled against me, and I trailed my fingers over him, unable to stop touching him. Feeling brave, I snaked my fingers down to his ass, stroking the firm cheeks. He nuzzled my neck, groaning.

I bit my lip. "I want to make you feel good too."

"You don't have to."

"I know."

Cethin claimed my mouth. His tongue pushed through the seam of my lips and swiped against mine. I moaned, cupping his face. I could taste bitter salt on his tongue—my own release. He grabbed one of my hands and brought it down to his cock, caging my fingers around the length. He kept hold of me, sliding my fingers up and down.

His lips ripped away from mine, his breath hard. Cethin pressed his forehead against mine. I increased the speed, and Cethin snarled. "Aidan."

With my free hand, I traced his skin, touching everywhere I could reach. His hips thrusted to meet my movements as he panted, his forehead pushing into mine. I kept a firm grip around his shaft, pumping him, until Cethin mashed his lips to mine, and warm liquid spurted over my hand and stomach.

He collapsed on me, his release slick between us. I wrapped my arms around him, and Cethin snuggled against my chest, head tucked under my chin.

"What happens now?" I asked.

"What do you mean?"

"With us. What happens with us?"

"I do not understand."

I swallowed, unsure of how to voice my question. Were we courting or was this fucking? What did I want? I kissed his temple, letting the matter lie, and instead, basked in the warmth of this moment.

Cethin nibbled on my neck, fingers tracing my chest. "I am a selfish creature, Aidan."

"What?"

His pure black eyes met my gaze. "I take what I want, and I never let it go."

My breath turned harsh. Was he answering my unasked question? Did he intend on keeping me?

"Do you understand?"

I nodded.

Cethin rested against my shoulder, and I delighted in his presence.

A grin stretched across my face as I wandered around the library. For the whole day, I'd been unable to keep the smile off my lips. Oren had asked what was going on, as had his brothers, but I didn't answer. Cethin had stayed with me until Thomas pounded on my door and told me to get my ass out of bed. He'd left with a passionate kiss, promising to come back that night.

My fingers trailed over the spines of the books, while my mind was far away with Cethin. His mouth on mine. The feel of his smooth, cool skin rubbing against me. The sound he made as he came. His silky voice.

I started, coming to a stop. A fae stood in front of me. She was taller than me and had long brown hair, round cheeks, and impossible brown eyes.

"Excuse me," I said, bowing. I started to walk around her, but she laid a hand on my left arm, and then froze.

"What's this?"

"What?" I asked.

She stared at me, head tilting to the side. "I am Lady Blodwen."

"Ah," I said, nodding. The Byrne brothers had spoken of her beauty, and they'd been correct. She was lovely with her curvy form and perfect features. "I am Aidan Ryan. I am Mr. Oren Byrne's aide." Lord Byrne didn't want me to meet the fae representatives, but I couldn't in good manners ignore her.

"You are the one who was abducted by the dark fae, and said fae rescued the humans for you, killing the trolls," she said, her voice even and calm and her expression perfectly serene.

"Yes."

Her eyes, deep brown flecked with gold and green, ran the length of my body. Blodwen rested a hand on my left arm, and I frowned, pulling away from her touch, but she grabbed my wrist in an iron grip. "What's on your arm?"

"Let me go," I ordered in a deep voice as the window shuddered from a sudden gust of wind.

Blodwen blinked, but she didn't release me. Thomas came around the bookshelf and froze.

"Let me go. Now," I demanded.

Thomas came to my side. "Lady Blodwen, release Aidan."

"I do not take orders from you, Mr. Byrne." Her eyes met mine. "You will show me what's on your arm, boy."

Oren appeared like he'd been summoned by magic; behind him was Lord Abnus like a shadow of the night.

"Lady Blodwen, release Aidan or you shall regret it," Oren said.

Her fingers loosened, and I yanked away, glaring at her.

Oren came to my side, grabbing my hand. "Are you hurt, Aidan?"

"I'm fine."

The dark fae stared at Oren's hand on mine with narrowed eyes. "There is fae magic upon you."

"Yes," Blodwen agreed. "That's what I was trying to ascertain. What is on your left arm?"

Thomas and Oren both stared at me.

My hands curled into a fist. "Why?"

"Show us," Blodwen demanded, her features stretching before shifting back into her usual glamour.

"Aidan," Oren said in a soft voice.

There was no escape. Even Thomas and Oren were curious, so they wouldn't defend me. Some part of me balked at showing the tattoo, and I didn't know why. Still, I rolled my sleeve up enough to show a hint of the black vines on my wrist. The dark fae's eyes widened and his mouth fell open before his expression smoothed into a disinterested look. Blodwen touched my wrist, and I swore the thorny vines writhe under my skin to get away from her burning fingers.

"The dark fae marked you," she said.

"I saved his life. He was bleeding out. It's a debt mark."

Blodwen shook her head. "There is no such thing."

"He was bleeding out?" Lord Abnus asked in a careful voice.

My pulse pounded. "Yes. I dragged him to safety."

"This," Blodwen said, "is to tie fates together. He engaged himself to you, tethering your lives together. If he was injured, he might have done it to survive."

"I beg your pardon?" I asked as a buzzing like angry bees filled my ears. Marriage? Tethered?

Lord Abnus said, "You are engaged to the fae who marked you. Once the mark is placed, it cannot be removed. The vines shall take root, deepening the bond. Your lives are intertwined. You cannot live without him, and he cannot live without you. If one of you dies, so shall the other."

My knees shook, and Oren wrapped his arms around my waist, supporting me. Cethin. That was why he was here. He'd bound us together to save his own life. The only reason he was with me this morning was because we were stuck together.

"It's an old custom," Blodwen said. "Most fae do not use the marks anymore, because they are permanent. The magic cannot be undone or tricked. Who is this fae? Did he give you a name?"

Even if I wanted to answer, my strangled throat would not have released a single word. This morning was now tainted. Ruined. Cethin had not lied about the mark, but he certainly hadn't told the truth.

"Aidan needs a moment. Excuse us," Oren said as he tugged me from the room.

Thomas was right behind him. Sevrin and Whit peeled away from the bookshelves. They had appeared sometime during the conversation without me noticing.

The buzzing grew louder and louder. Cethin and I were engaged, as good as married. We were bound together. Our lives tethered. Would he die when I did? Or would my lifespan expand to match his? I had no idea, and Cethin was not here to question.

Most importantly—Cethin did not care about me. He'd used me. My knees trembled, threatening to give out. Oren grunted, taking more of my weight, and dragged me away.