32. Chapter 32

Chapter 32

"Becoming the Lord of Sídhetír is more overwhelming than I can say, but I will say this: I do not regret it. Sídhetír is me and I am Sídhetír. I have my brothers, my stepmother, and my father behind me. They shall help me every step of the way, and when I falter, my mate Cethin is more than happy to hold me up. While I would not have chosen this fate only a year ago, I choose it now. I choose it every day. And I shall continue to choose it for as long as I live." – Lord Aidan, the Last Lord of Sídhetír.

" T his does not make sense," Cethin said, staring at me. "I'm not allowed to spend the night with you because we are getting married tomorrow? Nor can I see you in the morning, and we have to attend a sermon and family breakfast before we can fuck?"

I rubbed my temples. I had tried, repeatedly, to explain human weddings to him, and he didn't understand. I thought he was purposefully not comprehending, because last week, the fifth flower had budded on my tattoo, making us married in his culture.

"Repeat what the vicar says, and it will be fine." It was the best I could hope for.

He scowled. "I am trying, Aidan, but it makes no sense. We are married. We are mates. We are bound. We fuck almost every night. Why is this night different?"

"It simply is. You will sleep in another room or in the cottage, and we will be married tomorrow."

Cethin pressed against me, arms around my waist. "What if I miss you?"

"Handle it yourself."

"That is not what I mean," he said. "What if I miss you ? I do not like being apart."

I returned his embrace. "Suffer until our wedding." At his expression, I laughed.

A little over a month had passed since I became Lord of Sídhetír, and much had happened since. My brothers and I had repaired our relationships. Thomas, Whit, Phineas, and Sevrin all had returned home, though they came back for my wedding, but Nevan and Neil had stayed. They'd agreed to wait until spring to return to town. Oren had made the same agreement.

Lord Byrne and I still struggled to relate to each other, but our relationship was slowly improving—though he often compared me to Oren, which I didn't enjoy. Hester had started to act like my mother, and truthfully, I didn't mind. Iris and I had repaired our relationship, and she finally left the woods, on occasion, though she still didn't care for Cethin. I had seen Cethin's parents a couple of times and met his younger sister, Cerridwen.

Cethin and I had spent basically every day together, and my feelings for him had not dampened. Instead, they grew with every passing moment.

Carding my fingers through his hair, I glanced at the door before whispering, "One of my brothers will be guarding my room to keep you out, so sneak in through the window tonight."

He grinned. "I prefer this plan, and it makes more sense. We belong together."

I forced him out of the room to appease my brothers as well as maintain propriety, but Thomas lifted an eyebrow, and I guessed he knew Cethin would not be far from my bed. Each of my brothers slapped him on the back. Nevan even threw an arm over his shoulders and whispered something that made Cethin grin.

Slowly, he was getting to know them, and more shockingly, Cethin was starting to care about them, especially Oren. Much like me, he felt overprotective of Oren, who complained that he was now inheriting yet another brother. Whit's wife and Thomas's spouse would often dote on Oren, but they were not as overbearing.

Nevan called over his shoulder, "Never thought you'd be leg-shackled before me, Aidan."

"Careful," I said, "Hester has been giving you all appraising looks. Your own marriages are coming."

Nevan paled—he was not alone—and Cethin smirked at me, dragging Nevan along.

Oren moved to my side as my brothers followed Cethin down the hall. "He's going to fly through the window, isn't he?"

"Yes."

"Of course he is. You two cannot be apart for even a moment."

A blush rushed to my cheeks. Oren had accidentally walked in on us in my bookroom only two days ago. I'd been bent over the desk as Cethin pounded into me. We'd forgotten to bolt the door, but in all fairness, I'd been loud enough that Oren should have known what was happening.

"Sorry about… you know."

"I will always knock now."

More heat rushed to my face.

He glanced away, chewing on his lip. "Are you sending Lord Abnus away?"

"Why?" I asked. Abnus had remained in Sídhetír as the representative while the Day Court sent another fae. They both negotiated for access to Sídhetír, and we had finally come to an agreement, once Queen Laoise stopped threatening war. During his stay, Abnus and Oren had continued to develop a friendship—a first for Oren.

Oren shrugged. "I'm curious."

"Queen Eilidh ordered his return. Abnus has responsibilities there. He is the queen's nephew and Cethin's cousin, not to mention his own property."

He nodded, eyes on the ground.

"You will be at university in the spring."

"True," he said, straightening. "I was merely curious."

"I see." I didn't believe his words for a moment. "If you write to him, I will send your letters to the Night Court."

"You will?"

"Yes."

"Thank you," Oren said with a bright smile. Ducking his head, he walked down the hall. I shook my head. His affection at least had a chance now. An offer of engagement to Miss Quirke wouldn't have to be extended. Though her mother might claim injury because it had been widely assumed Oren would wed her. No matter. I would protect Oren from any threat to his happiness.

Whether Abnus would return Oren's affection remained to be seen. I also didn't know if Oren should be with Abnus. Being with a fae wasn't the easiest, and Abnus had a fated mate somewhere. I didn't want Oren to be hurt.

Time would tell, I supposed.

I turned to go into my room, where I had no doubt Cethin was, when a voice stopped me. "Aidan."

Lord Byrne—Jonathan—came down the hall toward me. Straightening, I paused. "Yes?" I still could not bring myself to call him Father, but he didn't want to be called Lord Byrne any longer, because it confused people, and calling him Dowager Lord Byrne was odd. So I didn't call him anything.

"Cethin's parents have arrived."

"Excellent. I should greet them."

He glanced at my door. "Isn't Cethin waiting for you?"

"Why would you ask that?"

He laughed. "Aidan, you cannot lie, and you and Cethin are nothing if not obvious. He's in your room."

"Yes." A blush returned to my cheeks again. It was lucky we weren't in town or my reputation would be in tatters. Though, I was a half-fae and a bastard; I wasn't sure I had a decent reputation.

"I showed them to their room since Consort Keefe said they needed privacy. I do not believe they would care to be bothered."

I cleared my throat. Cethin's parents were very much in love. "I see."

"At least you know Cethin will not tire of you."

Even more heat seeped into my face.

Jonathan laughed. He had been doing that more and more since I'd taken the mantle of Sídhetír. I think when the burden of the lie was lifted, much of his stress disappeared. Also, not being in charge of Sídhetír no doubt helped.

Slowly, he placed a hand on my cheek. "I am very happy for you."

"Thank you."

He patted me. "Go see your husband before he comes looking for you."

"Probably a good idea."

"Bolt the door."

My mouth fell open. "Oren told you about me and Cethin?"

"No," he said with a snicker. "Nevan spotted the two of you in the hedge maze, Neil said you and Cethin were quite busy in the library, and I happened to see the two of you in the parlor. Hester hasn't said anything, but chances are she's seen you two somewhere as well."

It was possible we had been indiscreet of late. "I see."

"Perhaps you should take more care in the future."

"Probably," I muttered, trying to banish the fire in my face.

Jonathan laughed again as he walked down the hall.

I stepped into my room, and Cethin raised an eyebrow. "So everyone knows I'm here?"

"Yes," I said, sitting next to him, "but we have maintained a modest front in line with societal and religious demands."

"Ridiculous," he grunted, dragging me onto his lap. Cethin pressed his lips against mine. "I'm incredibly grateful for you." He flopped on top of me, shoving my shirt off so his fingers could trace the thorny vines on my left arm. "Tomorrow we shall be wed in the human way as we already are in the fae way. There is no getting away from me."

"I never want to get away from you."

"And you never shall."

I rocked into him. "You're mine."

"Yes, Aidan. I will be yours even after the sun and moon cease to shine."

As my lips found his, my heart soared. Cethin and I would be together for the rest of our lives and even after. "Stay with me, my love."

"Forever, Aidan."