5. Chapter 5

Chapter 5

"Magic always exacts a price. What? You'll never know until much later." – Lord Edmund, Second Lord of Sídhetír.

C ethin kept his arm tight about my waist, as if he feared I would run the second I was granted freedom. It was an accurate worry, if the fae had it, because I would undoubtedly run. I would run like I should have when I saw him unconscious yesterday. I would run like I should have when his voice whispered through the leaves. I wouldn't make the same mistake again, and yet… I felt myself wanting to stay to ask questions. Foolish.

He kept walking, steering me around fallen trees and underbrush with ease, until we reached a glade I'd never seen. A run-down cottage abutted the trees covered in red and orange leaves, and a creek rushed past. The only way across the water was a row of moss-covered stones I was not about to step on. I'd already ruined one set of good clothes, and I wasn't going to ruin another.

"Where are we?" I asked, arms crossed.

"Where I will be staying for the foreseeable future. Now you can find me, should you desire it."

"Why would I want to find you?"

"Why wouldn't you?" Cethin smirked, head tilted, which sent his starlight hair tumbling over his shoulder.

I shoved my jacket and sleeve up as far as they would go. "What is this?"

"A tattoo. Surely Sídhetír is not so remote that you've never seen one?" Cethin started toward the cottage, easily hopping across the stones to reach the other side of the fast-flowing creek.

I rushed after him, hesitating momentarily at the edge. I should run away. If I did, I would never get the answers I wanted. Swearing, I placed a foot on the closest stone. My boot slid a bit before I gained traction. The creek gurgled past me, and I caught a glimpse of a fish in the water's depths.

Cethin stood across the creek, tracking my every movement. Every wobble and twitch made his hands stretch out like he intended to grab me. I stepped onto the next stone and leaped to the last one before hopping to the other side. I landed not far from Cethin's side. He stared at me for a single moment, which stole my breath and I couldn't say why, then he headed further into the glade.

"What does the tattoo mean? And why did you give it to me?"

"Must there be a reason?"

"Yes."

I followed him straight to the cottage. He opened the door, and I went after him, pausing at the entrance. Perhaps this was not the wisest decision.

The cottage was small with a bed off to the side, a fireplace on the back wall, and a single cabinet. Cethin sat on the threadbare rug in front of the empty fireplace and motioned to the space across from him. Frowning, I took a seat.

"There is a reason," he said. "But must you know it? Does it truly matter?"

I rubbed at the skin of my wrist. It felt no different with the tattooed vines embedded in it, yet I expected to feel the sharp bite of the thorns. "Why did you do it? Is it permanent?"

"Even more questions. Are you always so curious, Aidan?"

Yes, I was. Having a strange dark fae marking me with a magical tattoo had increased my usual curiosity. Shocking.

I blinked as a thought came to me. "I saved your life."

"You did."

He said the words without even trying to obfuscate, leading me to believe it was the truth. I shoved up my sleeve again and traced the vines swirling up my arm. He followed the movement, his black eyes growing bright as if a fire burned within them.

"Did you do this because you owe me a debt?" I asked.

Leaning back on his elbows, he said, "You could take it as such if you wish."

" Do you owe me a debt?"

"I owe you everything," Cethin answered, his silky voice deepening. "And as such, I will be here should you have need or want of me."

Pulse racing, I gaped at Cethin. What was I supposed to say? I opened my mouth to refute his claim, but the words caught in my throat. I had saved him. I wouldn't say he owed me everything, though.

The silence grew between us. I tried to parse through my response in my head, and Cethin appeared content to stare at me. His gaze traced over me, back and forth, lingering on the base of the tattoo that was exposed near my wrist.

I pushed down my sleeve, and he smirked.

"Tell me about yourself," Cethin said.

"Why?"

"Why not?"

I frowned at him, and Cethin raised his eyebrows. I saw no reason not to tell him. "I was ward of Lord Byrne. My mother died when I was eight. I've been living with them since. I'm Oren's aide now. He's the heir."

"Hmm."

"All of the Byrnes have become like older brothers to me. Of a sort."

"Are they your only family?"

"They're not exactly family, but yes. You?"

"Parents, younger sister, two uncles, aunt, and cousin."

I'd always wanted a family like that. The Byrnes had each other and innumerable amounts of uncles, aunts, and cousins. Every summer, the entire Byrne family, or as many of them that could come, would gather for a fortnight. The amount of people was staggering.

"Tell me more," he demanded, and I found myself doing just that.

Cethin led me to the edge of the woods before vanishing amongst the trees. I walked as fast as I could toward Byrne Manor, thankful I tripped less often than I thought I should on the uneven ground. The moon was high and illuminated the grass, turning it a silvery hue, but it wasn't bright enough to truly see by. The outlines of the trees and the distant buildings of Elmbury, which disappeared as I dipped down a hill and reappeared as I started to walk up another, framed my walk.

Sevrin had no doubt done as he said, forming a search party for me. Lord Byrne wouldn't have sensed me or Cethin among the trees, even if his power hadn't been waning. To find people in the woods, we had to look in person. On more than one occasion, Lord Byrne, his sons, some locals, and I had gone into the woods to search for curious children or hunters who went missing—something we only did when absolutely necessary, due to the inherent danger.

With the transition, the woods were far more dangerous than usual, because in the fae realm, the gate had moved to the stretch of land connecting the Night and Day Courts. Fae could easily enter, and Lord Byrne was helpless to stop it, making me wonder if he would search for me.

As I crested a hill, I faced Byrne Manor, which was alive with lights glimmering in the distance.

"Shit," I muttered.

Even with no particular regard for me, it seemed being Lord Byrne's former ward was enough for him to not let a dark fae abscond with me. Or it could be because a Night Court representative was in the manor, which helped guarantee my return. Or the Byrne brothers simply hadn't given him a choice.

Leaving off any show of propriety, I raced to the estate. A hitch in my side started, and my feet burned. The boots I wore were not made for this; they dug into my soles and restricted my ankles. I had to halt long before I reached the manor. I clutched my side and took heaving breaths, then started once again.

The journey took much longer than I would have liked. Honestly, I probably would've reached Byrne Manor faster if I'd walked, but I wasn't going to admit that to anyone.

I approached the gates, and one of the footmen yelled, "He's back. Tell Lord Byrne."

The wrought-iron gates swung open for me before closing with a loud clang.

So much for not worrying people.

The double doors of the manor loomed in front of me. Impassive. Solid. Oddly enough, I had the perverse urge to run back to the forest and Cethin's cottage. Surely the dark fae was better than Lord Byrne and all his sons.

Out poured all of the Byrnes, giving me no chance to flee.

I was seized by Oren first. I returned his hug. "I'm well."

Thomas grabbed me next, but he barely squeezed me prior to Nevan and Neil snagging me from his grasp. I was passed one by one to all of the brothers—even Lady Hester took a turn and placed a kiss on my forehead—before I ended up right in front of Lord Byrne.

His light green eyes stared at me as a stern frown flattened his already thin lips. The age was obvious in the wrinkles on his brow and the deep lines by his mouth and eyes. His blonde hair was cut to the current fashion, but it was threaded with silver. But, despite being close to sixty and having lost two wives and raising seven sons, the lord had kept his respectable appearance and strong build.

"Aidan Ryan," he said. "You caused quite a stir."

"Yes, my lord."

He faced the manor and ordered over his shoulder, "Come."

I followed after him, and Oren sidled up to me. I raised an eyebrow. Lord Byrne hadn't excluded him per se, yet I doubted he wanted Oren present for this conversation.

Oren tightened his hold on my arm. "I'm going to be the new lord in a matter of days; he cannot order me away. I want to hear what happened, anyway."

I had no idea what I was going to tell them. The truth I supposed was the only real answer, and yet, I didn't want to share everything. Iris and her hedge witch status. Cethin marking me or his cottage. I shook my head. I would have to tell Lord Byrne enough to satisfy him without lying.

Lord Byrne sat behind the gleaming desk in his bookroom with steepled hands. Bookshelves framed the wall behind him from floor to ceiling. Oren and I sat in the two chairs facing the desk.

"Oren," Lord Byrne said, "I don't believe you were invited to this conversation."

"I'm about to be Lord of Sídhetír," Oren said, but the quiver in his voice betrayed the nerves he tried to hide.

Lord Byrne stared at his youngest child. "You are not lord yet. Leave."

I whispered, "All will be well enough."

With a glance at me, Oren left the room, closing the door behind him.

Lord Byrne sagged back, running a hand through his hair and tousling the artful hairstyle that hid its thinning. "What am I going to do with you, Aidan?"

"What do you mean, my lord?"

He moved to the window on the left wall. I adjusted in my chair, making it creak, as I followed his movement. He placed a hand on the pane, the clean glass reflecting his grim expression. "What happened?"

I chose my words carefully. "I stumbled upon an injured dark fae in the woods."

"Why were you even in the woods?" He turned toward me, hands clasped behind his back. "This is a dangerous time, and you shouldn't be in there regardless."

"I like the trees," I offered. It wasn't much of an explanation, but it was the only reason I possessed.

"God preserve me." He took a deep breath. "Continue."

"I saved him. That's where I was last night."

"Last night?" he asked.

I winced. "I see your sons didn't tell you."

"No, they did not."

"The fae spoke with me. Perhaps he wished to thank me without explicitly saying so," I finished. Fae did not thank people as a rule—it created a debt that had to be honored.

"That could have ended much worse, Aidan. Fae are unpredictable and cannot be trusted." Lord Byrne moved to lean against the front of the desk. "I want you to stay away from the fae."

My jaw clenched, but I didn't reply. I already knew I was going to defy his request. Eventually, I would wander back to Cethin. I was curious, and he was an easy source of knowledge. His unwavering gaze floated through my thoughts. I had talked and talked, more than I normally would, and Cethin had listened, asking questions and remarking, but never acted like he wanted me to stop. In fact, when I took a breath, he'd asked more questions.

"Damnation, Aidan, I'm trying to protect you."

I met his earnest expression. Lord Byrne had helped raise me. A distant figure in my childhood who checked on me and monitored the progress in my studies and whatnot. He was attempting to protect me, but I didn't want or need it, at least in this instance.

"I know, my lord."

"You're not going to listen to me, are you?"

"Whatever do you mean?"

He shook his head, straightening. "You never listened to me when you were young. Why would you now?"

"I heeded all of your commands that I could."

"That you could," he repeated with a smile that reminded me of Phineas. Out of all of his seven children, Phineas resembled Lord Byrne the most. They shared the same blonde hair, strong build, and soft green eyes. The rest of his sons took after their respective mothers.

"That I could." I nodded.

Lord Byrne brushed a hand through my hair, smoothing the red strands back. I swallowed at his touch, tensing. I could count on one hand the times he'd been physically affectionate with me. He'd never gotten mad or struck me, but he'd never shown much interest in my care either.

"Be safe, Aidan. The fae will trick you in ways you cannot predict. I cannot protect you if you do not listen to me."

That might be so, but I would see Cethin again if I desired.