9. Chapter 9

Chapter 9

"Remember, the fae do not think as we do. But their differences can ensnare us easily, for they are like a flame that we inevitably want to burn on." – Lord Edmund, Second Lord of Sídhetír.

I leaned against my headboard, staring at the people gathered around my bed. Every single one of the Byrnes, including Lord and Lady Byrne, were in my room.

Cethin had left me, Mrs. Hillridge, Nancy, and the farmhand near the gate of the Byrne Manor. The footmen had taken one look at me covered in muck and blood, then at the people behind me, before they issued shouts for Lord Byrne and ushered us all inside.

Mrs. Hillridge had burns on her hands from where she tried to save her husband, but the other two had survived with only mental and emotional wounds, though I doubted those would heal any time soon, if ever.

Once my injuries had been tended to, I was led to my room. No one questioned me then because the second I was out of public, tears coursed down my cheeks and I vomited until bile burned my nose and I shook in strain. I couldn't rid my nose of the stench of Mr. Hillridge's burning flesh, or free my thoughts of his ruined form on the flames. Even Cethin, holding the decapitated heads, haunted me.

But now, two days after the incident, I had to answer the questions everyone had held off asking. My fingers drifted to the tattoo on my left arm. The physician, Ilene Maher, had seen the base of it, but I wouldn't allow her to investigate further, even when she tried. I'd told her she didn't need to concern herself with it, but I didn't know if she agreed because she gave me a loud, "Mmmhmm."

Oren tracked my movements, eyes narrowed. I yanked my hand away from my wrist lest he become suspicious. The tattoo was yet another question I didn't know how to answer.

Lord Byrne was the only one with a calm expression. The others ranged from worry to anger. Even Lady Hester appeared annoyed with her pinched eyebrows and downturned lips.

"What exactly happened after you defied my order, Aidan?" Lord Byrne asked.

"I left Byrne Manor to see Hillridge Farm."

Thomas glared at me, arms crossed. He'd been watching me when I gave him the slip. Well, him and Phineas. My eyes flicked to Phineas, and my shoulders hunched clear to my ears. His expression mirrored his eldest brother's, but his eyes were alight with betrayal.

Lord Byrne rubbed his forehead. "Why?"

I had no answer. I'd needed to see it. The urge couldn't be explained or denied.

When I remained quiet, he asked, "What happened after you left Thomas and Phineas?"

I wanted to frame the story carefully to say as little about Cethin as possible. I thought through my response, choosing each and every word. "When I arrived at the farm, it was ruined, and I found no trace."

"Then how did you come back with Mrs. Hillridge, Nancy, and one of their farmhands?" Sevrin interrupted.

"The dark fae."

"The one that stole you?" Oren questioned.

"He came, and he was the one who found them."

"Probably because he burned the farm down in the first place," Whit muttered.

"No," I snapped. "He didn't do it."

Whit blinked, mouth falling open. And he was not alone. The brothers all stared at me, and Lord Byrne frowned. Lady Hester's face scrunched before a knowing smile tugged at her lips. Whatever she saw in my fierce expression amused her.

I cleared my throat, fighting a blush from my outburst. "I asked him directly and he, with no obfuscation, said he didn't do it. He did find them and killed the fae who took them."

"Why?" Lord Byrne asked.

"Why what?"

"Why did he help you?" Lord Byrne reiterated.

"Because I wanted them found."

Lord Byrne studied me, and I looked away, my gaze landing on Oren. His eyes were wide and his mouth was slightly open. He quietly asked, "What's your relationship with the dark fae, Aidan?"

It took every ounce of my control not to blush. "I saved his life."

Lord Byrne said, "You are not to leave the manor again, Aidan, until Oren has accepted his mantle. Do you understand?"

"Yes." I understood, but I wasn't going to obey that order.

Oren lay on the bed next to me, his head supported on his hand. "You have feelings for that dark fae, don't you?"

I glared at Oren, and he lifted his pale eyebrows. He'd always had a way of knowing my thoughts. I closed my eyes, and Cethin's face appeared in my mind, though, after a second, his fine form and sly smirk was replaced by Mr. Hillridge. My eyes shot open, and I swallowed the surging bile.

My dreams had been plagued by images I desperately wished to forget.

Oren grabbed my hand, startling me. "Aidan?"

"My apologies. I was thinking about what happened."

His grip tightened. "Was it horrible?"

"Yes," I said, voice strained. Whitaker had tried to talk to me. He'd been in the navy before he'd met and married his wife and had spent his life seeing and doing things he would rather forget. But when he tried to speak with me, I'd changed the subject. I didn't want to talk about it. With anyone.

"Back to the fae," Oren said, probably sensing my hesitancy. "You like him."

"He's attractive."

"All fae are."

I sighed and finally admitted, "I'm attracted to him."

"I thought so." Oren beamed at me. "I find the whole situation highly romantic."

"How so?"

"You saved his life, and he saved yours."

"Do not pin too many of your romantic hopes on this, Oren," I said. "He's a noble dark fae, and I'm a former ward of Lord Byrne. We will never be together. He will most likely vanish once you choose who to align with."

"Then I won't choose."

I laughed and rolled to my side to face him. "That is very kind of you, but this should not go on indefinitely."

"I suppose not. Father says I will feel the urge to bond with Sídhetír, but I don't. I don't feel anything, so I haven't picked yet."

"If Lord Byrne says it will happen, then it should," I said to soothe him.

Oren shrugged as if he couldn't care less and scooted closer, whispering, "Are you going to sneak out to see him?"

"Not at this exact moment," I said. "I imagine if I did, it would infuriate Lord Byrne and your brothers. One of them is probably outside my door."

He nodded.

"I'm not surprised."

"Do you want me to sneak him in?"

My lips opened to form the word yes. For an unexplainable reason, I wanted him. Cethin probably didn't care one way or another if he saw me, but I desired to see him, to hear the soft rumble of his voice, and to feel the cool touch of his fingers on my skin. I wanted to talk to him. Not about what happened, but about him. What did he like? What didn't he like? I wanted to know more about who he was, and I refused to think about why I felt the need to learn about him.

Swallowing my response, I said, "That would not be wise."

"No, but if you want it, I will do it."

"You're too kind to me, Oren."

"Not at all. We're best friends. Brothers, basically."

My thoughts froze on the word brother. God, I wished that was true. While I didn't want to be a Byrne, I wanted a family. Mine was gone, and I wanted somewhere and someone to belong to.

"Thank you," I said simply, because I couldn't think of another reply.

Oren left after a couple of hours, but not before I secured a promise from him not to search for Cethin. When he left, I leaned back in my bed and tried to sleep, but rest would not come. Instead, my thoughts circled round and round, reliving every horrific moment. I wanted to think of something else, but every time I did, my thoughts would inevitably return to what had occurred in the cottage near the woods.

Perhaps Iris would have something to help me sleep? But that would mean leaving Byrne Manor. The iron key to the secret gate had made it through the incident, so I could sneak out, but I didn't think my door would stop being guarded anytime soon.

I rolled over and my thoughts returned to the stench of the flames, the sight of Mr. Hillridge, and the sounds of Mrs. Hillridge's screams. I flopped to my other side. No matter how I turned or what I thought about, I always returned to the cabin. I tried to recall Cethin stroking me in soothing motions. The way his fingers had moved through my sopping hair.

My breath eased for a single moment until I remembered the burns on his hands. Was he alright? Cethin was a fae, and he healed faster than humans. But when he'd been stabbed, it had almost claimed his life. What if the burns got infected?

He will be fine , I told myself sternly. Besides, why did I even care? He was a dark fae who I barely knew.

Stomach churning, I threw the blankets off. I paced over the plush rug in my room, wearing nothing but my nightshirt. I should've asked Oren to bring Cethin inside. Then again, how was Oren to find him? Oren couldn't wander the woods, randomly calling for Cethin. I hadn't even told anyone Cethin's name.

I peered out the window. The late afternoon sun lit up the manicured gardens. The storm had passed over while I was recovering, but the rain had left everything greener and the air cleaner than normal.

I wanted to go outside. I hated being forced to remain indoors. Even if I'd been allowed to venture out, escape wouldn't happen.

My eyes flicked over the garden and paused on the balcony two windows away from mine. Thick vines wrapped around the stone railing and down the pillars to the ground. I focused on the thin ledge that ran along the side of the manor, leading to the balcony.

I could shuffle along the wall to the balcony and climb down. I'd never done it, but it didn't appear impossible. Though I was four stories up. If I fell, the damage would not be pleasant.

I stripped off my nightshirt and quickly donned some clothes, then arranged the pillows under the blanket to give the appearance of my sleeping form. The window opened with the slightest squeak. I peeked over my shoulder at the door. I was unsure which Byrne brother was guarding my room, but Whit and Sevrin had ears like wolves.

My muscles tensed, and I held my breath, waiting. After a couple of moments of silence, I released a long breath.

I threw my leg over the sill and grabbed the frame, leveraging myself out. I looked down and tightened my grip. What the fuck am I doing? This was so reckless, and not something I would normally do. I was usually so controlled and followed the rules, for the most part. For all of one second, I thought about slipping back inside, but I couldn't. What if Cethin's injuries had gotten infected?

With careful movements, I hugged the side of the manor. I shut the window and began to slide along the ledge.

As I reached the next window, I peered inside to check there was no one within sight. I did this at the next window too, then climbed over the railing. My breath was not even harsh when I stepped onto the stone balcony. It felt as easy and natural to walk along the ledge as on the ground.

I pressed against the wall and peeked inside the glass doors that opened into a family parlor. No one was inside. thankfully, or I would've had some uncomfortable questions to answer.

I climbed over the railing. The vines were easy to grip as I clambered down, but the leaves were slick with moisture. I had to be careful, but a solid vine was always within reach.

The moment my boots hit the flagstones, I raced to the hedge maze. I slipped inside and turned a corner, looking over my shoulder at the manor to check for pursuers, and collided with someone. I staggered backward. Oren stood in front of me, eyes impossibly wide.

"The incident has been handled. It appears to have been two rogue light fae," Lord Byrne said, his voice approaching.

Oren shoved me in the opposite direction, and I hid around the curve. "Father," Oren said in a high-pitched voice, "we should offer our guests tea."

"Indeed," Lord Byrne said, but I heard the surprise in his tone.

I peeked around the corner as the fae strode by. The light fae followed right behind Lord Byrne with a serene smile on her round face, long brown hair hanging down her back. The dark fae walked past where I hid and paused, his head cocked. He was dressed to the nines in a tailored jacket and tight trousers, all black, and his short black hair hung to his sharp jaw. He started to turn to where I hid, and I pressed against the hedges, peeking through the branches.

Lord Abnus's dark purple eyes locked onto the exact spot where I was hiding. His nostrils flared when he took a deep inhale. "Curious." The fae took a single step toward me, and I knew this was it. I was going to be discovered, and Lord Byrne would never leave me alone ever again.

"Problem?" Oren asked, appearing behind the fae. The man turned, towering over Oren's slight frame.

"I do not believe so." The fae glanced over his shoulder.

Oren slid his hand into the crook of Lord Abnus's elbow and said, "Come along. I acquired a new tea for you."

"How very kind," the dark fae said. "You must take care not to burn yourself this time."

"I will," Oren replied with a laugh. "You can tell me more of your aunt, Queen Eilidh, as we sample it."

As they exited the hedge maze, Oren winked at where I hid.

Without a backward glance, I dashed to the gate.