Any man can lose his hat in a Fairy wind. ~Irish saying
We spent several hours wandering around town checking out various shops and laughing a lot. It’s been a long time since I had that kind of fun and I’m sad to see it end. Lucinda is yawning behind her hand, obviously tired. We walk her back to her dorm and she hugs me at the door.
“Thank you for the great day. I’ve never had that much fun,” she says, giving a little wave she shuts the door and we head to our own room.
Changing into my pajamas, a tank top and shorts, I climb onto my bed and watch Ciar strip off his shirt and pants—disappointingly he’s wearing boxers—and put on a pair of shorts.
Zag gives me a kiss on the cheek with a flick of his tongue and disappears out the window to go fly. Fluffy is snoring under the bed and that leaves Ciar and I basically alone.
“Are you sure you’re comfortable going to the house?” he asks into the quiet.
I figured this question was coming. “She’s not wrong, it really is time I deal with it, and like you said maybe I can sell the property, if nothing else.” Mada gave me money but I won’t mind having my own.
“Have you considered living there? It was a long time ago, monster girl.”
Having our own place, especially considering the addition of more of us wouldn’t be horrible.
“I hadn’t, but it gives me something to think about. Having our own space might be nice. Living here makes me feel like I’m always being watched.”
“You mostly are.”
“Way to encourage my paranoia.” He chuckles and rolls on his side to face me.
“Do you still want to know about me?”
“Of course, I do.” There’s no way I’m missing this chance to get to know who he is as a man and not just the Lord of the Hunt. “Spill.”
“As you well know, growing up with the Sluagh is an adventure. My childhood was a happy one. I even fancied myself in love once.”
Oh, just, oh.
Clearing my suddenly choked throat I ask, “What happened to her?”
“I ate her.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“She broke the laws of Faerie and was hunted.” Blinking several times, I try to wrap my head around what he’s telling me.
“Didn’t that upset you?”
“Gods no. She tried to kill me, it was all some big set up by the king to usurp my position in the Hunt.”
Licking my dry lips, I ask the question that’s burning on my tongue. “Did you still love her when you ate her?”
“No, like I said—I fancied myself in love. I discovered her treachery rather early on and spent several weeks manipulating her into giving me all of her conspirators.”
“Wow, Ciar—just wow.” Another question pops into my head and right out of my mouth. “What if I break the law of Faerie?” Those green eyes of his flash in the darkness of our room.
“Then we die together because there is no force in existence that can make me or the Sluagh hunt you.”
“How would we die then, if the Hunt doesn’t hunt me?”
“There would be consequences for my refusal.” Well, then. “I’m the only Puca in existence and sometimes that makes me feel lonely… made me feel lonely. I haven’t felt that way since I met you.” I suspected he was the only one but didn’t know for sure, now I do. I have no idea what to think about the second half, I feel the same way.
“Were you and Mada ever… intimate?” It’s a question I’ve wanted to ask for a long time and well, now’s a good of time as any. His guffaw of laughter is not the answer I expect.
“I’d rather eat glass then sleep with that woman. Mada isn’t what I’d call easy to get along with, monster girl.” His laughter dies down. “Why would you ask something like that?”
“Well, you know, both of you in the woods for a million years together…”I feel relieved when he starts laughing again. I’m incredibly glad they didn’t have sex because I’m not sure how I’d process that. Mada is a lot like a mother to me and that’d be weird…
“My turn. Why are you so obsessed with Fairies?” That’s a hard change of subject and it’s only right that I answer.
“Peter, my nanny, was a Fairy. He was a huge part of my early life.” I smile picturing him in my mind. “He had bright green hair that always reminded me of spring grass and I loved to play in it. It’s how I learned to braid. I’m pretty sure he’s the one who raised me from a baby. He’s the first memory I have, his bright green hair and green eyes, always had a smile for me.” The smile fades but I continue, “my mother hated him but for some reason let him stay. I didn’t ask why.”
Throat tight with the fading memory of his laughter I take a breath, and continue, “he taught me to hunt, to be patient and he taught me to laugh, despite the circumstances. Back then, Peter was my whole world. Then when she went super nutso and came after me, he got in between us, but whatever Fae she was… way out-classed a Fairy—no matter how strong he was.” Swiping at the hot tear rolling down my cheek I keep going while I can.
“He died, and it distracted her enough to stop stabbing me. The Sluagh… you and the Sluagh who found me might have saved my life then, but he saved it first. I still miss him to this day.”
“I’m sorry, monster girl. I’d kill her again if I could.” A snotty snort escapes me, and I use the distraction to wipe the rest of the tears off my face. His proclamation is one of the sweetest things ever said to me.
“So, what was the name of this chick you loved and then ate? Should I be jealous?”
His chuckle floats through the darkness and the warmth that fills my chest makes the sadness fade.
“Na, she was boney and a bit tough. You’ll be juicy and tender.” If only my aim were better, the pillow I threw at him might have smacked him in that smug face of his.
“Ha, so funny. So, about that plant in music class.”
“Some creatures have hidden from others for a long time, monster girl. I suggest patience and the answers you seek will be found.”
Cryptic much?
“You’re not done with share time, already are you?
He chuckles again, and his soothing voice once again fills the room. “The first time I had sex I was so nervous and excited I tried to put it in her belly button…”
* * *
Ciar used magic on me, he had to have. Why else did I fall asleep mid-sex story? There’s no way I’d miss that otherwise. The sneaky butt-head. Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes I sit up and blink at the empty bed across from me. He didn’t go far, I can hear the shower running.
My bladder is not happy about it, either.
With a smile of pure evil, I go into the bathroom and quickly do my business.
“Keri, are you peeing?” As if this is something new?
“Yep.” Standing, I flush the toilet and laugh when he yells at me. The dorm has a shared water tank, when you flush a toilet the showers let you know. Just to be a dick I flush it again while I’m washing my hands, with hot water.
A wet washcloth makes a splat sound when it connects with the back of my head. In retaliation, I flush again, looking over my shoulder to vaguely see a soapy Ciar pressed as far away from the spray of water as possible.
Ha.
“Payback is a bitch, Keri” he warns me, as I turn the cold water on to brush my teeth. Laughing, I at least hurry it along and leave him cursing at me in the shower that’s trying to boil him alive.
What an awesome way to start the day.