Chapter 6

“Thank you, Ms. Brundage,” Niall said as he backed out of the kitchen. Ran was definitely expected for dinner and his heart raced as he began calculating minutes. The sound of tires on the gravel in the courtyard reached him and he gasped as he hurried past the staircase. Niall covered his mouth and laughed as Ran’s Mercedes stopped in front of the door and a footman ran out to take the keys. Ran stepped out of the car with a small, gorgeously wrapped gift and Niall ran. “You’re home!” He cried as he crashed into him.

“Careful!” Ran laughed as he caught Niall and juggled the gift but he grunted and was taut as his arm wrapped around him.

“What’s wrong?” Niall asked warily as he leaned back and searched Ran’s face.

“Nothing!” He promised and a bright smile spread across his lips. “It would have been a tragedy if I dropped this though,” he said as he presented it to Niall. The silver butterfly paper and an oversized silver bow caught the sunlight and rainbows reflected on the walls and ceiling. Niall’s hands shook as his finger traced a butterfly and his heart sank with guilt.

“Why do you have to…”

“Why do you have to ruin my fun? It makes me happy and I need to do this,” Ran scolded gently and Niall swallowed hard as he slowly tugged at the bow.

“But I don’t deserve it,” he complained and Ran made a heavy, weary sound as he kissed his forehead.

“We’ve all done things we regret. Let me have this,” he said and Niall frowned at the sadness in his voice.

“What’s wrong? Why are you so late?” He asked and Ran’s jaw clenched and his eyes dropped as he shook his head.

“Nothing’s wrong. I had a confusing encounter and I didn’t want to come home until I got to the bottom of it but I didn’t have much luck,” he explained and Niall winced.

“A confusing encounter?”

“You don’t want to know. Hurry up and open it! It took months of begging and what I’m imagining was a miracle to get my hands on it,” Ran said as he waved it off then hugged his chest. He bounced anxiously and Niall felt a tickle of anticipation but he rolled his eyes as he gave the bow a more aggressive tug then flicked it aside. He pulled the paper away and let it fall and Ran chewed on his thumbnail as Niall opened the clasp on the wooden case. It was the size of a deck of cards and Niall noted that it was lined with felt as he opened the lid.

“I can’t…accept this,” Niall said breathlessly as he stared at an exquisite jade pendant. It was almost translucent, it was so fine. “Ran, it’s…”

“All I’ve been able to think about for months,” Ran said as he tipped Niall’s chin back. His eyes were turbulent and unsure as they found Niall’s. “A friend showed it to me and I couldn’t stop seeing it in my head, I needed you to have it. I was so relieved when it was delivered last weekend,” he said and Niall nodded slowly as he watched him.

“What happened?” He asked and Ran shook his head again then gave him an apologetic look as his phone vibrated loudly.

“It’s nothing,” he insisted as he pulled his phone from his pocket. “I have to take this,” he said and Niall nodded and shooed him.

“Go!” He ordered and Ran kissed his forehead again before he strolled across the foyer quickly.

“Have you found anything?” Ran asked as he pressed his phone to his ear then swore softly. “How is that possible?” He demanded and Niall’s neck stretched as his lips twisted. He looked around to make sure he was alone then dashed to the wall by the study door. “Nobody’s seen anyone with a scar like that and no one’s heard of anyone going by that name?” Ran confirmed. “And they couldn’t get anything clearer out of the security footage? Just a guy in a tuxedo and a baseball cap?” He said in disbelief. “Just keep looking and keep me updated. I want him found,” Ran stated. Niall’s head pulled back before he hurried to the stairs as he heard Ran sigh and get up. “Sorry about that,” he said as he strode into the hall and Niall’s brows jumped as he looked up from the case cluelessly.

“What? Is everything all right?” He asked innocently and Ran nodded then reached for him.

“I’m glad to be home. Do you like it?” He asked as he turned Niall toward the conservatory.

“It’s beautiful,” he said as he carefully shut the case and held it close. “I’m afraid to know what it’s worth,” he murmured and Ran shrugged.

“It’s finally found its way to you and that’s all that matters. Did I miss them?” He asked as he reached for the conservatory doors and Niall nodded. His eyes dropped and his lips pulled as he hugged the case tighter. He’d find someplace safe for it. Isla liked to break Ran’s gifts. Niall’s bedroom was a trove of damaged treasures, all carefully repaired and displayed strategically in his room so Ran would never notice. He never did more than hover in the door but Niall’s nerves always twisted excruciatingly tight, as he crossed his fingers and silently prayed Ran wouldn’t see that something was wrong.

“They came out last weekend, some time Saturday night,” Niall said and Ran’s head tilted as he tried to find Niall’s eyes.

“You didn’t get to see them?” He asked and Niall shook his head.

“I missed it,” he said then raised a shoulder. “I must have been asleep,” he added quickly and Ran looked even more confused.

“You slept through all of them?”

“It’s not a big deal, they’re stunning, Ran!” He said as he hooked their arms and pulled Ran along the path. Niall set the box on the bench at the fork in the path and carefully backed away then turned and reached for the net. He held it open and his eyes shut and as he breathed Ran in and his body trembled with need. Niall stifled it as he hurried around Ran and then pointed as a purple emperor fluttered just over their heads.

“Wow!” Ran gasped and Niall grabbed his sleeve and pulled him around the tree.

“Watch this,” he said as he reached for one of the larger males and it crawled onto his fingers as he gently swept them under it. He turned and Ran’s eyes were wide and glowed as he leaned forward.

“I didn’t think the purple would be so bright!” He said. He did his best to learn and seemed legitimately excited but Niall knew it was all for him. Ran only cared because they were Niall’s life. Aside from Ran.

“The male agathina emperor is often confused for the apatura iris, native to Central Europe and Britain and also commonly referred to as the purple emperor. But the agathina is far more blue or purple on the dorsal side of the wing and larger,” he explained and Ran nodded along but his eyes glazed a bit. Niall cringed sheepishly then held up a finger as he backed away. He searched for the perfect pink lily and plucked it from the vine and swung his head, gesturing for Ran to come closer. “Watch what he does,” he said as he offered the flower to the butterfly. It stepped onto a petal and its slender green proboscis unfurled and dipped into the flower to hunt for nectar.

“That’s amazing!” Ran said and Niall nodded as he watched it. The butterfly tired of the flower and Niall looked up as it jumped into the air and floated away from him. He wished he could follow. Niall would lose himself in dreams of flying out the conservatory window and never seeing Gallahide Castle again. He would have floated away long ago, if it hadn’t been for Ran. He was the only reason Niall kept going. “Did you finish your paper?” Ran asked and Niall shook his head faintly to clear it then shook it again.

“Not yet but it won’t be much longer. I’ll finish and deliver it in a few weeks. You know how I’m always at loose ends when I’m between species and papers so I’m not in a rush. I’m working on a proposal as well,” he said vaguely and Ran laughed softly as he turned Niall and pulled his back against his chest. His arms tightened around him and Ran’s face pushed into his shoulder. Niall closed his eyes and relaxed against him. It was so bittersweet, whenever Ran came home. It was good to have him back and be close to him but this was as close as Niall dared to get and it was never enough. Ran pulled in a long breath and he felt heavy again as he held him. “Are you sure you’re ok?” He felt Ran nod but Niall’s stomach still sank.

“You know how I get when I can’t solve a puzzle or find a solution,” he murmured.

“Is it something I can help with?” Niall asked then bit back a shiver as Ran’s lips brushed against his throat. Hope and dread swirled as Niall waited. He ached to feel Ran kiss his skin but silently pleaded for him to stop.

“No. Part of me doesn’t want an answer,” Ran admitted softly as his nose sifted through Niall’s hair. Niall chewed on his lip as he considered. Ran couldn’t leave a mystery alone and his curiosity got him in a lot of trouble when he was younger.

“Why?”

“It feels like one of those answers that opens a box I don’t want to look inside,” Ran said and Niall nodded.

“Like Pandora’s box.”

“It could be a terrible secret or it could be something wonderful,” Ran stated and Niall turned and looked over his shoulder at Ran.

“And if it’s something wonderful?” He asked and Ran’s eyes were distant as he stared past the tree and out at the stables.

“It won’t make a difference. Not for us.”