Shadowfever
Page 114
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Identity crisis, Ms. Lane?
There was a time when Id have fired back a pithy retort. But I was drunk on the moment: sitting in my bookstore, sipping hot cocoa, staring across a coffee table at Barrons by candle and firelight, with my journal and iPod handy and the assurance that my parents were well and my world was mostly fine except for my own little personality crisis. Friends and loved ones were safe. I breathed. So did the people that mattered to me. Life was good.
Not long ago, Id thought I would never step foot in this place again. Never see the faint, sexy lift of his lips that told me he was amused but still waiting to be really wowed. Never bicker and banter and argue and plan. Never bask in the knowledge that, so long as the previous owner of this establishment was alive, this place would stand bastion in far more than mere latitude and longitude, keeping Dark Zones, fairies, and monsters at bay. It was the place of last defense in my heart.
Although I hated him for letting me grieve, I couldnt be more grateful that he was unkillable, because it meant I would never have to grieve him again.
I could never be broken about Barrons. Nothing could hurt me where he was concerned, because he was as certain as the nightfall, he would recur as eternally as the dawn. I still had questions about what he was and concerns about his motives, but they could wait. Time might sort things out in ways pushing and prying never could. I dont have any idea what to wear anymore, so I tried to cover all bases.
Try skin.
Little chilly for that.
We looked at each other across the coffee table.
His eyes didnt say, Id heat you up, and mine didnt say What are you waiting for? His didnt reply, Fuck if Im making the first move, so I was careful not to say, I wish you would, because I cant, because Im and he didnt snap choking on your pride?!
As if you arent.
Excuse me?
Really, Barrons, I said drily. Im not the only one who didnt just not have that conversation, and you know it.
There was the faint, sexy lift of his lip. Youre a piece of work, Ms. Lane.
Right back at you.
He changed the subject. The Keltar moved their wives and children into Chesters.
When?
Our sojourn in the White Mansion had cost us nearly five weeks, Dublin time. Wed stopped in the libraries on the way out and taken as many of the Unseelie Kings books as wed been able to wrap up and carry out along with Fionas body. Id not only missed Danis birthday, Id missed my own, on May 1. Time sure did fly.
About three weeks ago. Long enough that theyve settled in. They refuse toleave until we give them the queen.
Which will be never, I said.
Precisely.
How many kids? I tried to picture Chesters with families living on the cool chrome-and-glass top floor. Towheaded tots carrying blankets and sucking their thumbs, walking along the balustrade. It seemed terribly wrongand laughably right. Maybe it could eradicate some of the fundamental badassness of the place.
The four Keltar Druids brought their wives and children. They breed like its their personal mission to populate their country in case somebody attacks again, as if anybody wants the bloody place. There were dozens of them. Everywhere. It was total chaos.
Ryodan must be losing his mind. I had to bite my lip not to laugh. Barrons sounded downright consternated.
A child followed us on our way to see the queen. Wanted Ryodan to fix a toy or something.
Did he?
He got upset because it wouldnt shut up and tore its head off.
The child? I gasped.
He looked at me like I was crazy. The bear. The battery was dying and the audio file was looping. It was the only way to make it stop.
Or put a new battery in.
Child screamed bloody murder. Army of Keltars came running. I couldnt get out of there fast enough.
I want to see my parents. I mean, visit with them.
Vlane agreed to help the Keltar get Christian out of the Unseelie prison. He has them rebuilding the dolmen at LaRuhe he crushed for you. He shot me a look that said, Too bad you didnt think before you did that one; would have saved time. He believes that once its complete he can reestablish the connection and bring him out.
So Vlane was playing nice, batting hard for the team. We had serious unfinished business, but I no longer had his name in my tongue and I suspected he was avoiding me. Id been in no mood for confrontations in the past week. Confronting myself was hard enough. If you dont arrange it, Ill go by myself. Wed have Christian soon! The moment Id returned from Fionas mercy killing, Id begun lobbying to get Christian out of the Unseelie prison. I would have begun my campaign sooner, but finding out I was Not the Concubine had thrown me for a wicked, mind-numbing loop. When will he be back?
Your pretty college boy isnt so pretty anymore.
He isnt my pretty college boy.
Our gazes locked.
But I still think hes pretty pretty, I said, just to antagonize him.
See you in bed with him like I saw in the Silvers, Ill kill him.
There was a time when Id have fired back a pithy retort. But I was drunk on the moment: sitting in my bookstore, sipping hot cocoa, staring across a coffee table at Barrons by candle and firelight, with my journal and iPod handy and the assurance that my parents were well and my world was mostly fine except for my own little personality crisis. Friends and loved ones were safe. I breathed. So did the people that mattered to me. Life was good.
Not long ago, Id thought I would never step foot in this place again. Never see the faint, sexy lift of his lips that told me he was amused but still waiting to be really wowed. Never bicker and banter and argue and plan. Never bask in the knowledge that, so long as the previous owner of this establishment was alive, this place would stand bastion in far more than mere latitude and longitude, keeping Dark Zones, fairies, and monsters at bay. It was the place of last defense in my heart.
Although I hated him for letting me grieve, I couldnt be more grateful that he was unkillable, because it meant I would never have to grieve him again.
I could never be broken about Barrons. Nothing could hurt me where he was concerned, because he was as certain as the nightfall, he would recur as eternally as the dawn. I still had questions about what he was and concerns about his motives, but they could wait. Time might sort things out in ways pushing and prying never could. I dont have any idea what to wear anymore, so I tried to cover all bases.
Try skin.
Little chilly for that.
We looked at each other across the coffee table.
His eyes didnt say, Id heat you up, and mine didnt say What are you waiting for? His didnt reply, Fuck if Im making the first move, so I was careful not to say, I wish you would, because I cant, because Im and he didnt snap choking on your pride?!
As if you arent.
Excuse me?
Really, Barrons, I said drily. Im not the only one who didnt just not have that conversation, and you know it.
There was the faint, sexy lift of his lip. Youre a piece of work, Ms. Lane.
Right back at you.
He changed the subject. The Keltar moved their wives and children into Chesters.
When?
Our sojourn in the White Mansion had cost us nearly five weeks, Dublin time. Wed stopped in the libraries on the way out and taken as many of the Unseelie Kings books as wed been able to wrap up and carry out along with Fionas body. Id not only missed Danis birthday, Id missed my own, on May 1. Time sure did fly.
About three weeks ago. Long enough that theyve settled in. They refuse toleave until we give them the queen.
Which will be never, I said.
Precisely.
How many kids? I tried to picture Chesters with families living on the cool chrome-and-glass top floor. Towheaded tots carrying blankets and sucking their thumbs, walking along the balustrade. It seemed terribly wrongand laughably right. Maybe it could eradicate some of the fundamental badassness of the place.
The four Keltar Druids brought their wives and children. They breed like its their personal mission to populate their country in case somebody attacks again, as if anybody wants the bloody place. There were dozens of them. Everywhere. It was total chaos.
Ryodan must be losing his mind. I had to bite my lip not to laugh. Barrons sounded downright consternated.
A child followed us on our way to see the queen. Wanted Ryodan to fix a toy or something.
Did he?
He got upset because it wouldnt shut up and tore its head off.
The child? I gasped.
He looked at me like I was crazy. The bear. The battery was dying and the audio file was looping. It was the only way to make it stop.
Or put a new battery in.
Child screamed bloody murder. Army of Keltars came running. I couldnt get out of there fast enough.
I want to see my parents. I mean, visit with them.
Vlane agreed to help the Keltar get Christian out of the Unseelie prison. He has them rebuilding the dolmen at LaRuhe he crushed for you. He shot me a look that said, Too bad you didnt think before you did that one; would have saved time. He believes that once its complete he can reestablish the connection and bring him out.
So Vlane was playing nice, batting hard for the team. We had serious unfinished business, but I no longer had his name in my tongue and I suspected he was avoiding me. Id been in no mood for confrontations in the past week. Confronting myself was hard enough. If you dont arrange it, Ill go by myself. Wed have Christian soon! The moment Id returned from Fionas mercy killing, Id begun lobbying to get Christian out of the Unseelie prison. I would have begun my campaign sooner, but finding out I was Not the Concubine had thrown me for a wicked, mind-numbing loop. When will he be back?
Your pretty college boy isnt so pretty anymore.
He isnt my pretty college boy.
Our gazes locked.
But I still think hes pretty pretty, I said, just to antagonize him.
See you in bed with him like I saw in the Silvers, Ill kill him.
