Faery Kissed (10 page)

I tried to ignore the frustrating shot of
pleasure.

She crawled to her knees, grasping my face
in her hands. “But you have my vow—I will never teach our child to
hate or despise you.”

“
Eirian,” I began. I
immediately realized my error, and she covered my mouth with her
own— her kiss silencing me. “No,” I said, gently trying to push her
away.

“
Please, Bran, please. Just
kiss me one last time before you take everything away from
me.”

I closed my eyes, struggling to resist her.
“Why don’t you just enchant me again? That would make things much
easier on both of us.”

“
Because, I want you to
have your own free will. I’ve taken too much from you
already.”

“
Eirian,” I whispered,
holding her back when she tried to kiss me again. “Come away with
me. You said there are ways to overcome the bloodlust. Run with me,
be my wife, and let’s raise our child together. There’s no way of
returning to my old life, so let’s start a new one together. Family
is all I had, it’s all I know—come with me and let’s be a family. I
might not be able to give you the riches you are used to, but I
could give you a home and happiness and we could raise our child
together.”

She searched my eyes and I could feel her
fingertips digging into my skin, she was holding me so
intently.

“
And what about love, Bran?
Would you ever be able to give me that after all I’ve
done?”

I spoke honestly and from my heart. “Come
with me, and I’ll do my best to give you everything I have.” I
paused, continuing to stare at her. “I just need to know that this
wasn’t some midsummer night’s fling.”

She looked so sad. “I’d go with you anywhere
you asked, Bran—”

I kissed her. I didn’t need to hear the
rest, she’d chosen me, and as far as I was concerned I was hers.
There would be no others, no “what if’s,” only Eirian—Eirian and
our child.

She answered me with the same desperate
enthusiasm I was feeling—kissing me back hotly and running her
hands from my face into my hair. I pushed her backward onto the
bed, leaning over her as I moved my lips down her neck and
body.

“
Bran.”

I trembled.

“
Bran.” She tried to push
me away.

“
What? What is it?” I
asked, aching with need for her.

“
You misunderstood me.” She
held her arms extended, pushing me with her palms. “I must be clear
before anything else happens between us. I would follow you
anywhere, but to do so would mean my death. Fae cannot survive for
long periods of time outside of Faery.”

I sat back, fear creeping over me at her
words. “How long?”

“
A
fortnight . . . maybe even less. And if I leave here
with you I will be hunted if I try to return. Either way means
death for me.”

I looked away, desperately searching for an
answer. “Is there no way for me to stay here with you then? There
must be something.”

“
The magic of Faery will
not allow you to stay, and if you did, they would kill you as
well.” She placed her hand on my leg. “I’m so sorry. Please know if
I could change it all and send you back to the beginning, I would.
It would be all right for me to never have you—just knowing you
were happy would be enough for me. I never realized how
far-reaching my actions would be.”

I couldn’t bear to see her weep, and I
gathered her into my arms. “Listen to me, Eirian. I’m going to ask
you to do something—something that won’t be easy, but will prove
your love for me beyond a shadow of a doubt, and I will love you
forever because of it.”

“
What is it?” She was
shaking in my arms.

“
I want you to enchant me
again. I don’t want any more pain or sorrow coming between us. All
I want is to bask in your love for the rest of our time together—to
see the joy on your face over the child growing in your womb. I
want you to do everything you ever wanted, whatever you had planned
for our time together. Let’s live our short life together to the
fullest. And when the time is over, let them come for me. Ask for
my ashes and keep them somewhere close to where you and our child
are. Tell the child about me—teach him to love my
memory.”

Eirian was sobbing in earnest now, and I
felt tears on my own cheeks as well. “I can’t do what you ask.”

“
You must. I can’t go on
existing knowing I will be a danger to others. Help me protect them
by releasing me from this prison. Please, Eirian. Promise you will
do what’s best. It’s what I want—what I need.”

I held my breath, waiting for her response,
watching her struggle with her answer. “I promise,” she whispered,
her voice barely audible.

I collapsed back on the bed with her in
relief, marveling at how much the thought of my death lifted the
weight off my shoulders.

“
The
baby . . . ,” her voice trailed off.

“
Yes?” I looked over at
her.

“
What do you want to name
it?” She started crying harder. “If you aren’t going to get to be
part of the child’s life, I feel you should get to name it. That
way a piece of you will always be present.”

I’d never thought of naming my baby. “Hmm.
Well, I want it to be something special. A child is a gift.”

“
What is a name that means
gift then?” she suggested.

I thought for only a moment, smiling. “Shay.
It’s my grandfather’s name. He is forever reminding us that he is a
gift to us all.”

“
That’s perfect,” Eirian
replied, snuggling closer. “Boy or girl, this child shall be called
Shay.”

Hugging her, I stroked her hair and leaned
my chin on the top of her head. I was nervous about my decision,
but I also knew, without a doubt, it was the right one. “I
appreciate what you’re doing. It means a lot to me, Eirian.”

She silenced my gratitude by kissing me,
locking her stare with mine, and there was a sharp pull. Urgently,
I tightened my grip on her, our mouths meeting passionately. She
didn’t look away, and the longer I kissed her, the more relaxed I
felt. My worries and cares drifted off into oblivion until there
was nothing left but her.

I rolled her over, eager to explore her some
more, but she looked so sad. “Are you all right?” I asked, suddenly
worried.

She smiled, stroking my lips with her
finger. “I will be.”

A tear leaked from the corner of her eye,
and I wiped it away with my thumb. “Please don’t cry. Did I do
something wrong?”

She shook her head. “No. In fact, you do
everything right. If everyone were like you, the world would be a
noble place to live.”

I laughed. “Waxing a little poetic today,
aren’t you?” I tweaked her nose.

“
Sometimes I do
that.”

“
Well, I like it.” I bent
my head to kiss her again but was interrupted by a knock on the
door. I paused to glance in that direction. “Who could that
be?”

“
The servants, I’d imagine.
They’ve probably brought us our breakfast.”

I got up and went to the door, revealing the
maids-in-waiting who had met us last night upon our arrival and
they were indeed carrying several trays. They came inside, setting
the food around on the various small tables.

“
We have your baths and
clothing waiting for you on the floor below, milady, whenever you
are ready,” the head maid said.

“
Very well. We’ll be there
shortly.”

I grabbed one of the fruit-laden trays and
carried it over to the bed, sitting it next to her. “So what would
you like to do this fine day? I’m quite eager to explore everything
you told me about. I’m anxious to learn about my new home.”

Her smile seemed to lack its normal luster,
and I studied her, trying to figure out what was different about
her.

“
Are you sure you’re
feeling all right?”

She gave a big sigh and straightened her
shoulders. “I’m perfectly fine.” She reached for a grape. “I was
thinking I could take you exploring through the passageways between
here and the exterior castle.”

“
That sounds very
interesting. I can’t imagine how they tunneled through the rock
like they did.”

“
It was quite an effort
according to our historians. While they were able to use magic to
help them, there was a lot of planning involved as well. They
proceeded carefully, testing for weaknesses so they wouldn’t cause
a collapse. Part of it is a natural cavern though, so it made
things a little easier for them.”

“
What made them consider
taking on such a task?”

“
Defense planning, I am
told. If there was ever to be an attack on us, they wanted to make
sure the people weren’t trapped in the canyon, so they created
alternate routes of escape.”

I was fascinated with what she was telling
me, having never imagined such a scenario in all my days.

“
Aren’t you afraid that
someone will discover them and penetrate the city’s
defenses?”

“
No. There are so many
tunnels and branches that someone would have to know the direct way
to find their way through it.” She smiled, slyly. “Would you like
to see the secret route?”

Chapter Ten

“
Of course I would.” I
smiled.

“
Are you sure? I want to do
whatever sounds good to you.”

“
Anything I get to do with
you sounds good to me, as long as you feel up to it.” I glanced
down at her stomach, before returning to her beautiful glowing
face. “I love how your skin looks. It's just a faint glow, but it's
definitely there.

“
It’ll get a little
brighter as it goes along. When it gets close to time, my hair will
start glowing a bit too.”

“
I can't wait to see that,”
I replied. “Your hair already shines so beautifully.” I paused as
another look of pained sadness passed briefly across her face. “Are
you sure you're all right?” I reached to lightly run my fingers
over the side of her luminous cheek.

She leaned forward and took my face in her
hands. “Every moment I spend with you is perfection, Bran. Don't
ever doubt that.” She kissed me, softly brushing my lips tenderly
as if she were savoring it.

I returned her affection, matching her slow
pace as the two of us moved together, languid and unhurried, taking
time to just bask in this moment of two people in love. The thought
surprised me—it seemed so natural, so right. I hadn't known Eirian
very long, but I loved her. I didn't know if I'd ever been in love
before.

I tried recalling any girls in my past, but
was unable to think of anyone I'd ever felt like this toward.
This—this was an amazing feeling, to care for someone this way. I
could see my future ahead of me; my life here with this beautiful
Fae and the children we would have together. It excited me—it
thrilled me—it was like a dream come true.

Pushing the tray of food away, I laid Eirian
backward against the pillows. “Have I ever told you I love you?” I
whispered against her ear before kissing down her neck. “I can't
wait to spend the rest of forever with you.”

Tears flowed down her cheeks at my words,
and I brushed them away with my thumbs.

“
I love you too,
Bran.”

I chuckled. “Then why are you crying?”

“
Because I want to spend
forever with you as well.”

“
We will, and it’ll be
wonderful. Just wait and see.”

Eirian clasped me tightly in her embrace.
“Just hold me, Bran. Don't ever let me go.”

“
Never,” I replied, burying
my face against her sweet smelling neck. “I will never let you go.”
I felt my teeth strangely elongate, and I sank them into her flesh,
eagerly swallowing the blood that welled there to greet
me.

Eirian arched, gasping as I moaned with
pleasure over the erotic sensation her blood caused within me. I
couldn’t get enough.

“
Bran,” she called, causing
my ardor to heighten as she pushed at my shoulders.

I didn’t want to stop and clung tighter.

“
Bran, I need my blood for
our baby.”

Her words cut through my foggy mind, and I
broke away from her neck, glancing hungrily at the blood still
flowing there.

“
You must lick it to close
the wounds or they will not stop bleeding.”

I did as she instructed, also cleaning away
the remnants of blood that remained.

“
What just happened?” I
asked as I moved away, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.
She smelled too good.

“
You’ve completed your
transition—much quicker than expected. I was hoping we would have a
little more time together.”

“
What do you
mean?”

“
I mean we are going to
have to be very careful from now on. I know how sensual the blood
drinking is for you. It is the same way for me too. You are capable
of killing me, or any Fae for that matter, and you’ll crave the
blood immensely. I may crave the taste of you, but the difference
is you will now need blood regularly to survive, whereas I do not.
I’ll try to teach you some things that will help you, but you’ll
also need to master some control. You cannot be seen as a threat by
anyone.”

“
What do I need to do?” I
asked, as I tried to comprehend all she was telling me.

“
I need you to look me in
the eye.”