Shatter - Sins of the Sidhe (28 page)

Adam’s tone was low, “None that have lived to tell the tale.”

Great. That’s just great. Rowan had to sit down. Her tough-girl act was over and she needed a drink. As if reading her mind, Adam poured her a glass of good strong whiskey, and then chugged from the bottle himself. The Sidhe was well and truly spooked.

Fuck.

Devlin came up and sat next to her, holding her shaky hands. “When did ye see this creature?”

Rowan emptied her glass before saying, “That’s the thing that I saw at the edge of my bed when I was five, and what scratched me when it came back years later.”

“Maiden, Mother and Crone,” Devlin murmured. This is news. Bad news. Devlin looked at Adam, but his face was stone – making Devlin all the more concerned.

Adam was now sitting on the other side of Rowan. It looked like a damn intervention in that living room and Ro was starting to feel crowded. “Have you seen it any other time, my dear?”

Getting up for some breathing space she answered, “I saw it the night before you came into my studio.”

You could have heard a pin drop in that room. No one moved or talked or did anything. The silence was deafening and only cranked up Rowan’s defenses. “I didn’t summon him if that’s what you’re thinking!”

All offended and blustered, she marched over to the half-f bottle and gulped a few swigs of the strong stuff. It went straight to her head, and with no food in her gut, she almost heaved it back up instantly.

It was Ava’s turn to speak up. “Rowan, we’re not your enemy. We’re trying to help you.”

“Yeah, Rowan. We’re your friends. We’re here to help.” Brinley went over to touch her arm.

Rowan jabbed the air in front of her friend. “
We
aren’t going to do anything. You need to leave, Brinley.”

Well wasn’t that a big fat how-do-ya-do. Brinley’s glare back was cold as ice. She walked up to Rowan and got within inches of her face. “I’m not backing away sister-friend. Piss and moan all you want, it won’t change a fucking thing. You can’t always push people away. You can’t push ME away.”

“Leave. NOW.” Rowan growled.

“No.”

“This doesn’t concern you, Brin. You have to go. Don’t force me to do something here.” That was the only warning Rowan was capable of giving.

“Don’t threaten me, Rowan. We’re too good for this shit. You know it. You can’t force me out.”

Oh yes I can
, Rowan thought. So full of emotion, and already set in defense mode, Rowan was all madness and fear, which translated to uncalled for anger. Without thinking, Rowan hauled off and punched Brinley in the face, knocking her over the ottoman and into the leather chair.

“JESUS!” someone yelled.

Brinley yelped and stared at Rowan. Holding a hand to her jaw, she was seething with icy anger rolling off of her. “After everything we’ve been through, this is how you repay me?”

“I didn’t think you were in need of payment for being my friend. Guess I was wrong. Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve made the wrong choice.” Rowan stormed off leaving Brinley and the others behind.

Adam went to help Brinley, but she slapped his hand away and got up on her own. Ava went for some ice. This was a fine mess to be in. Her lip was bleeding and starting to swell. Brinley was so hurt and mad; she snatched the ice bag from Ava and stormed outside.

“I’ll go speak with Rowan,” Devlin mumbled. He didn’t know what he was going to say to the fired up hellcat, but he was willing to try and tame her in the back room.

Adam’s instincts were to go after Brinley. He found her sitting on a bench, looking at a hummingbird whiz around a bush of bright red flowers.

“I can’t believe this,” Brinley said.

Gingerly touching her lips, it stung like hell and made her hiss in pain. She couldn’t believe what just happened. That was not the Rowan she’s known and loved all her life. That was a stupid bitch. The Rowan she knew would never push her away like this. They had no secrets between each other. There was no anger or hate staining their friendship, and certainly never violence. Rowan was someone she didn’t know anymore.

Brinley had a thousand questions rolling through her mind, but didn’t know how she’d ask any of them. She was a smart girl and an observant one too. She wasn’t blind to the fact that there was a lot more to this story than what the men and Rowan were telling her. It was frustrating and annoying. She fucking hated it.

Adam sat down next to her but didn’t speak. He wasn’t sure what to say. Brinley was looking out at the water, lily pads floating and frogs jumping around flicking their tongues at small bugs. She watched a squirrel run up a tree chattering away in quick barks.

“You know how we met?” Brinley asked.

Adam didn’t have time to answer.

“We were five years old and one day my mom looked out the window and saw a girl in our front yard. She called for me to come see and asked if I knew who the girl was. I didn’t, so I went outside and introduced myself. She said her name was Rowan and asked if I would like to be her friend. There was this huge oak tree in our yard and Rowan was picking up acorns and putting them in a brown paper lunch bag. Said she was collecting nuts for the squirrels so that in the winter time they’d have something to eat. It sounded like a good idea, made sense, ya know? At least it does when you’re five. I started picking up the acorns myself and tossed them in her bag. We were best friends ever since.”

Brinley turned to look at Adam. “We’ve been through so much together. Our whole lives, we’ve had each other’s backs. We might get into a fight every now and then, but never has she acted like this. She’s changed and I… I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do. I don’t run from things, Adam. And I’ve never turned my back on Ro. I want to help her, but now…” Brinley made a motion with her hands, palms up, as if saying
look at us now.

Aye, Adam was looking alright. And not at the situation the two women were in. Brinley was beautiful, busted lip and all. She started to cry, face buried in her small hands. Adam didn’t know what to do for the poor lass. Her tears were practically killing him.

Instincts guiding him, Adam wrapped his arms around her and let her melt into his chest. Her body shook with sobs and deep breaths. His sunshine was now a storm cloud of misery and heartache. He stroked her hair and whispered words of comfort to her. His voice came out like bells and he had to slam his glamour back into place before she noticed. She stopped crying when she heard the chimes and looked up at him.

Fuck. Too late. She’d heard it.

Eyes fixed on his, Brinley stared right through Adam like she was seeing into his very soul. Her makeup was smeared and she looked like a little hot mess. Adam noticed none of it. Her lip was still bleeding, and its warm scent made his nostrils flare with temptation.

This was getting dangerous, for many, many reasons.

Adam was stone while Brinley searched his face for the answers she wanted. He may think he’s made of rock, but she knew better. Brinley could see past that façade and look deep down into that man. She was sad and frustrated and so was he. She wanted comfort in that moment, tenderness and acceptance.

She wanted it to come from him.

Brinley leaned in for a kiss and his lips were warm and soft when they touched. She pressed her mouth a little harder on his, and he gave in instantly. The statue that was Adam crumbled to dust and he was now nothing more than a hungry Sidhe hiding behind blue eyes.

Misery and despair morphed into lust and desire within seconds. She traced fingers down his back and over his head while her tongue flicked into his mouth. The combination of her soft full lips and taste of blood rocked him to the core.

Mother of Christ, he was coming undone. Adam let out a growl of hunger and began to thoroughly ravage her mouth. She writhed and moaned in his clutches, eager and wanting. As he swallowed a small drop of blood from her lips, his eyes rolled in gratification. He wanted more. He wanted as much of her as he could get his greedy Sidhe hands on.

Dangerous, this is getting too fucking dangerous.

That’s when he stopped kissing and broke away from the blonde temptress. He pulled her off of him and stood up. Looking down at her red lips and teary eyes, he wanted to scoop her up and carry her to his bed. Take that pain away and replace it with pleasure. But that was not going to happen. There was an evil out there that needed to be destroyed, it’s why he has stayed here in this world for so long, and he could not be distracted from his duty.

Brinley was not part of this plan. Rowan was right to push her away, she was too precious. Too human. “We cannot do this,” was all he said and then marched back inside the house. He needed to move fast or he was going to crumble again. Brinley made Adam weak.

She stared at the man as he hurried so fast to get away from her. Somehow, that hurt the most. Brinley, now shocked and wounded twice in one day, was starting to think that maybe she really didn’t belong here. Perhaps she should just go home. She wasn’t going to stay someplace she wasn’t welcomed. If no one here wanted her, then that’s just fine. She’ll leave. Brinley had more self-worth than to torture herself needlessly. Resolved, she pulled as much dignity into her spine as she could.

Brinley was going home.
 

Ava knocked on Adam’s bedroom door, opening it on her own when he didn’t answer. He was sitting on the side of his king-sized bed staring out into nothing. She sat next to him. Best say this as gently as she can, she’s seen his temper before and didn’t want to risk loosening that side of him now.

“Adam.”

No response.

“Adam, listen to me. I say this as your friend and one who loves you very much.”

He snickered and the act scrunched his face up making him look less handsome. “Sidhes don’t know how to love,” his words attacked.

“Ah there now, that’s where you’re wrong. Besides, I’m only half Sidhe, remember?” Her attempt at trying to be sweet and humorous wasn’t working and she’s not really good at beating around the bush anyway. Best just be yourself. “Adam, you have always been a rule follower. Whatever commands you are given, you follow them without deviation.”

“Aye, and you, dear Ava, break them all without a care.”

It was a fact, but he was saying it as an insult. No matter, Ava went on. “Friend, we are all made the way we are. You heed caution; I throw it to the wind. You create life, I stir it up. You are serious with every, single, blessed thing, while I don’t have a hard bone in my body.”

“I am aware. Some angel you are, Ava. I’m beginning to think I should have been the one with the title, Divine Intervention.”

“Aye, perhaps you should have been. But one thing we both have in common is free will. The choices are laid out before you, Adam. You may want to think about what you truly want for yourself. You’re not much of a Sidhe with all your selfless deeds as of late.”

That got him. He broke his stare and turned towards Ava’s loving face while she continued, “My friend, you have been here for so long, sacrificing for the greater good, honoring the duty you were charged with. Perhaps when this thing is over, and Lorcan is defeated, you will choose a new direction for yourself. Stay here, hiding your true form and living lonely among the humans, or you can go home.”

Home
. Adam’s heart was lightened by the mere thought of it. He longed to go back there, even if it was for but a day. Adam has spent most of his existence fighting wars in this world and others, protecting the weak, and following the honorable duties that he was always charged with. He was a warrior. Home was something he did not get to see often. Never did. Adam was always focused on whatever task he was given, whatever quest he was on, and he never let himself get distracted or led off track. The warrior kept his head in battle and his heart in a box.

The Faelands changed often, but the Fae didn’t. Most were sneaky and self-serving and Adam couldn’t relate to that. He was of a different caste. He was a rarity. But that didn’t mean he didn’t want to go home. He didn’t care for many of the Fae he’d left behind, but he worshipped the lands. The wildness, the scents, the magic… he loved and missed it all.

His heart soared at the memories and then sank like a stone.

To be honest, he’s grown to love his home in this world too, and there were people here he would have a hard time leaving. Adam would miss Devlin terribly, he was like a brother to him, but the Druid could enter the Faelands if he wished. Ava could also come and go as she pleased through the worlds, though she never did. No, he was thinking of another. His sunshine. She would not be allowed to follow him - not that she’d ever want to. But for some reason, that sad fact had his gut twisted in knots. ‘Twas a terrible feeling when faced with these two choices, but choose he would.