Page 26 of The Wind and the Wild (The Keepers of Faerie #1)

I nod, and when the silence stretches, I gesture to the obviously empty house. Niall’s arm over my shoulder makes me braver. I imagine Aidyn looking down upon these two humans with the height he has on them and the sharp predator-bird intelligence of his eyes, and it nearly improves my mood.

The older man clears his throat, glancing at his son.

Still, I ignore him. I did not invite him here.

It cannot be helped that midsummer is a festival that gathers all the closest villages together, and so of course he would eventually return.

But I do not have to speak with him, and I do not have to acknowledge his existence.

My hand is hidden behind Niall’s back, against the warmth of his shirt, and that is likely the only reason I manage to keep my expression neutral.

“ The preparations seem to be going well,” Haskel says.

How much small talk will he attempt?

Bored, Niall says, “ Yes. ”

“ The weather is warming up much better this year,” Blain says, and I nearly start at the sound of his voice. It has been ages, and I do not appreciate the sound of it. Worse, I do not appreciate how it is understandable that I once found that voice so alluring.

Again, Niall says, “ Yes. ”

I stare at a nearby tree in the ensuing silence, wondering if the ground might open up beneath my feet.

“ You look lovely, Niamh,” Blain says.

Niall’s arm tightens ever so slightly about my shoulders. I hope it doesn’t look too much as if I’m leaning against him.

Finally, I look at Blain. He’s grown into himself well enough. With the broad shoulders and pretty sweep of hair, I’m certain there are many women who would chase after his hand. Just as well. Most women do not wander the edge of Faerie, so they should have no qualms with his.. . courage.

“ I know,” I say, ignoring the tight burn in my chest. I can’t tell if it’s embarrassment or something worse. I decidedly do not look lovely, not in this state, and it is just as likely he is mocking than genuine.

I can’t read his expression, but the slight upturn to his lips has a decided tendril of disgust curling in my stomach.

Why should I have to bear scars of those hounds only to encounter them again when this man stands perfectly well before me?

Why should I have to gaze upon him at all, particularly when I’ve no clue why he is here, his father as some sort of shield from the very real possibility Niall would break his knuckles against that perfect nose?

Aidyn did not run into the woods without me. He did not leave me to those beasts.

I thought, for a moment, that of course he had, but the image of him standing between the waterfall and that creature is stuck in my mind.

No, Niamh, you will not return. My voice sounds weak in my own mind.

Perhaps it is not the same thing, not comparable between a human and a faerie. I am not a good-enough liar to tell myself so. The sudden calm certainty that I would not have left Aidyn by the waterfall either washes over me.

If he had asked me to stay, I would have.

I wished to, even as I didn’t, even as I let him convince me to flee to my own kingdom.

As much as I am trying to convince myself I shall not go back, I find myself glancing across the village toward the trees that will become Faerie the moment I am lost.

Though he begged me to leave, I almost decide here and now to turn and go back, shrug off Niall’s arm and run back through the trees.

But it is twilight, some sort of strange time passing beneath the waterfall, and to return now would be a death sentence for me and possibly for Aidyn as well in his attempts to protect me.

Because he would, indeed, attempt to protect me.

In quite a terrifying manner, perhaps, but it is strangely comforting—the knowledge a stranger would stand between me and a monster he so obviously fears as I do.

Tomorrow, when the sun rises.

“ Who are you dancing with?” Again, Blain’s voice startles me.

I’d almost entirely forgotten he’s standing before me.

Who would want you at the midsummer dance ?

is what he’s asking. I stare at him, suddenly very aware of what he is attempting.

I know I am pretty and that my mam and da are wealthy for our little side of Nevyan, but surely he can find a better match.

Perhaps it is his father encouraging him, and I cannot so much as begin to comprehend the thoughts that would pass through his mind to come to such a conclusion.

His eyes flicker over my appearance, and I hate that I am still embarrassed by my disgruntled state.

“ Not you,” I say too bluntly, then grab Niall by the hand. “ Niall, you said you were going to make a candlestick holder with the silver that finally arrived. Show me!”

Niall catches on without a single hesitation, and he’s hauling me down the path in a moment, before either of us can get a proper look at Blain’s expression.

The moment we reach the village, he slows and scowls.

For no particular reason, I’m glad I bolted the front door to our cottage before I last left it.

“ What are they up to?” he asks, more anger in his voice than mine—I am simply relieved to no longer be under their scrutiny. “ Wait until your da hears about this. I’ve seen him punch a man before, did you know? My da will help him too, if you need.”

I pause, staring at him. A laugh bubbles out, too loud, and I clap my hand over my mouth.

The image of Niall’s father, the boxy little blacksmith who raises puppies and couldn’t hurt a butterfly, taking a fist to Blain’s face is a bit too much for my nerves.

Niall’s face breaks into a grin, and those nearest us look on in confusion with matching smiles.

“ No, don’t tell him,” I manage, heading for Una’s and hauling him along. “ I don’t know what he wants, and I don’t care. May he get eaten by banshees on midsummer.”

I catch a gasp from someone listening in but refuse to look up. Niall makes a noise somewhere between a gasp of shock and a laugh.

“ Sprites,” he mutters, glancing down at me as we walk. “ Are you all right?”

What a terror I must look. My knee no longer stings, but still I feel the ghost of Aidyn’s hand beneath my arm, keeping me from falling farther. His hair plastered down by the water and the smile on his lips before we swam beneath the waterfall.

The regret in his eyes when he gave me permission to stay away. I need feel no guilt, not even for hurting his shoulder, for it was an accident, and he told me it was small. And in truth, it even looked a small wound. Still, I hurt him and am infinitely sorry for it.

The rest of his injuries, I am certain, are not small.

I felt such sadness for him when I spoke to Una.

Called him a strange old creature. He is not nearly as ancient as I believed, barely older than me.

Somehow, in all this, that stands out as so much worse.

To be young and alone and abandoned. I knew it for a moment, but I have Niall and Una and Mam and Da and the rest of my village to gather about me.

You do not . . . have to return.

The twilight is already falling to darkness. I do not know where Blain and his father are spending the night, and I do not care.

In the morning, once the sun has risen enough that time has no chance to play tricks on me, I can return.

In the morning.

I nod. “ Yes, I am all right. I... have something to tell you both. And I need your help. Let’s find Una.”