Page 25 of Through the Veil (Endangered Fae #2)

The old antique dealer stared at him for a long, uncomfortable moment.

“You New York artsy types. You think you own the world. That everything has a price tag. You don’t know the real value of anything.

I sell you that ring, you’ll probably end up losing it at some orgy or in some drug-infested club. ”

“It’s not for me, Mr. Peters,” Diego told him. “It’s for someone I love more than life. Someone I’d give the world to if I could. But, as you say, the world is not for sale.”

Mr. Peters paused, bushy white brows drawn into a frown. He folded his paper and crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s an engagement ring, then?”

“Yes, sir.”

“For that tall Irishman you run around with?”

“Yes, sir. At least I hope it to be.”

Mr. Peters slid off his stool, his movements as ponderous as any walrus, and retrieved his keys from a hook on the wall. “Now, this isn’t like a diamond that you can bang about. It’s delicate. Something rare.”

“I understand, sir. Finn would, too. He’s been fascinated by them for many years.”

“Twelve hundred dollars.”

Diego hid a grin. Let the haggling begin.

Eight hundred dollars later, he walked out of the shop with a velvet box, a lighter heart and his first smile from Mr. Peters.

When he returned home with Tia Carmen, the back garden thrummed with excitement.

Croi’s bubble had disappeared, and Scath made tentative attempts at short flights from the porch to the edge of the woods and back.

Lugh, standing rock-solid again, caught Scath when he faltered near the vegetable patch.

Best of all, Faolchú had returned, lounging comfortably on the grass with his head in Nathair’s lap, sucking gently on his lover’s long fingers.

To his dismay, Diego realized the garden and woods crawled with fae.

Twinkling féileacán lights danced in the branches.

Elusive, graceful shapes chased each other through the woods.

Couples occupied the chairs, the hammock and a good portion of the grass.

When Faolchú turned with a little growl, nudged Nathair onto his back, and settled between his thighs, Diego’s face flushed forge-hot.

God, he’s going to screw him right there, in front of everyone.

From the erotic sounds drifting out of the woods and the movements of the various couples in his garden, Diego realized belatedly Faolchú wasn’t the only one.

Sionnach let out little fox-bark yelps as Angus pulled him onto his lap and thrust up into him.

Even the pair of wildcats under the yew bush, who were most likely sidhe , mated in a hissing, clawing ball.

Diego made a hasty retreat inside. He leaned against the back door and cleared his throat. “ Oye, Tia Carmen…you may want to stay away from the windows for now.”

Naturally, she stopped putting away groceries at that announcement and peered out of the window. Instead of being scandalized, though, as an old lady should be, she smiled. “They celebrate. They feel the life catch fire again.”

“Um, okay. But couldn’t they at least wait until dark?”

She swatted his arm. “You are such a prude, Santiago.”

Still, he was going to have to speak to Danu and Balor about everyone staggering their visits. Such a thick concentration of fae would eventually draw unwanted attention.

“He is a prude.” Lugh’s rich, deep voice sounded behind him. His hand fell on Diego’s shoulder to turn him. “But a devastatingly handsome one.”

Diego took the teasing as it was meant, though he did back up a step. The fae, Lugh especially, had a poorly developed sense of personal space. Lugh smoothed a curl from his cheek, making Diego all too aware of his earthy musk.

“I’m so glad you’re feeling better,” Diego forced out and cleared his throat against the unintended husk in it.

“So am I, little man.” Lugh threw an arm around his shoulders, heedless of his discomfort, and turned to Tia Carmen. “Scath would like to know if you have any of that lovely tea. He’s feeling chilled.”

“Of course.” She nodded. “I can make some quickly.”

“Chilled? Poor little guy.” Diego moved out of Lugh’s impromptu embrace. “I’ll go get the electric blanket. Even if he doesn’t want it over his wings, it should help.”

Diego had taken three steps down the hall when a figure surged out of the shadows and shoved him face-first against the wall. A lean-muscled frame pressed hard against him, grinding against his ass. A long hand trapped both his wrists above his head.

“Now,” Finn growled low in his ear.

“Finn? What the hell?”

“I want you. I need you.” Finn fumbled at Diego’s jeans, undoing the fly. “Now.”

Diego forced calm into his voice. “You’re hurting me.”

“I can’t stand it anymore. You won’t deny me again.”

“What are you going to do, querido ?” Diego fought both a rising panic and a lump in his throat. “Force yourself on me if I say no?”

The hand fumbling at his crotch stilled. The pressure on his back vanished. He turned to see Finn with his face buried in his hands, shoulders slumped.

“My love…forgive me.” Finn’s voice broke and cracked. “I—”

When he turned to flee, Diego was ready for it and lunged for him. “Oh, no, you don’t. You do not do that to me and just run off.”

Finn fought to get loose, Diego took a firmer hold and they tumbled to the carpet in a heap of flailing limbs. Finn no longer sought to hold him, though, and didn’t aim a single blow his way, all his efforts channeled into clawing at the carpet, trying to get away.

“ Mi vida, mi amor ,” Diego murmured, nuzzling under his ear. “Ease down. Relax. I won’t hurt you.”

Finn whimpered, curled into a ball and shook with silent tears. At least that was a more familiar reaction than turning into a lust-crazed beast.

“I don’t mind when you get fierce and demanding.” Diego stroked his hair. “It’s a huge turn-on sometimes, but that was definitely over the top. Want to tell me what this is all about?”

“Please let me be,” Finn whispered. “I’m a monster.”

Diego sighed and took Finn in his arms. “No, you’re not. You stopped before things got out of hand. But you’re obviously all off-balance.”

“He touched you.” Finn uncoiled far enough to lay his head on Diego’s shoulder. “He touched you so tenderly, and something exploded inside my head. Did I truly hurt you?”

“No, querido , don’t worry. I’m fine. You’re jealous. It’s something most people have to deal with. You’re just not used to it.”

Finn shuddered. “It’s a horrible feeling. It claws at my insides like a badger trying to dig out.”

“Lovely image.” Diego tilted Finn’s face up to plant a soft kiss on his lips. “I’m yours, caro , only yours. Do you want to go upstairs?”

Finn closed his eyes on a hitching breath. “I don’t think I could…at the moment.”

“We don’t have to do anything. Cuddling works for me.”

“Perhaps later.” There was that dejected tone again, that downcast stare. “I think I might do with a swim, though.”

Diego nodded. “Good. You need one. Get yourself a nice, fresh fish while you’re out there.

I love you . Only you. Don’t forget that.

” He took Finn’s hands and pulled him up.

His original plan had been to make his proposal as soon as he could get Finn alone, watch his eyes light up when he pulled out the ring, but he didn’t want to do it with Finn in such a state.

He wanted him steady and calm, so he could understand what was being asked of him.

He walked Finn out through the kitchen, arm around his waist, past Tia Carmen and Lugh.

At the door, he took Finn’s head between his hands and pulled him down for what he meant to be a tender kiss.

Finn tried to pull away, but when their mouths met, he melted against Diego, his lips parting on a soft moan, inviting Diego in.

Little sparks crackled from Diego’s fingers when he combed them through Finn’s thick, black hair, and the kiss turned searing.

The world faded away except for Finn’s tongue stroking his, Finn’s strong hands caressing his back.

Tia Carmen clearing her throat brought Diego back to reality.

He pulled away with a soft kiss to Finn’s cheek. “Take whatever time you need, mi amor . I’ll be waiting for you.”

Finn gave him a bone-creaking hug and walked out, leaving Diego with the aching feeling that he had handled things badly ever since he’d come home from New York.

“ La medida del amor es amar sin medida ,” Tia Carmen murmured.

“Please, no wise proverbs right now.” Diego scrubbed his hands through his hair.

He couldn’t bring himself to turn around, to see the worry, or worse, pity in her eyes.

After Finn shifted into a huge black eagle and flew off to the river, Diego stalked out of the house as well, determined to find the fae monarchs and plead for a little sense regarding the use of the doorway.

By evening, he had accomplished what was needed.

Danu and Balor had defied expectations, agreeing readily to Diego’s terms while remaining cool but civil with each other.

The fae would try to limit their visits to after dark, and those who came and went during daylight hours would adopt human forms and manners to the best of their ability.

Cool and civil did not apply to Miriam, though, when Diego called her. She had left several messages while he was away in the Otherworld, each one increasingly caustic and belligerent. He held the phone away from his ear when she recognized his voice on the other end.

“Sandoval! Where in motherfucking hells have you been? You’ve got some great, big, brass balls, fucking around like this!” Miriam bellowed. She continued at full blast for a good three minutes, and Diego wondered what other people in her building thought of these tirades.

When she took a breath, he asked dryly, “Do you want an answer, or would you rather keep shredding me?”

“Yes, I want an answer, you little shit!”

“I’m very sorry. I didn’t mean to be out of touch for so long. Some of Finn’s friends ran into a little trouble, and we had to help. I couldn’t get a signal from there, and we’ve been a little busy.”

The creak of her chair as she shifted carried over the phone. “Finn’s friends, huh?” Her voice was still a growl but no longer ear shattering. “Immigration trouble?”

“Something like that, and some of them were really sick.”

“Next time you find a land line and you check your goddamn messages, got it?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Lecture out of the way, Miriam calmed. “Everyone all right? Your handsome beefcake okay?”

“Everyone’s much better, thanks. You said you had news?”

“Damn straight. We’re getting movie offers.”

Diego’s jaw dropped. He had to clear his throat twice and still squeaked when he asked, “Really? For Dragon Rites ?”

“No, for your life story.” He could practically see Miriam roll her eyes. “Of course for Dragon Rites , kiddo. I emailed you the offers. Take a look. Tell me what you think.”

“But…wait. Doesn’t the publisher have movie rights?”

She snorted. “Do you read your contracts?”

“Not the whole text. They’re so long. That’s why I have you.”

“Freaking lucky thing you do, too, or these sharks would eat you alive. I withheld movie rights and the publisher agreed since so few fantasy novels ever go to film. They didn’t feel like it was worth fighting me over.”

“Oh. Thank you.” Diego flopped down on the sofa in his den. He had a garden full of supernatural creatures and now he had to force himself to think like a modern human again. It wasn’t fair to his overloaded brain. “I’m so sorry I worried you, Miriam.”

“Please. I wasn’t worried. I was pissed.”

At that, he had to smile. If she hadn’t been worried, she wouldn’t have been so angry.

A few hours later, he had read through the proposals, had picked the one he thought looked most sympathetic to the story and the characters and realized it had grown dark.

Finn would probably stay out for the night.

It wasn’t the first time. Hunting was good in the early fall and being alone in the wilds was, after all, Finn’s natural state.

Knowing those things didn’t ease the ache around Diego’s heart one damn bit.

He wandered out to the kitchen around eight for coffee and a sandwich and found Lugh leaning against the counter.

“Could I speak with you, little man?”

“Of course. Everything all right?”

Lugh hooked an arm around his shoulders and led him outside. “I’m going home, Diego, to sleep in my own bower.”

“Oh.” Diego heard an unspoken subtext in those words. “You know you’re welcome here as long as you like. Anytime. And you’ve been doing such a good job riding herd on all these party boys and girls.”

“Thank you, but I fear I must be going.” Lugh cupped Diego’s face in his huge hand, thumb brushing softly over his lips. “It tears at me, to watch you with him. Kissing him. Touching him so tenderly. Knowing I can have none of it.”

“I’m sorry,” Diego murmured. “I never meant to hurt you.”

“ Ach , I know, little one. It’s not as if…

before, in other lifetimes, I loved you, but it was not the same.

You were not the same. Less careful, less mindful, you were not so cautious with your heart.

Now…perhaps it is because I cannot have you that I want you more.

Perhaps it is because you shine so much brighter than you ever have. ”

“I can’t parcel out love…”

Lugh held up a hand. “I know. You are a good man, an honorable one, which is why I must go for a time. Throw myself into creation, think of other things.” He laced their fingers together.

“But I am, as I have always been, your friend. If you are ever in peril or in need, simply open your mind and call. I will be by your side in an instant.”

Diego nodded. “I’ll remember. Thank you. Will you be all right?”

With a soft sigh, Lugh leaned in close and brushed a snow-soft kiss over his lips, the brief contact sparking with his banked desire. “I will manage, never fear.”

Lugh stepped back and smiled, then turned and disappeared through the doorway.

On the porch rail, a tiny black songbird let out a mournful cheep and flew off into the night on a sudden flutter of wings.