Shadows & Secrets part 7
New to the story? Start here!
C
Cáit watched Lonán stalk into the cabin, his posture stiff and angry. As he vanished into the shadowy interior, she sighed and let her shoulders slump. She always felt that Lonán saw her as little more than a foolish child and that always left her bristling.
“You handled that as well as any of the high Fae,” Deryn said softly. She smiled in response, knowing he meant it as a compliment. She watched him hop onto the stool beside the bench covered in chains and traps, careful to avoid brushing against the black metal. Her hand unconsciously reached to pet him and he met her halfway, eagerly pushing his furry head into her palm. She found herself spinning in mental circles over how to deal with her growing feelings for her unlikely companion.
“What did you mean when you told Rian you had already made that promise?” Cáit asked quietly, seeking to distract herself from her romantic dilemma.
“I made a promise to Biddy,” he replied calmly, “and a Fae promise, as you likely know, is magically binding.” She nodded, though she also knew wording was incredibly important with such promises. “My father will be rather disappointed at me for it.” He murmured that last bit, as if speaking more to himself.
“Why would he be disappointed?” she asked, her curiosity rising. Deryn shrugged, which translated oddly as a cat, but she understood it anyway.
“Fae promises are supposed to be twisted and sneaky,” he admitted, “we are taught to add loopholes and play with wording to basically make the promise worthless.” He shifted on the stool and looked away from her before continuing. “I didn’t do that with the promise I made to Biddy.”
“So you’re magically bound to,” she paused, trying to remember exactly what Rian said, “take care of me?” She was surprised and rather touched that he would make such a promise.
“To do everything within my power to take care of you, yes,” he agreed.
“For how long? Until we complete this mission?” She felt a lump in her throat at the thought of him returning to his father’s court all alone, but he shook his head.
“I didn’t add that so…” he ducked his head and gazed up at her shyly, “that means for as long as you live, which, if you Settle, could be centuries.”
“Settle?” Cáit asked, shocked not only that he’d left it so open-ended, but also at what he was implying, “Is that because my mother was Fae?”
“Half-Fae,” he explained, “especially those with high Fae blood, often Settle when they reach adulthood. They stop aging as a normal human at that point and their scent shifts to indicate the lineage.” She felt herself wobble, the idea of possibly living centuries making her knees weak.
“So I could Settle and you…” she couldn’t get the words out, but he nodded.
“I will stay by your side,” his eyes met hers and she saw uncertainty in them, “You have the power to release me from the promise at any point, but know that it is no burden to me. Bound or not, I want to fulfill that promise.” She could feel tears pricking her eyes. Fae couldn’t tell lies, she knew, and the fact he told her clearly he wanted to remain by her side had her heart hammering.
“Deryn,” Cáit’s voice shook with a maelstrom of emotions. Her arms reached for him again, but this time she wasn’t reaching for a cat.
D
Deryn felt himself tremble at the sound of his name on Cáit’s tongue, her emotions drenching it in a way that had him aching for her touch. Her arms extended towards him and he shifted, his mind lost in the emotions he was hearing and scenting on her. He wrapped his arms around her as her scent engulfed him.
Warm like a sunbeam, it made his mind sluggish, yet it teased him with a spiciness that called to his more primal nature. His gaze caught hers and he saw his longing reflected in her green eyes. He spied her pink tongue darting out to lick her lips and pounced, his lips meeting hers hungrily. His hands began trailing down her back, his lips devouring her mouth and the soft moans he was drawing from her. He felt her fingers dig into his hair and his purr kicked in.
“Can you two not keep your hands to yourselves for five minutes?” Deryn felt Cáit go stiff beneath him at the question. He didn’t need to glance up to know Maeve had arrived and caught them making out yet again. He found himself well beyond caring for once, though he noted Cáit’s cheeks flushing with embarrassment. It was a subtle change from the blush his actions had created, but her scent was laced with it as well and it cooled the spicy overtones he had thoroughly enjoyed drowning in.
Deryn let Cáit pull away reluctantly, a soft whine slipping out before he could stop it. Cáit smiled at the sound, too soft to carry to the others, and he felt his heart stutter. He was in deep, he realized, bound to this female in a way that would have him going against his father if necessary. Hers. Fully and completely even without the promise. The realization settled over him, cocooning him in its warm certainty.
“You are treading dangerous waters, little mouse.” Lonán’s icy comment had Deryn biting back a growl. He settled for glaring at the male, his instincts getting the better of him.
“Shall we go on an adventure Maeve?” Cáit asked cheerfully, pointedly ignoring Lonán. He watched her stride towards her friend, confidence suffusing even her scent.
C
Cáit stood in her friend’s room as she flitted about packing. Maeve had so far kept her barrage of questions on the mission, but Cáit knew she would get to the others eventually.
“So that gorgeously fluffy cat also happens to have drool worthy abs,” Maeve said with her usual smirk. Cáit smiled in response, her mind going back to the heated kiss. She had suspected Maeve had caught his shift, but this comment confirmed it.
“Quite the package,” she agreed, “though his brother might not be your type.” Maeve shrugged, unconcerned.
“His loss,” she remarked, and Cáit had to agree. Where she was lean and willowy, Maeve was all ample curves. It had led to pretty much every single boy in town crushing on the confident redhead at some point, even a few girls as well, but none seemed capable of holding her interest for long. As snobbish as Deryn’s brother might be, Cáit had a feeling it was Maeve who would have the higher standards between them.
Cáit watched as Maeve slung her pack onto her back, her long braid pinned up so it wouldn’t swing around and snag on anything. She found herself smiling at the memory of a young Maeve battling a blackberry bush that had dared to tangle with her braid. She followed her friend back into the living room and saw the two males quietly talking. She was surprised to see Lonán actually had a small smile on his face in response to whatever their conversation was about.
“All set for the super secret mission!” Maeve chirped enthusiastically. Lonán merely rolled his eyes and shook his head, used to the antics of his younger sibling. A soft chuckle came from Deryn and she saw his emerald eyes sparkling with delight. Her heart ached as she realized this probably was the first time he had experienced such warm companionship. She slipped her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze which he quickly returned, a smile lighting up his face.
D
Deryn leaned against the wall and watched Lonán pack with practiced efficiency. He said nothing, letting the other male choose when to converse, content to simply observe. He quietly wondered at the similarities and differences between the siblings as Lonán worked.
“I’ll say this only once, Fae,” Lonán stated softly, his tone frigid, “any harm comes to either of them on this trip and you won’t live long enough to regret it.” The protectiveness that laced the threat surprised him, but he nodded.
“I’ve already made a promise about that for Cáit,” he replied calmly, “would you like me to make one for your sister as well?” A chuckle had his eyebrows rising in surprise.
“If Maeve is in danger Cáit is sure to dive in to save her,” Lonán replied, “the reverse is also true. Those two may be like moths to flame when it comes to trouble, but they’ve always had each other’s back. Your promise to Cáit covers them both.” Deryn caught the fondness hidden beneath the exasperation and smiled.
“You care a great deal for them both,” he observed, “yet you hide it, why?” He watched as Lonán startled at the question, blue eyes wide beneath his dark hair.
“I’m not…” Lonán stalled, mild embarrassment tickling Deryn’s nose, “as good at expressing myself as Maeve is. It’s why I chose to be a hunter.” He paused to close his pack. “People can be confusing to me and interactions tend to be awkward.”
“They confuse me as well,” he admitted, a smile twitching at the corner of his mouth, “and I’m pretty sure I’ve been observing them longer than you.” He was pleased to see an answering smile on Lonán’s face.
“Careful, old man,” Lonán quipped, “don’t want people thinking you’re too old for Cáit.” Deryn chuckled.
“I walked right into that nickname,” he acknowledged, “I’m curious as to your nickname for Cáit though. Why is she ‘little mouse’?”
“She was a kitten to everyone,” Lonán explained, “but when I first saw her, she wasn't even two yet, and only her two front teeth had come in. She looked up, smiling wide, and six year old me immediately declared her a mouse. It stuck.” Deryn couldn’t help laughing at that and noticed Lonán quickly joined him. Bonding, he realized, he was forming a friendship with this male, this hunter. He stiffened, remembering the pain of the sharp metal teeth digging into his leg. Lonán went still as well, an eyebrow raised in silent question.
“You’re a hunter,” he said softly, “I was caught in one of the traps, possibly one of yours. Cáit freed me.” He rubbed his leg as he did, the memory still a bit raw.
“Caught?” Lonán questioned, “what about your magic?” He shook his head and Lonán’s eyes widened. “That’s why they’re attacking!” Deryn nodded, wary, but Lonán was quick to reassure him. “Don’t worry I’ll keep that secret, but I can understand now why Cáit pushed for the restriction. I just hope it’s enough.”
“As do I,” he agreed, “woodland Fae resorting to fire attacks is deeply concerning. I sincerely hope that they have not gone so far beyond reason that it's too late to negotiate.”
“And if they are? What will happen then?” He could smell the fear seeping into his new friend’s scent and wished he could offer a better answer.
“I’d rather not find out,” he replied and Lonán nodded, shouldering his pack.
“For what it’s worth it wasn’t one of mine,” Lonán said as they headed to the living room. “I don’t lay traps in those woods because the girls frequent them.” Deryn appreciated it, knowing that possibility would have hurt their budding friendship. He stood with his friend and waited for the girls, their conversation turning to lighter topics.
“You called them demons earlier,” he ventured, “I gather there’s a story behind that too.” Lonán chuckled, his blue eyes sparkling at the memories.
“Those two were terrors so there are stories aplenty,” Lonán explained, his smirk growing, “growing up with them was certainly… eventful.” Deryn silently encouraged for details. “I spent an entire year with pink shirts because they decided to pour berry juice in the wash tub.”
“My brother was assigned stealth training when we were still very young,” he recalled, “I would often wake up to some rather vexing surprises of my own.” He recalled the burrs in his fur and the various other pranks Pedr would pull. He had been upset at the time, but now he missed them along with his brother’s smug smiles and cheeky laughs. “I discovered it’s rather difficult to shift when tied up with a dozen bows.” Lonán gave him a small smile, commiseration and understanding in his eyes.
“All set for the super secret mission!” Maeve chirped enthusiastically as the girls finally joined them. He caught Lonán rolling his eyes and chuckled. He felt Cáit slip her hand into his and give a gentle squeeze. He returned it and smiled. It surprised him how happy he was standing with these humans. They were mortal, he knew, doomed to grow old and die in what seemed like an eyeblink to his kind and yet they lived so vibrantly. Among them, he too felt more alive and he realized that for all their supposed perfection and immortality, the Fae didn’t truly know how to embrace life the way humans did. Lonán turned to him, drawing his attention away from his inner contemplation.
“What is the plan exactly,” Lonán asked, “I can’t lead you through the woods if I have no destination.” He nodded and thought it over.
“Is there an area where hunters have marked as off limits? An area where they frequently go missing or get turned around no matter their ability.” He was relieved when Lonán nodded as that made their destination clear. “Then that’s where we go.”
Continue Reading: Part 8
I’m curious if I’m portraying sibling dynamics realistically. I’m an only child as was my mom so the only knowledge I have is stories from other kids growing up and from observing my own two bringers of chaos. Leave your two cents in a comment!
Sharing is caring so if you enjoy my posts, please go forth and share my Substack!