There was an order in the words that promised dire consequences if not followed, and then, as suddenly as she had appeared, she was gone.
Grandfather’s shoulders slumped a moment, but soon enough the old man gathered his wits together and looked toward his bastard grandson.
“I always tried to do right by you,” he began. “But something I must have done with you was correct.”
“Hey!” Cailte began to rise, anger in his expression, but Ario’s hand stilled him.
“Did you really protect me?” he asked. He was curious about that.
“I could not let one as stupid as you wander around with untrained magics,” the man grumbled.
Ario nodded, knowing that was all the acknowledgement he was going to get from the stern old man.
“And now,” Merrick snarled, still angry at being swatted like some insect, “it is time for you to go.” He made a waving motion with his arms. “Shoo, shoo! Run along home now.”
Grandfather snarled back at the tiny being but turned toward Ario again. “Your magic is strong. I suggest you learn to control it or soon these woods will be overrun with rabbit, deer, and fox.”
He straightened his robes and turned toward Cailte, before adding, “At least you found one who is good with an honorable weapon like a sword.”
And Ario knew that was all the compliment his lover would receive.
“Some of us have a better concept of honor than others,” Cailte grumped, but rose to his feet.
“Some will believe that,” Grandfather snorted, but said nothing more. With a slight head bow in Merrick’s direction, Grandfather turned and gathered up his minions.
Then, as quickly and as quietly as his ancestor the great wolf Amaterasu, Grandfather made his exit.
“Pouncy arse of a poofter,” Merrick grumbled at Grandfather’s back, before he turned to Ario and Cailte. “Well, things are looking in order here…”
“Order, ya daft bugger?” Cailte snarled. “Ario’s house is a wreck! There are animals tupping on the lawn, and his door is a disaster.”
“You smashed the door!” Merrick pointed out. “I will not take responsibility for that, Cailte mac Ronan! But I will take responsibility for choosing a proper mate for you!”
“Well,” Cailte grumbled, hugging Ario closer. “I’ll grant you that.”
Ario snorted, wrapping his arms around Cailte and hugging back.
“Now, I have only to train you,” Ario giggled as his lover blushed almost as red as his hair.
“None of that,” Cailte breathed into his ear, before licking at the lobe and making Ario shiver in his arms. “You are too exhausted to teach me more right now. But I will collect what ye owe me later.”
Ario chuckled, suddenly feeling light and free. Free! He actually felt free. He knew that he would have to deal with his past and come to terms with some of the things that had happened to him, and he knew that he would have to work on acclimating his lover to this century, and he would have to work on gaining control of his magic… It would not be an easy task, and it would take years before he felt anything like normal. But for once in his life, Ario, with or without his lover, felt safe and free.
He watched from his lover’s arms as the animals all went away. The pixy nodded to them and then disappeared into the forest, trailing glittering pixy dust behind him. Ario turned to his lover, a smile pulling at his lips.
“Take me to bed, Cailte mac Ronan. Take me to bed and allow me to rest. And then when I am rested once more, exhaust me once again.”
“Oh aye.” Cailte bent low to take his lips in a soft, possessive kiss. “That I can do, lover-mine. That I can most certainly do.”
Stephanie Burke
Stephanie is a USA Today best-selling, multi published, multi award-winning author, master costumer, handicapped, wife, and mother of two.
From sex-shifting, shape-shifting dragons to undersea worlds, sexually confused elemental Fey and homo-erotic mysteries, all the way to pastel-challenged urban sprites, Stephanie has done it all, and hopes to do more.
Stephanie is an orator on her favorite subjects of writing and world-building, a sometime teacher when you feed her enough tea and donuts, an anime nut, a costumer, and a frequent guest of various sci-fi and writing cons where she can be found leading panel discussions or researching varied legends and theories to improve her writing skills.
Stephanie is known for her love of the outrageous, strong female characters, believable worlds, male characters filled with depth, and multi-cultural stories that make the reader sit up and take notice.
Stephanie on Changeling: changelingpress.com/stephanie-burke-a-30
How Not to Date a Fae Page 10