Aislyn

by Aislyn (NCP) (lit)

  A low rumble sounded in the distance. Aislyn froze, her breath stalling in her throat. What ... what was that? The foreign noise sounded again. For an instant, she hesitated then crept forward with caution. When the noise reoccurred for a third time, Aislyn slumped with relief. A giggle punctuated the rumble.

  The Guardian snored!

  Aislyn strode in the direction of the snoring. At the doorway, she paused to nibble on her bottom lip, suddenly unsure about her bold plan.

  "Things can’t get much worse," she muttered while she stood in indecision. What was the worst thing that could happen to her now? When she’d already broken too many rules to count. Seamus would probably get the board to ship her to Outer Mongolia or an equally isolated colony.

  Too bad!

  Boldly, Aislyn strode inside the Guardian’s lair. The drapes were open allowing moonlight to creep into the room. From where she stood, she could see the Guardian’s arm hanging over the edge of the bed. The bed was huge and took up a large portion of the room. A pile of clothes lay between her and the bed, looking like a mountain range from Aislyn’s perspective.

  A loud roaring snort shook the floor. Her feet parted company with the ground. She clapped a hand to her pounding chest, poised for flight before she realized it was another round of snoring. Cripes. For a moment, she’d thought the heavens were falling.

  A navy blue sheet hung over the end of the bed. After a deep breath, Aislyn took a running jump then shimmied upwards before she lost her courage. She clambered on top of the mattress and paused to regain her breath.

  A snuffling noise came from the Guardian. The mattress trembled beneath her feet. Aislyn’s eyes widened. She squeaked in alarm. The Guardian was turning over in his sleep! She whirled about and half scrambled, half sprinted across the mattress toward the bottom of the bed. When she reached the end of the bed she squeezed into a tiny ball, her breath coming in loud wheezy pants.

  The Guardian turned, flinging his arm out and dislodging the sheet. The navy blue sheet slithered to the floor with a whisper of sound.

  When the mattress stilled, Aislyn uncurled and stood. Her brows rose sharply before she slapped a hand over her mouth to cover the giggle that threatened to erupt.

  The Guardian slept in the nude.

  Aislyn averted her eyes. She took two steps toward the other end of the bed and halted. She swallowed as she pondered the ethics of seeing the Guardian without clothes. She knew she shouldn’t look, but it was difficult to avoid the temptation. Her gaze wandered the length of his legs, the light dusting of dark hair and the muscular thighs. Aislyn’s heart thumped. She moved another step up the bed.

  The Guardian was very ... large. Ah, she meant tall!

  Aislyn chewed on her lip. This was not a good idea, she decided. Seeing the Guardian face-to-face suddenly seemed like the worst idea she’d ever had.

  She bounded two rapid steps up the bed, gaining a view of the Guardian’s flat belly and muscular torso. His arm was in the way. She’d have to climb over. Aislyn only hoped the man wasn’t ticklish. Or worse, think she was a mosquito and try to squash her.

  As Aislyn clambered over the Guardian’s arm, she noticed the silver armband on his left arm. It looked familiar....

  She moved further up the bed, past the man’s shoulders to survey his face.

  "Hell’s teeth!" Aislyn’s shocked curse blistered the air. That low down dirty lying rat.

  She stared at the familiar face, the dark hair, the masculine lips, the harsh plains of his face that she knew softened when he smiled. Aislyn sank down to sit on the mattress.

  How was it possible?

  How could Seamus be at the Guardian’s house? In the Guardian’s bed?

  The obvious answer ... No. She shook her head in disbelief. Yet, the truth lay before her, in full naked glory.

  Seamus Gallagher was the Guardian.

  Fury rose sharply within Aislyn. Of all the lying, cheating ... The Guardian won’t like you doing that. It’s dangerous for the fairy colony if you do that. Follow the rules, Aislyn. The Guardian says we must follow the rules.

  And Renee.

  The situation with Renee had confused Aislyn most of all. She had never understood why Seamus had become betrothed to a fairy princess from one of the European colonies. But if Seamus was Guardian then everything was explained. The role of Guardian carried clout--political clout, and as such, he made an attractive marriage prospect. No wonder Seamus had turned her away. The Guardian was obliged to marry for the good of the colony. Especially since the last Guardian had run off with the colony funds--those he hadn’t managed to squander on wine, women, and a jet set life style.

  She snorted. It was a wonder Seamus had even associated with her given her penchant for breaking rules. The last lingering shreds of hope that she and Seamus would reconcile faded away. Aislyn leapt to her feet and stomped up to the pillow.

  "Seamus! Seamus. Wake up." When the great lug didn’t move a muscle, she reached up and tugged his earlobe sharply. "Seamus. Wake up."

  Seamus stirred and when it looked as though he might roll over again, Aislyn prepared to jump. She’d rather face a broken limb than have her death certificate read, "squashed by the Guardian."

  "Seamus!" Aislyn roared.

  Seamus jerked upright. "What? Who’s there?"

  Aislyn’s hands whipped up to cover her ears. "Seamus, it’s me." She stormed across the mattress and kicked him hard in his upper arm.

  He flinched and looked down. "Aislyn? Aislyn, what are you doing here? You ... you’re fairy size. Are you mad?"

  "Damn straight I’m mad," Aislyn spat. "You’re the Guardian. Why didn’t you tell me you were the Guardian instead of lying to me? Did you think I’d toss you to the tabloid press? I thought we were friends."

  "We are friends."

  "We are not!" Aislyn contradicted. "Gary is my friend. Gill is my friend. You ... you’re the Guardian."

  Seamus jerked the sheet over his lap and scrubbed a hand across his face in an effort to wake up. "Aislyn, keep still. I might squash you." He rubbed a thumb over his silver armband and murmured an incantation.

  Without warning, Aislyn grew to human size. She toppled off the edge of the bed and landed on the floor, but scrambled to her feet almost instantly. "I suppose you think that’s funny," she snapped.

  "I don’t think any of this is funny. Aislyn, how did you get out of the colony? You have a security bracelet." Seamus glanced down at her leg. The security bracelet glinted in the light when she moved.

  "I wanted to appeal my punishment with the Guardian. Seems like I’ve made a wasted trip." She whirled about and made it to the door before Seamus leapt from his bed.

  "Oh, no you don’t," he muttered, grasping her by the arm and jerking her to a halt.

  Aislyn looked him up and down and belatedly Seamus realized he was naked.

  "Don’t you think your betrothed will object to you wandering around with no clothes on in front of me?"

  "We have to straighten this mess out."

  Her brows arched and her gaze flicked down his body. "How? You’re the Guardian and you’ve abused your position." She folded her arms across her chest. "I think the tabloids will be very interested."

  Awareness shot to his groin. God, he’d missed her biting, teasing tongue. He wanted to grab her to his chest, to hold her and never let her go. And that was just for starters. "Let me get dressed and we’ll talk."

  "We’ll talk or you’ll talk at me?"

  Seamus searched for his jeans and found them in a heap on the floor. He yanked them on and zipped them up, watching Aislyn all the while. The idea of her traveling from the colony and arriving in his bedroom, still fairy size made him sick to his stomach. "Please, Aislyn. You’re here now. You might as well stay for a while. Please?"

  "I’ll wait in the lounge," she said after what Seamus thought was a long pause. "Which way?"

  "Down the passage, turn right at the end."

  Aislyn left and Seamus scrambled
to find a shirt. He arrived in the lounge, out of breath with no idea how to handle Aislyn.

  "Aislyn, the trip here was both dangerous and fool-hardy."

  Aislyn shot to her feet so quickly the chair teetered off balance. "Punish me if you want, send me to the colony in Outer Mongolia--I don’t care. All I wanted, Seamus was justice from the Guardian. Instead, I find the Guardian is a liar. An official who plays with fairies emotions, who moves his subjects around like pieces on a chessboard." She paused to suck in some air.

  "Aislyn, it’s not like that. I--"

  "Tell someone who cares," she snapped. "All I know is that you’ve lied to me from the start. I’m going to Gary’s flat." She swept from the room, the set expression on her face daring him to stop her.

  Seamus let her go. He sank onto his shabby armchair, stuck his head in his hands, and groaned out loud. Everything thing he said, everything he did regarding Aislyn went wrong. Hell’s teeth, she was a stubborn wench.

  And he loved her like crazy.

  His feelings had grown stronger if anything. How could he forget the woman who held his heart in her hands? How could he marry Renee when he loved another?

  "Hell, what a mess," he muttered.

  He jumped up to grab a beer from the fridge, but the sound of his neighbor’s car starting up made him pause. Seamus glanced at his watch. It wouldn’t be long before his alarm went off. He shoved the beer back and plugged in the jug to make a cup of instant coffee instead.

  As he opened the cupboard to find the coffee, he made a mental note to courier a supply of pills for Aislyn to Gary’s flat. His magical spell to change her to human size wouldn’t last for long. Seamus grimaced. Aislyn was sure to blame him if she shrunk back to fairy size.

  The phone rang, jerking Seamus’s mind off Aislyn.

  "Ah, sir."

  Seamus’s mind went on red alert and straight back to Aislyn. "Yes, Gary?"

  "Aislyn’s here." He sounded hesitant and unsure.

  "I know." And he had no idea what to do about the situation. She’d called him a liar.

  "Is it all right if she stays here with me?"

  Seamus’s smile was wry. Aislyn had escaped from the colony without setting off any alarms. She’d managed once. Seamus had no doubt she was capable of repeating the feat. "Yes, that’s all right. A package will arrive at your flat for Aislyn today. I expect you to make sure Aislyn takes her pill each day."

  "Yes, sir!" An exuberant cheer filtered down the line as Seamus replaced the phone. A sense of loneliness assailed him without warning. Everything in his life was going to schedule. His betrothal to Renee was official and the board intended to make the announcement in the colony today. Renee was charming. The board of directors from both colonies were pleased with the closer ties and the refilled coffers. So why did he feel a nagging sense of dissatisfaction?

  Seamus was following every rule in the book, and he felt damned lousy. He glanced out the window. The sky had lightened to a soft blue-black, and he knew it wouldn’t be long until the sun rose. He checked his watch and decided to visit the colony. No doubt, Aislyn’s disappearance had been noted.

  Seamus stepped out the door and almost tripped over the small black cat that crouched in the middle of his doormat. He cursed. The cat arched its back and hissed before retreating under the hedge near Seamus’s garage. It blended with the dark under the hedge, but a pair of yellow eyes glared out at him. Seamus hurried down the path leading to the portal, trying not to think of Aislyn and the cat meeting face to face.

  Yet, she’d made the journey from the colony to his house because she felt so strongly about being sent from the human side in disgrace. A twinge of guilt made him pause to examine the real reasons he’d sent Aislyn back to the colony. What he saw didn’t look too pretty. Jealousy ... Shoving aside the uncomfortable thoughts and soul-searching until later, Seamus hurried down the garden path. The portal appeared as soon as he spoke the Celtic words. Seamus stepped through and strode down the path into the village.

  The square was practically deserted, since it was so early. The owners of the deli where Aislyn used to work were setting out the tables ready for breakfast. Seamus hesitated for a moment and then turned up Tui Lane and cut across to Pohutukawa Drive. Pohutukawa Drive was a residential street, and Seamus stopped at number five. He strode up the narrow path before he changed his mind and rapped on the bright yellow door.

  Footsteps sounded and the door opened.

  "Seamus!"

  The bright smile dredged up a heavy wave of guilt. "Renee. Can I come inside?"

  Renee stepped aside and made a sweeping motion with her hand. "But of course, Seamus. Please come in."

  Now Renee stood in front of him, Seamus wasn’t sure what he was doing here or what to say. Another wave of guilt washed in. His hands clenched and unclenched. He looked at the tall fairy princess with her glossy raven hair and her smart clothes. Although it was early, her mouth bore red lipstick and she’d done something to her eyes to make them look dark and lustrous. Renee was everything that Aislyn wasn’t.

  "Is something wrong, Seamus, cherie?"

  Seamus started to speak, to deny anything was wrong. "No, I--" He loved Aislyn. Seamus looked at Renee again. Her long, dark hair curled smoothly around her face, she looked dew-fresh and poised. The fairy was beautiful, Seamus knew she was intelligent, she followed the rules, and she had no intention of leaving the colony. Renee was a fairy satisfied with her lot. A sigh escaped. He liked her, but he didn’t love her. "I’m in love with someone else," he blurted.

  A hushed silence fell upon the room. Renee stared at him, her mouth dropping in an uncharacteristic loss of composure. "You don’t want to marry me?"

  Seamus braced for tears, knowing they were inevitable. Somehow, he’d have to cope with them. He’d button his lips; say a spell to sew his lips shut so he couldn’t take back the words at the first sight of a tear. "Ah, no. I’m sorry, Renee. It’s nothing you’ve done. It’s me."

  "You want to marry someone else?" Her French accent was very pronounced.

  His gaze dropped to his feet as he edged toward the door. One of his socks was red while the other was black. He glanced back at her, regret slicing deep. "Renee, I’m sorry. Really sorry. I’ll organize your trip back to--"

  Renee threw up her hands then launched herself at him. Seamus flinched waiting for her to strike out with her fists or burst into a noisy tantrum.

  She laughed. "But that is excellent." After hugging him so tightly he’d though his ribs would crack, she loosened her hold and beamed at him. "I am glad."

  Seamus frowned. "You don’t want to marry me either?"

  "No!"

  "Is there another man?"

  "No." She paused, appearing to search for the right words. "I want to marry where my heart leads. I do not wish to marry where my father orders." As she spoke her chin tilted upward, her generous mouth firmed. "I do not love you. I offend you, yes?"

  "No. Of course I’m not offended." Seamus squeezed her lightly and pushed her into one of the kitchen chairs. "But what about your father?"

  "Pah!" Renee exclaimed. "What my father does not know will not hurt him."

  Seamus took in the stubborn look on her face and felt a twinge of alarm. "I don’t want to give your father grounds to declare war on my colony."

  "If I remain with your colony he will not declare war, however, my father had two offers for my hand--one from you, and another from an English prince. He will renegotiate. He does not care who I marry." She gave a distinctly Gaelic shrug saying she didn’t care, but Seamus read the hurt that flickered across her face. "My mother will side with me should I wish to stay in New Zealand. She was born in the Australian colony. Her parents immigrated when she was young."

  Seamus had envisaged a distraught Renee, a female wronged wanting to race home to be with her family. This happy, smiling fairy was an enigma.

  "Who do you love?"

  He hesitated before deciding that he owed Renee the truth.
"Aislyn O’Sullivan."

  Renee grinned. "Ah! The pretty copper-haired fairy, no? The one that makes Murphy gobble with alarm."

  Seamus nodded. Yes, Aislyn was pretty, but she was also determined, brave, stubborn, and a credit to the fairy force. In that moment, Seamus realized he didn’t want to change Aislyn; he loved her exactly the way she was. "Renee, I need to go back to the human side. Will you talk to Murphy and cancel the announcement?"

  "I will take care of Murphy and the board," she agreed. "You go and find Aislyn. Put your ring on her finger. Make your engagement official, no?"

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  "I rang Seamus. He knows you’re here."

  Aislyn narrowed her eyes, but Gary stood his ground. The concern in his brown eyes made her look away first. "It’s none of his business. Or yours."

  "Don’t get snappy with me, miss." Gary planted his hands on his hips and tossed a glare right back. His red curls glinted in the morning sunlight, clashing wildly with his lime T-shirt and checked black and orange trousers. "Personally, I’m glad you’re back. This hair is driving me crazy. I want my braids back." Gary thrust his face right up to Aislyn’s. "And I’m not giving you a moments peace until I get them back."

  Aislyn yanked a stool from under the breakfast bar and plunked her backside down. "I can’t perform magic because they slapped this security bracelet on my leg."

  "Take it off then," Gary snapped, "or else you’re moving back to the hostel instead of sharing with me. I noticed you changed your hair back quick enough."

  Aislyn shrugged. "Seamus did it. Look, I’ll try to change your hair back. I promise, but not right now. I don’t want to talk about Seamus, the colony, or anything to do with magic. Tell me about the case. Have we heard back from the Maximillan resort? Did either of us get a job?"

  "A couple of letters turned up yesterday. Mine was a rejection. Yours is over there on the bench."

  Aislyn leapt to her feet. "Where?"