I followed her gaze. He’d finished work a little earlier than normal. Cassidy stood.
“You don’t have to leave,” I told her.
“It’s okay. I’m gonna go shower.”
“All right. I’ll see you at dinner.”
She left me, giving McKale a little wave as they passed one another.
I wished I had a more cheerful greeting for him when he sat down.
“Are ye all right, then?” he asked.
“I don’t know.” I felt myself clamming up.
Things had been more comfortable between McKale and I the last few days, but with each hour that passed I wondered if he’d been visited again. Constant fear nagged the back of my conscience. I hated it. And now there was this strange sense of loss that settled over me for Cass.
Needing to keep my hands busy, I opened the red polish and began to paint my toes. I’d already removed the cracked old polish. I felt McKale watching me.
“Has she come to see you again?” I made myself ask.
My stomach knotted up, and I felt him stiffen next to me.
“Nay,” he answered.
I kept painting. “Will you tell me if she does?”
“Do ye wish me to?” His voice remained quiet and solemn.
“Yes.”
“Aye. Then I will.”
I gave a curt nod and tried to push the topic from my mind.
One foot was done. I dunked the brush back into the little jar and McKale stilled me, placing his hand on mine.
“Might I try?” he asked.
I let him take the bottle of nail polish from me. He dunked the brush several times. When he brought it to his nose he jerked his head back and coughed.
“Yeah, the fumes are really strong. I should have warned you not to sniff it.”
He blinked his hazel eyes rapidly. Once his head cleared and he’d finished examining the bottle, he moved himself into position in front of me. I forced back a smile and pushed my foot closer to him. Just as he was about to touch the brush to my big toe, he pulled away.
“What if I bung it up?”
“I have this magic stuff here called nail polish remover here to fix any mistakes.” I held up the plastic bottle.
McKale looked apprehensive, but decided to take my word for it. He got to work, his tongue peeking out from the corner of his mouth as he concentrated. It was one of the most adorable things I’d ever seen. He was accurate, with an eye for small detail. We both peered down and admired my foot when he was finished. He lifted the brush to put it back in the jar, and his eyes got big.
“Oi! Bollocks. It’s on me!” We both looked down at his ankle, where he’d accidentally touched the brush. He tried to wipe it, but it smeared and he rubbed it frantically. I laughed and grabbed the polish remover, soaking a cotton ball.
“This is really strong, too,” I warned him. “Try not to breathe it in.”
I ran the cool cotton ball over the inside of his ankle, swirling it around until the red polish was gone. He ran a finger over the spot, marveling as if it really were magic.
“McKale?” I said.
“Hm?”
I didn’t want to ruin this nice moment, but I craved complete honesty between us.
“What’s going to happen?” I asked him. “She told you to stay away from me, and I’m pretty sure she wasn’t joking.”
He watched as I positioned my feet in the grass with care.
“I was no’ expecting a reaction such as that from her,” he said quietly. “I meant to be firm when I told her t’would not work, and then she laid hands on me… and my mind…”
I didn’t like the way his voice trailed off when he remembered her touch.
“Yeah, I know. I saw,” I reminded him. “You were… dazzled.”
His forehead knit together in misunderstood frustration.
“Aye, but it cannot be helped e’en when I fight it. A simple touch of Fae buggers the mind. Only the body can react.”
Lovely.
“Have you kissed her?” I asked. My heart kicked with jealousy at the thought.
He hesitated. “Nay… not properly.”
“What does that mean—not properly?” I asked.
He got shy again. “Just a touch of the lips, not like I’ve seen others snog.”
They’d pecked. How sweet. I wanted to kill her.
Someone called my name from a distance. McKale and I looked up. Mom was walking toward us, so we got up to meet her. She was worried, crossing her arms.
“Hi, McKale,” she said before focusing on me. “Did you have a fight with Cass?”
“Wha—no. I mean, we talked, but it wasn’t a fight.” Not exactly.
“I just went to get her for supper and it looks like she’s been crying. I don’t know what to do. She won’t talk to me. You won’t talk to me. What is going on with you girls?”
Oh, shoot, she was about to cry. Her eyes watered and she uncrossed her arms, running hands through her hair and then smacking them down at her sides with a shaky, loud sigh. I looked at McKale, who peered back at me with discomfort. I nodded and touched his arm, signaling that he could leave us.
Mom sniffled and shook her head. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to chase him off.”
“It’s okay, Mom. Come on, walk with me.”
We grabbed hands and strolled to the edge of the clearing, away from where the supper crowd was filtering in.
“Is it that boy, Rock?” she asked me.
“Partly. And part me. You know Cass. It’s hard for her to be cooped up here, knowing when it’s time to leave I won’t be coming home.”
“She’s going to have a hard time without you.”I looked down at the damp dirt under the tree canopy where we walked. “I know. She’s probably going to drive you and Dad nuts.”
“No more than usual. Okay, maybe slightly more than usual, but we can handle it.” She smiled and dabbed remnants of moisture away from her eyes with her fingers. “Are you sure that’s the only thing going on? She’s been so edgy.”
I carefully responded. “She’s just growing up.”
The simple answer seemed to pacify her. We walked in silence a few moments until she stopped and pulled my arm to turn us face-to-face. “Tell me what’s going on with you. Why have you been so sad? It looks like you and McKale are getting along. Am I wrong?”
I opened my mouth, prepared to feed her more generic falsehoods. When I looked into those loving eyes, what tumbled out instead was the truth.
“The Fae girl came back once after our first night here. She won’t keep her hands off McKale and I think she’s jealous that he seems to like me.” Terror flashed in Mom’s eyes and she stopped walking. “I don’t know, Mom. Please don’t say anything to Brogan. Please. We’re trying to work through it. McKale is trying to break ties with her, but you know. It’s a delicate situation.”
“Oh, dear heavens. Have mercy.” She closed her eyes.
“I don’t want you to lay awake at night worrying,” I told her. “I’m sure everything is going to be fine. I’m not getting involved—I’ll stay far away from her. McKale will deal with her and fix this.”
I hoped.
“It’s my job to worry about you, Robyn! Och, you’ve been holding this inside yourself this whole time? Do you have any idea how that grieves me so? I’m going to worry no matter what, so you may as well be open. Sometimes you have to rely on others for help. It’s not just about you and McKale. Your father and I, and Brogan, too, we all need to work together. If the Fae comes again—if there’s another altercation, no matter how small, come to us. Immediately. Swear it.”
I nodded. “I will. I swear.” Her grip tightened on my hand. She pulled me into a firm hug, mumbling something Irishy in her motherly way. Her accent had returned with a flourish since we’d been in Ireland.
As we turned to walk up for dinner together, the burden on my soul felt much lighter having confided in someone I trusted. When we got to the table, Dad was already
there, sitting with Cassidy and McKale. Mom gave Dad a meaningful look and he nodded. They’d talk later.
Days passed with no visits or “altercations” as Mom called it. McKale was sweet to me, and I felt a rush each time I caught him gazing my way.
I tried to keep Cassidy busy and spend as much time with her as I could. I felt guilty for how self-centered I’d been and I wanted to make up for lost time. McKale showed my sister and me where we could find wild berries growing. We spent afternoons gorging on sun-sweetened strawberries and blackberries until our fingers were stained deep red and violet. Her spirits lifted, but with each passing day mine grew heavier with thoughts of my family leaving me and wondering when the FFG would show her perfect face again.
McKale and I went to the waterfall with Cassidy and Rock one week before my birthday. The weather was hazy and warm that afternoon. I spread out a blanket, but McKale and I ended up scouting the forest floor for different edible mushrooms while Cass and Rock swam. The two of them were a loud pair, screaming with laughter and splashing. At least she wore a bathing suit this time. I had mine on under my sundress, but didn’t feel like swimming.
We made our way back to the blanket with handfuls of morel and oyster mushrooms.
“We’ll give them to Leilah,” McKale said, sitting next to me. “She does this thing with venison and butter and ‘shrooms. ‘Tis amazing.”
I crossed my ankles in front of me and smiled at him. Maybe I’d learn to cook some things with Leilah’s help. So far I’d avoided the kitchen as much as possible, intimidated by the lack of a microwave and easy-to-use stovetop. But I was beginning to feel comfortable enough to give things a try.
Cassidy and Rock walked up from the stream, shaking off excess water before lying on the blanket next to us. Rock tickled the underside of Cass’s knee and she laughed, curling into him until they were kissing. They embraced and rolled, bumping me.
“Uh, guys, I don’t think there’s enough room on the blanket for that,” I said, staring intently at the pile of mushrooms between McKale and myself. Rock looked up at me with a lazy grin, not moving away from my sister in the slightest.
“Always room for a bit o’ snoggin’. Perhaps the two of ye should give it a go.”
He bent his head to kiss her again and my face flamed.
“Rock!” Cassidy chastised, pushing him back a little. “Don’t embarrass them.”
“They could use a bit of proddin’, is all. McKale’s ne’er properly been—”
“Rock…” McKale’s low voice oozed warning. I wondered if Rock knew about the peck with FFG.
Cassidy’s head sprung up and she turned to look at McKale sitting at the edge of the blanket. “You’ve never kissed anyone? Awww! That is so cute!”
I cringed and he shifted, glaring daggers straight at his friend.
“Don’t worry, McKale,” Cassidy said. “Robyn has a little experience. She’ll teach ya.”
I frowned down at her. “Not cool.”
“What?” She shrugged and laughed, so I gave her a hard shove with my foot.
Rock exclaimed, “Oho! An experienced lassie, eh?” His eyebrows danced at me.
Before I could respond, McKale asked, “Have ye been with another bloke?” His serious voice made us all shut up and look at him. His eyes were a cloudy blaze on me and I flushed with heat at his jealous tone.
“What? No! I haven’t…” I stuttered. “There were two kisses, but I’m not, like, experienced. If anything, I wish I could erase both those from my memory.” I pulled my knees up and wrapped my arms around them, refusing to look at him now. I shot Cass a glare.
My first kiss had been during a game of truth or dare in seventh grade. I did it because I hadn’t wanted everyone at that party thinking I was chicken. The second happened last year, and I blamed Cassidy for that one. Mostly. Brad had a crush on me, and Cassidy talked me into letting him kiss me. Her reasoning? She said I needed the practice so McKale wouldn’t think I was a bad kisser.
Well, Brad hadn’t exactly been “good practice” with his overly eager tongue that treated my mouth like an extreme sports arena. I shuddered thinking about that choke-worthy incident.
And was McKale jealous? I wanted to tell him not to worry, that neither of those guys had “dazzled” me, but it was too humiliating.
Cassidy sat up next to me, reaching out and touching my shoulder in apology. “We’re just messin’ around.” I ignored her.
A rustling noise and voices sounded from across the stream. Dashy of the Clourichaun and one of the carrot cousins came out of the trees, their strawberry blond and red hair sticking out from their heads like straw. They were as thin and grungy looking as ever. Dashy’s face lit up when he saw us.
“Mason girls! When are ye comin’ back to play a bit o’ ball again?”
“Hey, Dashy,” I said with a smile. “We do need to come back soon.”
“Oy, there Rock!” cried the redhead, sounding grumpy. “’Tis your turn to cook the meal and clean the kitchen. Get on wit’ ye! We’ll no’ do it for ye again!”
“We’re hungry,” Dashy said.
“Shite,” Rock groaned.
I was struck dumb by the thought of Rock cooking anything. They were like a bunch of overgrown orphans. I couldn’t help but feel concern for their health and well-being over there all alone.
“Do you want some help?” I asked Rock.
His head spun toward me, a look of wide-eyed panic on his face. “Nay! ‘Tis no’ fit fer company. I’ll return on the morrow.”
“Rock,” McKale called. He scooped up the pile of mushrooms and held them out. Rock’s face lit up as he pulled out the bottom of his thin shirt, making a carrier for the fungi.
“Much obliged, Kale, m’boy.”
He clambered to his feet, patting down the wet curls on his head with his free hand. Sparing a wave and a brief backward glance at Cassidy, he waded through the stream to the other Clour boys. They immediately began jabbing at one another, grabbing ears and grunting as they disappeared into the woods.
“Do you think they’re okay over there?” Cassidy asked. She and I both looked at McKale.
“Aye, they get by.”
McKale and I sat close that night at supper, across the table from the rest of my family. Mom smiled at the two of us with nurturing warmth, willing us to be strong, come what may.
“Will there be music and dancing tonight?” Dad asked McKale.
“Oh, I believe so, Mr. Mason, aye.”
“Are you gonna bust a move, Daddy?” Cassidy asked.
“Well, I have been practicing.” He puffed out his chest and Mom giggled like a girl. You’d think the two of them would be sick of each other after being cooped up in this village, but they acted like it was a second honeymoon or something.
After dinner, my parents went for a walk before festivities began. The three of us sat there in silence. Cassidy stared at the fields.
“I wish we could do some real dancing.” She zoned out for a second, and then her eyes cleared and she bolted up straight. Her eyes twinkled and her telltale mischievous smile appeared. Uh-oh. Cassidy had an idea. She whispered, leaning over the table toward us with a zealous look in her eyes.
“Let’s leave the village tonight!”
“What?” I asked. “We can’t. You’re crazy.”
She reached across the table and grabbed my hand, trying to get me to share her vision.
“Yes, we can! Oh, my gosh! I’ll get Rock, and the four of us can take the car. We’ll be back before the morning. Nobody will ever know!”
Dreams played out across her face as she bounced up and down on the wooden bench. A sliver of her excitement sneaked into me, cool and tingly, and I looked up at McKale.
“I’m no’ certain,” he said, wearing the tense-forehead look.
“Have you ever left here?” Cassidy asked. He shook his head and her eyes grew big.
“Never? Come on, guys! Let’s do it! It’ll be so much fun, I promise.”
> “Where will we go?” I asked, always having to play the devil’s advocate, even though I already knew without a doubt that Cassidy would win. Her enthusiasm had infected me and I could feel it pumping through my veins. “What if we get lost?”
“There aren’t exactly many roads to get us lost. We’ll go to the nearest town.”
“Okay, but, maybe we don’t have to be sneaky,” I said. “We could just ask Dad. He’d probably let us go, and even give us directions—”
“Uh-uh! No way!” Cassidy shook her head. “What if he decides to be all over-protective and say no? Or, even if Dad agrees, he’ll want to tell Brogan, and he might say no. We can’t take the chance. I need to get out of here. Come on, Robyn. Please?”
Aw, not the little sister doe eyes. She knew I was softening because she bobbed her eyebrows up and down. She then pinched my leg under the table with her crazy monkey toes and I laughed, kicking her toes away and squirming on the bench. Giddy glee bubbled inside me, and I welcomed the presence of happiness after weeks of tension.
McKale and I shared a smile, and it sent a hot shiver down my back. The thought of getting far away from that evil portal was glorious. Cassidy was a fun-loving genius. Suddenly I didn’t even care if we got in trouble. It would be worth it.
“Okay, fine.”
Cass gave a little squeal and clapped her hands.
“Has she gone mad?” McKale asked me.
“She does this kind of thing all the time,” I assured him. “Curing boredom is sort of her specialty.”
Cass beamed at us with crazy eyes.
“What will it be like?” McKale asked. “Out there?” It was nearly impossible to imagine never having been off this land. His timidity made him look younger, and he was so cute I wanted to kiss him. The thought of kissing him caused me to suck in a breath. I looked at his mouth. His bottom lip was fuller than the top one; it looked soft and inviting. I had to blink and force my eyes back up to his. What had he asked me? Oh, yeah.
“It’s a lot different out there, McKale. A lot. It might be weird at first, but it’ll be fine. We’ll be together.”
He nodded, and this time it was his turn to look down at my mouth. I held my breath and savored his absorbed interest. When my lips felt suddenly dry, I gave them the smallest lick, and he jolted in his seat.
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