Wicked heir, p.22
Wicked Heir, page 22
“Oh, it’s definitely going to lead to fucking,” Isolde giggled. “Promise us you’ll share some details at Calliope’s anniversary dinner that Andromeda is hosting.”
“Anniversary dinner?” Saoirse repeated. This was the first time she was hearing about such a dinner.
“Yes, it’s on Lughnasadh,” Calliope said. “I’m guessing in the midst of your rough patch Emrys forgot to mention it.”
“Yes, he did.” Saoirse nodded. “But I’m looking forward to it now.”
“Good.” The duchess grinned.
Chatter about the event erupted and excitement bubbled up in Saoirse’s chest. It was one thing to spend time weekly with these boireannaich, chatting and gossiping to their hearts’ desires, but the feeling was elevated being included in their personal celebrations. Sure, it was partly out of obligation because of Emrys’s connection to their husbands, but they made it clear they genuinely wanted her included.
Tea wound down and was brought to an end when Vasili came to collect Calliope. She stood from her seat but quickly grabbed for her husband’s arm. Her balance wobbled, and she breathed deeply until she was steady again. “The one time I decide not to bring my cane,” she muttered.
“I told you to take it even if you don’t think you need it,” Vasili chided. “I know you don’t want to acknowledge it, but you’re reaching a point where I don’t think you can go without it even for outings like this.”
“I know you’re right.” Calliope looped her arm with Vasili’s. “I just don’t want to give up the idea of independence.”
“For a High Healer, you’re quite stubborn about your health.” The duke pressed a kiss to her temple. “Let’s get home before you make yourself worse.”
Calliope bid farewell to everyone before disappearing into the main hall with her husband. Lazlo and Cyprian followed behind shortly, and they were in much lower spirits than the last time Saoirse saw them.
“Did council not go well?” she asked.
“Your husband upset Vasili,” Cyprian answered.
Saoirse was surprised to hear that. “But Vasili was just here and didn’t seem upset at all. If anything, he was worried about Calliope’s health.”
“Vasili has a tendency to mask his emotions, especially in front of others,” Laszlo explained as his wife rose to her feet and smoothed her skirt. “He’ll be alright, and Emrys will find a way to make up for it. But your husband might need a little extra attention tonight.”
Andromeda smacked his shoulder. “They’re not fucking at the moment.”
“All the more reason.” The duke shrugged before his wife smacked him again. “Alright, alright, let’s get home before I no longer have an arm.”
Andromeda waved as Laszlo escorted her out. Isolde gave Saoirse a quick embrace before having Cyprian do the same with her. Then Saoirse was left alone with a new assortment of thoughts. What could have Emrys done to upset Vasili? Was it a misunderstanding? Surely he couldn’t have done it intentionally.
Her thoughts spiraled as she sat by herself in the drawing room. It led to her being startled when Emrys called her name. She jumped in her seat before turning and finding him in the doorway.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“Cyprian and Laszlo told me about Vasili,” she answered.
Emrys went still. “What did they tell you?”
“That you upset him during council.”
“Ah,” he said, the tension in his posture relaxing. “It was a political quarrel that I take the blame for. I plan to rectify it soon.”
That eased Saoirse’s worry a bit. He owned up to his blunder like he had with her. It helped silence the lingering doubts she still fought. He was flawed just like everyone else. He may not be a mess like she was, but he wasn’t perfect either. It made the argument of her deserving of less even more ridiculous.
“I’m glad to hear that.” Saoirse gave him a small smile, and he attempted to return it. “Would you like to have dinner together tonight?”
That question perked him up. “I’d enjoy nothing more.”
Saoirse rose from her seat and crossed the room to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and enveloping him in an embrace. He hesitantly returned it, the warmth of his hands seeping through her blouse.
“What is this for?” he asked.
“I was told you might need it,” she said, her voice muffled by his waistcoat. Emrys embraced her more tightly, and she sighed against him. “And it was suggested I tell you something.” She lifted her gaze and rested her chin squarely in the middle of his chest. The spark rippled through her, and she couldn’t help but give a sedated smile. “I like it when you embrace me.”
He quirked an eyebrow.
“And I’d like you to do it more often.”
A smile tugged at his lips. “I can manage that.”
21
Emrys took a day to think through his apology to Vasili. He weighed risking Kieran spilling the truth about his bond with Saoirse. Whether he lied about telling Saoirse or spoke up against Kieran in council, he took a gamble on her finding out from someone that wasn’t him. But he couldn’t let this conflict with Vasili linger either. He had really miffed the whole situation.
He paced the length of the sitting room, scratching at the nape of his neck, until Saoirse’s door opening caught his attention. He whirled in her direction and felt the mating spark rush through him. She stepped out of her room and greeted him with a gentle smile.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hello,” he echoed.
“What are you doing?”
Emrys let his arm drop and sighed. “I’m working on how to apologize to Vasili.”
“Are you going to Donheath?” she asked, her expression hopeful.
“Eventually.” He gave her a half-smile. “But I think Calliope is volunteering the rest of this week, so she won’t be there if you’re thinking about visiting with her.”
“Oh.” Saoirse tried to hide her disappointment, but Emrys saw the excitement in her eyes dimmed.
“But speaking of Calliope, I believe Andromeda would love to make you a dress for Vasili and Calliope’s anniversary dinner.”
Joy lit her face again. “Will you accompany me to Cogwick?”
He shook his head. “I want to be surprised.”
She smiled shyly at him. “As you wish.” She took a few steps forward, and he assumed she was headed for the hall. But she surprised him and stepped in his direction, closing the distance between them. She rose on the balls of her feet, and her lips grazed his stubbly cheek. He had declined a shave that morning since he hadn’t been spending close time with Saoirse lately. But now he regretted it.
She reached up his cheek and rubbed her fingertips over his stubble, a questioning look on her face.
“I didn’t expect you to kiss me, so I’m not shaven,” he explained.
Saoirse giggled and buried her face in his chest. Emrys brought his arms around her and pressed a kiss to her hair. Maybe he wouldn’t have to risk Kieran telling her. They were making decent progress. At least that’s what Emrys thought. And he had been plucking up the courage more and more to tell her himself.
He stroked her cheek, coaxing her to look at him. She slowly pulled away so their gazes could meet. “I’m going to go to Donheath today,” he told her. “And tomorrow we can go to Cogwick together.”
“What about being surprised?”
“I’ll sit in Andromeda’s shop with a blindfold the whole time.”
She giggled again. “I can go myself. It’s alright.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” She nodded and leaned closer to him. Her gaze dropped to his lips, and he could feel her chest rising and falling against his with each breath. “I want to see your reaction the first time I wear it,” she whispered. Her eyes flicked up to him, and she stepped back. “I hope you have a safe trip to Donheath, and I’ll see you later today.”
Emrys nodded, his body as taut as a violin string. He watched Saoirse disappear into the hall, and it took him several minutes to collect himself before he followed to request a carriage to Donheath.
Even while inside Vasili’s home, Emrys could still sense the distinct smell of livestock. It wasn’t pungent, but it definitely lingered. The duke hadn’t given up his lifestyle when he came into his dukedom over fifty years ago. He had scaled back how many animals he raised and kept over the years, handing off the ones he could no longer care for to other farmers in his territory. The animals he did raise were no longer used to generate his income but to sustain his household in dairy goods. Instead, he did it because he liked it. But Emrys admired that about the fireann. Vasili participated as a duke because he was obligated to, but he kept and raised his animals because he loved them.
Emrys sat in the small drawing room, waiting for the duke to greet him. If he would greet him. Emrys would not be surprised if Vasili refused him outright. He had every reason to. Emrys had chosen to preserve himself rather than defend his friend. His secret was getting out of hand, and now his friends were paying the price for it.
“Emrys,” Vasili said, standing in the doorway. His clothes were beyond what Emrys imagined as casual. He wore a tan striped collarless shirt, brown trousers, and no waistcoat to conceal his suspenders. His sleeves were rolled, and his hair looked like it had been flattened under a hat all morning.
“Vasili.” Emrys stood. “Thank you for seeing me.”
The duke shrugged. “It would look a bit cantankerous of me to refuse you.” Vasili’s expression was unamused, and Emrys knew he had to jump straight for his apology.
“I’m sorry, Vasili,” he said. “I should have stood up for you, but I didn’t.”
“You chose to be selfish,” Vasili countered, crossing his arms over his chest. He had always been honest, but never so harshly. “You don’t want to face the consequences of telling Saoirse the truth, so you let Kieran bully me and the court into getting his way.”
“I know.” Emrys sighed, his gaze pleading. “But I’m changing that. I’m going to tell her.”
The duke raised a brow. “Are you actually going to tell her, or are you just saying that to placate me?”
“I’m being honest,” Emrys promised. “I’m going to tell her before the next council meeting.”
Vasili studied him for a moment before sighing in defeat. “It’s not completely necessary,” he murmured. “After the meeting, I spoke to some of the local people, and they were enthusiastic about having the military watching our borders. They said they felt safer knowing there was a defense in place.”
“Everyone is that shaken by the Fomóire sighting?” Emrys asked, intrigued. Vasili hadn’t shared any reactions from his territory in council meetings, but that might have been something Emrys would have coaxed out of him to counteract Kieran’s strong-arming.
Vasili nodded. “We’ve never had such a lethal threat. Everyone is willing to do anything to keep that threat away. I’ve done some thinking as well, and it wouldn’t hurt to have a bit of protection in case they come close again. I’d rather do everything I can than look back and wonder what else I could have done.”
Emrys stood stunned. “So you agree with Kieran’s decision?”
“As much as any of us hate to admit it, yes, I agree with him.”
As shocking as it was, Emrys understood Vasili’s position. He had more than his pride to take care of. He had a territory to keep safe, and he was able to put aside his feelings about Kieran to decide what was best for everyone in his care. It was more than what Emrys could say about himself.
“You’re a better fireann than me,” he said, attempting to be light-hearted. “I’m still sorry. I chose myself over what was actually best for everyone. And whether or not this worked in your favor, Kieran bullied you into the decision, and I could have at least stopped him.”
“Thank you,” Vasili said with a half-smile. “I appreciate you recognizing that.”
“So, will you forgive me?” Emrys asked. His heart pounded in his chest as he waited for Vasili to answer. Even though this ordeal had been beneficial for the duke in the end, Emrys still wasn’t innocent.
Vasili took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Under one condition.”
“Name your price,” Emrys said. “I’ll happily pay it.”
“Tell your wife the truth,” the duke said. “I’ve been told Calliope nearly ruined it for you at tea, and as much as Saoirse enjoys my wife’s company, I think she’d take it much better coming from you.”
“I promise I will.” Emrys breathed a sigh of relief. “I was serious when I said I was going to tell her before the next council meeting.”
“I’ll believe it when it comes from Saoirse’s mouth.” Vasili smirked.
“You have no faith in me?” Emrys asked, feigning offense.
“Next to none.” Vasili chuckled. “But I hope you prove me wrong. I have five hundred pounds on you telling her before Lughnasadh.”
“Are you three taking bets on me?”
It wasn’t the first time his friends had bet on one of them. The last was on Laszlo for when he would tell Andromeda how he felt about her. Isolde had won that jackpot.
“Four of us, actually,” the duke corrected. “Andromeda overheard about it from Calliope and placed a bet of her own.”
Emrys shook his head. His friends were brutal, but they kept him tethered to what mattered most. “Well, I hope to make you happy and wealthy soon.” He chuckled. “Now, if you have time, why don’t we craft a plan to make Kieran’s army camps work in your favor?”
A wide smile spread on Vasili’s face. “That sounds like a fine way to spend an afternoon.”
22
Saoirse tugged on the hem of her jacket, smoothing it over her bust. She was giddy at the thought of taking a carriage to Cogwick to craft a dress with Andromeda. During the planning of her wedding, she had made decisions about her dress, but they were from fabric samples and ideas that Ada jotted down in her notebook. She hadn’t physically gone to the duchess’s shop during that process.
The heels of Saoirse’s boots clicked against the wood floors of the vestibule that led to the entry. She was preoccupied with tugging on her gloves and hadn’t noticed the figure that had crossed her path.
“Your Highness.” Kieran’s voice made her gaze snap up at him. “Traveling alone, are we?”
“By my own choice,” Saoirse answered, her heart pounding in her chest. She was determined to keep Kieran from twisting and poisoning her thoughts any further. She was going to make it to her carriage, and she would stomp on his foot to get there if need be.
“It’s for the best.” The general shrugged. “Emrys is terrible company.”
“He’s fine company,” she said sharply. “But he has other business, and so do I, so if you don’t mind.” She tried to shove past him, but he caught her arm, yanking her around to face him.
“A lovely boireann like you shouldn’t be traveling alone,” he said. “Let me accompany you.”
Saoirse clenched her jaw. “I’ll be fine, thank you,” she said through gritted teeth. “Let me go.”
“Your Highness, I have no ill intentions.” The saccharine sweet tone of his voice grated on her nerves. “I would hate for something to happen to you.”
“I’ll be fine,” she repeated as she tried to wrench her hand away. His fingers tightened around her arm, and her heart beat erratically in her chest. The way he was restraining her, and the tightness of his grip, was sending her mind back to when Odysseus tried to do the same thing. Her lungs felt tight, and she couldn’t move. The feeling in her hand was being cut off, and she couldn’t summon her magic to defend herself if she tried.
“Kieran!” A shrill Scottish voice caused the general’s grip on Saoirse to lax just enough for the feeling in her hand to return. Seraphina stormed towards them, murder glinting in her eyes. “Let go of her.”
“This is none of your business,” Kieran sneered.
“It is my business when you’re giving Her Highness bruises,” Seraphina spat at him. “Let go of her before I pull you into my office and experiment on you with some elixirs.”
Kieran flared his nostrils at the healer but dropped Saoirse’s arm unceremoniously.
“Good, now get your arse out of this house.” The healer pointed a finger towards the front entry. “And don’t return unless you’ve been asked.”
Kieran didn’t budge. “I’ll have you know I was here on business. I had an urgent report for Alastair, and I will deliver whatever in Annwn I want.”
“No, you won’t.” Seraphina looked like she was close to having steam flood from her ears. “I don’t care if you have to send your most trusted errand boy, you will not step foot in this house unannounced again. Unless you want your arse scorched.”
“You and I both know you don’t have elemental magic.” Kieran smirked devilishly at the healer, challenging her, but Seraphina’s gaze was sharp and unflinching.
“No, but nothing is stopping me from branding your arse on the stove.”
The general’s stare turned to shock in response to the threat. Quickly, he stole a glance at Saoirse before growling and storming towards the front door without another word.
Saoirse felt the breath return to her lungs, and her hands shook as she rubbed at her forearm. She tried to calm herself, but the tremor continued to run through her. Seraphina cautiously approached her, the healer’s expression softening once the general was gone.
“Are you alright, dear?” she asked.
Saoirse nodded, but her body still vibrated with the sudden rush of distress that had hit her.
“Why don’t we get a cup of tea, hmm?” Seraphina shepherded her towards the kitchen and pulled a chair out for her at the small wooden table in the corner of the kitchen. It was crudely made with uneven edges, but the top was smooth and varnished.
Saoirse sat in the little wooden chair and tore off her gloves. Her breathing became more rapid as she unbuttoned her jacket with her shaking fingers and shrugged out of it. When she finally felt like her clothes weren’t suffocating her anymore, she focused her attention on the rhythm of her breathing.
