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Cyn recoiled in horror. Cold shock radiated through her body. “Nathan, it’s not right. You can’t reveal the púca on your blog.”
Nathan glared. “Oh, isn’t it? Well, love, you’ve mucked around with my affections for years. And now you’re about to make the biggest mistake of your life. I won’t let you do it.”
Her face was hot. “It was never my intention to hurt you. I tried to tell you a million times, and I think deep down you knew it too. You’ve always been one of my best friends.”
Nathan casually leaned back on his side of the booth, but didn’t say anything. Cyn swallowed hard. It seemed like a game to him, one he was enjoying.
“I’ve watched you tromp all over men, and the only reason you want this one is because he’s different. He’s not even human, Cyn. You don’t know what you’re doing. If you leave I’m going to expose them.”
Cyn’s voice squeaked out. “This is bloody ridiculous. How could you be so cruel?”
He shook his head. “I have no choice.”
“Nathan,” Cyn said softly. “You don’t have to do this.”
Nathan glared at her.
“I, I...” Cyn spluttered.
Sharing her emotions wasn’t really her forte, but she had to make him understand.
“I love him, Nathan. My heart belongs to him. This is what I have to do, it’s the only thing I can do, does that make sense? I have to go back to the Realm.”
His stony expression was immovable.
“I’m his mate, and he is mine forever... There’s no changing it. Mating is for life in the púca world. I can’t keep lying to myself and denying it. I love him.”
Nathan smirked. “I’ll be sure to mention it in my blog post.”
Her heart sunk even lower. “You know it’s not going to make anything better, and I won’t change my mind. All this time I’ve been connected to him. He’s in my dreams, a part of my soul, and I know I’ll never have this with anyone else. Please don’t do this.”
He stared out the window, apparently unable to look at her. And while that hurt, she wasn’t about to live a banal existence, empty and hollow, to satisfy his ultimatum. She gathered up her purse and stood. His entire body stiffened, and he still refused to look at her.
“Goodbye, Nathan,” she said quietly. “I’ll miss you.”
Walking out of Thai Thai, Cyn wondered if he’d really go through with it. He was angry and had every right to be, but she hoped he’d come to his senses once he calmed down and thought it through. She grabbed her bags from the coat closet at the front of the restaurant, saying good-bye to the waitress on the way out, and hailed a taxi. She didn’t want to think about what would happen if the world knew púca were real, but she pushed aside her fears for now. Her heart pounded at the thought of being reunited with Fallon. On the way to the airport, Cyn stared out the window. Everything was ugly and bleak compared to the Realm, and for the first time in her life she was certain about where she belonged.
* * *
FALLON SAT UP WITH some effort, and took the bowl of broth from Darcy before she tried to spoon the hot liquid down his throat as if he were some kind of invalid.
“You were a lot harder to feed than this as a wee lass. I won’t let you dote on me. I can do it my damn self, and I’m sure you’ve got better things to do than hang around here all day,” Fallon said.
Darcy laughed mirthlessly and waved the spoon at him. “Da, you’ve got to eat, and keep your strength up.”
Fallon grunted, but he choked down more of the broth. “This tastes like nothing.”
“Clear fluids are important,” Darcy said. “I thought you liked broth with carrots.”
“Maybe when I wasn’t reduced to eating this and not much else.”
He hadn’t had much of an appetite, and most food hurt his stomach. But he scowled at the bowl of broth nonetheless.
Darcy sighed. “You’re right. I’ll speak with the healer, and have the cook prepare something different tonight. Is there something you’re craving?”
“A picnic with bread and cheeses and fruits and ale.” Fallon licked his dry lips, closing his eyes. “And roasted leg of lamb.”
“You know you can’t go outside now,” she said, lightly chastising her father. “It’s getting cold.”
Fallon raised an eyebrow. “And just who do you think you are, lass, telling the chieftain what to do?”
Darcy grinned, ignoring his rebuke, and tried to order him around again. “Sorry, Da. Now drink more of that broth.”
Fallon shook his head, unwilling to drink any more of the flavourless shite. He was unable to stop thinking of Cyn and the picnic they’d shared when she first arrived. A lump swelled in his throat as he remembered how happy and gorgeous she looked that day. He’d loved showing her around the Realm and the envious looks others had thrown his way when they saw her. Her face could light up a room. It crushed him to think he’d never see her smile again. His stallion was weak, and he couldn’t bear being without Cyn either.
Darcy cocked her head to the side, and her rich brown hair spilled over her shoulder. “Father, do you hear that? There’s a commotion downstairs.”
Fallon frowned, sitting up in bed and clearing his throat. His stallion instantly perked up. “Something is going on. Perhaps Felicity has given birth.”
Darcy shook her head. “I’m not sure it’s that. I visited the healer right before I came up with your supper, and she seemed to think Felicity still has a ways to go.”
Fallon winced. “Niall must be a wreck.”
Darcy shifted uncomfortably. Fallon knew she felt responsible for the death of her mother sometimes, but before he could say something to comfort her, the chamber door flew open.
Fallon’s jaw dropped.
“Fallon...” Cyn said, dropping her bags on the floor with a thud.
