Baile Siochanta (Southern Vampire Mysteries)

Chapter 11 -A Place of Blinding Green

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"I'm so lucky to have you," Sookie whispered to Breandan as they walked toward the Diner door. As if on impulse she turned, stopping Breandan by placing her hand against his chest. "I'm not sure how I would have made it through this," she told him, and then reaching up, she tugged until he leaned down for her kiss.

It was a good kiss, telling the fiddler how much he meant to her. "It's okay, Sookie," he told her and almost stepped back, but she was having none of it. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him to her. She breathed against him, her happiness and love for him almost corporeal in its manifestation. He knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't help pulling her right back. "They're waiting," he said over her head.

"Let them wait," Sookie sighed against him. "All I know is when I'm with you like this, it's like you keep all the bad things away just by being there." Sookie sighed again, "I know I'm being silly, but you have to know. I love you, Breandan. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me!"

Breandan couldn't answer. The tightness that seemed to have taken over his chest twisted in its uncomfortable way. Ever since he'd given his Father the date on which he'd deliver this woman, he'd found himself increasingly unhappy. It made no sense.

'I don't care for her,' Breandan reminded himself. He recalled the cold stab he'd felt at her insult. 'She will learn to rue the day she chose to insult a Fae!' he repeated internally, trying to steel himself against her, but his arms chose to tighten around her anyway.

It seemed he was unable to stop betraying what he knew was the right way to be. It was easy to remember the importance of his pride when he was alone or when he had to watch Aunt Linda drilling him with her clear disapproval. During those times, Breandan knew he was right to hand Sookie over to his Father and the fate awaiting her, but then there were times like these.

Her Mother's death seemed to have wrapped the sassy, independent woman he knew in layers of emotion, making her both soft and vulnerable. One minute she was strong, telling her Aunt Linda what her Mother wished, the next she was crying and clinging to him, thanking him for his protection. Her grief sat on her shoulder and Breandan felt his heart waver. On that first night after her Mother died, Sookie attacked him, demanding his lovemaking, telling him she needed to feel something good or she'd go crazy and the sweetness of it almost made him forgive her.

Almost...

But as they lay there afterward, the sweat cooling from their bodies, he remembered again how callously she'd thrown his offer aside. He was willing to betray everything he was, all the traditions of his people for her, but it meant nothing! She wanted to wait until things were more convenient! She put her own sensibilities first, before him, as though she was his better!

There was some, small, part of Breandan that knew he wasn't remembering it exactly as it happened, but he swept those grumblings aside. She insulted him and for a Fae, that was all that counted.

But now, standing in the cold parking lot, her arms around him, his pride didn't seem as important. "You're cold," Breandan said reasonably. "Come, let's go in."

"Are you sure you want to take me with you?" Sookie asked instead, resisting his effort to push her forward.

"To Ireland?" She was nodding against his coat. He opened his mouth and almost said, 'Go to Minnesota,' freeing her. He took a breath, holding her while he sorted himself. 'I'm not done with her,' he realized and he began to wonder if he ever would be and the thought was not comforting. "I want you with me," he said out loud because that, at least, was true.