Saoirse grinned up at her grumpy not-man, who smiled and shook his head, and the single seed of jealousy that had been planted earlier pushed to the surface.
Mell’s head came up and he frowned. He twisted to partially face her, and waved a hand, gesturing Bat to come in. Dub looked up at the movement and their gazes locked. His frown returned, but this was his concerned one, again. When Bat hesitated to enter the bridge, he crossed to the door. As he grasped the handle, Mell caught his arm and whispered something to him. Dub’s frown melted away and a wicked grin formed. He gave Mell a short nod then pulled open the door and stepped out. Joining Bat in the narrow strip of deck that ran alongside the boat, he crossed his arms and squinted down at her.
The silence stretched. Bat wanted to simultaneously throw herself into his arms and hit him for smiling at another woman. He never smiled. For the gods’ sake, she’d only ever gotten a few of those precious gestures, and here he was handing them out like candy to some random woman who turned into a seal, and…
And she was being an insecure wanker. Bat sagged, her shoulders rounding as she looked away.
Dub’s finger caught her chin and he lifted her head to face him. “Mell said he sensed jealousy from you.”
Her lips thinned and her hand crept to her necklace. His eyes flicked down, taking in the gesture.
“Storeen?”
His deep voice wrapped around her and she shivered. The finger under her chin was a point of heat. She recalled his other touches, the strength of his hands on her flesh. And she thought of those hands moving on to another woman…
Pressure built behind her eyes and she blinked it away.
He didn’t say anything, didn’t try to reassure her, or press her into speaking. He waited there for her to pull herself together. And he didn’t walk away.
She blinked again and her grip on that necklace became hard enough to leave an impression of the pendant in the flesh of her palm.
Still he waited.
“I was,” she finally said. “Jealous. You said her name, earlier. You smiled at her. You never smile. You have eighteen different kinds of frown, but only a few smiles, and you gave one to a woman we have known for not even a day.” The pressure built and her eyes burned. A woman we have not known a day, and who is very attractive, a woman who has the curves most men crave, a woman whose sensuality burns through her every moment. Bat could see it in the selkie. This was a woman who liked men, and pleasures, and was used to getting what she wanted…
Bat blinked again, but this time it was not in an effort to clear her eyes, but in surprise at herself. Where were these thoughts coming from? She went over every interaction she’d witnessed between her not-man and the selkie. Two conversations and one smile. That was it. Two conversations and a smile.
She blinked once more and Dub’s face came into focus. His expression had eased into his thoughtful frown, the one that barely pulled the corners of his mouth down and left his brows faintly furrowed. It was one of her favorites of his frowns, making him look like a boy in need of comfort.
It was… cute, if such a word could be applied to the Fomoiri warrior and smith.
“Are ya being reminded of the gobshite god?” he finally asked.
That startled a sharp laugh from her. “I… suppose so. I must have healing still to do.”
“It has only been a few days since we came together. I would not expect you to heal from such a deep wound so quickly.”
“This is amazingly… perceptive of you.” When did he get so wise? This was Dub. He was supposed to scowl and yell and hit something before grabbing her and kissing the thoughts from her mind.
His eyes darkened and he swallowed. Did he somehow learn to read her emotions just as Mell could?
Dub’s finger left her chin and his hand slid around to the back of her neck. He tugged her up with that hand until she balance on her toes, and kissed her. It started as a simple press of his lips but it took no time for Dub to deepen it. He spun them around until he could press her against the wall of the cabin beside the bridge.
Teeth nipped, tongues tangled, and lips meshed. When he pulled away, they were both breathing heavily. Bat’s cheeks were filled with heat, and her breasts had swollen with the need to be touched. She let out a faint whimper and pressed her body against his muscled heat.
What was going on with her? Why were her emotions so all over the place today, even after she’d had some quiet time to sort her thoughts?
Flash. Bat stood in the middle a field, early morning light falling around her. Fae gathered around her. Her hand was on Finn’s chest, fingers and power pressed into him, threatening him unless he took her back to the cottage.
Oh. The answer was so simple she could not believe how imperceptive she was. She had nearly lost her grumpy not-man, and her giant-pirate, not two days after making them hers. She had yet to heal the fresh tear that had left in her soul.
She wrapped her hands around Dub’s waist and buried her head in his chest. “I need to hold you for a little while. Maybe a minute. Maybe a little more. I do not believe I am over the attack this morning. Or the one we experienced an hour ago.” As she said the words the little ball of jealousy, anxiety and fear began to unravel.
He smelled of heat, spice, and faintly of fish. “Finn healed you? There was… a lot of blood, from what I could see.” Her voice was muffled and small.
His hands ran up and down her sides, soothing her. “He healed me up just fine, storeen.” A faint rumble radiated from his chest. It sounded like a cross between a growl and a purr, if that was possible for someone with a human throat. “Finn is useful. I suppose it is all right if he sticks around.”
Bat burrowed into him even more. Her grumpy not-man was attempting to tease her. She appreciated the effort, but she was not quite ready for that yet.
Feet shuffled somewhere to the right. Voices murmured to her left. Dub stiffened and raised a hand, waving off whoever it was. Bat did not bother lifting her head.
She needed this. She needed the time with her not-man.
Ten minutes must have passed with the two of them holding each other, when he pulled back. “Storeen, as much as I would love to remain with you like this for the next month, there are things I must deal with. Mell and Shar can handle the boat well enough on the open waters, but neither bothered to maintain their mariner licenses, and both were always fucking useless when it came to docking.”
“And we are supposed to stop somewhere to get fuel and food and all the things that were supposed to be supplied by your father.”
The muscles of Dub’s back tensed under her hands at the mention of his father. Should she say something? Ailis had warned against it, but it didn’t seem right to remain silent.
She decided to take a middle road. “I do not think he sent those men. I believe he was sincere in his anger at Scath’s betrayal.” When he didn’t say anything, she added one more thing. “I do not think he wants harm to come to any of you.”
He did not answer her, but he also did not pull away. Her mood lightened at this. It may not seem like much to anyone who did not know Dub, but she knew better. She gave him one more squeeze, then let her arms drop. “You are very good at putting up with insecure goddesses,” she said with a thoughtful tone. “Have you had much practice?”
“You are my only goddess,” he said, then stepped back so his calves met the gunwale. It only put a half-meter between them, there wasn’t much room on this stretch of deck.
His words warmed her from the inside. They were a simple declaration, and exactly what she needed to hear. “Should we have a meeting now?”
Dub’s frown returned. “No. We’re only a half hour from the town Saoirse knows, it’s not enough time. We’ll do it once we’re back out on open waters.” His frown deepened and a grunt of frustration slipped out. “That selkie is more frustrating than Ailis. She keeps saying she can’t tell us anything until she talks to you.” He slid a glance to Bat. “I do think ya’d like her. She�
�s been coming up with some pretty interesting insults for Balor and those who decided to side with him.”
Was he… “Are you testing the waters?”
His lips twitched. “Are you practicing sea related slang now?”
Bat shrugged, keeping her grin off her face. “I have been meaning to officially meet everyone. Each time I try, we are interrupted by people attacking us, or needing to transport somewhere.”
“Now is a good time. We’ll need a few people to go ashore and deal with the locals, but other than that you now have a captive audience.” He reached out and ran a hand down her hair. “I’ll send Finn and Mell out to show you around, they’re just taking up space in there anyway.”
Bat thought of Dub alone on the bridge with just Saoirse and Con, and waited for the twinge of jealousy to hit her.
It didn’t. Whatever Dub had done had healed that small hurt for her. He seemed to understand her better than she understood herself.
She only hoped it would be the last time this insecurity reared its head, but she also feared it wasn’t.
“Yes, please,” she said. She would also go to find Shar again, and see once more with her own eyes that he was still healed.
Expecting Dub to pull away and return to the bridge, she was surprised when he hesitated. “I’ll ask Saoirse and whoever else goes ashore to see about getting some tea, and strawberries.”
Delighted with his thoughtfulness, she smiled. While there had been tea at the cottage, the strawberries had quickly run out. Bat was aware she did not need them in order to function, but the small comforts helped. She had another thought. “How long did you say it would be before we are at this new place?”
“About half and hour.”
She gave one decisive nod. “Then I shall be done by then. Please do not send anyone off the boat until I return.”
He eyed her suspiciously. “You are not leaving the boat.”
“Of course I will not, my grumpy one. I simply thought that if I was so comforted by the thought of strawberries and tea, then others must have things they miss, and that would help them through the trials of the next few days.”
Dub narrowed his eyes. “Not too much. And I know tastes of the sluagh. We will not be bringing livestock on board so they can have fresh meat.”
Bat stilled. She had never considered that possibility. Though, from what she’d seen of their nature, a liking of meat that fresh was not out of character…
She shook off her wandering thoughts. “No. No livestock. I will ask them to choose something small.”
“And already dead.”
“And already dead,” she readily agreed.
He nodded, ran his hand down her hair once more, then retreated back to the bridge. Not long after, Finn and Mell emerged. Finn held a small notebook in his right hand.
There was no room on the side deck for two people to walk side by side, and Mell was first. Bat wrapped her arms around him, much as she’d done with Dub, and listened to his heart. He’d had a dislocated shoulder. It wasn’t a bad injury, not for a Fomoiri who had Finn to help him heal. Nevertheless, she did not like the idea of him hurt. Not to mention the injury was at the hands of his old clan.
Why did I not consider this when I was with Dub? His injury had been more severe. He must have known the man who stabbed him.
Maybe it was because Mell seemed to be so much more affected by the encounter with Alatrom.
“You are better now?” she asked, tilting her head back to peer up at him.
“I am better now. Finn’s a handy one to have around.”
She hadn’t been inquiring only about his physical injury, but she let the moment slide. One hug from her would not heal centuries of wounds, and now was not the time to dig into that mound of dung beetles. “Will you help me with something?”
“That’s why we’re here, realta. Finn’s going to play secretary and write everyone’s requests down.”
“What about you?” she asked as she stepped back and grabbed his hand, carefully making her way along the side of the boat until they’d reached the foredeck. They may as well start here.
“I am here to lend you my beautiful face and charming ways.”
“Dub wanted him out from under foot,” Finn added from behind them.
“And that,” Mell admitted cheerfully. A mixture of calm and excitement flowed from him.
“I am glad you are accompanying me.”
They stepped onto the foredeck and Finn came to her side. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. Mell still held her hand. The physical contact was soothing to her, and more of her tension melted away. She would concentrate on the small tasks in front of her for now, and think about the rest when it was time.
“Shall we begin?” Finn steered her toward the three banshees, who were huddle in a group at the bow of the boat looking out over the waves.
Twenty minutes later Finn, Bat and Mell returned to the bridge bearing a short list of requests from the passengers. Most had been surprised when Bat came to them and asked if there was anything that could be purchased that would ease the hardship of the next few days.
Bat had, in turn, been surprised by many of their answers.
Ari, Nour, and the other men of ba had asked for various types of crisps. Ari had enjoyed the barbecue flavor Bat had given him at the pub. The others had been able to try them while at the cottage, sharing a small plateful between them. They all agreed these were one of the better human inventions.
The pixies had requested some potted plants. Bat nodded. She had already planned to ask Dub for these. “Is there anything else?” The plants were necessary for their survival, after all. They were not the sort of item she had meant. “Something you would enjoy?”
The five of them—her three cottage pixies plus Ciara and Siobhan, the violet pixie that had come with Old Mike and Daniel—exchanged a look. Ciara’s cheeks flushed. “Marshmallows,” she muttered.
“And cocoa,” Daire added.
All the pixies were flushed, their colors shining brighter. Were they embarrassed by the request?
“I like those as well. It is a good request,” Bat said. They gifted her with smiles.
The trooping fae, including Ailis, had asked for fleece blankets if they could be found, and the leprechauns requested jerky, a type of dried meat strips. It was apparently hard to find, so they didn’t know if it would be available in a small town.
They found Neall, Faolan, and the other sluagh tucked into a shadowed storage room next to the engines. After a longer hesitation than the pixies, they gave Bat their request—jelly beans.
Cuchi had been in the middle of an inventory of the boat’s existing supplies. He’d refused to tell them anything he may want, said true warriors didn’t need that sort of consolation. Bat left him to his stubborn misery.
The banshees’ request was still her favorite, though. They’d asked for earplugs. Something about not being able to sleep with so many people around making noise.
The irony had not been lost on the goddess, but she had saved her chuckles until she was well away from the small group of destructive and deadly women.
This small quest was a very effective way to get to know these immortals of Ireland, Bat realized. No, she did not learn their powers, or how they could be of the most use in battle, but she learned about them simply as… people, if she could use that word. Their requests gave her glimpses into their lives. She could only appreciate the small gift.
Her one worry was Daniel. They’d finally located him and Old Mike in a corner of the secondary salon that was tucked next to the galley. Finnegan was there as well, sitting across a small table from them, his gaze sharp and trained on the human. Daniel had been laid out on the cushions, asleep. He was paler than he’d been in the morning. His eyes flicked behind his lids, faster than they would have if he’d been in a normal sleep.
“He still has the dream guardian amulet?” she’d asked. Femi and Mell had spent hours making them for most o
f the group, and Bat had insisted the human receive one.
“He does,” Old Mike answered. His gray eyes were faded and distant. “Goddess, I do no’ think he has much more time. I’m no’ like the Hunt, I do no’ track the lost souls. But this man, he is lost.” Gray eyes fixed on her. “Will ya be able to help him?”
Bat was left speechless. This was a side of Old Mike she’d never seen. The wisp was usually mischievous, maybe a little cruel if pushed, but he had never shown compassion for a human. “I will try,” she finally said, unable to promise more.
Old Mike blinked a few times, then nodded. “Apple juice,” was all he said next.
Bat had nodded then silently risen, Mell and Finn on her heals and just as quiet. As they neared the door, she’d paused and asked Finnegan if he required anything. He’d just waved them off before returning his attention to Daniel. “He’ll fall soon,” the pub owner said as she and the others left.
What was Finnegan, exactly?
“That is not good,” Finn said once they’d left the salon.
Bat nodded in agreement. “After we have acquired provisions, there are some things I need to brief everyone on.”
“New visions?” Mell said, a tight note in his voice.
“Yes,” was all she’d said. “We still need Con, Saoirse, and Dechtire’s requests.”
“I think they’re all up at the bridge, I saw the goblin headed that way,” Finn said. “I’ll take the list and get their items as well.”
“Come, realta. Let’s go find Shar and your pack.” Mell took her hand and dragged her along the narrow passageways until they came to a door at the end on a longer hall. It seemed he knew exactly where he was going. “I do,” he said, answering her thoughts. “I had Shar bring your pack to the only decently sized cabin on the whole boat. Everyone else is going to have to double-bunk, or sleep in the salons or on deck.”
Pushing open the door, he revealed a room about half the size of the one she had back at the pub. Against one wall was a twin-sized bunk, and along the other was a small desk, cabinets built-into the wall, and a dresser, also built-in. Along the far wall was another door, and she could just make out a small shower, toilet, and sink.
The Forgotten Trilogy Page 53
