by A. C. James
“Chief, I informed her of everything. Cynthia knows exactly what she’s getting herself into. She’s a bright lass, and so very persistent. I believe she’ll make you a fine mate,” Tomas said, in a rush.
Fallon’s eagerness was making him almost irritable, and Tomas clearly wanted to be dismissed, having a mate of his own who waited to reunite with him.
“Thank you, Tomas. You may go.”
“Sire, have you given any thought to when the mating ceremony should be performed?”
Fallon groaned with impatience. His stallion whinnied and nickered, craving Cyn in the most primal way.
“Yes, Tomas, but we’ll discuss it later. I must leave you now,” Fallon said curtly, and strode after Cyn as quickly as he could.
She watched him walk toward her, and her magnificent curves beckoned to him like a siren song.
“Ello,” she said flirtatiously, stepping close. “Where’s Tomas?”
Fallon swallowed, hard. “He left, my love. It’s just you and me now.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to see him go, and without even a good-bye,” Cyn said, and bit her bottom lip.
This drew his stallion’s attention to her mouth. As soon as he got through the discussion, he could finally possess her. His need was the most insatiable itch.
“Love, there is one thing I would like to arrange,” Fallon said.
She pursed her lips, pouting. The passion building inside of Fallon and his stallion was too much to bear. He was going to explode. Without another word, Cyn threw herself into his arms and kissed him. Her tongue flicked lightly against his lower lip before sliding into his mouth. His stallion bucked and pawed furiously. Fallon wrapped his arms around her, sliding his hands down her magnificent back, feeling her heat and warmth. As Fallon stroked her, Cyn moaned into his mouth and tangled her hands in his hair, tugging slightly. The musk of her desire overwhelmed him, and he was unable to resist picking her up and carrying her to bed. He never broke the kiss as he gave into his stallion.
Chapter Three
Oh, God, Cyn thought, my bloody head is killing me. She carefully screwed open one eye, as if it would help with the hangover. Hmmm, that’s weird. The hotel looks a lot different than I remember— Cyn bolted upright, gazing fearfully around the room.
“Bloody hell, I’m done in,” Cyn mumbled.
Her head throbbed like a pickaxe was slowly chipping through her skull. The pain was too much, so she closed her eyes again. She’d never responded to hangovers particularly well, but she didn’t exactly make a habit of pounding Irish Lagers and then going for a vigorous walk. Steeling herself, Cyn cracked an eyelid, preparing for the inevitable pain. Is this a hotel? she wondered, trying to imagine how she’d ended up there. But, wait, she couldn’t be on the mainland, because the ferry stopped running at night.
Furrowing her brow, Cyn covered her face with her hands and cursed. She was stunned by a mirthful chuckle, coming from the other side of the bed. Cyn cringed.
“Rough morning, love?” Fallon’s gentle voice teased, and a warm arm snaked around her waist, pulling her closer.
Ugh. Cyn dislodged herself. She absofuckinglootly hated this part of one-night stands.
“Uhmmm,” she murmured, her voice woolly. Clearing her throat, she tried again. “I feel like rubbish for asking, but where am I?”
Fallon’s face darkened. “You don’t remember?”
It was obvious she’d hurt him, and a tiny pang of guilt stabbed at her.
Cyn smiled sheepishly. “Well, I remember you, of course. You were a fabulous shag, but I’m a little foggy on how I got here.” She lied, uncharacteristically reluctant to hurt him any further.
“Didn’t Tomas tell you? You’re across the veil. It’s another realm.” His voice was still hollow.
Cyn racked her brain, but her hangover was making it impossible to think straight. And did he just say realm?
“Uhmmm,” she said, not sure where to start. “He was making this little metaphor about how you púca blokes ‘mate for life’ here.” She used finger quotes for emphasis. “And I, uhmmm, thought he was joking,” she said, drawing the word out.
Fallon’s face fell, and Cyn’s stomach iced over with fear. Suddenly, she knew Tomas hadn’t been kidding. Oh my God. She panicked. I’ve really done it now. Fuck me!
“What are you thinking?” Fallon asked, sounding worried.
He didn’t seem very angry anymore, but she was too miserable to answer. As she shook her head slowly, Felicity’s words came echoing back to her. Her friend had warned her that her one-night stands and fear of commitment were going to land her in a world of trouble. Felicity had said, ‘One of these days, you’re going to find yourself in a situation that you can’t talk yourself out of.’ But she never imagined she’d find herself in an entirely different realm altogether. She wasn’t sure whether she wanted to scream or bawl her bloody eyes out. Suddenly, her predicament made her feel rather exposed. She grabbed the silk sheet, wrapping it around her in an approximation of a toga.
“I want to go home,” she said, firmly.
While she’d been having her crisis, he’d started getting dressed, and he yanked his tunic over his head.
“I’m having a little trouble understanding why you’re so upset, love,” Fallon said, softly.
Tears welled up, but she blinked them back. Just what had she done?! Perhaps sensing she was starting to lose it, Fallon tried reasoning with her.
“Tomas explained this to you, love. I am a púca, and you are my mate.”
Sighing in defeat, Cyn sat down on the bed, hard. “I thought Tomas was telling me about an amazing shag, not becoming your mate. When Tomas said he wanted me to meet someone I thought it was for...a threesome.”
His eyes turned to slits. “A threesome? Really?”
Cyn twisted her fingers in the sheet she’d wrapped around herself, unable to look at him. Fallon snorted angrily, muttering “that idiot,” under his breath. She chanced looking up, but he showed no sign of cooling down.
“And just how often do you do that without the intention of mating? Are you that capricious?”
Cyn was shocked...she couldn’t believe he was shaming her. She flushed to the roots of her hair. “I thought I was in for a ménage a trois with you and Tomas. That’s why I came here! Not to mate with you.”
“Unbelievable. Tomas led you to believe you were going to have a threesome. Well, that’s certainly not what I wanted. I sent him to find me a bonny lass to be my mate, my queen.”
“Your queen? I was having a couple drinks. Felicity’s investigations are always some hoax. How on earth was I supposed to know?”
Fallon ran a hand through his hair. “Great. You had no idea what you were doing because you were drunk. Thank you for explaining it so fully.”
Fallon rolled his eyes, making Cyn snort in spite of herself. Yes, she was pissed, but in the daylight, she wondered how drunk she’d been to misinterpret so egregiously.
“I guess I should have asked Tomas...” she trailed off.
He was quiet, as if contemplating their awkward predicament.
“I’m sorry I spoke harshly,” Fallon said. “But I’m still a little confused. I thought Tomas had explained this to you, in great detail.”
Cyn buried her head in her hands. “I thought he was talking about role-play,” she mumbled, not looking up.
“Role-play?” Fallon asked, his eyebrow arched.
Cyn sighed. “It’s...it’s when two people pretend to be other people, or animals, or whatever kinky fuckery you’re into, and you shag like that.”
Fallon chuckled and Cyn shot him a furious glare. He held up his hands, shaking his head. “Sorry, sorry. It’s just amusing to me, as a concept.”
“Well it was bloody well amusing to me, too, why d’you think I showed?” Cyn grumbled, looking around for the remains of her outfit.
“Aye, surely not because you wanted to humiliate me or get yourself into a difficult situation. Your act was much cuter bef
ore I realized your insincerity. Tomas, on the other hand, knows better. You should have been prepared,” Fallon said, crossing his arms.
Despite his irritation Fallon was as devastatingly shag-me-stupid fit-looking as last night. Giving him a dose of her sass was easier than dealing with the inexplicable desire brewing inside of her, despite the mix-up.
“Please,” Cyn said, rolling her eyes. “You and your bloody intensity.”
“My intensity!” Fallon practically roared. “Mine?”
Cyn tensed at the sound of footsteps in the hallway, which stopped behind the door. Great, now I’m about to be thrown out of a castle and I’m not even in bloody Ireland anymore. There was a knock. “Aye, come in,” Fallon said.
The door squeaked open, and Cyn gaped at the person who stood in the doorway.
Chapter Four
Cyn closed her mouth. “Felicity?”
In spite of Fallon’s anger, he couldn’t help admiring how lovely she was with the sheet wrapped around her gorgeous curves. Combined with her thick bedhead, it made her look like a piece of art. Her make-up was smeared under her eyes, but she was beautifully witchy. Her lower lip twitched. Fallon fought back the urge to crush her against him and kiss her full, pouty lips.
“I’m not sure what’s going on,” Felicity said slowly, her smile faltering.
“I’m not either, but this is a bloody fix. How did you get here?” Cyn asked as she adjusted the silk sheet over her body for more coverage.
Shame, Fallon thought darkly. His stallion tossed its mane, indignant. How can she not see we love her? The force of his thought hit him like a pile of stone. He’d wanted a mate, but he imagined he’d grow to love her. In reality, it was already too late: one look into her eyes and he saw everything he wanted, everything he needed. There was no turning back. He’d spend the rest of his life learning her ins and outs if she’d let him.
“Uhmmm...” Felicity’s cheeks coloured as she shifted in the doorway. “It’s a long story, and we should probably talk.”
“That’s a bloody understatement,” Cyn muttered, and then sighed.
Fallon couldn’t tear his eyes away from her loveliness, but he knew he must act.
“Perhaps we could all talk about this.” Fallon gestured for Felicity to enter the room and close the door.
Felicity grinned. “That’s probably a good idea.”
“There are some things you need to understand,” he said, looking pointedly at Cyn.
“Fine,” Cyn said shortly, adjusting her sheet again to sit on the bed. “We’ll talk. And then I want to go home.”
“It may not be that easy—” Felicity said.
Fallon immediately silenced her with a glare.
“Come,” he said, patting the bed. “Let’s all talk.”
He tried to settle the unease engulfing his body. Cyn was acting like a stranger, and it pained him. His stallion whinnied nervously, setting Fallon even more on edge.
“Fallon, would you care to begin?” Felicity asked in an anxious voice, gazing down.
He nodded. “Cyn, whether or not you were aware at the time, you put yourself in a precarious situation last night. In this Realm, when we mate, we mate for life.”
“In this Realm? You were utterly and completely serious, weren’t you?” Cyn asked.
Fallon nodded again, solemnly. “Yes. You are in a different Realm. You’re beyond the veil.” She was staring at him with an unfamiliar expression. After a moment, Fallon realized it was fear. “And you will not be able to return home unless you are mated.”
A STAB OF FEAR PIERCED Cyn’s heart, and she swallowed hard, gazing from Felicity to Fallon. There was a curious mix of emotions on her friend’s face, but Fallon was withdrawn, almost sad. Cyn balled her hands into fists.
“That sounds like bollocks to me. It can’t possibly be true,” she said, indignantly.
“It is, Cyn,” Felicity said, as she put her hand on her friend’s shoulder. Cyn shrugged her off, peeved.
“I need to go home,” Cyn said, shaking her head. “I have a photo shoot in six weeks, and I need to go home.” The words tumbled out of her mouth in a froth of anger, and her eyes flashed. Stupid dishy man.
“You can’t,” Fallon said. He folded his arms over his chest. “Not until you are mated.”
“I don’t bloody feel like mating with anyone,” Cyn yelled, finally losing her cool. “Tomas tricked me.” She shot daggers at Fallon with her eyes. She couldn’t let the fear bubbling inside take hold. Staying mad was a whole heck of a lot easier.
“Cyn, it’s not so bad. It won’t be like...you know, like what you’re used to.” Her friend finished evasively with a slight nod in Fallon’s direction.
Cyn flushed hotly, sneaking a glance at Fallon. He seemed intrigued by what Felicity had all but revealed, but she could tell he probably wouldn’t pry. A good thing too, because she hated to think about it and certainly wasn’t ready to share. She was grateful to Felicity for that small amount of discretion.
“Well I won’t do it,” Cyn said, shakily. “I can’t.”
Felicity sighed. “Fine.”
Cyn blinked in surprise at how quickly she’d been able to change her mind.
“You don’t have to decide...now. But we do need to think of something. I need to go back to London and let everyone know we haven’t been offed,” Felicity said.
“And leave me here?” Her voice was uncharacteristically small. She hated how vulnerable she sounded.
“I have to,” Felicity said, ruefully. “It’ll just be a quick hop, and then I’ll be back and we’ll get you sorted out. Trust me on this. It’s really your only option at the moment. Your family and Nathan are going to wonder if we don’t come back. At least it’ll buy you some time if I make an excuse.”
Cyn nodded miserably. Her headache crept back in, and her skin felt unpleasantly oily. With a start, she realized it hadn’t even been twenty-four hours since she left the hotel. Or maybe it had—she didn’t know if this new, strange world even kept track of time. Bloody hell. She winced at the pain.
“Aye, she’s right you know,” Fallon said softly.
The whole situation was barmy. Mated forever seemed unfathomable. For fuck’s sake, she could barely contemplate dating a bloke for a month. Becoming a successful model had allowed Cyn to break free from traditional dating moulds. She’d reacted with scorn whenever a one-night stand wanted to stay for a lie-in or go for breakfast. With a heavy heart, she realized she’d hardened herself to prevent getting hurt again. Discovering an ex-boyfriend had only dated and bedded her to impress his friends, and then finding out he’d bragged about dating a model, but neglected to mention she was plus-sized, made her shy away from relationships. Those past hurts still stung as deeply—if not more so—than the day they were inflicted. And now, to be ‘mated’ with someone she barely knew? Someone as gorgeous and powerful as Fallon? If he intended to make her his queen, he must carry a lot of clout. With growing anxiety, Cyn imagined herself mated and forgotten, while Fallon chased after younger, skinnier, prettier women. She screwed her eyes shut.
“Cyn?” Felicity said softly.
Cyn’s head snapped up and a new flash of hot pain shot through her, making her eyes water. She winced, squinting against the incoming rays of sun. “Mmmm?”
“So I’ll just let everyone know you’re still on holiday, because you’ve ‘met someone,’ okay?”
“Right,” Cyn said. She managed to climb off the bed, and began searching for her handbag. Spotting it under a fold of the silken duvet, she grabbed it, looking furiously for her phone.
“I don’t think that’s going to work,” Fallon and Felicity said at the same time.
“We’ll see,” Cyn said, determined.
She powered it on, waiting breathlessly. When the screen lit up, she looked at it, and made a sound of disgust.
“No service, love?” Fallon asked.
She could tell he was trying, badly, to conceal a smile.
Cyn gla
red. “Oh, for fuck’s sake.”
Chapter Five
Shaking her head at the bustling London cityscape, Felicity pulled open the door to Thai Thai and let the familiar smells roll over her. She was unable to keep from sighing with delight. It seemed like far too much time had passed since she was able to get her favourite Thai food.
Felicity spotted Nathan at their table in the back, and she grinned, waving. She was glad to see Nathan. She was happy to be back in London, too, but it was so strange and crowded after the Aran Islands.
“’Ello, dear.” Nathan got up to greet Felicity, leaning down to kiss her on the cheek.
She smiled. “I’ve missed you.”
Felicity made herself comfortable opposite him at the table. Nathan smiled. She could tell he was dying to learn everything that had happened.
“I’ve missed you, too,” he said affectionately, picking up his menu and browsing through it. She hardly knew why they bothered because they always ended up ordering the same thing.
“How’s the púca hunting going?” Nathan raised his eyebrows in amusement, making Felicity cough as she took a drink of water.
“Sorry, bit of water went down the wrong tube. It’s good!” Felicity spoke in what she hoped was her normal voice, a bit peppier for added excitement, but Nathan already looked sceptical.
“Anything you need to share?” Nathan asked, as he set the menu down.
Felicity shook her head, a little quickly. “Nope, it’s going well.”
Felicity hated lying when she knew she’d never be able to write the story. Thankfully, Nathan bought the ruse. Eventually she’d have to tell him the truth, but she wasn’t prepared for that yet.
“So...” he said, sounding excited and a little nervous. Felicity could already tell what was coming, and she groaned inwardly. “Where is the beautiful Miss Becket? Thai is her favourite. Cyn never misses our lunches.”
