“Oh, it’ll last.” Her eyes darted to the door, and she lowered her voice conspiratorially. “He asked my permission to mark you with the Untouchable tattoo.”
“Oh, right. Mad mentioned something about that earlier. Care to weigh in? Draper didn’t seem all that thrilled.”
Lane’s face broke out into a goofy grin. “Well, Draper hasn’t forgiven Bastien for running out on you after your first kiss. He’s your brother, kid. It’s his right to make every guy miserable who wants to catch your eye. Keeps Bastien on his toes.”
I let out a soundless snort at Bastien being bossed around. “You cool if I get the ‘don’t mess with me’ tattoo?”
Once I was dressed, she started braiding my hair, parting down the middle and doing two French braids on either side of my head, the same she used to do for game days when I lived back home. “It’s more permanent than a wedding ring, so I really don’t feel like I should weigh in on that.” She took a few seconds of silence to twist a ribbon around one of my braids. “There’s magic in the ink they use, you know.”
“Oh? Will it turn me into an enchanted fairy?”
“You’re already Fae, so damage is done there, babe. No, it’s a tracking ink. Not quite as powerful as your Compass ability, but pretty useful. It’s how they keep tabs on each other. It’s hard for them to live alone, to feel safe after all they’ve been through. Knowing they’ve got their brothers to look for them if they go missing is a little thing that puts them all at ease. Cushions the blow of living alone, which most of them do.”
“They’ll always be able to find me?”
“It’s got its perks and drawbacks. Being found is a good thing if you love the man who’s looking for you. It can be a dangerous thing if he turns out not to be a great guy. The ink never fades, and it connects you to the entire Brotherhood. They treat their women like gold once they’re inked, that’s for sure. It’s just…” She sighed and started rubbing lotion into my arms after she finished with my hair. “They’re a hard bunch to love, Ro. Been through a lot, all of them. Think it through, is all.”
“You’re fine either way?”
“Fine with you permanently tying yourself to Bastien? That might be a stretch, but I can accept it. You’re an adult, and I’m in your corner. I trust your judgment. We have to let each other make the big decisions. Much like the conversation we’re about to have concerning Reyn.”
My eyes widened as she steadied herself by blowing out her breath. She stared at her knees and bobbed her head to a tune only she knew as she psyched herself up. It was the same nervous tick she’d gotten when she’d broken the business of the birds and the bees to me. That was one long night.
I put on my best parental tone to scold her. “Don’t tell me there’s been kissing under this roof, young lady.”
Lane snorted, grateful I’d made a joke. “There may have been a few stolen kisses, I admit.”
“For shame.”
Lane kept her eyes on her knees. “This is big, Ro. We’ve never had this conversation before, so brace yourself.”
I raised my arms in a defensive karate move that only the coolest Power Rangers could pull off. “Braced. Hit me with it.”
“I’m in love. Like, deep over the moon, too many stars in my eyes kind of love. Princess Bride kind of love.” She cleared her throat three times before continuing. “I’m going to marry him. Like, in a church and everything. No one knows yet. Not even Bastien. I wanted you to be the first to hear it.” She closed her eyes against my response. “Say something, Ro.”
My mouth hung open in shock. “Um, that’s crazy awesome! You’re really getting married? He’s your Sweet Wesley?” The farm boy from Princess Bride was our shared dream hunk.
Lane’s head jerked up in my direction. “You don’t mind? You’re not mad?”
“I’m a little mad at Morgan for keeping me holed up in the well all this time, so most of my rage is directed at her for the moment. But no, why would I be mad? I like Reyn. He’s great.”
Relief lit her face, lighting her up as if she’d swallowed the sun. “You have no idea how worried we’ve been to tell you. Everyone else can go screw themselves if they don’t like it, but you? You’re the one person I need on my side.”
My hand was tired, but it managed to find hers. “I’m always on your side. If this is what you want, go for it.”
Lane wrapped me in a tight hug that squeezed my aching ribs. “I love you all the red Skittles in the universe.”
“I love you all the double-stuffed Oreos in all the galaxies.”
Lane and I giggled together, holding on as long as we could before questions started bubbling up in me. “Am I supposed to call him ‘Dad’ or ‘Uncle Reyn’?”
Lane belted out a belly laugh that did us both some good. “Can I please, please be there when you ask him that?”
“You got it, sister.” I fiddled with the hem of my gauzy lavender tunic, searching for the right words. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything and everything.”
“Reyn seems a little… under the weather. Like, all the time under the weather. I feel like if he’s going to be my uncle-dad, I should know what’s going on there.”
Lane sobered, threading my fingers through hers. “Reyn’s sick. He’s got something called mortel magique sickness. It’s a disease that happens when you share too much of your magic. He used a large part of it to preserve his sister’s body, so she didn’t die when she was beaten and left for dead. His magic gave Rachelle’s body time to heal, though in the end, it didn’t bring her back. It’s sort of like living with a severe vitamin deficiency. Every time Reyn used his magic, he got weaker. He looked so normal in Common because earth doesn’t require magic for simple things like, say, staying healthy. When his sister passed away, the portion he gave Rachelle was supposed to return to him.”
“Why hasn’t it come back to him, then?”
“It is, it’s just taking longer than usual because he’s stubborn.”
“You ended up with a stubborn guy? I don’t believe it. I guess opposites do attract,” I teased.
“Ha, ha. He needs a few months of not using a ton of magic to get better, and living down here isn’t exactly helpful with that. People in Avalon use magic without realizing it.” She pressed her thumb on each of my fingernails, studying them as she went down the row. I was grateful Remy had gotten all of the fungus off me. Lane bit her lower lip before she spoke. “I want to take him to Common when this is all over, where he can’t use his magic. He could really heal up there. Plus, you know this isn’t my bag.” She motioned around the large room that was clearly nicer than anything we’d ever had. “You could come with us, or you could stay here.”
My body was achy and stiff, but I managed to fling my arms around Lane and squeeze her with my pitiful force. “Get me out of here!”
“Oh, thank God. I was hoping you’d say that. We’ve got some things to deal with before we can take off, but it’s all in the works. I’m hoping in the next six months or so, we’re splitsville.”
I hadn’t heard the door open, but I heard Bastien’s intake of breath. “I’m going with her,” he decreed. I turned around to take in his soaking form. He was head to toe drenched in rainwater and mud, but he’d never looked more handsome. Though, I’d had that thought about him at least a dozen times, so maybe I was a poor judge of it all. Bastien held my gaze. “Avalon or Common, I don’t care. I’m staying with Rosie.”
Lane kissed my temple before she stood, rolling her shoulders back to face Bastien. “That’s up to Rosie, but you’ll get no complaints from me. Any of you Lost Boys are welcome to come with us, so long as you can fall in line and leave your Untouchable status in Faîte. Might be a good fresh start for you all.”
Bastien waved off that stipulation, as if it was a done deal. “How are you feeling?”
I wasn’t sure how to answer that. “Like a dork for being so useless?”
Lane tsked me. “You’re neither useless nor
a dork. You and I will talk more later. I’ve got to go be a duchess and pretend like I’m some big deal.” She blew it off like it was all a joke, but she paused when she reached Bastien. “How goes the sand wall?”
“Almost done. Link loves a challenge. We’ve been helping people sort out where they should move, keeping the loyalists closer to the castle, and the people who are just here because they’re mad at Morgan in the middle, with the shepherds and larger farmers in the back where there’s more unclaimed land.”
“Very good. And no sign of Morgan retaliating?”
“Not yet, but we’re still rallying the men, just in case. I’m guessing she won’t try anything largescale in weather like this. She likes to make a show of her battles, and she won’t get the awe and shock she needs in rain like this.”
It was strange watching Lane be a duchess. She was sharp with her tone when she needed to be, but not an inch more than what was required to get the job done. “That’s good. Thank you, Son.”
Bastien whipped his head to gawk at her, his eyes asking hers silent questions. She merely smiled and bowed her head in answer, but Bastien needed verbal confirmation. “You approve, then?”
“I approve up until the second Rosie tells me not to. Then it’s your testicles in a little glass jar in my trophy case. It’s her you should worry about pleasing. I merely follow my daughter’s smile. The second it fades in your presence,” she clucked her tongue in threat and moved her head from side to side. “Time for your A-game, boy.”
The Perfect Thing to Say
Bastien didn’t bother with modesty once it was just the two of us, since he’d seen every inch of me too many times already. He stripped down to his black cotton boxer briefs just to give me a nice show before he washed himself in the tub behind the partition. After he dried off and dressed, he latched the door and settled into the sheets next to me the second he caught my yawn.
“I’m sorry I’m being boring. I want to be helping you all out there to get everyone sorted, but I’m totally useless. Can’t even really walk yet,” I admitted, ashamed.
He broke a roll in half and handed me my piece. “Slowly,” he warned. “Remy’s worried about you not getting enough food, and then worried your stomach can’t handle much. Totally vetoed my idea to shove lard down your throat. But I guess you can’t exactly afford to go puking up what little’s managed to stay in you.”
I finished chewing and snuggled up to him, my head resting over his outstretched arm. “Bastien, do you think…” I wanted to ask him a million questions, but his lips were too plump and inviting. I interrupted my own thought so I could kiss him, sucking on his lower lip to bring him closer, though it was still never close enough. He hadn’t shaved in weeks, and the usual stubble had turned into half an inch of actual growth. It made him look rugged, like a sexy lumberjack, wrapped in the flannel that always smelled like comfort and pure him.
Our kiss took on a mind of its own, transforming my weak and tired body into a voracious makeout machine. Our limbs and lips tangled with each other, until Bastien rolled over atop me, and froze. He quickly retreated, getting clear off the bed as he ran his hands through his hair to get a grip on himself. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have been on top of you like that.”
“Yes, you should. I’d like a double order of exactly that. Get back here.”
Bastien took a step toward me, longing burning in his eyes, but he stopped himself. “I’m afraid I’ll crack your ribs or something. You’re so thin now. I want you, but I don’t want to be the one who breaks you more.”
I let out an exasperated sigh. “Darn you and your selfless reasons.” I yawned for the millionth time and stretched my arms over my head.
Bastien tentatively approached the bed, as if sudden movements might cause either one of us to pounce on the other. He handed me the other half of the roll after smearing too much butter on it. “Eat, and then take a nap. I’ll lay down with you for a few before I go back out to help the guys.”
“Give me another day of being lazy, and I’ll be out there with you.”
“No, you won’t. It’s moving sandbags that are heavier than you, and building retaining walls. Then showing rain-soaked families to abandoned houses around the province so they don’t have to build new ones in this weather.”
“I can do that. I should probably meet the people who left their homes to follow Lane.”
“You should probably rest. We’ve got this. Link and Mad are great at this kind of stuff, and I’ve got Roland and a few of his guys showing people where to settle in.”
I wanted to argue further, but knew he was probably right. “Could you start thinking of a job for me to do? I don’t want to be the useless princess who lays around all day in her mansion. They’ll burn me at the stake.”
Bastien knelt on the bed next to me, leaning over with a fist on either side of my head. He steadied himself so he could capture my lips without crushing me. “I love when you say stuff like that. I’ll find you a job once Remy says you’re well enough to help out. Until then, you stay here. I’ll keep Hamish out of the room, too. Otherwise you’ll be sleeping all day and night.”
I gazed up at him, confused and pleased at the unfettered adoration he beamed down at me. “You’re nicer now. All the fighting we were doing before – what was it about?”
Bastien kissed my lips again, this time with the measured pace of an unhurried seduction. “Pure denial and stupidity. We’re done with that, though. I’m in this, Daisy. I want to be with you for all of it, even when you fight with me.”
“What changed?”
“Nothing changed. I just stopped resisting what was there all along. Saw what life without you was like, and decided it wasn’t for me. I’m done being without you. It feels right, being together. Being separated? It killed me, Rosie. Killed me.”
I ran my fingers through his short beard along the edges of his cheeks. “Well, we can’t have that. How sure about us are you? I mean, we’ve been through kind of a lot.”
Bastien’s eyes searched mine, and I could tell he was debating how brave he wanted to be with his answer. “So sure that I flagged down a man with the tools to mark you when he came through to settle in Lane’s province. You don’t have to, you know. I just thought it would be good for everyone to know you belong with the Brotherhood.”
I gulped. “I’ve only met Link and Madigan. You sure the others want me in their group? I don’t want to piss off your friends.”
Bastien studied my face with barely contained hope that I hadn’t shut down the idea altogether. “Each of us has the right to mark someone. They don’t have to meet you at all to respect the code. One of them never met Meara, but that doesn’t matter.”
I fiddled with his flannel shirt. “How can you be so sure about us? I was just with another dude, like, less than a month ago.” That was probably the wrong thing to say, but I didn’t want to skirt around anything.
Bastien pecked my lips. “I’ve tried being without you, and it didn’t take. I told you, we’re done being apart.”
“What if I decide not to take the mark?”
He shrugged, as if I hadn’t just hurt his feelings. “That changes nothing. The mark’s for your protection. I’ll still want to stay with you, no matter what.”
I pulled him closer when I tugged on the edge of his shirt. “What if I decide to wait for a while and think about it?”
“Take as long as you need.”
I hissed. “Stop saying all the right things. It’s too sexy.”
The corner of Bastien’s mouth lifted in that self-assured way I missed. “Can’t help it.” He brushed his hand down my face from my forehead to my chin, so I closed my eyes. Then he gave me a heart flutter when he pressed a kiss to both my closed eyelids. “Get some sleep, and dream about me.”
“Will you be naked in my dream?”
A low growl snared in Bastien’s throat as he buried his nose in my neck to inhale the scent of me, like I was the best kind of drug. “I could be n
aked right now, if you like.” Then he pulled back, frowning at me. “Lane’s no doubt plotting my murder as we speak. Though it might just be worth the risk if I could make all your dreams come true.”
I reached up and clumsily twined my fingers through his. “When you have to go after I pass out, could you leave your shirt or something that smells like you?”
He sunk down atop the covers, rolling me on my side so he could spoon me. “How about I stay in here with you. Don’t worry about me leaving. I know you get nervous sleeping alone. I won’t go until you wake up again.”
It was the perfect thing to say, and I couldn’t help myself from sneaking one more kiss from his willing and tempting lips.
Wuss, Lovely and Sweetheart
It was another day before I could walk around, and another few days before I didn’t need someone with me to help with every little thing. When Remy finally gave me the all-clear, I was able to help the guys outside. Granted, I don’t think I was all that helpful, but I was trying. I didn’t have all my strength back, and I didn’t know the territory at all, so I mostly just helped the guys move sandbags to reinforce the retaining wall around the mansion. The first day when I was helping, no sooner would I pick up a sandbag, then one of the men would take it from me. The chivalry was sweet, but it rendered me useless, which wasn’t a good label for me.
The rain hadn’t relented the entire time, going on almost a month of nonstop torrential downpour. The clouds had opened the day before I was thrown in the well, and hadn’t relented since. It made progress slow, and spirits dampened (dampened, get it? I’m funny).
A few days later, I finally found my calling. I noticed the absence of children running around, and commented on the oddity to Lane over breakfast. “It’s the rain, Ro. What else can they do, but stay inside and wait out the weather?”
Stupid Girl: A Fantasy Adventure Based in French Folklore (Faite Falling Book 4) Page 6
