Page 28 of Beauty

In the dreams, Lach’s face is always perfect, freed from thescars of reality.

The unscarred side of Lach’s head flushes a deep red. “Sosays the man with the perfect face.”

“Damn it, she’s not going to reject you.”

“You heard what her brothers said. She was raised a princessof the Seelie. She won’t want me. And I don’t know what to do now that it’sstaring me in the face. I have to save her. And I can’t let her go.” Lach takesa long breath. The night before, we broke bread with Beck and Cian, who weremore than willing to talk about their sister. Bronwyn, they explained, wasalways a bit of a brat princess. Indulged by their mother, she was raised toexpect a perfect life. She should never have had a moment’s struggle. Theycouldn’t believe she’d survived on her own.

But I know. She’s stronger than anyone gives her credit for.I can feel it. She’s a different person than the child we played through ourdreams with. She’s a woman who struggled for her life and was changed by thefight. She might have started life as a Seelie princess, as Beck and CianFinn’s sister, but she’s my and Lach’s woman now.

Duffy walks up to us, though waddling is perhaps a betterword for what the gnome is doing. He’s covered in plate armor, the very armor Irequested be made for his last birthday. It’s made as thin as can be, but itstill weighs a lot. Julian follows behind the gnome, slowing his normally longstrides to match Duffy’s.

Lach’s mouth turns down in a frown. “Are you sure we shouldlet him come along? I’m worried about him.”

“We’re going to be surrounded by vampires who know whatthey’re doing,” I assure him. I lower my voice as Duffy gets closer, notwanting the gnome to know what we’re saying. “You can’t leave him behind. Hewould never forgive us. We’re going after Bronwyn. Don’t you think he’ll wantto see Gilly again?”

Duffy loved Gillian for as long as I can remember. Duffy,for all his flirting, was sweet on only Gillian, and he held that torch forthirteen years. Duffy isn’t foolish enough to believe his love will bereturned. He knows she doesn’t think of him that way, but I can’t leave himbehind.

Lach nods tightly. “All right then. But I’m not sure thevampires know what they’re doing. Why the hell is Dellacourt coming along?”

Julian lifts Duffy onto the ledge we stand on overlookingthe sea. The gnome’s armor clangs a bit, and he has to find his balance.

“Dellacourt’s not so bad,” Julian assures us. “And he won’tlet his wife go without him. I think you’ll find Kaja helpful. You might knowthe district where your bondmate lives, but Kaja can pick up Gillian’s scent.She’ll save you days of looking.”

“And it’s very interesting when she turns into a wolf,”Duffy adds. “Did you see her earlier? She ain’t got no clothes on when sheturns back into a girl.”

Julian stifles a laugh. “Yes, yet another reason Dellacourtwon’t allow his wife to venture out without him. Duffy’s hit on her threetimes. You should watch it, little cos. Vampires take their consortsseriously.”

Duffy smiles, a naughty grin. “It’s okay. No one takes meseriously at all. That’s when I swoop in and steal the girl. But after we findGilly, I’ll look after her. Won’t have time for other women. She’ll be needinga dedicated guard.” Duffy looks around. “I don’t understand why all the longfaces. ’Tis a great adventure. We’re going to another plane to rescue aprincess. It’s going to be amazing.”

“It’s going to be a miracle if we live,” Lach mutters.

Lach got all the mopey parts of our soul. I’m a bit moreworried than Duffy, but I can see the gnome’s point. I get to one knee in frontof Duffy. “I think Lach’s worried that we have so little time to find them.Father has called for all the Unseelie warriors to gather in four days’ time.At the end of the week, they will rip through the veil and invade Tír na nÓgbefore the vampire ambassadors enter. If we wait any longer, Torin could haveaccess to vampire weaponry, and then we’re all screwed. We have to find her,convince her to come with us, and get her back here before her brothersinvade.”

“There won’t be any convincing.” Lach frowns down at me.“She’ll come or I’ll tie her up and toss her over my shoulder.”

“I taught you well,” Julian says, slapping Lach on the back.“I rather wish I could go, but I’m rushing back to the Vampire plane. I’ve gota trusted employee spying on some officials. It wouldn’t do to have them showup early. Taggart will ensure that doesn’t happen. The Dellacourts and I areraising money and weapons to support your father and the Seelie twins. Theywon’t go in alone. It’s time to make our push. We’ll take back Tír na nÓg or wewill all die trying.”

“Yes,” Lach says, “it’s the dying part I would like toavoid.” He looks pointedly at Duffy.

Duffy’s axe stands straight in his hand. Sometimes he usesit as a walking stick. “Don’t worry none about it, Lach. I ain’t letting no onekill you. The king himself charged me with protecting you both, but I wouldhave done it anyway. I don’t care that you got a kingdom waiting on you. You’reme brothers.”

I pat him on the back, my eyes meeting Lach’s. We’re of onemind when it comes to Duffy. We will protect him. “I appreciate it, brother.Now, how much longer do we have?”

Julian gestures to the small crowd. “It’s getting close.Come along now. Roan wants to talk to you.”

I follow my cousin and Duffy, excitement growing. Before wereach the group, Lach puts a hand on my shoulder.

“You have to stay with me.”

A wealth of guilt washes across me. Since the connectionbetween me and Bron sputtered back to life, I spend more time holding on to herthan I do dealing with things in this world. I left Lach to handle theday-to-day problems that come with being princes of the realm. I allowed myselfto sink into my waking dreams of her, watching through her eyes as she livesher life. But all the while, Lach was left out. How lonely has my brotherbecome?

“I will stay in this world. I know it’s important.” I can’tsay anything else. An apology isn’t enough. It will never be enough.

“See that you do. It’s getting harder and harder to pull youout. I can only imagine that you’ll be able to feel her even more when we’re onthe same plane with her.”

“I can handle it,” I promise. “I’ll spend all my time tryingto keep Duff alive. Look at him. The vampire’s going to kill him for sure.”

Duffy walks straight up to the lovely Kaja and takes herhand. The woman who has the power to turn into a wolf doesn’t seem to mind. Shesmiles down at him, speaking softly and clutching his hand. Dante dosn’t seemto mind, either. He looks indulgently on as his wife speaks to the gnome. Butthe minute he looks away, Duffy stares at Kaja’s ass. He turns and winks cheekilyour way.