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He was determined not to push anything without her very clear instruction to do so. The last thing he wanted to do was to cause her any pain or make her trauma worse. Mananan was patient. He could wait until she came to him and submitted.
That thought warmed him right up until he saw her. The servants had dressed her in something more appropriate to the summer heat—loose fitting, red silk pants and a sleeveless wrap top, its ties in a bow at her hip. She was wearing the lightest touch of makeup to give her cheeks and lips color and some simple silver and pearl earrings. She looked like a present that his dick desperately wanted to unwrap.
Fuck. So much for his legendary patience.
Ella’s smile turned a bit shy when she reached him. “Hey, how did your meetings go?”
“Beautiful,” he said before cringing. “I mean you look beautiful. The meetings were boring. They run the kingdom better than me, so I don’t know why they bothered.”
“They missed you,” she said simply. “All of the servants are happy you are home, even if it's for a short while. You must be a good king.”
Mananan raised a brow. “There was a doubt in your mind?”
“Not about that,” Ella replied with a soft laugh.
Mananan wanted to ask about what that meant exactly when a servant appeared to inform them that dinner was ready on the balcony. Mananan held his arm out, and Ella took it. Her touch was light, but it still burned against his forearm.
Mananan had asked the kitchen to send dinner to the top balcony that looked out over the sea. He wouldn’t get time to swim in it, so he at least wanted to watch the moon rise over it.
“Oh, this is gorgeous,” Ella said, walking past dinner completely to lean against the stone railing and look out over the water. “How could you walk away from all of this?”
“The worlds were threatened, and it's a duty to help. I wanted to find my nephews most of all,” Mananan explained, joining her. “I love it here, but I know it's not going anywhere. It doesn’t hurt to be back in the noise and the chaotic energy of the human world. Life moves so much faster over there than here.”
Ella sighed in happiness. “I suppose even paradise would get boring if you stayed in it long enough. I love my sea, but I wouldn’t mind some more of this warmth.”
Mananan pulled out a chair for her. “Come and eat. The sea isn’t going anywhere, and you’ve had a big day.”
“That’s true. I fell asleep in a bed bigger than my bedroom and didn’t move all afternoon,” she said, taking a seat. He sat at the end of the table beside her and poured her amber summer cider. She didn’t stop him from loading her plate up with fruit and sea food he thought she might enjoy.
He didn’t realize he was fussing until a servant arrived with another course and looked confused at him serving her. He had never strictly adhered to formalities, but the king waiting on a human was out of the ordinary. Ella didn’t seem to notice, so he gave the servant a look that had them backing away.
“I have something for you,” he said, reaching into his pocket. “I had Taran’s help making it. Consider it a thank you gift for putting up with a bunch of grumpy old fae.” He passed her the velvet bag.
“You saved my life twice, Manan. I don’t I need any gifts,” Ella said. She tipped the necklace into her hand, and her face broke into a bright smile. “Oh my god, it’s so beautiful.”
“It is, but it's not the best part. Put it on,” he encouraged her.
Ella slipped the chain over her head. The pendant hung like a delicate drop of silver and pearl in between her breasts. He silently thanked Taranis for its strategic positioning.
“Okay, what am I missing? You are grinning,” she said.
Mananan reached over and traced his fingers over Ella’s forearm. “I’m not shielding.”
“I don’t understand… I can’t feel…” Ella grabbed his hand and hung on tight. “Why can’t I read you?”
“The necklace is a shield for you. As long as you’re wearing it, you won’t pick up visions off anyone or anything,” Mananan explained.
“Bullshit,” she said. A male servant came in with more cider, and she leaped out of her chair. “Sorry, can I touch you for a second?”
“Of course, my lady,” he said and held out his hand for her. He was rather too eager in Mananan’s opinion.
Ella grabbed the servant. “I can’t hear your thoughts. Nothing!”
“Is that not normal?” he asked, confused.
Mananan thought that Ella would be pleased with the present. He didn’t expect her to throw herself into him and wrap her arms around his neck. He waved the servant out. Gods, there would be some gossip in the kitchens that night.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Ella said, her voice breaking.
