Fragile Eternity
Page 5
Then Keenan walked in the door with several of the Summer Girls beside him. They looked more beautiful by the day. As summer approachedand as Aislinn and Keenan grew strongertheir faeries seemed to blossom.
Tavish immediately began, Keenan, my King, perhaps you could explain to her grace that But his words died after a glimpse at the expression of ire the Summer King wore.
In response to his volatile mood, Aislinns already-glowing skin radiated enough light that it hurt Seth to look at her. Without even realizing she was doing it, shed extended sunbeams like insubstantial hands reaching toward Keenan. Over the past few months, shed developed an increasingly strong connection with the Summer King.
Which sucks.
All Keenan had to do was look her way and she was at his side, papers forgotten, argument forgotten, everything but Keenan forgotten. She went to him, and the rest of the world went on pause at Keenans look of upset.
Its her job. Court things have to come first.
Seth wanted to not be irritated by it. Hed worked hard to become the person he was nowa person whose temper was under control, whose sardonic streak didnt lead to making cruel remarks. He channeled those discordant tendencies into his paintings and sculptures. Between his art and his meditation, he was able to hold on to peace these days, but Keenan tested that hard-earned progress. It wasnt as if Seth couldnt understand the importance of strengthening the Summer Court after centuries of growing cold, but sometimes it was hard to believe that Keenan didnt overplay minor worries to keep Aislinns attention. Hed spent centuries assuming that what he thought, or wanted, was of utmost importance. Now that he had the power to go with the arrogance, he wasnt likely to become less demanding.
Tavish motioned the Summer Girls to him and led them to the kitchen. With Niall gone and Keenan trying to reestablish his courts authority, not to mention forge new agreements with the other courts, Tavish had assumed responsibility for helping the Summer Girls learn some degree of independence. Seth thought it was perversely funny that spending hours making sure that a group of beautiful girls was in good spirits was considered work, but no one else seemed to find it humorous. What was important in the Summer Court wasnt always what made sense to a mortala fact of which Seth was regularly reminded.
As Keenan relayed whatever new crisis hed run into, Seth gathered his things and stood. He waited until Aislinn looked over at him and then said, Ash? Im out.
She came to stand beside Sethnear but not touching. It wasnt that she couldnt reach out, but she was still tentative. Theyd only been a couple for a few months. Although it was hard to resist the temptation to remind them all that she washis , Seth didnt touch her. He stood there, waiting, not pressuring. It was the only way with her. Hed figured that out more than a year ago. He waited; the tension built; and then she leaned against him, folding herself into his arms and sighing.
Sorry. I just need toshe shot a worried look at Keenancourt stuff, you know?
I do. Seth had spent more hours than he liked to think about listening to her try to make sense of her new responsibilities, utterly unable to help her. She had a long list of things that required her attention, and he just sat there waiting.
But were still on for the Crows Nest tomorrow, right? Her tone was worried.
Ill meet you there. He felt guilty for being selfish, for adding to her worry. He wrapped his fingers in her hair, tugging it gently until she tilted her head back and kissed him. It burned his lips, his tongue, when she was nervous or upsetnot impossibly painful but enough that he couldnt pretend that she was the girl he used to know. By the time he pulled back, the burn had faded. She was calm again.
I dont know what Id do without you. You know that, dont you? she whispered.
He didnt answer, but he didnt let go either; holding her in his arms was the best answer he could give her. She would be without him sooner or later: he was mortal, butthat was a conversation she refused to have. Hed tried to talk to her, but she stopped every conversation with either tears or kissesor both. Unless they found a way for him to belong in her world, eventually hed be gone, and Keenan would be the one holding her.
To go from not wanting to make commitments for the next night, to putting everything aside in hopes of convincing Aislinn to trust him, to thinking about forever was unsettling. He hadnt figured himself for the whole getting-married-and-settling-down thing, but since shed been in his arms and in his life, hed hated the thought of being anywhere but with her.
The Summer King had walked over to the table and was examining Aislinns diagrams, notes, and charts. Despite how weird the situation was for all of them, he often made a point of letting Aislinn and Seth have privacy. It was obvious, though, that moving away was not easy for Keenan.
Or Ash.
Quinn cleared his throat as he reentered the room. Ill walk you out if youre ready.
Seth wasnt ever ready to walk away from Aislinn, but he didnt see the sense in sitting around watching her murmur with Keenan either. She had responsibilities; they both needed to keep those in mindeven if those responsibilities included late nights and parties with Keenan. She had a job to do.
And Seth hadAislinn. Thats what he had: Aislinn, Aislinns world, Aislinns needs. He existed on the fringe of her world, with no role, no power, and no desire to walk away. It wasnt that he wanted out, but he wasnt sure what to do to be further into her world.
And she doesnt want to talk about it.
See you tomorrow. Seth kissed Aislinn once more and followed Quinn to the door.
Tavish immediately began, Keenan, my King, perhaps you could explain to her grace that But his words died after a glimpse at the expression of ire the Summer King wore.
In response to his volatile mood, Aislinns already-glowing skin radiated enough light that it hurt Seth to look at her. Without even realizing she was doing it, shed extended sunbeams like insubstantial hands reaching toward Keenan. Over the past few months, shed developed an increasingly strong connection with the Summer King.
Which sucks.
All Keenan had to do was look her way and she was at his side, papers forgotten, argument forgotten, everything but Keenan forgotten. She went to him, and the rest of the world went on pause at Keenans look of upset.
Its her job. Court things have to come first.
Seth wanted to not be irritated by it. Hed worked hard to become the person he was nowa person whose temper was under control, whose sardonic streak didnt lead to making cruel remarks. He channeled those discordant tendencies into his paintings and sculptures. Between his art and his meditation, he was able to hold on to peace these days, but Keenan tested that hard-earned progress. It wasnt as if Seth couldnt understand the importance of strengthening the Summer Court after centuries of growing cold, but sometimes it was hard to believe that Keenan didnt overplay minor worries to keep Aislinns attention. Hed spent centuries assuming that what he thought, or wanted, was of utmost importance. Now that he had the power to go with the arrogance, he wasnt likely to become less demanding.
Tavish motioned the Summer Girls to him and led them to the kitchen. With Niall gone and Keenan trying to reestablish his courts authority, not to mention forge new agreements with the other courts, Tavish had assumed responsibility for helping the Summer Girls learn some degree of independence. Seth thought it was perversely funny that spending hours making sure that a group of beautiful girls was in good spirits was considered work, but no one else seemed to find it humorous. What was important in the Summer Court wasnt always what made sense to a mortala fact of which Seth was regularly reminded.
As Keenan relayed whatever new crisis hed run into, Seth gathered his things and stood. He waited until Aislinn looked over at him and then said, Ash? Im out.
She came to stand beside Sethnear but not touching. It wasnt that she couldnt reach out, but she was still tentative. Theyd only been a couple for a few months. Although it was hard to resist the temptation to remind them all that she washis , Seth didnt touch her. He stood there, waiting, not pressuring. It was the only way with her. Hed figured that out more than a year ago. He waited; the tension built; and then she leaned against him, folding herself into his arms and sighing.
Sorry. I just need toshe shot a worried look at Keenancourt stuff, you know?
I do. Seth had spent more hours than he liked to think about listening to her try to make sense of her new responsibilities, utterly unable to help her. She had a long list of things that required her attention, and he just sat there waiting.
But were still on for the Crows Nest tomorrow, right? Her tone was worried.
Ill meet you there. He felt guilty for being selfish, for adding to her worry. He wrapped his fingers in her hair, tugging it gently until she tilted her head back and kissed him. It burned his lips, his tongue, when she was nervous or upsetnot impossibly painful but enough that he couldnt pretend that she was the girl he used to know. By the time he pulled back, the burn had faded. She was calm again.
I dont know what Id do without you. You know that, dont you? she whispered.
He didnt answer, but he didnt let go either; holding her in his arms was the best answer he could give her. She would be without him sooner or later: he was mortal, butthat was a conversation she refused to have. Hed tried to talk to her, but she stopped every conversation with either tears or kissesor both. Unless they found a way for him to belong in her world, eventually hed be gone, and Keenan would be the one holding her.
To go from not wanting to make commitments for the next night, to putting everything aside in hopes of convincing Aislinn to trust him, to thinking about forever was unsettling. He hadnt figured himself for the whole getting-married-and-settling-down thing, but since shed been in his arms and in his life, hed hated the thought of being anywhere but with her.
The Summer King had walked over to the table and was examining Aislinns diagrams, notes, and charts. Despite how weird the situation was for all of them, he often made a point of letting Aislinn and Seth have privacy. It was obvious, though, that moving away was not easy for Keenan.
Or Ash.
Quinn cleared his throat as he reentered the room. Ill walk you out if youre ready.
Seth wasnt ever ready to walk away from Aislinn, but he didnt see the sense in sitting around watching her murmur with Keenan either. She had responsibilities; they both needed to keep those in mindeven if those responsibilities included late nights and parties with Keenan. She had a job to do.
And Seth hadAislinn. Thats what he had: Aislinn, Aislinns world, Aislinns needs. He existed on the fringe of her world, with no role, no power, and no desire to walk away. It wasnt that he wanted out, but he wasnt sure what to do to be further into her world.
And she doesnt want to talk about it.
See you tomorrow. Seth kissed Aislinn once more and followed Quinn to the door.
