Gemma’s mouth dropped as she looked behind Nessa and saw Devin. Devin didn’t know if he should smile or pretend he wasn’t there listening in on what seemed to be a cousinly conversation.
“Gemma, this is Devin. Devin, my cousin Gemma.” Nessa introduced them. Devin nodded a hi to the younger girl. Gemma didn’t reply, but just stared at Devin. “Gemma, focus,” Nessa said, stepping between them. “What did they say about me being queen? Think carefully.”
Gemma snapped out of her daze and looked back to Nessa.
“That’s a human,” Gemma said in barely a whisper. “In your house!”
“I know, Gemma. Now back to what they said about choosing me as queen,” Nessa replied.
“You can’t bring a human in here,” Gemma said, glancing behind herself to check if anyone else was around outside the house before fully stepping into Nessa’s house. Gemma shut the door quickly. “You can’t bring food into your home. You are unmarried.” Gemma peeked around Nessa momentarily, and then went back to scolding her. “Even if he is kind of cute.”
“He’s not food, Gems. Now please tell me what they said,” Nessa replied. Gemma tried to sneak a peek at Devin again, but Nessa moved to block her view. “Please.”
“Dad came home about a week ago in a huff. He talked to Mom that night. He was upset, like the rest of them, that the rule clearly states that you are the next ruler. None of those men want a woman in charge. They’ve had their undies in a bundle since they all heard the news. They went back and double checked the laws. You are in charge. They can’t even get out of it as Rhys changed the rules that all new laws have to be ratified by the current ruler. If they want to bypass you being in charge, they need your signature on the law,” Gemma explained, trying to get another peek at Devin.
Nessa stared at Gemma as she thought about what Gemma said. It was news to her that she was in charge. She always knew it was a possibility, since there was no one left in her family, but she didn’t think any of the five on the council would allow it, including her own uncle, Gemma’s father. Nessa truly didn’t think she would be left in charge of the sidhe. There had never been a lone woman ruler before in the sidhe night humans. The sidhe preferred to have a king. Nessa was unmarried, and would be in charge without a male to rule beside her, even if just by marriage. Gemma looked around Nessa again, bringing Nessa out of her thoughts.
“If he isn’t food, what is he then? A new toy?” Gemma asked, as if Devin couldn’t hear her. Nessa heard Devin chuckle.
“Yes, Nessa, what am I if I’m not food?” Devin played along and smiled at her. Gemma turned and looked at Nessa expectantly, waiting for an explanation.
Nessa’s face turned red, but all she could do was shrug. She wasn’t sure what to call Devin either. He wasn’t food, and wasn’t a toy, as the sidhe thought of day humans. He was a person. Did she like him? Yes. But that didn’t matter. They had one goal being back in the sidhe village, and that was to get the binding undone. He was her bonded human. That much she knew to keep to herself until needed. And it looked like, from how the men of the sidhe were reacting, Devin would be in danger if she let that slip. They were probably all looking for a reason right at that moment to take the crown away from her. Bonding to a day human would be enough of an offense, and liking that day human would make everything worse.
“He’s my friend,” Nessa replied, deciding that the best answer was a neutral one.
Gemma’s mouth dropped. “You’re dating a day human? You brought him home and slept with him?” For being such a chatter box, Gemma was quite observant of the messy bed.
Nessa’s cheeks burned as she remembered how she woke up in his arms. She did kind of sleep with him, even if not in the sense Gemma was saying. She felt safe with Devin holding her. For once in her life, she didn’t fear the world she grew up in. Devin did that for her. She might have actually been awake for more than just at the moment of the knock at the door, and she was afraid her red face would give it away now. Nessa didn’t need Devin to know she had been looking at him. She didn’t need to give Devin anything else to use to tease her.
“Yes, we were sleeping,” Devin clarified for Nessa, who was still too embarrassed to reply. “We had been on the road all night yesterday, and we were exhausted when we finally got here. We decided to get some sleep before telling everyone we made it back.”
“Just sleeping?” Gemma asked, actually sounding disappointed. Gemma hid her mouth from Devin and whispered to Nessa. “Really just sleeping? But he’s hot.”
“Just sleeping,” Devin replied, obviously overhearing her loud whisper.
Gemma frowned. “That’s too bad. Nessa is such an invisible cousin. She never socializes with the other sidhe, and never has had a boyfriend, not that Rhys allowed that. I mean she only ever leaves her place for mandatory meetings and lessons. She never even showed interest in guys. I can’t even get her to tell me if she has a crush on anyone. I have this beautiful older cousin, I figured I should at least get girl time with her, but she’s such a fuddy. I guess I should have figured out she wouldn’t have the nerve to get a boyfriend or bring a boy back to do things with. Heck, for that matter, she can be quite moody, and I doubt any boy would actually stay around even if she somehow managed to get them to like her.”
“Gemma, why did you come here?” Nessa said, hoping to stop her chatter and anything more that might come out of her mouth that was beyond embarrassing. Devin just smiled at all the information. He was getting better at understanding Gemma’s ranting, which caused Nessa to turn an even brighter shade of red.
“Oh yeah, I totally forgot. I was to inform you when you arrived that you need to stay here in your place until they summon you for your trial and coronation. Not that I really needed to tell you that. I doubt you planned to go anywhere,” Gemma added and winked at Devin. Nessa huffed and turned Gemma from Devin. “I can at least hope you have something planned. Why can’t I live through you? You know Ronan will never allow a guy near me.” Gemma pouted, and Nessa patted her head. Her fifteen-year-old cousin had grown quite boy crazy in the past year and had been trying forever to live vicariously through Nessa.
“Which order did they say that in?” Nessa asked, getting back to the vital details from all the ranting Gemma had done. Would she be tried first for her brother’s death, or made into the ruler first? The order of events was important.
Gemma shrugged. “I dunno. I didn’t really ask. I figured they already told you. They must have sent over a dozen messengers to you.”
‘That never arrived,’ Devin whispered mentally for Nessa only to hear.
They were both thinking the same thing. Devin would’ve immediately known if any human not of his family had shown up, and Nessa would’ve felt her own kind if they had been there also. Nessa’s hope of getting Devin free of her quick wasn’t looking like an option. It seemed she was more wanted than she guessed.
“Can you do me a favor?” Nessa asked, and Gemma readily nodded.
“Don’t tell them I’m home yet. In fact, don’t tell anyone I’m home yet,” Nessa added. “Except Ronan. Send him to be the one to check later to see if I made it back or not. We need some time.” Nessa pointed to herself and Devin.
Gemma nodded and smiled widely. Gemma seemed to like that idea and mouthed, ‘tell me all about it later.’
“It was nice to meet you. Sorry you’re stuck with my cousin. She can be a bit to manage, but as soon as everyone knows that she’s home, I can give you the full tour. That’s if you stay here,” Gemma added, looking between Nessa and Devin.
“He’s staying here,” Nessa replied. There was no way she was going to leave Devin to some other sidhe. They wouldn’t treat him well, and she knew what his response would be. Who knew how many he would kill before the assassins were sent to get him?
“Are you sure he isn’t your boyfriend?” Gemma whispered to Nessa quite loudly.
“I’m sure,” Nessa replied and pushed her cousin out the doorway.
‘
Bit of a complication?’ Devin asked.
Nessa made the lights all flicker out. It was dark in her home, but there was still faint moonlight light from the skylights. Devin was so used to living in the night that it didn’t bother him, and Nessa had perfect night vision ever since she came into her sidhe powers. She only had lights on out of habit. Lights out would hide the fact she was home, at least she hoped. If Gemma was the only one that sensed her entering, Nessa hoped they could at least find the books they needed to read before anyone else sensed them.
‘If I didn’t get a single message, yes. The assassin probably had followed me for more than just that stop. I get the distinct feeling someone doesn’t want me home,’ Nessa replied.
Talking mentally to Devin was even easier now and a great convenience if she was going to pretend to not be home until her older cousin arrived.
‘Or, from the sounds of it, more than just someone,’ Devin added, moving back to the bed to sit down and continue reading where he had left off the night before. Devin didn’t ask anything more. He was back to his book.
Nessa was unsure how to interpret Devin. Did that mean he didn’t care, or that he completely trusted her? He didn’t ask who Ronan was or why she asked for him to be there, and he didn’t ask her about being queen. He didn’t ask about much, yet he seemed to follow every conversation easily. Nessa moved to lie back on the bed. She was still tired. She closed her eyes and waited to fall back asleep. It was way more comfortable in Devin’s arms, but she wasn’t about to tell him that. She could feel the bond between her and Devin was changing. She could now feel the warmth and comfort of being near him, even if he wasn’t holding her. She had never felt that way before about anyone, and it was scary and new. They needed to break the bond soon or she might just do something she would regret later when he chose to go back to Arianna rather than stay with her.
‘Nessa, don’t move,’ Devin commanded in Nessa’s mind, waking her from her sleep.
Nessa lay stiff as a board, wondering what was going on. She used her senses to search the room and realized they were not alone, yet her spells hadn’t gone off. She should have known who it was, but they were masked. Nessa worriedly searched the room. Who had come to visit and didn’t announce that they were there? Were they friend or foe?
‘Two in the room, one by the door, and one approaching us from your side of the bed. Keep still, and I’ll protect you. Just watch out for the one by the door,’ Devin said. He looked relaxed, like he was still reading the book, but Nessa knew otherwise. He was ready and poised to fight.
He already knew where they were. Nessa needed him to teach her that trick. The sidhe world would be a lot less dangerous if she saw through the magic like Devin could. She didn’t even know it was possible until she met him.
Nessa calmed her senses and looked around the inside of her home with her magic again. Devin was correct, one by the door and one nearing the bed, but she still didn’t know who they were. Nessa sat up and grabbed Devin’s arm to keep him from swinging as the one neared the bed and she finally realized who it was.
“Ronan,” Nessa scolded the air around the bed. She couldn’t see exactly where he was, but had a general idea that he was near the bed. Devin was staring straight at empty space. Nessa looked to that space. “Ronan, show yourself before I let Devin have a go at you. And trust me; it won’t be as funny as you think it will.”
A red-haired, older, male version of Gemma appeared next to the bed. Devin didn’t need an explanation to know who he was. No one could mistake Ronan for anything other than Gemma’s sibling. Nessa felt Devin tense beside her. Devin looked across the room to the doorway. The person stayed hidden, but didn’t move into the room. Nessa sensed the same presence and didn’t doubt Devin. The sidhe obviously wasn’t going to show who they were, therefore Devin wasn’t about to let down his guard.
“Like he could fight me, Nessie. He’s only a day human,” Ronan stated, sitting down on the bed near her. “And what the heck are you doing bringing a day human home? Gemma told me that you brought one with you, but I didn’t believe her. I had to come see for myself.” Nessa rolled her eyes at the look Devin gave her. Gemma didn’t seem to understand the whole “tell no one that Nessa was home”, or follow her directions to wait to tell Ronan.
“You wouldn’t talk like that if you saw him fight,” Nessa replied, defending Devin. Devin shrugged like didn’t mind in the least being underestimated. Nessa was unsure if it was modesty or strategic planning, but she didn’t want to push it further if Devin didn’t want her to.
Ronan gave a hearty laugh. “A day human fighting a night human.” He laughed more. “That’s a good one. Mark my words. The day a day human can stand up to a night human equally is the day they make me king.”
Nessa rolled her eyes again. Ronan didn’t seem like the type that would ever believe a day human could fight fair in the night human world. Nessa was sure that Devin had run across many like that before, yet he didn’t have a single problem with the sidhe assassin they met. Night humans were always more bark than bite because they thought themselves to be superior. The bigger they were, the louder the thump was when they fell. Ronan was the prime example of what she hated about the sidhe world: chauvinistic males that thought they were better by not just being men, but by being night humans.
‘The second one is still standing just outside the doorway. He’s still watching us,’ Devin told Nessa. Devin kept a grip on his dagger beneath the sheet as he watched the second person guarding the doorway.
She searched the house with her mind to see if she knew who it was. There wasn’t a second person inside the building, she would’ve known immediately who it was if there was someone inside. She had put enough protection charms to tell her when someone entered that wasn’t invited. Ronan was technically invited. She had no clue who the mystery guest was, and they were staying far enough away for her to not be able to figure it out. Devin caught bits of her thoughts as she thought it. The bond had grown stronger.
“Who’d you bring with?” Nessa asked Ronan.
“No one. Why?” Ronan asked as he looked back to the doorway, confused.
“Because someone is right outside the doorway,” Nessa answered back. She was unsure if Ronan was telling the truth or trying to trick her.
Ronan looked to the doorway and shrugged. He flicked his hand and the door closed on its own. “Don’t know. I really came alone.” He held both his hands up in surrender. “Really.” Nessa shook her head. She always believed him when he surrendered. That was his one giveaway to telling the truth. When he lied, he tried to convince you more, but never gave up.
“No back-up to bring me in?” Nessa asked, more teasingly than anything. She didn’t doubt there was another person and that worried her. As long as the person wasn’t with Ronan, it was safe to be in her house still.
‘Assassins shouldn’t be able to enter other family compounds,’ she told Devin. ‘But is it an assassin?’
‘I can’t tell exact features. As a result I don’t know if it was the assassin,’ Devin replied.
“You’re going to fight with me when I actually came to collect you?” Ronan asked, eyeing Devin suspiciously. Devin wasn’t letting down his guard, even with the door closed.
“If I planned to put up a fight, I wouldn’t have come home,” Nessa replied, sighing at his suggestion. She was nowhere strong enough to refuse the council. The council consisted of the five families’ most powerful sidhe.
Devin stood and walked to the window. The mystery person was still out there. He was further back from the house, but he was still there. Devin watched him a bit as Nessa talked with her cousin.
“I need a protection spell on my place,” she told Ronan, but kept an eye on Devin. He was still in protection mode, and she didn’t blame him. Any sidhe lurking around was a problem when she didn’t want anyone to know she was back yet. “A blood spell,” she added to Ronan.
Ronan’s easy quip was silenced by her second statemen
t. He may have been in a jovial mood to finally have his cousin back, but now he finally could sense the energy around the room.
“I need to be protected,” she added without telling him more. Ronan had gotten the hint from Devin alone, but Nessa’s words were worrisome for the entire McKinny family.
“It wouldn’t matter. You won’t be here long enough for it to be worth setting,” Ronan replied.
Nessa whispered a few words and the air near the walls of the house changed. She needed to make a silent bubble around him to tell her cousin more. She needed Ronan on their side. Devin, who was at the window, stepped back from the magic. He may be able to see through it, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t affect him. Devin returned to the bed and sat down. Nessa looked up to him, and he nodded.
“Still there,” Devin added.
“Who’s still where?” Ronan asked.
Devin looked to Nessa and she nodded back to him, encouraging him to speak. She needed Devin to tell him as she was sure Ronan wouldn’t believe her if she did.
“Whoever tried to enter Nessa’s house with you,” Devin replied, not even watching for Ronan’s reaction.
Ronan laughed, but stopped when he looked at Nessa. She wasn’t laughing. “What kind of game is this?” Ronan asked. “Did Gemma put you up to this, cousin?” Nessa shook her head.
“This isn’t a game,” Nessa replied. “Devin can see through sidhe magic. He’s the only reason I’m still alive right now. Because he can see through the magic.”
Nessa left out the part where she was also responsible for being alive due to a spell, and she was sure Devin was noting that. Nessa loved and trusted her cousin, but she didn’t want to tell anyone about the protection spells she placed as a child. She never once thought her brother would try to kill her, yet he did. She wasn’t going to take any chances with her life, especially now that Devin’s was tied to hers.
“Cousin, you must have hit your head. He’s just a day human,” Ronan replied. Ronan eyed Devin over. “They may be good for a tasty snack, but not much for anything else, no offense,” he added to Devin. Devin shrugged. Nessa was sure he had been told his whole life how much day humans couldn’t do. Ronan was no different.