toward one of the Daughters."
Fascinated now, Liam eased a hip onto the comer of his desk. "What did you do?"
Donovan grinned. "Told them if they gave me a few more days, I'd convince Gwenn to marry me. Took me a little longer than I'd expected to win her family over to the idea, me being a baron and fine husband material, but in the end, I got the woman who owned my heart."
Liam looked away. "This isn't the same thing."
"For you? Or for Breanna?"
He felt the heat rising in his face and cursed softly.
"Liam..." Donovan shook his head. "Breanna is a grown woman. She's not
someone whose head will be turned by flattery or florid phrases whispered in the moonlight. We're prejudiced about the Fae. You know we are. We expect them to seduce women, enjoy them, and then leave. But I don't think Falco is going to leave. You see a man who wants to have sex with your sister. I see a man whose eyes light up whenever he sees her. I'm not saying you should actively do anything, I'm just saying you shouldn't stand in the way."
"I wasn't aware that I was," Liam muttered.
"Of course you weren't. But until you stop being a barrier between Breanna
and Falco, Lady Selena will continue thinking you're a jackass and you won't win any ground with her."
Liam shifted. "I don't know what you mean."
"Don't you?" Donovan smiled. "I've seen the way your eyes light up, too,
my friend."
Selena studied the small black dog yapping at the trees that bordered the large back lawn. "So. That's the dog you want to give me for my sister? He doesn't notice twenty strangers riding in with horses, but vigorously defends you against unwanted squirrels."
Breanna scowled. "Squirrels can be pests. Besides, he'll notice you.
Eventually."
"When?"
Before Breanna could reply, Fiona walked out of the manor house and came
toward them smiling. Introductions were made.
"Here," Fiona said. "I've packed an overnight bag for you."
"I didn't say I was doing this," Breanna muttered, staring at the bag on the
ground in front of her.
"You're doing it."
"Doing what?" Selena asked.
"She's going to spend the night in Tir Alainn," Fiona replied. "With Falco."
"I see."
Breanna shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "I should wait until
Liam gets back."
"No!" Fiona and Selena said. They looked at each other and smiled in understanding.
"You don't have to be afraid of falling off the shining road," Fiona said.
"You're riding double with Falco."
"I'm not afraid." Breanna narrowed her eyes. "I never said I was afraid."
"And if the Fae get all snotty about a witch being in their Fair Land, you can
just threaten to call up a wind that will spin their little piece of their world like a child's top. That'll impress them."
A snort of laughter escaped before Selena could prevent it.
"See? Selena agrees with me."
Breanna turned her narrowed eyes on Selena. "I could phoof you."
"Do something better with your time," Selena replied. "Go up to Tir Alainn, find a room with a bed and a stout lock, and let the man seduce you until you're breathless."
"Blessings of the day, ladies," Falco said, leading his horse up to where they
stood.
Selena looked back and noticed how the grins on all the escorts' faces disappeared when Breanna turned to stare at them. Falco looked adorably nervous, although she hoped his nerves settled before he got Breanna into bed.
"Are you ready, Breanna?" Falco asked.
"I-".
"Yes, she is." Fiona snatched up the bag and handed it to Falco. He tied it to
the saddle, mounted, then held out a hand for Breanna. When she didn't
move, Fiona grabbed her arm and tugged her toward the horse.
"Stop that," Breanna hissed. "Since everyone knows why we're going to Tir
Alainn, why don't we just strip naked and have sex in the middle of the lawn?"
"While that would be handsomely entertaining for the rest of us," Selena
said, grabbing Breanna's other arm, "you really should have a bit more
privacy the first time."
"You'll look after Gran?" Breanna said when she was mounted behind Falco.
"I'll look after everything," Fiona promised. "Just forget the world for one
night."
Falco urged his horse into a canter and headed for the woodland trail that would take them to the shining road. They disappeared into the trees just as a blond-haired girl walked out of the kitchen.
The strength of the need to change into a shadow hound and attack was the only thing that kept Selena from making the shift. One look at this girl, a complete stranger, and she wanted to rip flesh, taste blood.
"What do you want, Jean?" Fiona said.
"Where's Breanna?" Jean demanded in a sulky voice.
"She's gone for a few hours."
"Where?"
"What do you want?"
The flash of hostility in the girl's eyes made Selena snarl. She took a step
toward the kitchen door, watched Jean's eyes widen with apprehension. She took another step.
Jean dashed inside the kitchen and slammed the door.
Selena turned on Fiona, who paled. "Who is she?"
"She's"-Fiona nervously cleared her throat-"she's kin. She isn't being pampered the way she thinks she's entitled to be. And she's jealous of Breanna."
With effort, Selena leashed the shadow hound side of her nature.
Fiona shrugged. "It's Jean's nature to be petty and spiteful. She wants to be married to a wealthy gentry man or, barring that, have a Fae Lord who will shower her with lavish gifts. Since none of the men have shown interest in providing for her and some are now openly hostile after being entangled in
one of her love charms, she's even more resentful of Falco's affection for