“Idowant to wear it now,” I argued. “It’s beautiful and I want to show it off.”
He beamed as he helped secure it to my wrist, squeezing my hand before glancing at Catriona who was on his right. He pulled out an identical box and handed it to her.
I let out a quiet gasp as she opened it and shook her head. Her horse was a palomino, so the tail was blonde but otherwise it was identical.
“You’re closer than sisters, so I figured you’d want something matching,” Killian said.
Both Cat and I hugged him from each side and planted kisses on his cheeks.
“You’re the best big brother in all the world,” Catriona said, and he laughed.
“Remember that when I find a spider for your chair.”
Before she could respond, my father tapped a knife against his wine glass. “I’d like to say a few words…”
For the next hour, we ate eight courses in between speeches… or roasts at my expense, depending on who was giving the speech… then it was time for dancing, so everyone took a few minutes to freshen up, while I was whisked outside by my uncle, Brodie.
“I’m sorry for Killian, lass. He’s an idiot.”
I laughed. “He’s not, Uncle. He’s perfect just the way he is.”
“You’re lovely for saying so.” He smiled. “Yer mother mentioned you might want to ask me some questions, but it doesn’t have to be now. I just wanted to let you know you can ring me anytime.”
“How did you keep from going mad?”
He chuckled. “I didn’t.”
“I have no idea how long I have to wait. I can’t imagine what it was like waiting eleven years.”
“Or finding your mate when she was a child?”
“Oh, god, yes, that’s even worse.”
“I left because I knew I’d probably scare her,” he said, then waved his hands around his head. “The buzzing—”
“Holy hell, the buzzing is out of control,” I whispered.
“Aye, lass. It won’t stop unless you’re connected physically or bound.”
“Well, considering the fact he hates me, I’m going to have to live with it until we’re bound.”
“He doesn’t hate you, Isla. He literally can’t.”
“He acts like it.”
Brodie leaned against the wrought iron railing of the balcony. “He’s confused. Imagine what it would be like to have your whole life turned upside down by people you didn’t even know existed.”
I sighed. “I know. I’m sympathetic to that, but he’s such an arse.”
“We are men, lass. We were born to be arses,” he admitted. “The trick is helping us to be better.” He leaned forward. “And reading his mind when he doesn’t know you’re doing it is cruel.”
I gasped. “How would you know—?”
“You’re an empath, he’s an oracle. You’ve reached your ár mökunar, of course you can read his mind.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Damn.”
He smiled gently. “You need to tell him.”
