How had such bonds made a life for themselves?Had they been information merchants, Faerie weavers, artisans?Perhaps high-ranking courtiers, back when they had they hadCourtsand notthe Council.
Aisling’s next pat was to his hair.Unlike him, she had no claws.Perfectly normal nails she didn’t need to glamour to keep from ruining her clothes.Declan, meanwhile, spent far too much time whittling his six-inch, razor-sharp talons to a more manageable two inches that resembled his teeth more than anything.Crocodile teeth.
“Regarding that awful errand you sent me on,” she said.
“Mother, we’ve discussed this.”
Declan had spent centuries searching Faerie for a bond, only to be greeted by slamming doors and rejection.No one wanted an ambitious sluagh by their side.And, with the Council moving to make it yet more difficult to join their ranks, Declan was running out of time.
“Yes,” she said on a sigh.“We have indeed discussed my son’s desire to find a bond that will shorten his life by uncountable centuries.”
“Regarding the errand,” he prompted.
“I’ve come with two names.Tell me I am your very favorite mother and a gem.”
He wouldn’t get his hopes up.He wouldn’t.A human could turn him down, just as everyone else had.Seven refusals and only Tsuri, the very first option, had bothered anything more than a veneer of polite interest before sending an equally polite refusal.
“How did you managetwo?”
“Three, technically.One of them isn’t suitable.”She clicked her tongue in disapproval, nudging Declan away gently in favor of dropping dramatically onto a newly materialized chaise.“And I’vetoldyou, darling: you align with a large number of magics.You’re a candle in the dim recesses of Faerie.”
“Which few are keen to burn themselves on,” Declan muttered, reaching for the nearest clutter.Something to keep him busy.
“The sheer number of humans makes it easy,” Aisling continued as if Declan hadn’t interrupted.“I went to exactly two countries.If any of them don’t work out, there’s at least a few extra to look over.”
“Matches?”
“Countries.”Aisling frowned at him.“Keep up, heart of hearts.”
Declan smoothed out the stack of papers he had been putting together, his eyes on the soft edges.He took too long in answering and, worse, didn’t look at her.
“Declan,” Aisling said, achingly gentle.Declan didn’t respond.“Sweetling.Are you getting your hopes up or talking yourself down?”
“I am putting things away,” he replied, glancing up to meet her eyes.“You are my very favorite mother.You are a gem.Tell me about them?”
Aisling worried her lower lip, and he worried she might not answer.They’d argued endlessly over Declan’s plan.Cutting her favorite child’s life down to a maximum of four or so more centuries did not, shockingly, entice her.
“What are your feelings on changelings?”
“On– Pardon?”Declan paused, papers forgotten.“Your barghest friend is … very large?Competent.And Metara’s bond is,” a nigh-unfathomably powerful creature who watched people sidelong and enjoyed parties as much as Everil, “curious.Though I can’t fault his taste in boyfriends.”
Well, he could.Judah’s jotunn lover was nice enough.It was only, Declan always grated under too muchnice.Even if they came with impressive arms that were made for admiration.
“One of them happens to be a changeling.”Aisling studied her nails, nonchalant, as if she hadn’t just said somethingfascinating.And dangerous.Fascinating and dangerous.“We could weather the scandal.And you wouldn’t have to…”
Die.He wouldn’t have to die.
“Tell me everything.About both of them.”
“Just… my love, even a changeling, there’s no guarantee–”
“Please, Mother,” Declan said quietly, holding her gaze when Aisling looked up.“What’s a couple more, if they say no?They’ve been found; you may as well share what you’ve discovered.Indulge me.”
“You’re awretch.”Aisling sulked further into the chaise.Then she sighed and patted the cushion next to her.“Fine.Sit down, you spoiled child.”
“They’rebothabitintense, love.You must have a type.Don’t look at me like that.”
ThefirstwascalledKevin.
