“I must leave,” Bridget said and bid the sisters goodbye, leaving them to themselves. Alina took Ceana with her as they socialized with people they knew.
As the feast drew to an end, Alina realized that Ceana had consumed more mead than she should have.
“Ye should stick with me, ye silly girl.”
Ceana giggled. “’ Tis nae so much I drank. I can stand perfectly fine,” she said in a giggly voice, causing Alina to sigh.
“Do nae giggle so much.”
“Oh, look, here comes Torcall,” Ceana whispered louder than she should have.
“I’m sorry I didnae find ye earlier,” he said to the pair.
“There is nae need to apologize,” she said flirtatiously,
“But I must nae forget my manners,” he said.
Alina, growing tired of their flirting, decided to say hello to a friend at the other side of the room, living with her sister with Torcall.
“Did I,” Ceana put her hand on his strong arms, “say thank ye to ye for helpin’ us out with Tam?” With confidence she hadn’t known existed, she stroked his arm very subtly.
Torcall looked down on her arm and then back at her with a bashful look.
“Ye did, but I do nae mind hearin’ it again,” he said.
“Good because I want ye to ken that I am grateful.”
His arms felt amazing. Days ago, she had only been able to imagine him and feeling the strength of his muscles beneath her fingertips, but now, here she was—touching him. She looked up at him, and when he smiled back, she realized she wanted more.
She opened her mouth to speak then stopped. What exactly was she doing, clarity forced her to ask? But Ceana refused to pause. For some reason, she thought to herself, she had more courage than ever before. This was a moment she had, one that might never arise again. She would be damned if she let it pass.
“Torcall?”
“Yea?”
“I crave some fresh air, and Alina is nae here to go with me. Would ye?”
“Of course,” he nodded and offered her his arm, which she took gladly.
As they walked to the balcony, Ceana’s heart beat loudly. She could not believe that she would finally be alone with Torcall. Her steps were slightly uneven, but she knew that it was her nerves and nothing more. She hoped steadfastly that Alina would not choose that moment to return.
Finally, they stepped into the privacy of the balcony, and she gave a sigh of relief and turned to Torcall with a massive smile on her face.
“I have ne’er seen anyone so pleased about taking in some breeze,” he said teasingly, and Ceana giggled.
“’ Tis nae the thing itself, ‘tis the who,” she said and looked up into the skies. “‘Tis so beautiful tonight,” she sighed. “Me ma used to tell me that fae princesses lived in the skies and that the stars were the precious stones on their crowns. I wanted to be a beautiful fae so desperately,” she laughed.
“Well, ye are nae fae—or I hope nae, but ye are as beautiful.”
Ceana turned to him with a blush on her face and looked away.
“Thank ye,” she smiled.
“I speak only the truth.”
Ceana blushed and looked into his eyes once more, struck by the blueness of them. His skin looked so smooth that she had no choice but to lift her hands to his face and stroke it gently.
“Ceana?” he said gently but did not take her hands away. Instead, he stepped closer to her. “Did I tell ye how beautiful ye are?” he asked in a hoarse voice.
