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“Come on, Colleen. You two join me in the kitchen while I finish up and let the two youngsters get to know one another.” My treacherous mother grabbed her friend’s hand, and they disappeared around the corner with Jimmy close on their heels. “The house smells great—is that lamb?” asked Brandan as he ambled over to where I leaned against the doorframe. “Yes, roast leg of lamb with soda bread, if I’m not mistaken.” My words were clipped, but that didn’t seem to deter his advance. “Mom told me a little about you. Said you like to make jewelry. Is that right?” My mom had never seen my jewelry as a passable career, so I was surprised to find she had shared that tidbit with my chosen suitor. “Yes, I’d love to make jewelry professionally someday.” “That sounds like it would be a great little hobby.” He tilted his head to the side. Little hobby? What a jerk! My arms crossed over my chest, a clear sign of my agitation, which he also ignored as he stepped yet closer. “And you? What is it you do?” I asked, barely containing my irritation. His chest puffed out proudly, signaling that I should prepare to be amazed. “I’m almost through with my finance degree. I’ll be working in a bank soon enough.” “That sounds fascinating.” Hello, sarcasm. Brandan, too full of himself to be aware of context clues, continued on obliviously. “Yes, it’s a great position to hold for our people. The elders are very pleased.” If I heard the words “our people” or “elders” again, I was certain I would scream. “It sounds like dinner is ready.” Not waiting for a response, I blew past Brandan into the dining area. Our parents had already taken their seats, the two women talking animatedly while Jimmy browsed his phone. I took the chair farthest from my mother. As soon as Brandan sat down, Mom said a ritual blessing over the food, and we all began to make our plates. The table was made to seat four, but we managed to squeeze in all five of us with some jostling elbows and carefully arranged plates. “Mrs. Murphy, this looks delicious,” Brandan offered. “I can only hope you’ve passed your cooking skills on to your daughter.” He winked at me in what was likely an attempt at flirtation but fell flat where I was concerned. “Actually, I’m not a fan of cooking,” I deadpanned, receiving raised eyebrows from Jimmy as he shoveled an oversized bite of lamb into his mouth. Not to be deterred, Brandan gave a conspiratorial look at my mother. “Well, I’m sure we can work on that.” The man was unbelievable. Every word out of his mouth was patronizing, and he was entirely too pompous to have the slightest clue. Even more upsetting, my mom ate up every word. Smiling coyly as if she was the object of his affection, Mom simpered. “Ach, I’ve tried to teach her, but she can be willful, that one.” It’s as if I’m not even in the room. What a fecking nightmare! Worse than being invisible—it was as if I was an animal in a cage on display, my value being openly negotiated. The lights on the ugly gold chandelier overhead were suddenly too bright, and I wished there had been something stronger than water in my glass. It was probably best there wasn’t because there was no telling what I would have said had my tongue been any looser. The remainder of their visit marked some of the longest hours of my life. I did my best to keep my head down and not act out the fantasies I was envisioning. While upending the table and spewing rage-filled words at my mother might have seemed like a good idea, I would regret it later. Instead, I considered the evening my parting gift to my mother. She didn’t know it yet, but I was already gone. OceanofPDF.com Chapter Ten OceanofPDF.com FENODREE I had not been sure Cat would come for a third visit, but she surprised me yet again. Most people would have avoided the person who had seemingly rejected them. But not the little Druid. I was aware she had misunderstood my reaction to our kiss. While I had not intended to hurt her, the source of my shock was not something I had been ready to vocalize. For so many years, I had been left to wonder if my magic would return to me should I ever have escaped the Shadow Lands. I had imagined every possible scenario on the spectrum—from one end where my magic was fully restored to the other where it was gone forever and everything between. For centuries, I had waited and wondered. The question had certainly not been forgotten upon my arrival on Earth. The first few nights after my return, I debated incessantly about finding a woman to put an end to the uncertainty. I had eventually decided that I had lived so long without magic that there was little reason to rush foolheartedly into the situation. Even more persuasive was the sizeable part of me that had been afraid of the answer. I had delayed testing my ability to charge my old magic back to life, but when Cat’s lithe body pressed against mine, the situation had unintentionally presented the answer. Her desire had wafted off her in waves. I had not yet mentally prepared for that moment, nor did I believe Cat was the proper person to use for that purpose, but I lost myself to the sensation. When our lips came together, all thoughts were abandoned. I was nothing but exquisite need, desperate to devour her sweet taste. Liquid fire burned through my veins, and a long-forgotten possessive urge pounded like a drum in beat with my racing heart. I was instantly swept up in a tidal wave of hunger, that is, until a single thought broke through the lust and sealed my fate. Not even a woman’s arousal is enough to revive my magic. It is lost forever
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