Blood And Breath

14

The tough-guy persona Fergus had just displayed in sending Daeglan away had been a far cry from his normal warm personality. One of the few Druids born outside of Ireland, Fergus was originally from Scotland and had moved to Belfast later in life. He had red hair like me, but where I tended to be more reserved, he was outgoing and vivacious in a way that captivated everyone’s attention. “Ach, that man. I hope he wasn’t bothering you, lass,” grumbled Fergus in his heavy Scottish brogue as he closed the door behind me. “Not exactly. I got into an argument with my mom, and Daeglan took it upon himself to smooth things over,” I explained as we walked toward my workstation at the visitor’s desk. “That sounds about right—he’s always thinking he knows best.” I gave him a tight smile and set down my bag, unable to shake the sense of unease that had settled over me from Daeglan’s words. “Fergus? Could the council force me to retake my lessons if they thought I was behaving out of line?” He c****d his head to the side and looked at me as if I had told him it was perfectly acceptable to wear white shoes all winter. “Don’t be daft! If the likes of you is a problem for the council, then we’re all in trouble. Besides, now that the Fae know about us, what is there to enforce? Our secrecy? It would be a little late for that. You just ignore whatever it was Daeglan said, you understand?” I smiled at the amazing man I was lucky enough to call my boss. “Thank you, Fergus. You’re pretty awesome, you know that?” “It’s all a part of being fabulous—a burden I proudly bear.” He accented his point with an exaggerated bow before scurrying off toward his office. OceanofPDF.com Chapter Six OceanofPDF.com CAT More than happy to latch onto Fergus’s advice, I decided to plan my next outing to Strabane. Rebecca and the others had their hands full tracking down an Unseelie creature that had been killing young women in the city. I was little help in their investigation, but I could at least ease her burden by visiting Fenodree. In all honesty, I didn’t need a reason beyond my own burning curiosity. Questions about him had consumed my thoughts in the days since I’d met Fen. He had been relatively quiet and stoic, but all things considered, he had also been surprisingly normal. How could someone who had been through such hardships still function as if none of it had ever happened? I wouldn’t have been surprised had he been half feral after living alone for so long. Everything about the man and his situation captivated me. When my mom told me she would be visiting her sister all day Friday, I decided it was the perfect opportunity to see him again. Cara was Mom’s only living relative. She lived some hours away near Clifden in County Galway, but we rarely saw her. The two didn’t get on well. Any curiosity I might have had about why Mom was going to see her sister was quashed by my relief at escaping her constant watchful eye. If she was going to be gone for the day, I wouldn’t ask questions. I arranged for another worker to fill in for me at the visitor’s desk and let Becca know my plans. First thing Friday morning, I left for Strabane. By the time I arrived at his hotel, I had chewed my nails to the quick and started to second-guess my decision to come alone. Chiding myself, I tried to remember that the visit was not about me. Fen needed our help, and I wouldn’t abandon him just because the situation was intimidating. I quietly knocked on the door, and before long, I was gazing again into his impenetrable dark eyes. “Hey, Fenodree. I’ve come by for a visit. I hope my timing isn’t a problem.” His brows drew together as he peered around the hallway. “Has Rebecca come with you?” Was he annoyed that I’d come alone? “N-No,” I stammered. “I had the chance to come out, and she was busy … I hope you don’t mind.” His lips thinned, but he shook his head and stepped aside to let me in. “Of course not, come in.” Not the most convincing denial. I tried to keep the sting at bay. Fen was complicated, and I wouldn’t do myself any favors reading into every word he uttered. I walked to the chair I’d occupied at my last visit and set down my backpack before curling up in the chair, knees drawn up to my chest. Fen stood stiffly at his post against the wall not far from me. In the silent room, it became painfully obvious that I had not considered how our interaction would go without Becca’s outgoing personality to grease the wheels. “How have you been?” I asked hesitantly. “I have been well,” he replied formally. Well, fabulous. This was off to a delightful start. Just as I started to contemplate grabbing my bag and running from the room, I recalled the items I’d brought with me. “I almost forgot! I brought you some things,” I said as I lowered my feet to the ground and pulled my backpack onto my lap. “Becca said you could read—I hope it doesn’t offend you that I asked. Anyway, she said you weren’t big on television, so I brought a book you might like. I imagine sitting in this room gets pretty boring, although maybe you’re used to boring.” My spine stiffened, and I turned wide eyes to Fenodree. “I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant. I just meant it must have been boring while you were in exile, being all alone. Not that you, yourself, were boring.” Spectacular, Cat. Could you make a bigger fool of yourself? Not likely. Fen’s posture relaxed, and he released a sigh as if in exasperation. “I am not offended, and I appreciate your concern.” My cheeks heated as I bit down on my lip. “Most of what I read is romance books, and I didn’t figure that would interest you. In school, we read a book called, The Hobbit. It can be a little heavy at times, but it’s about a group of people who go on a grand adventure. Since you seem to be the rugged, adventurous type, I thought you might like it.” I handed the book to him and waited as he gave a cursory flip through the pages.