Looking away, I saw Caom swaying drunkenly and eyeing up a group of selkies. I pounced on my chance to make an easy exit, slipping away and walking hurriedly from the glow of the burning pyre.
As I started walking back to the cottage, excitement warmed my blood, chasing away the uncomfortable sensation I’d experienced as I watched the Folk burn their tribute to the seelie fae.
My shoulders unclenched when the raucous laughter and shrieks and music faded. The air was already freezing now and felt heavy with impending snow. The icy grass crunched under my boots as I walked, pulling my coat tighter around me, grateful for my gloves.
I hoped I’d get back to the cottage before Lonan so that I’d have time to light the fire and make sure it was warm for him when he arrived. But as I approached the little stone building on the edge of unseelie land, I saw the crow sitting on its roof and smiled.
I heard the flap of its wings as I opened the cottage door, and then Lonan’s hands were cupping my shoulders from behind. Warm lips pressed against my neck above the collar of my coat.
“How was it?” I asked as we stepped inside, turning to face him as I shrugged off my coat. He was still wearing that sleek black armour.
He shrugged uncomfortably. “The same as it always is. Barbed words and veiled threats.”
I wanted to ask what actually happened—how the power was transferred—but I didn’t think he’d want to get into all of that tonight. Besides, it was his birthday. Fuck the Carlin and the other queen and their pathetic little feud.
“Let me light the fire and then we’ll eat,” I said as I tugged off my boots. “I made the stew you like. And some bread for you to have later when you’re hungry again. And marmalade.”
“I’ll light it,” he said, following me into the living room. I heard his breath hitch, like he wasn’t sure what to say, before he asked, “Did you… make those things for me?”
I turned to face him with a grin, crossing the distance between us and kissing him.
“Of course. For your birthday.” Then I wrapped my arms round his neck, feeling his hands slip beneath my shirt to palm my skin. “Happy birthday.”
Lonan gazed at me, his eyes dark and solemn, but they tightened with a rush of want before he leaned in and kissed me hard.
“Thank you,” he murmured when we broke apart.
I gave his firm backside a pat, grinning at him again before stepping back. “Okay, you light the fire and I’ll get our dinner.”
I felt flushed already as I made my way into the kitchen, feeding the hearth a fresh log before grabbing two wooden bowls. The stew was fragrant with thyme and meat as I ladled it into the bowls, then got two cups to fill with water. I’d make us tea later, after cleaning out the cauldron.
Lonan had lit the fire and the candles dotted around the living room—and bedroom—by the time I got back. My gut clenched at the sight of the candlelight flickering in the bedroom. I wondered what he would want to do later when we inevitably stumbled to the bed.
We sat cross-legged on the rug to eat, closer to the fire as it slowly started warming up the cool room. I told Lonan about the potion I was thinking of trying, just a silly little one that would create a special feed to make my hens’ eggs even larger.
Once we’d finished, I took our bowls into the kitchen and collected his presents. Lonan’s eyes tracked them with a hint of confusion as I carried them into the living room and sat down, placing them on the rug between us.
“What are those?” he asked.
I laughed. “Your birthday presents.”
He slowly looked from the pile to me. “You… got me presents?”
“Of course I did.” I flushed and gestured at the small pile. “I couldn’t get you much, but hopefully you like them. And I’m sure you have whatever you want at the court, but… they’re just little things.”
“I’ve never—” He stopped himself, swallowing hard as he stared at the gifts wrapped in brown paper and twine. “Thank you.”
I was fairly certain of what he’d started to say, and the burning urge to march into the palace and punch the Carlin and her other sons in the face made my jaw clench. She was a fool for not seeing how wonderful he was. For trying to mould him into nothing but a cold, unfeeling assassin because that was what suited her.
“Start with these ones,” I said, picking up the wrapped bags of chocolate-covered almonds and ginger and passing them to him. “They’re just little things, because I wanted to make you a cake but couldn’t work out how.”
I forced myself to shut up, knowing I was ruining the surprise before he’d even opened them. Lonan’s fingers were hesitant as he carefully undid the string and pulled away the sides of the paper, like he didn’t even want to rip it.
He looked up at me with a tiny smile after unwrapping the treats. “I like these very much.”
“I thought you would.” I grinned and nodded at them. “We can have them later for dessert. Before you have your bread and marmalade.”
He ate even more than I did, his appetite voracious. It soothed something in me to feed him here, to see him relaxed enough to eat and drink while he lounged on the sofa or in bed with me.