Eight – 04

“She didn’t love him the way that you—”

She held up a hand and I went quiet, staring at her. She smiled again and shook her head. “I know he cared for her and she for him. I know it’s not the same as he and I have been. But he still remembered her fondly, spoke of her with a kind of…I don’t know…softness to his voice that I didn’t often get to hear. I liked it, really. I owe her a debt.” Leinth stared at me for a long moment. “I owe you a debt, Marin.”

“You don’t owe me anything,” I whispered.

She laughed, a sound like winter wind making the icicles sing. “She taught him to be an attentive lover, Marin, and then you convinced your brethren to allow the Wild Hunt to remain here in exchange for Seamus’s freedom from them. I owe you—and her—more than I could ever hope to repay.” There was genuine warmth in her smile as she looked at me. “Though I’ll admit that won’t keep me from trying a little.”

I laughed, too, then got up to pour her a mug of tea. “Well, I’m glad that you’re glad. I was worried for a moment there.”

“My fearsome reputation—such as it is—must have gotten the better of you.” Her smile faded as she took the mug I handed her. “When I gave you that warning, Marin, all I wanted to do was make sure that his bloodline was safe. It was a warning, that’s all.”

“I know.” I sat back down and hugged a knee against my chest. “I forgave you for scaring us a long time ago.”

“After I helped save Phelan?”

“About then.” I took a deep swallow from my mug. “If you can’t thank me enough for Seamus, then I don’t think I can thank you enough for Phelan. We haven’t known him in this life for very long, but I can’t imagine life without him anymore.”

Leinth gave me a sympathetic look and a wry, lopsided smile. “He has that effect on people. Remind him to apologize sometime.”

I laughed, really laughed, and for the first time that day, I felt something close to normal again—and like maybe, just maybe, everything would be all right somehow.

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One Response to Eight – 04

  1. but of course it wont…… 🙂

    awesome as ever, keep it up!

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