Thom just held me for a few long moments, resting his cheek against my hair. \u201cHas she seen Neve yet?\u201d he finally asked, breaking the silence.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t move, just stayed pressed against his chest. A raindrop spattered against the back of my hand. I decided I didn\u2019t care unless it started pouring. \u201cI don\u2019t think so, not unless they saw each other before I met Aoife and Gray.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGray?\u201d<\/p>\n
My nose wrinkled. Thom stepped back, trying to hold me at arms\u2019 length. I reluctantly let him, though I put up a small struggle in an effort to prevent it.<\/p>\n
\u201cMar,\u201d he said softly, \u201cwho\u2019s Gray?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I were to venture a guess? Her lover.\u201d I smiled weakly. \u201cThey all seem to show up with a lover or something, don\u2019t they?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSeamus didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSeamus came with a freaking army<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Thom smiled crookedly. \u201cPoint.\u201d He looked away from me as a raindrop splashed against his nose, his gaze drifting up to the sky and the gray clouds above. \u201cForge or back to the fire?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think I\u2019d rather stay up here for a little while,\u201d I admitted. \u201cI\u2019m not sure if they were going to argue or not, but either way, I think I\u2019d rather steer clear of it for a little bit. I\u2019ve never seen them actually<\/em> fight and I\u2019m not sure I have the fortitude for it right now.\u201d<\/p>\n His eyes crinkled at the edges, expression a mix of fondness and concern. \u201cBecause you\u2019re tired?\u201d<\/p>\n It was as good of a way to put it as any. I nodded slightly. \u201cSomething like that, anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n Thom looked like he might have wanted to press, but he mercifully let the comment pass. \u201cLet\u2019s get inside before it starts pouring.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood idea.\u201d<\/p>\n He tucked me under his arm and we headed back up to the forge. I could hear my brother\u2019s voice mingling with J.T.\u2019s and Cameron\u2019s as we got close, though the words were muffled by the walls and the sound of my brother\u2019s hammer against the anvil within. Thom let go of me as we reached the door and ducked in first, leaving me to follow. As I slipped under cover, I caught a glimpse of Thom picking up his sketchbook and flipping it to a clean page.<\/p>\n I smiled wryly at that. There had been a couple of sketchbooks that had been off-limits for the past few months and I suspected I knew the reason why.<\/p>\n I\u2019d rather let him surprise me with something good rather than something bad, though. Let him keep his secrets\u2014at least, these secrets.<\/em><\/p>\n Matt looked up from the anvil, his face smeared with soot but his expression cheerful. \u201cHey Mar. Everything okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, just newcomers,\u201d I said as I sat down next to Thom. He tucked his sketchbook behind us and motioned for J.T.to hand him one of the swords that needed honing.<\/p>\n \u201cNewcomers?\u201d Cameron echoed. He was tucked into a corner, one arm wrapped around his midsection as he slowly pulled the bellows with his other hand, looking pale even in the forge\u2019s glow.<\/p>\n \u201cNewcomers,\u201d I repeated, brows knitting as I peered at him. \u201cYou look like you should be in bed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI needed to get up,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m sore, not dying. Kind of like your husband.\u201d<\/p>\n Thom made a face as he started honing the blade J.T. had given him. \u201cYou took the worst of that exchange.\u201d<\/p>\n J.T. just looked at me. \u201cYou had to say it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone had to,\u201d I said, giving him a level look.<\/p>\n He snorted and shook his head. \u201cWhatever. Cameron\u2019s got about another forty-five minutes before I send him back to bed. Less if Neve shows up to worry with you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not worried,\u201d I said, leaning back. Next to me, Thom snorted. I sighed. \u201cOkay, maybe a little.\u201d<\/p>\n Thom kissed the corner of my mouth. \u201cIt wouldn\u2019t be you if there wasn\u2019t a touch of worrying going on. It\u2019s part of who you are.\u201d<\/p>\n I smiled crookedly. \u201cYeah. I guess you\u2019re right.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Thom just held me for a few long moments, resting his cheek against my hair. \u201cHas she seen Neve yet?\u201d he finally asked, breaking the silence. I didn\u2019t move, just stayed pressed against his chest. A raindrop spattered against the … Continue reading