I scrubbed my eyes once. Twice. Three times.
No matter how many times I blinked, the sight in front of me remained unchanged.
My brother had fashioned some sort of sling across his chest and was wearing my son while Brogan snoozed away, his face scrunched up where it pressed against Rían’s shirt.
“What are you doing?” I whispered.
He glanced down at Brogan as if he’d forgotten the child was literally attached to him. “You did say to treat him like my favorite waistcoat.”
“I didn’t mean for you to wear the boy.”
Shrugging, he carried the book over to the desk. “Hagan likes it.”
“Who the hell is Hagan?”
“Do you know what Brogan means in the ancient tongue? Badger. Do you really want your son to be named Badger for the rest of his life? It makes him sound like a gowl.”
Of course I didn’t want my child to be named after one of the most terrible of all woodland creatures. Still, “You cannot rename my child without consulting me—hisfather.”
“He likes it. Don’t you, Hagan?”
By heavens, the boy smiled a sleepy smile.At my brother.
“What did you need?” Rían asked, as if I were interrupting some important business meeting.
“I…ah…nothing. Thank you. For today.”
He shrugged and flipped open the book in his hands. “You owe me.”
He probably expected me to jump down his throat and remind him who was in charge in this land. Instead, I did something that surprised us both. I agreed.
“I do,” I said. “And for more than this. For everything you’ve done since…well, since forever, really.” Tearmann would’ve fallen long before this if it weren’t for my brother.
“Yes, yes. I am better than you. I am wonderful. I am great.”
The urge to kill him returned with a vengeance, putting the world to rights once again.
Now all I needed was my soulmate by my side and for this damned blight to retreat, and my life would be complete.
33
KEELYNN
Being alonethis week had taught me a lot.
Mostly that I hated being alone.
It wasn’t that I minded my own company. I was used to it after having been married to “Edward”. Rather, if I were given the option, I’d spend my time with those I loved. And despite all his faults and failings, I still loved Tadhg. At this stage, I even missed Rían’s snarky comments and irritating smirk.
Aveen had promised to visit again this afternoon, to keep me occupied so I didn’t dwell on the fact that my third wedding to Tadhg was tomorrow. Assuming he got himself together in time for the ceremony.
When I went downstairs, I found not my sister but the man I’d been pining over, waiting in the living room. Had he always been this handsome?
The spark had returned to his mischievous eyes. His hungry gaze took me in like a man too long in the desert stumbling upon an oasis.
His dark green breeches slipped down his trim hips when he stood and offered a tentative smile. “Hello.”
I pressed my hands to my fluttering stomach. Even his voice sounded deeper, richer. “Hello.”