It was for the best. Fianna told herself that over and over. Even though she knew it was the truth, she still didn’t like it. Nor did she particularly care for the fact that she had wanted him to stay and keep talking, despite their odd conversation.
She walked to the water, stood in the spot Rordan had been, and looked at the lough. Her thoughts were on Rordan and the mystery that seemed to surround him. He didn’t appear fervent about Dorcha’s plan, though just because Rordan wasn’t jumping up and down didn’t mean he wasn’t in agreement. Why then did Dorcha put him under such close scrutiny? Surely, it couldn’t be as Rordan suggested?
When they were kids growing up, she and Dorcha had hated each other, but she just assumed that’s how siblings were. Once their mother was gone, Dorcha modeled himself after their father as she went down a very dark, incredibly lonely road. Only after her father stepped in and forced her to reevaluate her life did she see what she had become.
During that horrendous time, the only one she had spoken to was her father. If Dorcha had been there, she hadn’t seen him. Dorcha approached her only after she had shaken off her old life for good. Though they were siblings, they were also strangers. With both her and Dorcha once more living with their father, they began learning about each other and eventually became friends.
Until tonight. She had seen the old hatred in his eyes. Maybe he was just having a bad night. She would talk to him tomorrow and see how he acted.
“Am I interrupting?”
She jerked her head to the side to see Ruarc smiling at her. She returned it and said, “Not at all.”
“I wasn’t going to bother you since you looked as if you were mulling something important over, but I wanted to see if you were all right.”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Ruarc stared blankly at her for a moment, then walked a few steps closer. “I saw what he did to you. How Dorcha grabbed you.”
“It was just a row between siblings.”
“I don’t agree with that. That kind of grabbing leads to more physical abuse.”
Fianna licked her lips and faced him. “I appreciate your concern. I really do. But it was just a spat. Besides, Dorcha knows better than to hit me. I’d have him unconscious in seconds.”
“And what is your excuse for how he treated Rordan? And me?”
“I don’t have one. I’m not privy to my brother’s thoughts. I don’t know what someone might have told him.”
Ruarc nodded solemnly. “My irritation isn’t aimed at you. I shouldn’t have asked you that question. I was looking for Rordan. Have you seen him?”
“He was here a few moments ago. He headed back to the manor.”
“Thanks,” Ruarc said and started to turn away.
Fianna reached out and put a hand on his arm to stop him. “Dorcha is having an off night. This isn’t him. You know that.”
“I don’t take kindly to threats. From anyone.”
She frowned as she took in his pinched lips that showcased his anger. “A good night’s sleep is all anyone needs. You’ll see. It’ll be fine in the morning.”
Ruarc bowed his head in response, then walked away. Fianna watched him, wondering why her brother had gone after both Rordan and Ruarc. There had to be something there, and she was going to find out what it was.
Fianna walked to her shoes and grabbed them before snapping her fingers, replacing the white jumpsuit with her usual black attire. Then she made the rounds of the estate as her conversation with Rordan went through her mind over and over again.
Chapter Nine
He’d had a chance to get some real information from Fianna, and instead, he’d let his anger boil over from his run-in with Dorcha. Rordan couldn’t believe he had been so stupid. Now, he would have to work extra hard to mend what he had fractured.
She had come to him. Fianna had sought him out. He still could hardly believe it. It certainly wasn’t something he’d expected her to do. He wanted to believe it was because she had wished to talk to him, but Rordan couldn’t help but wonder if Dorcha had sent her. With the way Fianna had spoken of their family, she’d let it be known that she would do anything and everything for them.
Rordan had seen the destruction the Others could cause. He’d seen the havoc they wrought on not just the Dragon Kings but also the Fae, Druids, and even the mortals. That was why he had such a difficult time understanding why anyone would go down that path again. It all came down to ego and power.
He thought about veiling himself and jumping into Dorcha’s office. The Fae likely had spells to alert him of anyone doing just that. Not to mention, Dorcha would expect someone to try something like that, so there was probably nothing there to find.
If he were to get information, then Rordan needed to go about it another way. After tonight and the confrontation, he wasn’t sure Dorcha would allow him into whatever organization he was putting together. The sad part was that everyone who came to the meetings believed that Dorcha would help unify the Fae.
But Rordan knew the truth. It was all a front for the Others. Those who bought into Dorcha’s eloquent speeches and charm would find themselves involved in something that could potentially be devastating to the Fae.
Rordan glanced around the dense woods as he slowed his pace. He veiled himself in case others were watching. After so many centuries as a Reaper, he was used to living in the shadows, and he didn’t like being out in the open as he was. He halted and moved off the path to simply listen to nature. He had no wish to return to his room, and he couldn’t leave Moorehall. Not yet, anyway. In order to finish his mission, he had to forget about his anger, as well as his mounting attraction to Fianna.
Just thinking about her brought her image to mind. He liked her hair down—the thick strands straight and glossy, adding an air of sophistication. She was a beauty in her shapeless, black guard attire, but she had been exquisite tonight in white. She had, quite literally, stolen his breath when he’d seen her walk into the dining room.
Ruarc had known what his reaction would be, too, because the Fae had been watching him the entire time. Rordan knew that he would’ve pursued Fianna had he met her in another life. Her quiet strength called to him. She had seen a lot in her years, but she had also overcome it.
Rordan thought about asking Death for Fianna’s background but decided against it. It wasn’t essential to know about the siblings to discern what they were doing. What he needed to uncover was how Dorcha was connected to the Others.
The sound of voices drew his attention. He swung his head around, trying to determine their location. It wasn’t at the lake, nor near the manor. They sounded much deeper in the woods. When Rordan heard Dorcha’s voice, he used magic to remove his suit and replace it with jeans, a tee, and his favorite boots. Then he veiled himself and began to move through the forest quietly. No one could see him, but they could hear him if he wasn’t careful.
Being able to stay veiled for as long as he wanted was just one of the perks of being a Reaper. Rordan called his knives to him, placing them all over his body. He pulled one from the strap that now lay across his chest and softly closed his fingers around the handle.
He finally found Dorcha and the four Fae males some distance from the manor. Two of the newcomers were Dark, and the other two were Light Fae. Without needing to listen to any words, Rordan could tell that Dorcha was frightened of them. Rordan had to admit, the four were intense individuals. Not just in their manner of all-black attire but in the way they held themselves. As if they feared nothing.