“What do you think?” he asked.
Kyran nodded. “River loves all kinds of lights like this. The way it shows the winding path is romantic.”
“I thought so, too.” Cael jerked his chin up ahead where the path gradually inclined. “I found a clearing up ahead that would be nice for the large tree.”
“Will you get that one?”
Cael bowed his head. “I’d be honored.”
The path Cael chose made it so there could be decorated trees on either side. When he turned to tell the others, he found they had come to that same conclusion.
“We’re going in order of when our mates arrived,” Talin said with a wink. He then pointed to the other side of the path. “You’re there.”
Kyran glanced at Baylon, who was deep in thought with his tree. A look at Talin told Kyran that his friend was also engrossed. So were the other Reapers. He took a deep breath and walked to the spot where he wanted to put his tree for River. With just a thought, the twelve-foot green spruce appeared, drenched in tiny lights. He smiled as he thought of her favorite color—peacock green.
While River might be quirky, she was also traditional. He considered that as he brought in bronze and clear ornaments in all shapes and sizes, laying them out before him on the snow. He smiled and added a few actual peacock ornaments as well as feathers. Then he looked back at the tree. He thought back to how meticulous River was when she’d decorated their tree at home.
The ribbon had gone first. He used his magic to materialize it as well as drape it around the tree. Only then did he hang each ornament, one by one. At the top of the tree, he used the peacock feathers, making the tree nearly as colorful as the bird itself.
Kyran was pleased with himself at the finished product. After one last look, he glanced around. He spotted a white tree with pale blue and silver decorations, a gold tree with navy ornaments, a green tree with blue, green, and gold plaid, a green tree with animal print everything, a flocked tree with pink lights and pink and white ornaments, and so many more.
He walked along the path, taking it all in. He listened to his friends’ laughter and conversation, his heart overjoyed at what they were doing. The dinner was that night, but he could hardly wait. Was this what human children felt like on Christmas Eve? He wanted to go get River right then and show her everything. Kyran managed to hold off because he knew the impact of seeing all the lights from the path and the trees at night would be spectacular.
When he finally reached the end of the path, he stared at a grand tree over twenty feet tall. It was right that the path ended at Erith’s tree. If it weren’t for her, none of them would be here now.
He glanced to the side and saw Cael walking up. “This is nice.”
“Too big?” Cael asked.
Kyran shook his head. “She’s a fekking goddess. This isn’t too big at all.”
It wasn’t long before the other Reapers joined them and surrounded the tree.
“Well?” Torin asked. “Who’s decorating this one?”
Kyran looked around him. “We all are. This is for Erith. From all of us. It needs to be about her.”
“Flowers,” Eoghan stated.
Bradach grinned. “Sugared fruits and berries.”
“Crystals,” Fintan said.
With every suggestion, the Reapers began adding to the tree. There were flowers in a multitude of colors. The sugared berries and fruits gave the tree some sparkle, but it was the crystals that really brought out the clear lights of the tree.
Kyran held out his hands and thought of the custom ornament for him and River to add to the tree. A box, wrapped with a simple bow, appeared in his hands. He set it beneath the lowest branches and stepped back to look at Erith’s tree before turning and looking at the others.
“The girls are going to love this,” Baylon said.
Rordan sighed softly. “I just wish Aisling could be here.”
“She’s doing what she has to do,” Balladyn said.
Everyone looked at him, but he said nothing more.
“It’s time to get back to our houses and get ready,” Daire said.
Rordan’s eyes crinkled as he handed Breac to Kyran. “I wonder what Fianna is going to wear. See you all later.”
Just as Kyran was about to teleport out, he saw Balladyn walking back down the path a ways to stand before a tree. Kyran wasn’t the only one to remain. Cael was there, as well.
“Go,” Kyran told Cael. “I’ve got this.”
Once Cael was gone, Kyran made his way to Balladyn. The slim tree he stood before was only seven feet tall but heavily flocked with snow, weighing the limbs down. There were a few white ornaments among the snow and lights and pinecones. The tree was simple.
“I don’t need to have a mate to craft a tree.” Balladyn turned his head, his eyes meeting Kyran’s. “I told you that you didn’t need to worry about me.”
“You’re family. We worry. It’s what we do.”
Balladyn’s lips curved slightly. “This is the first time in my life that I feel like I truly belong somewhere.”
“Because you do, brother.” Kyran clapped him on the back. “You’re welcome to come to the house and arrive with us for dinner. I know I wouldn’t turn down an extra pair of hands with Breac.”
Kyran waited as Balladyn searched his face. He hoped Balladyn didn’t hear the lie. Or that if he did, he realized it was coming from a good place.
Balladyn bowed his head. “I’d be honored.”
“Come, then. River will be ecstatic to have you there. Although,” he said with a frown, “she’s probably going to try to tell you what to wear.”
Balladyn snorted. “She only does that to you because you have no taste.”
“What?” Kyran asked, his mouth gaping as Balladyn teleported away. Kyran then laughed and jumped to his house.
Chapter Five
“Bloody hell, woman.”
River smiled at the husky sound of Kyran’s voice behind her. She lifted her gaze to the mirror and met his red eyes. They burned with desire, causing her stomach to flutter with excitement…and pleasure.
“You like it?” she asked.
He slowly made his way to her, coming up behind her with his eyes lowered. He placed his hands on the shimmery gray fabric, lingering on her waist for a moment before lowering to her hips. His left hand moved around to the slit over her left thigh and parted the skirt.
His gaze lifted, meeting hers. He held the connection as he lowered his mouth and placed a kiss on her bare shoulder. “You know how I love when your shoulders are bare.”
It was exactly why she had chosen this off-the-shoulder design. The skirt fell to just above her ankles, and the three-quarter-length sleeves would help to keep her warm. But she really loved how the dress accentuated her waist with the long slit giving it a sexy vibe.
“Minx,” he whispered and kissed her shoulder once more.
River turned in his arms. She was happy that she had left her hair down when he lifted a long, dark strand and played with the ends. “Just for you, sweetheart.”
“We can be late to the dinner, right?”
“Absolutely not,” she said with a laugh.
His eyes burned with desire. “Tonight, then.”