She waved her hands in the air, and got a shout-out from Marco as he and Brian stood in the paddock rubbing down their horses. “Who’d’ve thought a gay Black guy from Philly would slide right into life in Talamh, and fall for a dragon-riding Sidhe? I so wish Sally could see him.”
“Maybe one day Marco will take Brian to meet Sally.”
Breen gave Morena and the idea a huge grin. “That would be fantastic.”
Bollocks bounded ahead to greet the new arrivals, then dashed over to dance around Mab, a teenage boy, and Aisling’s two children. The boys immediately wrestled Bollocks to the ground and fell on him.
“Did those two ruffians behave for you then, Liam?”
“Ah, it was a battle, but I won. Nah, in truth we had a fine time, and I’ll confess, we ate the last of the ginger biscuits and left not a crumb behind.”
“They’re made to be eaten, after all.”
“Don’t go!” Finian wrapped his arms around Liam’s legs. “Stay and play with us some more.”
“I’ll be back another time, but I’ve got to be off. And you mind your ma, ya pirates, or you’ll be walking the plank.”
“Yo ho!” Kavan shouted.
With a laugh, Liam changed from teenage boy to young stag and ran over the field toward the woods.
The boys immediately raced to Aisling to tell her about playing pirates and plundering the seas.
“I have my glove.” Finian tugged on it from where it hung in his belt. “Could I practice with Amish?”
Morena glanced back to where the hawk perched on the wall. “He seems agreeable. Where’s Harken?”
“He went off with Keegan and Da. They came back but went off again. They said they’d be back before supper. Can I practice now?”
“Put the glove on. I’ve got them for a while here, Aisling.”
“Sure if you do, I’ll use the farm kitchen and cook for the lot of them. You and Marco and Brian are welcome, Breen.”
“Thanks, but we should get back before much longer.”
“You’re free to change your mind. Send them in when you’ve had enough of them, Morena.”
“Be sure I will.”
With Morena entertaining the children, Breen met Marco halfway as he walked from the paddock. “How was the ride back? You wouldn’t believe the night I had! But I had the best day!”
He angled his head, smiling as he gave her a long look. “Been day drinking, girl?”
“Yes, and it was fabulous. I have so much to tell you. Is Brian staying or does he have to go back?”
“He’s staying. They’re putting more troops in the valley, for the waterfall portal thing. So I want to ask if it’s okay if he stays at the cottage at night, you know, with me, when he’s not on duty.”
“Well, duh!” She gave him a big hug, then snuggled right in. “It’s your cottage, too. Roomies!”
“Some serious day drinking.”
“I should probably take a nap, but I don’t want to. I feel so good. I feel like everything’s going to be okay because, damn it, we’re the freaking good guys. Or maybe because I’ve been drinking champagne made by faeries. One of those.”
“I’m going to have to get me some of that. Breen’s been drinking champagne,” he told Brian when he joined them.
“Sidhe or Elfin?”
“Sidhe.”
“Best there is. And no matter how much you drink, it won’t give you a head to regret it in the morning.”
“It’s wonderful. I punched Keegan.”
“What?” Marco yanked her back. “When? Why?”
“He took my clothes off in front of everybody and threw me in the river. We sealed the breach, but I punched him. It’s a long story, but I’m mostly okay with it now since he explained.”
“We know you’ve closed the breach,” Brian began, “as we met them briefly on the journey back. Sure I’d like to hear the rest of the story, but I should go see if I’m needed at the portal.”
“I’ll take your things over,” Marco told him.
“It’s all right then if I spend time at the cottage?”
“Absolutely, a hundred percent.” Breen wrapped him in a hug, sighed out happiness. Then murmured in Brian’s ear, “Hurt him, and I’ll turn you into a pig and roast you for dinner.”
His laugh rumbled against her. “I believe you would.” His eyes twinkled at Marco. “You have a fierce and frightening friend in Breen Siobhan.”