“The laptop won’t work here. No tech in Talamh.”
For a moment, he—a worshipper of technology—could only stare. “You are shitting me. You can travel the multiverse, light candles across the room, grow wings, but you don’t have Wi-Fi?”
“It’s a thing. I’ll explain everything. I promise. Tomorrow, we’ll go back through, and to the cottage—our cottage on the bay. And you can read, and call Sally. You’re going to want a couple of nights off. We’ll just—we’ll say you decided to come back to Ireland with me for a few days, get me settled in again. You can’t tell him any of this, Marco.”
His eyes filled with dread. “We have to go through one of those portals again?”
“Yes, but it’ll be easier. I promise. Come on, you need food, and you need some sleep. Tomorrow … we’ll deal with everything else tomorrow.”
“How much else is there?”
“A lot.” She stroked his face, his clever little beard. “A big lot of else.”
“You were afraid to come back. I could see that. If it’s all magicks and faerie wings, why were you afraid?” He looked toward where Keegan and the others had gone. “Not of any of them. I could see that, too.”
“No, not of any of them. It’s a long story, Marco. For tonight, let’s just say there’s a Big Bad.”
“How big?”
“Big as they come. I’d be stupid not to be afraid, but I’m stronger than I was. And I’m going to get even stronger.”
He took her hand when he got to his feet. “You were always stronger than you thought. If this place helped you see that, it gets some points.”
“This place, these people, and others I want you to meet before you go home.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “Now let’s eat, because I can smell that stew, and I’m starving.”
He let it go, mostly because he couldn’t fit any more in his head at one time. Though after he ate he didn’t expect to sleep, he dropped off the moment he rolled into the bed Keegan showed him.
The rooster woke him, which was strange enough. Added to it, he woke in a room not his own with a low fire simmering in a hearth, pale sunlight streaming through the lacy curtains at the windows, and the unsettling realization that none of the night before had been a dream.
He wanted Breen, and coffee, and a long, hot shower, and wasn’t sure where to find any of them.
He got up, and the fastidious Marco saw he’d slept in his clothes. Maybe one of the smoking-hot brothers could lend him something to wear after he got that shower.
He looked at his watch—one that let him keep track of his sleep, his steps, as well as the time—and frowned at the black display.
He crept out of the room—who knew what time it was—and tiptoed his way downstairs.
He heard voices—girl voices—and followed them into the kitchen he’d seen the night before.
At a little worktable that doubled as a small eating space sat Breen and Morena.
Breen popped up. “You’re awake. I thought you’d sleep longer.”
“There was a rooster. I think.”
“Well, it is a farm. Sit, I’ll get you some tea.”
“Coffee, Breen. My life for coffee.”
“Oh. Well.”
He could only cover his eyes with his hand. “Don’t tell me that.”
“The blend of tea’s really strong. Next best thing. Hungry?”
“I really need a shower.”
She sent him that sorry look again. “Oh. Well.”
Now he sat, put his head in his hands. “How does anybody get through a day here without coffee, without showers?”
“We’ve WCs—water closets,” Morena told him. “And nice big tubs.”
“Marco’s not a tub person.”
“You’re just sitting there in the dirt you washed off.”
“You’ve a point there, don’t you?” Morena decided. “I can do you a shower outside.”
“You can?”
“Faeries are connected to the elements. You want a spot of nice warm rain, I can help with that. Outside, of course.”
“Sure, of course. Outside.” He took the cup Breen held out, gulped down tea. Blinked. “I think the enamel just melted off my teeth. Any chance of borrowing some fresh clothes?”
“There’s less of you than there is of Harken, but I can get you a shirt and trousers. Let’s find a spot for your shower.” She opened a cupboard, took out a cake of brown soap. “I like your braids,” Morena said as she opened the back door. “I wouldn’t have the patience to do so many. The far side of the little silo, I think. Private enough.”