Gift of the Realm Read Free Page B

over the raising of his and Saraid’s
twins, a son and daughter, to their human grandparents. In effect, he’d lost
them, too.
    “Your
entire family was lost to you,” Colin pressed, pointing a finger at him. “That
was your destiny. Tell me, Owein, King of the Fairies, where is your
joy?”
    A
gust of wind had swirled through the gazebo on Owein’s deep sigh.
    “My
joy and my destiny wait on you young Quinn. And on the girl.
You’ve shared the dreams. You know, as well as I, the two of you are destined
to break the curse. Our descendants you be, mine and Saraid’s. Though, I find
it hard to believe royal, fairie blood runs in the veins of one such as you.
The girl now,” he continued contemplatively, “she doesn’t shy from answering
the pull of her fairie legacy. The blood is strong in that one. The dreams
can’t be comfortable for one so young, and yet she bears them.”
    “Dreams
you force upon her,” Colin charged, “upon the both of us, manipulating us to
your will.”
    “Not
so,” Owein denied, his bottle-green eyes narrowed. “The dreams don’t come from
me. ’Tis through Saraid’s eyes the girl sees, and if I know Fiona, the sights
are rarely pleasant.”
    The
knowledge had given Colin pause. It was true he’d joined Keely in the dreams,
but the manifestation of his fairie blood had always come with his
transformation into a beast. Though aware on an innate level, details were
sketchy when he walked on all fours.
    As
the black wolf, he’d sensed her pleasure in her surroundings as he’d padded at
her side, but since that summer ten years ago, he’d also noted her anxiousness,
and the comfort she’d taken from his presence. Until Owein had mentioned it, he
hadn’t considered the dreams might be uncomfortable for Keely. The realization
didn’t improve his surly mood.
    Owein’s
frown had darkened when Colin remained silent. “But for your stubbornness,
young Quinn, my Saraid could be free, if not now, then very shortly. I’ve
waited nearly three hundred years already,” he complained, his words clipped.
With a flick of his wrist, he was gone, leaving behind the echo of a command.
“Don’t make me wait much longer!”
    ****
    Owein
had waited another ten years.
    With
a shake of his head, Colin brought himself back to the present. He crossed the
lawn to the low, stone wall at the edge of the lane. A hand to the cool, smooth
surface vaulted him over to land on the path leading to the cliffs and long
strides took him away from Quinn Manor.
    He
should have known Keely O’Brian had found her way back to Dunhaven when Owein
suddenly appeared in the midst of Kathleen’s party. His long legs dangling from
a low branch of the tree at the edge of the garden was enough of a clue, but
the ruthlessly satisfied smile on the fairie king’s face should have clinched
it.
    Then
again, maybe it had. Colin hadn’t been all that surprised to find Keely tripping
up the lane toward his gate.
    “Where
the devil is your head, boy?”
    Colin
didn’t miss a step at Owein’s barked demand. He’d known this conversation was
coming, and had left the party to insure some privacy when it did.
    “According
to my shaving mirror,” Colin said conversationally, “it was sitting atop my
neck not two hours ago. I assume it’s still there.”
    Owein
snorted. His booted feet made not a sound as he paced along the top of the wall
at Colin’s side. “Aye, it’s there and missing a brain I’m thinking.”
    Colin
ignored the grumbled taunt, whistling through his teeth in Owein’s favorite,
annoying affectation.
    “Keely
O’Brian’s come home,” Owein continued more forcefully.
    “I
noticed.”
    “And
the great beastie at her side, did you notice him as well?”
    “I
did.”
    A
laugh escaped Owein’s lips. “An intriguing woman, that one—prowling the dark
with the wolf and sharing the light with the wolfhound.”
    “I
didn’t miss the implication. And if it’s an argument you’re after, Owein,