The Day Human Way Read Free Page B

because he wants me to feel welcome and not inhibited around him. I’m not traditional, so you don’t have to talk to me about breaking old customs. But I do understand Nessa. She didn’t want to start out as queen by angering one of her most supportive families.”
    “The sidhe need change and that won’t happen if people keep following tradition. Nessa needs to make a choice, and I’m not going to stand in her way,” Devin stated. He was sulking now. He felt it through the bond and was a bit surer that Nessa wasn’t changing how she felt about him.
    Standing up, Turner shook his head.
    “We better head back to the palace,” Turner told Ronan, who was scooting ever so slightly to stay hidden from the direct sun rays. Devin had noticed that the sidhe was subtly uncomfortable.
    “And what about you?” Ronan asked, standing and moving to a more shaded spot. “You can always stay at my place. It’s not as big as Nessa’s, but I still have space for another person in it.”
    “I’ll find somewhere out here to sleep,” Devin replied. “I’m not really interested in going back to the palace yet.” Devin felt resigned. He would return to Nessa, and he knew it. As much as he wanted to give her space to make her own decisions, they were bonded. He couldn’t deny that much.
    “All the homes here have people in them,” Ronan replied. Devin hadn’t thought about sleeping in a home. The sunlight was warm enough; he could curl up where he was now to get some rest. “What will you do? Sleep with the outcasts?”
    Devin stood up and looked at Ronan. That was actually a good idea. He had just moved the would be assassins Mara and Colin to Turner’s village, so their house would be completely free. He wouldn’t be imposing on anyone.
    “I think that’s exactly what I’ll do,” Devin replied. Ronan, no matter how liberal, had to hide his disgust at the idea. Turner laughed at the sidhe’s response. Devin would have been laughing, too, if he weren’t still upset with Nessa.
    “Have fun, man,” Turner replied, patting Ronan on the back as he seemed still in shocked at the idea that Devin would move out of the palace and to the outcast village. “Just realize this isn’t the same.”
    “What?” Ronan asked, finally returning to the conversation after his momentary shock at Devin suggesting that he was going to the outcast camp.
    “Stay with Ronan for now. I can’t protect you from the sidhe as I should be able to do,” Devin admitted. He brought his friend into the village, but there was nothing he could do about it now. “Once I figure out what I’m doing, I’ll let you know.” Turner nodded to Devin and followed Ronan. He didn’t seem to mind much. Turner was using his visit as an extended vacation to get out of duties back home.
    “Nessa isn’t Arianna,” Turner added, not explaining for Ronan, but speaking for Devin’s benefit. “Arianna wasn’t yours to lose because you never really won her. Nessa is yours. You won her over before you even came back here. If you let her go, this will be your fault, and you’ll regret it.”
    Devin stood and watched Turner walk away with Ronan. He wanted to give Turner some witty reply, but his friend was right. Devin hated when Turner was actually being smart about something. He preferred his friend to be the laid back one, not the smart one doling out wisdom. Unfortunately, Turner was right. Nessa wasn’t Arianna, and what Devin felt was different.
    Nessa was the real deal and his other half. He wanted Nessa, but he wanted her to want him, too. She didn’t feel for the newest suitor what she felt for him, but he needed her to be sure. He didn’t want her to regret anything later in life, and the only way to achieve that was to let her now make her own choice. She may have allowed the suitor to court her for tradition, but it was a choice. For now all Devin could do was wait. If she was meant to be with him, then it would happen. He didn’t want to