Faerie Fate by Silver James Page A

back. The two parts of her
must become one, and that coming together is the source of her pain.”
    “Ciaran should just
grab the bull by horns,” he snorted.
    “Oh?”
    “Aye.” He looked
smug and superior, positive he had the answer. “He needs to tup her until she
has no idea who she is.” He grinned wickedly at her. “Just like I’m going to do
to you.”
    Siobhan kissed him
deeply, thinking, Nay, he needs to tup her until she knows exactly
who she is.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
    When he awoke,
Ciaran fought the urge to rip the gown from Becca’s body and spend the morning
losing himself in her. From the moment he’d first seen her naked in his bed,
despite her battered and bruised body, he’d wanted her. He wanted to cup her
firm breasts in his hands while he kissed her long and deep. He wanted to explore
every inch of her body with his tongue, and bury himself so deep inside her
core, he wouldn’t know where he ended and she began.
    Becca stirred
restlessly in her sleep and her right hand trailed down his belly to rest
lightly on his manhood. He sucked in his breath. By the gods, he wanted that,
too, wanted her mouth and hands touching every part of his body.
    Ciaran was about to
throw caution to the wind when he heard the guard on the outer wall issue a
challenge. Moments later, several horses clattered into the courtyard. Trying
not to wake her, he reluctantly disentangled himself. Still dressed from the
night before, he took only a moment to readjust his erection to a more
comfortable position in his trews and run his fingers through the tangles of his
hair. He snagged his mantle from the foot of the bed and wrapped it around his
shoulders as he headed straight to the great hall.
    Niall was already
there greeting the three riders who’d come in. The colors in their mantles
proclaimed they came from the O’Conor, King of Connaught. Two of the messengers
asked only for a quick drink and fresh mounts. They were away even as the third
began to recite his message.
    Conchobhar O’Conor,
King of Connaught, had issued an ard fheis . Each clann chieftain in the
O’Conor tuatha was to answer with the minimum of a detachment of men and
provisions for both men and horses to last for at least three months. The
messengers had been riding night and day to issue the edict to all those owing
fealty to the O’Conor tuatha . The MacDermots had long held military
responsibilities within the tuatha and were probably among the first to
be notified.
    “What comes?” Ciaran
asked when the courier paused for a breath.
    “Clann O’Brien raids
from the south, Taoiseac MacDermot,” he stated coldly. “The O’Conor
thinks to drive them from Connaught before midsummer. He is calling the clanns
together. Will you attend?”
    Niall watched his
liege carefully. He was the only one who’d noticed Ciaran’s glance up the
stairs during the recitation of the ard fheis. This might be a solution
to Ciaran’s current dilemma. Odhran and Siobhan had talked of a joining of the
two selves within Becca. If Ciaran were away, perhaps things would come easier
for the cailín. He also hoped it would be easier on Ciaran with half the
country between them. He had little doubt Ciaran would do his duty. Ciaran’s
words proved him right.
    “Aye, we’ll be
coming and about time, too. I bring a company of horse and a company of
hobelars. Have you time to rest?”
    The messenger shook
his head. “Nay, Taoiseac MacDermot, though I thank you for your offer of
host. I ride for Ros Comain, but I ask a boon. Spare me a fresh mount?”
    “Granted,” Ciaran
replied, handing the man a cup. “Drink now and have a bite while we bring yee a
horse.”
    Ever efficient,
Niall strode toward the door, shouting orders even as a maid hurried forward
with a plate of roasted meat and half a loaf of fresh bread. The man wolfed it
down where he stood.
    Upstairs, Siobhan
heard all the commotion and suspected what had transpired. She finished
dressing