“American English,” she blurted. “You must really want to be on my good side.”
He shrugged. “Och aye, lass. There, ’tis that a wee bit better, now?”
She laughed. “I think I’ve gotten to where I actually don’t care anymore. Before it hurt because of Mother, but I got to see her again.” Sadness welled. “At least this time I had a chance to tell her I loved her—and goodbye.”
Bella loosed an outraged squawk and flew into the hallway. It bothered Aislinn that the bird hated her mother so, but she couldn’t do much about it.
“I’ll talk to her,” Fionn said, “but later. This is far more important.” He crossed the room and pulled her into his arms. His heartbeat thudded beneath her ear. They stood like that for long moments. Finally, he murmured, “I can draw you a bath. Would ye like that?”
She twisted in his arms, wrinkling her nose. “Yes. I’ll bet you would, too. You’d think I would have gotten used to how badly I stink, but I haven’t.”
“I doona care how ye smell—” he grinned down at her “—so long as ye’re alive.”
As he readied her bath, she walked to the bathroom door, sucked in a breath, and said, “Tell me about Mother.”
He turned to face her. “She was part of the prophecy. I was to wed a MacLochlainn, and Tara was the first…possibility in many hundreds of years. I think I told you that before.” The lines next to his eyes deepened. His American diction was crisp, as if it were less painful to tell the tale that way. “I didn’t love her. Gwydion did. And I knew she loved him, but I pushed forward anyway. Duty drove me. Gwydion understood. He didn’t like it, but he understood.”
“There’s something you’re not telling me.”
Fionn nodded. A corner of his mouth turned down wryly. “Remind me to dull that Seeker gift of yours. Gwydion and I—we had words. Tara overheard. She was afraid we would hurt one another over her. That, combined with pressure from Dewi, was enough to drive your mother out of Ireland.”
“You didn’t go after her.”
The tub was full. Fionn turned off the taps, but Aislinn wasn’t ready to take off her clothes. Not yet. Not until she’d heard everything.
Fionn offered her a sad smile. “I already lived in the United States. But no, I didn’t try to find her. And I called off the other Celts who were searching for her on my behalf.”
“Why?”
“Because something Gwydion shouted at me that night sank into my thick skull. He told me I’d make her miserable and myself, too. That Tara MacLochlainn was a fey creature, with only one foot in this world and the other in the Dreaming.”
Aislinn nodded. She knew that about her mother. “So you walked away.”
“Aye.” He quirked a brow. “Are ye wanting to get in afore the water turns stone cold?”
“You can make it warm for me again.”
His mouth twitched. “Get in, wench. I’ll go bring you some dinner.”
“No.” Her mouth went suddenly dry. “I want you to stay.”
“Why?”
His gaze settled on her. She saw hope in his eyes, and something else, too, flickering in their depths. Was he afraid she’d spurn him now that he’d told her the truth?
“Because I had to expose myself to Slototh and feel his disgusting hands and mouth on me. I was held hostage by Dewi and raped by the Minotaur. This is something I want to have happen on my own terms.” She tried to smile, but couldn’t. Turning away, she stripped out of her filthy, stinking clothing, stepped into the tub, and lowered herself into the steaming water.
He didn’t try to talk to her, just sat looking at her as she soaped herself. The water took on a grayish hue. At last, she met his gaze. “You’ve been getting quite the eyeful. Like what you see?”
His breath caught in his throat and made a clicking sound. “Ye are quite possibly the most beautiful creature I’ve ever laid eyes on, lass. With all that red hair floating about you, ye look like a latter day angel. Do ye know how hard it has been not to scoop you out of that bath, lay you on the floor, and have my way with you?”
“Thanks for not.” A smile began in her heart before it spread over her face. “I needed time for myself.” The smile morphed into a grin. “But the water’s pretty disgusting, and I’m ready to get out.”
“I could heat more,” he began and then frowned. “Those bite marks on your breasts and mouth. Did Slototh do that?”
She nodded and tipped her chin up. “I had to lure him closer.”