Page 26 of Iron Blade

“You don’t even know me.”

“Let’s get married and I’ll get to know you.”

“You sound insane.”

“I am.”

“You don’t deny it?”

“Why would I? I feel no need to hide it.” There was that laugh again. It was so low, and gentle, but still with a sharpness that made my skin break out in goosebumps. Whether it was from fear, or something else, I wasn’t sure. “I’m a monster, Miss Kekoa. But I’ll be your monster, if you let me.”

“What if I say no?”

“You’ve been saying no, and I have yet to cause you harm.” He had a point.

“How long will that last? When will you get frustrated and resent me?” Then I asked the real question I wanted to ask, the one I needed reassurance on. “What if you find out something about me that you can’t forgive? That you can’t overlook?”

“There’s nothing you could do that could change my mind.” There was the sound of shuffling on the other end. I wondered if he was pacing, wherever he was. “I am not an inconsistent man. I am not fickle. I have made my choice.”

It was my turn to laugh. “That can’t be true.”

“I only speak the truth, Miss Kekoa. Whether or not you believe it is up to you.”

Chapter ten

The Lady of the House

Eoghan

Ihad to go back to the Green Estate outside of Middlebrook, outside the capital region, north of Albany. I hated going, as my home was no longer my home. Not since that strange, waifish red-haired witch took up residence in my mother’s place.

Ever since Aoibheann Murphy entered our lives, my father started going mad. The temperate, purposeful man he had been gave way to a paranoid, dictatorial ruler who governed Green Fields Enterprises with an iron fist. In his insane, old mansion that crumbled around him, he slowly drove himself mad in the company of the witch.

But when the king summons, you go. No questions asked.

“Eoghan?” A whisper-soft voice called out from behind a half-closed door. My “stepmother” as I was forced to call her.

The witch was only a few years older than me, and thrust upon us after my mother died, probably in the hopes of creating more heirs. We were in a dangerous line of work, even if Green Fields Enterprises was turning into a legitimate business. My father needed a spare, especially after realizing that my cousin, Dairo, had left for good. He’d joined the British Army, in total betrayal of his Irish roots. It was his only flaw, in the eyes of my father.

But I knew Dairo would come back, if I called. He’d fight by my side when the time to crush the Russians and Italians came.

I looked into the door, where Aoibheann’s thick, red hair was the only thing that was visible in the darkness. She looked eerie in the blackness of her room. Her strange behavior made the men titter about how she spoke to spirits. She certainly did nothing to dissuade them of that.

At times, even my father feared her powers.

“Yes?” I asked, impatiently looking at my gold pocket watch. It was something my mother gave me. It had the name Cillian engraved on the inside - my grandfather’s name.

Grandpa Cillian had been the original artist of the family. My mother was convinced that I had his gifts, which is why she insisted I be given his name. And thus, I was christened Eoghan Cillian Green.

“Please… I… I…” Aoibheann’s green eyes were glassy, near tears.

There was nothing unusual there. The woman was always one step away from weeping. I had no idea why. Aoibheann had everything she could possibly desire - wealth, power, and so much more.

I rolled my eyes. Aoibheann had started many conversations like this. A please, and a plea, but never finished a sentence. I had no clue what she wanted, or what the fuck she was on about. She lived in her own little world.

I wouldn’t be surprised if she believed in fairies from the old country.

“What do you want, Aoibheann?” I said, harshly, finally flipping my watch closed and placing it in my pocket.

---