Page 79 of Kings and Monsters

They were walking together through the straight rows of mist-shrouded vines, Nimue, Arthur and Cecily ahead of them talking to Dominque about the seasonal changes to the grapes.

Dominque was a tall, softly spoken Frenchman with an easy smile that he turned on Cecily whenever she was near. It was oddly sweet to see them together and reminded Rosa for the second time that day that her fifty-year-old mother was a woman in her prime and had been alone for far too long.

"I understand why you did it, but I'm still not happy about it," Rosa replied finally. "I don't like being separated from Bal, even if he is a beast."

"If you need to throw some magic at me to feel better, at least do it now while we are outside."

"And risk the next harvest's wine being contaminated by your shoddy magic? Unlikely," she snorted.

He wrapped his arm around her in a playful headlock. "I do love you, even when you're a shit."

"I love you too, prick," Rosa replied, her arm going around his waist. "You pull a stunt like that on me again, and I'll give you the bullocking of your life."

"Consider me fair warned."

"So now that we are kicked out of home, what are we to do?"

"We recover and let Bleddyn handle spell breaking. There will be no point saving Bal if we lose you in the process, Rhosyn. I know you hate sitting it out, but trust me, as soon Bleddyn has a breakthrough we will be the first to know."

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Bleddyn walked along battlements of the north tower, breathing in the night air and trying to enjoy the cold winter moon. He missed the Night Gardens and their twisted beauty and made a plan to recreate them at Gwaed Lyn.

Anything to take his mind off his own failures.

At least in the Aos Si, he had been active and useful. Now all he felt was a creeping sense of helplessness as he failed to help Balthasar.

Zalan and Vincenzo had left, taking their armies back to their kingdoms with promises to search through their own resources to find a cure for Balthasar. Saul had left the mansion to spend time with the settling Unseelie, and the whole of Gwaed Lyn felt empty. For the first time in a long time, he was alone, and he felt it in every part of his being.

Bleddyn sat down on a stone bench and put his head in his hands. He had sent Rosa away, knowing she would be furious with him, but he wouldn't sit back and watch her waste away.

You mean you don't want her to see how you're failing, a cold, mocking voice said in the back of his mind. It sounded far too much like Aeronwen. He never thought he would ever regret Aeronwen's death, but no one could have anticipated her usinggod magic on Balthasar. He was still cursing himself when a raven landed on the stone in front of him and squawked loudly, making him start.

"What do you want?" he snarled.

Magic flared around it, sharp with the taste of midnight, and with a hard flutter of its wings, it started to transform. Small bones snapped and grew. Black feathers turned to silver-white hair and disappeared under skin until Eirianwen was crouched on the ground in front of him. Even covered head to toe in a viscous slime, she was still the most beautiful thing he had seen.

"I want a nicer hello than that," she said, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

"You…" Bleddyn didn't have the words, so he simply pulled her to him, wrapping her shivering body inside of his overcoat. "I'm so relieved that you are here. I had no idea that you could shape shift."

"Good to know I can still surprise you," Eirianwen said. "I don't suppose I could use your bath?"

"Follow me," Bleddyn replied. He took off his coat and draped it over her before leading her back into the north tower. He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to leap out of his skin with happiness she was there.

"You've been starving yourself again," he said when she was standing in the warm light of his bedroom.

"Don't mother me, Seren Du. I'm not one of your children," she said half-heartedly.

"I'm not mothering you. I was pointing out the obvious."

"And did you want me find a handsome Seelie to drink in your absence?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. He bristled at the thought, and she smirked. "I didn't think so. Animals aren't as fortifying. I'm not starving. Now, where is your bathroom?"

Bleddyn left her to shower and went to his workrooms for a bag of blood. He stood still, holding it a good minute before heput it back and opened his own vein over a glass for her, mixing it with a whiskey he knew she would like. It was embarrassingly true; he didn't want her having anyone's blood but his own.

"I can't believe you are here," Bleddyn said, once she was sitting comfortably, dressed in one of his bathrobes. He handed her the drink, and she stared up at him. "Just drink it and don't give me that look."

"As you wish, sire. I'm here because Bran said you were having a hard time, so I accelerated my plans to come sooner," Eirianwen replied and had a mouthful. Color instantly bloomed back into her pale cheeks, and his worry eased.

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