Page 111 of Beauty

Duffy’s eyes come open.

“I’m so sorry, brother.” I stare down at the wee gnome whowas my heart friend for as long as I’ve known what a heart is. Duffy was ourcompanion, our playmate.

“I knew it. I always knew it, brother.” Duffy sits up,looking down at the wound on his chest. It isn’t bleeding. “I was mad at first,but now I know why I got to stay. I did it, Lach. I fought and I won. I got mebattle and I saved me girl. Even though she never was me girl. It don’t matter.I get that now. It don’t matter that she couldn’t love me back. It only mattersthat I loved her and I got to be a better man because I loved her.”

Gillian. All those long years, Duffy still loved Gillian,his childhood crush on her forming the core of his being. I knew Duffy had athing for Gillian. Even from a young age he refused to call her sister. Heloved her from afar and now he sacrificed for her.

Bronwyn loves us back. She doesn’t deserve any less. Love issomething I’ve worried about all my life. I call what I feel for Bronwyn love,but I always worried it was more about possession and obsession, that my darkheart can’t hold a softer emotion.

I was wrong. I love my brothers. Love my father and mother.Love my sister.

Gods, I love Bronwyn Finn, and there is nothing dark aboutit. She is my light, not Shim. However our soul split, it is in me to love. Myheart isn’t a cold, dead thing. It’s huge and it can only get larger. I loveBronwyn and that means loving every piece of her, including the part of hersoul that demands she fight.

I adore the girl who ran through my dreams. I lust after thelover, but I worship the woman she is today. Not simply a princess, but aqueen. A woman is always a queen. She is the queen of her home and her family.Bron’s family is simply bigger than most, and like every woman with a family,she will sacrifice. She will make the world right for them, giving her body andsoul to those she nurtures and loves.

I will be strong. My woman taught me what my father neverhad—how to truly be a king.

I look at my sister and whisper. “He’s loved you for always.Give him something.”

She nods and sinks to her knees, tears falling likeraindrops. She leans over and kisses him. “You are my hero, Duffy.”

A brilliant smile lights Duffy’s face. “That’s all I everwanted to be.” He grips her hand, his small compared to hers. He looks up atme. “You have to let me go now, brother.”

I knew this moment was coming from the instant I reached outand pulled Duffy from death. I felt Duffy die in that black cloud that wasmeant for me and I reacted. I called on my power and brought him back. “Ididn’t want to let you go. Not alone, Duffy. I don’t know what’s out there. Ididn’t want you to die.”

Duffy smiles up at me. “Dying ain’t nothing to be afraid of.Be afraid of not living. I got me battle. I got what I always wanted. I got tobe a hero. Now, it’s time for me to find another adventure. There’s a door,Lach. It’s right there and it’s calling to me. Has been since the moment ithappen. And I weren’t alone. When I stood there, I saw me mothers. Both ofthem. The one what raised me and the one what gave me birth. Death is adoorway. I want to know where it leads. I want the adventure that waits for meand whatever happens, I’ll see you again. I’ll conquer whatever is out thereand make a place for us.”

My tears fall now. For Duffy, for Bron, for myself, forShim.

“I love you, brother.” Shim gets to his knees and puts ahand on me and reaches for Duffy.

“Love you, too.” Duffy’s voice goes hoarse. “You were thebest brothers I could have hoped for.”

I reach out and complete the circle. Me and Duffy and Shim.My childhood in a circle of hands. “I love you both. My brothers. I will keepyou in my heart, Duffy.”

“That is a good place to be.”

I release my hold on his sweet soul.

Duffy smiles, closes his eyes, and walks into eternity.

I rise to my feet a completely different man. I look toRoan. “Gather what we need. We make for Aoibhneas tonight after I bury mybrother.”

I expect an argument but Roan bows. “Yes, Your Highness. Iam at your service.”

“As am I.” The phooka leaps from the trees and, in aninstant, switches to his horse form. “I will get us to Aoibhneas. I know asecret way in.”

“Dad, isn’t that Uncle Max’s horse?” Charlie asks.

Zane shakes his head. “We’re just going to go with it, son.And I know exactly what you’re talking about. The mayor has a series of caveshe keeps hidden. We know how to get home.”

“Then we leave in an hour,” I command.

Shim picks up Duffy, holding his small body close. “Lach,I…”

There is no more argument. No more apologies. “I love you,brother. No more fighting. All that matters is winning this war and getting ourwife back.”

Shim nods and follows. I pray the morning will find mecloser to my goal—getting Bronwyn back in my arms.