Page 66 of Beauty

I snort. They’re gorgeous. They’re princes of a plane knownfor its hedonism. My own brothers worked their way through every pretty sidhefemale in our village by the time they were sixteen, and likely half theVampire plane. “Yes, well, I’m sure you lost that a long time before.”

He catches my shoulders and forces me to look into his eyes.“No. I waited. No sex. No blood. Just years of longing and waiting and hopingto find you. I don’t know what you believe, but you better believe this—youwere my first woman. You will be my last woman. There is no one in all theplanes for me except you, Bronwyn McIver.”

In his mind, we’re already married. McIver. The name of theUnseelie royal family. I close my eyes. Can it be true? I never thought I couldbond, never tested. I reach out with my mind and sure enough, there it is, thebond between us. Has it always been there and I was too stupid to realize it?

“I am still a virgin since you passed out after Lach fuckedyou. Could we perhaps do something about that? It’s a terrible state and thisthing won’t go down and gods, your breasts are so lovely, Bron.” Shim smiles,his eyes fixed on my chest.

Damn it. I lost hold of the sheet.

Before I can bend over to grab it, Lach has it in his hands.He tosses it away.

“You don’t need that around us, wife. I don’t want a damnthing between us. Shim, we should stop trying to talk to her. It’s obvious sheisn’t listening.” He grabs hold of my hands and pulls me to his body. “This iswhat we need.”

His mouth comes down on mine. I would fight if he slammedagainst me, but the damn man is smart enough to be tender. His lips barelybrush mine. When he speaks, I feel the words like a whisper on my skin. “I loveyou, Bronwyn. I’ve loved you all my life. Please don’t fight us now that we’refinally here. Haven’t we lost enough time?”

His need hums through my brain, and I soften against him.His lips play on mine. He isn’t aggressive, though I feel the potential in him.He’s sweet and tender, and I’m falling for all of it.

“Crap and fuck me mother, you really do have a girl inhere!”

I jump back and scream, a strangled sound. There’s a gnomeclimbing through the window, his small leg hoisted over the sill.

Shim groans and falls back on the bed. “You have the worsttiming, Duffy.”

The gnome named Duffy grins, lechery in his eyes. “I think Igot real good timing, me brother. Perfect timing, actually. Hello there,darling. Did me brothers bother to mention me? Probably not since they ran awaywith no thought to me.”

The gnome frowns and then sort of loses his balance andalmost falls out the window. Lach catches him with one hand and drags him backin, setting him on the floor. He tosses me the sheet. “I did think of you,Duff. We both thought about how much you snore as we stepped over you on ourway out.”

“It was just a little nap,” Duffy protests. “And Roan isgoing to kick your ass when he finds out you’re holed up with some villagecutie when you’re supposed to be looking for this princess woman. Not that youaren’t a fine specimen of womanhood, lovely lady. I’m actually surprised. Ithought you two were all about the waiting.” The gnome winks. “I’m theirbrother. Don’t let the size of the man fool you. I’m actually quite creative.And these two are all spoken for. I’m totally available.”

Shim and Lach stare down at the gnome.

“Fuck me, she’s Bronwyn Finn, ain’t she?” The gnome gets toone knee. “Your Highness. I am so sorry I just had that fantasy about stickingme face in between your bosoms. I did not realize they were royal bosoms sincethey seemed so very, very nice and not at all high and mighty. Not that they aren’tmighty…”

Duffy’s words are cut off by a light slap to his head byLachlan. “Shut up about my wife’s bosoms, Duff. She’s going to be your queen.Show her due respect.”

Duffy huffs, his small face beaming with innocence. “Itotally respect her bosoms.”

Shim sighs and moves to pull on a pair of pants. “There’snothing for it. If Duffy’s here, then Roan will charge in soon. Let’s allow ourBron to get dressed and perhaps we can talk over a nice meal. Are you hungry,love?”

I’m not, but I’ll do almost anything to get a moment tomyself. They’re overwhelming me. The events of the day wreaked havoc oneverything I know. I need a moment to process my own thoughts. I need to takestock. And I really want the comfort of clothes. Sympathy. I can play on theirsympathy. “Please, Shim. They did not feed their prisoners well in the jail.”

Sure enough, both of the men pale and scramble to get intotheir pants.

“I’ll bring something up to you. You rest. We’ll have tomove by nightfall.” Lach tugs his shirt over his head. I can’t miss the bloodstains.

“Move? Where?”

“To Aoibhneas.” Shim shoves his feet into boots and thenhands me some clothes. They carefully folded my dress, it seems. “There’s a gapin the planes. We can get back home. We can make sure you’re safe.”

I open my mouth, but Lach is in front of me, staring down,his dark eyes full of will and command.

“No arguments. You will go home.” He softens slightly.“Let’s discuss it when you’ve had something to eat. Sweet Bronwyn, please don’tlook at me that way.” He’s quiet for a moment, his eyes sliding away from mine.“Does my face frighten you?”

He’s worried about a few scars? The scars on his face don’tbother me at all, though I wonder how he got them. They look a little likeburns, as though sparks of fire drove across his face. But they’re small thingscompared to how perfectly lovely the rest of him is. “Your face doesn’t scareme, but everything else about this does. I don’t know what to think. And I’mnot leaving my home plane. If you know who I am, then you have to know I cannotleave here. My people have need of me.”

And I ignored that need for far too long. I just now decidedto stand up and become the princess I should be. If my brothers can’t reclaimtheir throne, then I will do it for them.

“Yes, your people have need of you.” Shim runs a hand downmy arm. “They need to meet their future queen.”