Page 106 of The Other Side

Will’s eyes became suspiciously bright. “In such a short time?”

“Horses don’t count days.”

Rogue breathed warm air into Will’s hair before nudging him gently in the back, searching for whatever remained of the sandwich. That broke the moment. Will laughed and handed over the last corner of bread.

“Oh, so that’s what this is about,” Will said. “You want more to eat.”

Drum snorted.

“Not just that,” Osian said. “Rogue’s choosing you.”

Will’s smile was so wide that something lurched in Osian’s chest. Will had so much to give, he really wished he could find someone who’d love him.

~~~

By the time Osian and Drum had cycled home from the stables, they were both tired.

“Let’s sit in the garden and go through all our options.”

Osian wasn’t sure there were any but he nodded.

Once they’d laid out the blanket, Drum stripped to his underwear.

“And now you expect me to think!” Osian widened his eyes.

Drum smiled. “Lie in the sun with me. Everything feels better in the sun.”

Osian took off everything but his shorts.

“No touching until we’ve figured some things out.” Drum lay on his side, his gaze anchored to him. “What happens to you if you go back to Faeryland now, or in a couple of weeks? On your own.”

“Apart from dying of a broken heart?”

“I took that for granted.”

Osian rolled his eyes, but the deflection failed to mask the sharp twist of pain in Drum’s expression. “The agreement I had with Belem was that once a year, for a single month, I could look for you. In return, over three days in a faery month, I did whatever he asked for.”

“So is that agreement now null and void?”

Osian hesitated. “I feel like it should be, because I found you. But Leaf seemed to think I might be wrong.”

“Because?”

“We fae are tricky. Leaf told me that if I stay here, I’ll become so ill, retreating to Faeryland will be the only thing that saves me.”

Drum audibly gulped.

“But is that true?” Osian grasped for a lifeline. “That faery in Sparlow looked fine. Nervous, sure, but physically fine. And I’m not talking about those barely-there shorts.”

A startled laugh broke from Drum, exactly as Osian had intended. But the levity evaporated as quickly as it had come, leaving Drum’s face grave. “Would your brother lie to you?”

“Only if he was compelled.” Osian’s stomach dropped. “Oh. Fuck. Maybe. Yes.”

“If I went back with you, do you think I’d be recognised as the changeling son of Oliver and Delfin? By them, or anyone else?”

“By them, yes. My mother would likely know you, too. Anyone else, I’m not sure,” Osian admitted softly. “But the fae won’t tolerate a mortal living on that side. Not unless you have something to offer—and trust me, it won’t be anything you should offer.”

“What are we going to do?”