Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Flynn woke hard, stiff and aching. That wasn’t unusual, he was a male after all. It wasn’t because of the lithe raven haired, long legged, shifter who clearly paid for those tits stirring next to him. She confidently and gracefully found her clothes and dressed quickly, then barely turned to him when she was at the door, “I’m guessing you don’t want my number?”
He gave her the same answer he gave all of them, “Look you were great darlin’ but I’m just no good for you. I don’t deserve someone as special as you.” He heard her huff as she left his room, slamming the door on the way out.

No it wasn’t her, it was never any of the females who ended up in his bed. The female he dreamt about that made him wake up hard as a rock, needing sweet release, had never been in his bed. She’d never been in this house, as far as he knew she’d never been to Lunathion. She was on a far off Isle he’d only even been to once and even then he hadn’t had her. He didn’t know what it felt like to be inside her, he’d barely tasted her, her lips, her skin, her… and she was in his arms for such a short amount of time.

Regardless years later she haunted his dreams, his daydreams, his fantasies and he didn’t know her name. He knew what she looked like, she had hair the colour of wheat, hazel eyes with flecks of green in them, the most adorable button nose, pink perfect lips that tasted so sweet and generous curves for days. Yes, he didn’t know her name but he knew her scent and it was perfection, cinnamon and syrup, spicy and sweet.

He could practically smell it as he imagined her. He had pictured her in so many positions and this morning was a favourite. He imagined her hair unbound flowing over her shoulders and down her chest covering her very real breasts with pink peaked nipples poking through as she lowered herself onto his cock. He could see her bouncing up and down on him as he pumped himself. Fuck, what he wouldn’t give to hold those thick thighs still and thrust up into her making her moan and scream for him. It wasn’t long before he was moaning and cumming all over his stomach and chest. He was ruined and he barely knew her, Princess Niamh Donnall’s maid from the castle on Avallen. He knew there was no chance he’d ever see her again, especially since the Princess went missing not long after their visit and was now presumed dead. He imagined that dick King Morven would have fired the poor girl.

Flynn showered and made his way downstairs to where Dec and Ruhn were eating cereal looking at him with shit eating grins.
“How's your dream girl and your hand today?” Dec asked him.
Flynn flipped him off, “Fuck off. I know we drank and smoked a shit ton last night but I had a real girl in my room last night.”
His friends snickered then Rhun said, “Yeah but we heard her slam the door and storm out of here before you were moaning up there on your own.”
“That always means you were dreaming about her again,” Dec added.
“Like I said, fuck off both of you,” he poured himself coffee adding sugar and sighing because nothing would ever be as sweet as her, the female of his dreams.

Across town a female was living a secret life in Asphodel Meadows. She picked up her teacher’s lanyard and checked the mirror to make sure her glamour was in place. She shook her head at the name, Nora Davies, she had spent almost twenty years under that name. ‘Nora’ was a human, she had brown hair, brown eyes and was unremarkable.

She definitely wasn’t Niamh Donnall, the lost Princess of Avallen. The Princess was blonde, had hazel eyes and apart from using her glamour magic to change her appearance to avoid marrying the hideous Lords, Princes and other nobility her father The Stag King picked for her. Princess Niamh was remarkable, well that’s what her brother always said and he helped her hide her abilities from a young age. If her father knew of her glamour magic, her ability to manipulate objects with the wave of her hand and her shadow walking he would have used her to the point of killing her like he did with their mother.

Niamh sighed she missed her brother, he didn’t have glamour magic but he learnt early on to wear a mask. To anyone else he was a heartless, old fashioned, stuck up prick, but to Niamh he was her thoughtful, clever, kind and brave brother, her hero. He was the only one who truly understood her and she was that for him.

She picked up her bag and her phone, noticing there was a text from her boyfriend Andrew: ‘Can’t wait to see you at our place this morning x’. Andrew was nice, he was a nice, unremarkable human male and Niamh wasn’t in love with him. Grabbing her keys she locked her door and walked down the ten flights of stairs because the elevator was out again.

Niamh wasn’t sure she could ever love Andrew or anyone because love, or more to the point her heart, was tainted. Princess Niamh Donnall, now boring human Nora Davies, had a mate. He was a fae male, he was a Lord, he was charming and sweet and funny, he was gorgeous with golden brown skin, chestnut brown hair and the deepest forest green eyes. When she first met him it was like something clicked, he flirted with her and she bantered straight back at him, it felt right to let him kiss her and hold her in an abandoned hallway of her father's draughty castle. She absentmindedly touched her lips as she remembered those kisses, the best kisses of her life.

At the time she didn’t know who he was and she was dressed as her lady's maid, her usual way of freely wandering both inside and outside the castle. It was the next day when she knew her father was presenting her to her cousin a prince and his friend a lord as a prospect for marriage that she did her usual glamour making herself look as unappealing as possible, that she saw the male she had met the day before. The male who she kissed the day before and couldn’t get off her mind, Lord Tristan Flynn, future Lord Hawthorne. As she entered the throne room she overheard him say to her father that he’d already told his parents he was never going to marry a noble born fae. Niamh remembered how disappointed she was but her disappointment quickly turned to revulsion when she heard his friend with the red hair say “Lucky you already told him no Flynn, she’s hideous.” All three of the males hid their sniggers as her brother threatened them for insulting her and her father banished her from the room as he usually did for embarrassing him. The worst part came as Niamh turned to leave, she didn’t mean to but her eyes locked onto Tristan Flynn’s and something snapped in her chest. It was later that she learnt that snap was the mating bond.

Mate or not, Niamh decided she didn’t want to be the princess anymore and she didn’t want a Lord as her mate or husband. Especially not one she now knew was a superficial, vapid, partying, playboy. So with Comac’s help Niamh Donnall, fae Princess of Avallen disappeared and in her place in faraway busy Lunathion was, human Nora Davies, an unremarkable formally aspiring, now fully trianed and practising kindergarten teacher. Walking into her local coffee shop to pick up a chai latte and meet up with her unremarkable human boyfriend who will walk her to work like he did every morning. Forever hiding her true self, also ignoring and never ever wanting to see her mate again, even though he lives and works in the same city and unbeknownst to her, dreams about seeing her again.

Chapter Text

Niamh sat in the break room quietly eating her lunch and going over lesson plans on her own as she always did. She felt the familiar vibration of her phone alerting her to a text. 

It was from Andrew, Hey honey, you’re free Saturday night, right? I was wondering if you wanted to come over, maybe actually stay the night?   The text ended with a winking face icon and an x. 

She wasn’t sure what made her cringe more, the face thing or how he called her honey, she hated that pet name and she’d told him so. 

She was like a grandma and never did anything and was trying to figure out how to blow him off. She was fine with their once a week dates and him walking her to work every now and again. She didn’t need to see him anymore than that.

Just then one of her coworkers, Kate maybe, spoke to her. Niamh barely interacted with any of them because she would have to move soon and never see them again, like she had done every four years after she finished at CCU. That’s what she did, so they didn’t ask questions about why she never looked like she was ageing, no point getting to know any of them.

“Are you coming too Nora?”

Niamh’s head went up, “Sorry, where?” 

“Out to dinner and probably a club after on Saturday night, for Tasha’s birthday.” 

Niamh thought for a moment, well that would get her out of seeing Andrew. He was just getting too full on and wanting more commitment from her, that was something she couldn’t give him. 

She looked at Kate again, “Umm yeah, ok count me in.” 

Her colleagues looked as shocked as Niamh felt, she should really just break up with Andrew, she really didn't know why she was dating him. The other teachers had continued to talk amongst themselves again, so armed with her excuse Niamh texted him back. 

The response was surprising. 

haha good one Honey, we both know you don’t hang out with anyone else willingly, except me, there was a winking face. 

Niamh rolled her eyes as another text came through, 

Come on Honey, we’ve been dating for a few months now, it’s about time you return the favour for all those dates I’ve paid for

That settled it, not only was Niamh never going to ‘return the favour’ she was going to break up with him the next time she saw him. She was also going to break all her and her brothers carefully curated rules. Stop living under the radar and actually have some fun for the first time since her CCU days.

Saturday came around quickly, Niamh sighed to herself as she hefted the bags of groceries and climbed the flights of stairs to her floor. She wasn’t making much progress in her ‘forget the rules’ and ‘cut loose’ plan. She’d been laying low for so long, those habits were going to be hard to break, she supposed. For one thing, she could have shadow walked up instead of using the stairs and as for breaking up with Andrew all she had done was avoid their usual morning walk to work and refused to answer his texts since their conversation earlier in the week. 

She remembered when she was discovering life outside that oppressive castle on Avallen, she had fun, her roommate was popular, so confident and encouraged Niamh to live. 

Then she remembered why she stopped, took her first teaching position in the quietest, most remote, human centric town she could and made sure to glamour her ears, look as human as possible. 

Her father had come to Lunathion to continue his search for her. The Stag King hated leaving the green isle, but even more, he hated the bright, busy tech driven atmosphere of Crescent City. If he was here it was serious and both Cormac and Niamh were right to be afraid. 

He had met with the Autumn King who then had the fae Aux scouring the city for her. Thankfully she had finished her course when her brother called her on the burner phone he got her when he helped her escape so they could keep in touch. She knew it was serious because he rarely called, they had a code from when they were younglings and would usually text. 

They would meet in a forest next to the Coronal Islands, it was risky but it was the first place of great distance she was able to shadow walk to. Cormac hated being the one telling her she needed to run and hide even further, he had told her he loved seeing her so happy. However, he also knew that their cousin Ruhn’s friend Declan would use his considerable skills with technology and find her if she stayed. She had hugged him and told him it was ok, not to worry, she could hide away for a while. She had to, because she knew that if their father found her, a fate worse than death was waiting for both of them. 

Even if he didn’t find evidence that Cormac helped her escape, King Morvan would just punish her brother as well, he always did. Niamh learned early on Cormac received more punishment because he begged their father to spare her and because Niamh would beg their father to spare him. Her brother had always done his best to keep her safe and happy. He was her favourite person, they kept no secrets from each other. 

Well there was one secret she kept from him… 

She never told him about her night with Tristan Flynn, and Cormac definitely didn’t know the young Lord Hawthorne was her mate, or even that she had a mate. Only one other person knew Niamh had a mate and she was standing outside her door with her groceries.

Mrs Martinez was Niamh’s elderly neighbour. From the moment Niamh moved in almost four years ago Mrs Martinez, Estelle, forced herself into Niamh’s life. Niamh has never been more grateful for the kind, sometimes funny and slightly an overbearing companion. She shook her head as she remembered how it started. Niamh had literally walked through the door of the apartment with her last box when her fae hearing heard someone shuffle out across the landing outside followed by something banging on the floor three times. Then an older female voice called out, “Ms Walker?”

Another voice came from below, “Uh yes Mrs Martinez?”

“I am no longer in need of your assistance, I’m sure the young woman who just became my new neighbour can take over,” The older female voice called down.

“Oh ok, if you’re sure then?” Called back Ms Walker from the next floor down. 

The shuffling could be heard again accompanied by muttering, “Of course I am sure, useless woman.”

Niamh’s hearing also alerted her to the fact that the shuffling didn’t stop at her neighbour’s door but ended right outside her own. After three sharp knocks, Niamh thought it best to open the door quickly, “Good afternoon, can I help you?”

“Of course you can girl, I know you heard me,” Niamh took in the tiny older woman and noticed the pointed ears but also the stick in her hand and blue cloudy hued eyes, indicating her lack of sight. “You can come by tomorrow at 11am with cake for tea and I will explain how you will be assisting me.”

Niamh knew she should be offended by the brashness of Mrs Martinez but she liked the older female, she reminded her of the cook in the castle on Avallen, Finnola. “Any particular cake?”

Mrs Matinez just waved a hand, “Anything except banana, can’t stand it.” She started to shuffle away again then stopped right before her door, “What is your name girl? I know you heard mine.”

Niamh grinned, she did like this lady, “It’s Nora Davies, Mrs Martinez.” Mrs Martinez just shook her head and muttered to herself as she went back into her apartment. “Sure it is, that’s a really believable fae name… as if I couldn’t scent your magic, see you tomorrow girl.” She became the only person in Crescent City who knew Niamh was fae nobility and was probably her only friend.

Now just as she had been doing twice a week since she moved in, Niamh used her key to unlock Mrs Martinez’s door to visit and today drop off her groceries.

“There you are, I thought maybe you got lost,” The older female always said something of that nature, pretending to be cantankerous.

Niamh smiled and started putting the groceries away as the tea brewed, “Anything exciting happen on your stories today?” 

Mrs Martinez, Estelle, shuffled over to the small dining table, “Lord Whitby’s first wife has been revealed to have been alive this whole time and of course there’s drama now with the new wife… But that’s not as interesting as your life is… Hopefully?”

Niamh carefully placed the china tea cups and saucers onto the table, then brought over the sugar, pot of tea and two plates each with a slice of the strawberry shortcake she had made. “My life is very much the same, lying low, pretending I’m not fae, remember.”

“Yes, yes you’re on the run from some horrid noble family so you have to act like you’re ancient like me.” Estelle waved her hand dismissively then poured herself some tea, so well practised, even without seeing, she didn’t miss the cup. “The thing is my dear, you are young and have powerful magic which you can now glamour quite well because I haven’t been able to scent it on you for over two years now.” She added a small amount of sugar and a dash of milk, “You should be out there enjoying yourself, not sitting alone in that apartment every weekend and before you say it, baking, going to that yoga class and brief meetings with that bore of a human male you’ve told me about don’t count. You should be out at dance halls or wherever young people go these days and finding that mate of yours.”

Niamh had heard this speech a lot lately, at least this time she didn’t have the same reply, “Actually I am heading out tonight.”

A sly smile bloomed over Estelle’s face, “It’s about time. Anywhere exciting?”

Niamh shrugged, “Just a dinner with some colleagues for a birthday, they might go to a bar or a club after.”

“And you will go too,” Estelle wasn’t asking, she even knocked her cane on the floor for extra emphasis.

“I suppose I could,” She rolled her eyes then quickly added, “But there will be no looking for my mate. He made himself pretty clear that he wasn’t interested in me. The Gods and Goddesses were obviously playing a joke when they made us mates and thought I’d have a happy life with someone like that,” Sometimes just thinking about her mate got her so riled up, just another unfair element in her life.

Estelle softened a little and reached over to pat Niamh’s arm, “My dear you need to remember that males, especially when they’re young and in the company of other young males, can be stupid.” She pauses to pour them each another cup of tea, “My late husband and mate, Jacob, was exactly like that when we first met. When he realised what an idiot he was, that actually he was attracted to me not just my looks, but my mind and personality, he didn’t want to miss out on a chance to get to know me better. He spent the rest of his life making up for it.” She teared up as she reminisced, “I have never known so much respect, admiration and love before, and I never will again. We were equals in every possible way.”

They finished the rest of their tea in silence, each time Niamh heard Estelles stories of her and Jacob’s mated life together it didn’t make it any easier knowing who her own mate was and that he was in the same city. Neither did the dreams she had of their night together, she hated how she couldn’t control when she would wake up from them with her heart fluttering and a warmth spreading through her.

Estelle got up, “I need to nap now.”

“Of course, I'll see you later, oh and I made more brownies to help with your aching joints.” She made her way to the door to head to own apartment.

“Thank you, you’re a good girl, you have fun tonight and hopefully you’ll see your mate.”

“Goodbye Estelle,” Niamh smiled, shaking her head as she left, ignoring the little voices in her head, particularly the one pointing out that Estelle was napping a lot more lately and the other that was less in her head and more in her heart linked to that golden thread.

Chapter Text

Later that night, Niamh was surprised she actually enjoyed her evening out. 

The pasta she ordered for dinner was delicious and not just because she didn’t have to make it. She had followed her coworkers to a bar where they very loudly continued their celebrations and their drinking. A few drinks at the bar meant literally that for Niamh, but for the others it was a lot more. It would be a wonder if they were allowed into the nightclub they were heading to next. She rolled her eyes, not missing the smirks the shifter bouncers gave each other as the human females stumbled past them out of the bar and swayed down the street, leaning on each other from time to time. 

Niamh was so concerned one of them might fall into oncoming traffic she didn’t see who was sitting at a table in the restaurant they were passing. 

Her coworker Kate noticed and very loudly made sure Niamh and the rest heard, “Oh my Solas! Nora is that your boyfriend, the guy we see walking you to work sometimes?”

Niamh’s head whipped to her left, to the scene through the window. She was right, that was Andrew, with his best friend Jessica. The thing was in that moment they looked like they were a lot more than friends.

“Do you know that fake hair extensions, tacky nails bitch all over your boyfriend Nora?” One of the others in their group slurred.

Nora took a deep breath.

Yes, she wanted to break up with this asshole and the scene in front of her just added to the reasons why it was a good idea. “Please excuse me for a moment.” She calmly and purposefully entered the restaurant and headed straight for their table.

Tristan Flynn couldn’t believe he lost to Dec at the shooting range. Worst still was he had to go and pick up dinner for them while they worked the night shift at the Aux, something they usually made a newbie do. He sighed as he perfectly parked his all black suv outside the restaurant. There was a group of very drunk human females outside the restaurant, he avoided eye contact with them as he passed. He did however smile as he gave his biceps a subtle flex. He knew how irresistible all females, no matter race or gender, found him and he was the first to admit that he fucking loved the attention. Honestly, the only time he hated it was when they were noble born fae females that his mother tried to get him to marry. Tristan’s smile faded when he didn’t get the reaction he expected, he didn’t get any reaction. He couldn’t help himself; he had to see what was occupying all the female's attention. Then it made sense. A female who was clearly hiding sexy curves under that shapeless dress, it was obvious with the way she was standing there in front of a couple at a table, hands on her hips. His mind drifted thinking he’d seen hips like that hidden under skirts before. Hips that he wanted to put his hands on.

He was shaken out of his daydream when he heard one of the drunk females say, “She better be breaking up with that loser for cheating on her.”

He looked at the guy, average and the look in the males eyes just screamed spineless asshole. Tristan smirked as he walked into the restaurant. Whatever that gorgeous female was going to do, that dick and the basic female he was with deserved it. If he was a younger fae male, he would be stupid and just knock the guy out for her and then ask her on a date.But he liked to think he’d matured, only a little. What he did do, which probably wasn’t very mature, was to eavesdrop on the end of the domestic while he waited for the take out to be brought over.

“Honey, you know Jess and I have been friends forever.When you kept rejecting me and started keeping me at arms length I was really upset. She was just making me feel better.” Tristan rolled his eyes as the male whined.

He was just about to think of what he would say to that loser when he heard the sexy female say exactly what he was thinking, maybe a bit more eloquently. “Andrew, I was keeping you at arms length because I wanted to break up with you. You have made this relationship about you the whole time and I let you. Well, apart from telling you I hate being called ‘Honey’ and I have told you so many times.” He heard her pause and the sound of glass clinking, “So I don’t care that Jessica was helping you feel better, the two of you can make each other feel better as much as you want from now on because Andrew, you and I are done.” A distinct splash sound and then another clink, “Oh, if you like being called honey, and listening to his whining then you’ve got a winner there Jessica.” again a splash sound hit his fae hearing.

“Sir, sir!” He had to focus, the server in front of him was holding out the bag of food to him.

“Sorry,” Tristan muttered, barely registering the male behind the counter. 

He was still feeling a strange pride and warmth in his heart after hearing the female’s badass but controlled take down. Fuck, he really wanted to get her number. She deserved to be treated like a princess taken out on a date and then, of course if she consented, worshipped like a goddess. Then he remembered her, his dream girl. She was the only goddess he knew, the only one who made his heart feel like that. His horny ass was just playing tricks on him, he just wanted that female to be her. 

He sighed and strode out of the restaurant. His boots thudding on the pavement, oblivious to the group of females who clearly noticed him now and were now fawning. As he effortlessly peeled out of the parking space and drove back to the Aux, Tristan Flynn knew he needed two things when his shift ended, an easy fuck and some quality mirthroot. Luckily for him he was Tristan Flynn and he could easily get both.

Niamh couldn’t believe she almost lost her temper like that in public. As she stared at the faces of Andrew and Jessica staring back at her in disbelief, cheap red wine dripping down their faces and hair, she felt like she was someone else watching it happen. She steeled herself with a breath and kept her head high as she walked as calmly as she could out of the restaurant towards her drunk colleagues who seemed to be celebrating her display outside. She looked ahead of her so she wouldn’t make eye contact with anyone on her way out. But just because she wasn’t looking at anyone there didn’t mean she couldn’t pick up on their scents. 

One in particular wasn’t in the restaurant when she walked in. It took over her, made her heart ache and her knees almost buckled with how it both overwhelmed and surprised her. Niamh knew that scent anywhere. Oranges and oakwood with a hint of mirthroot, his scent, her mate’s scent, Lord Tristan Flynn. 

Thankfully her knees didn’t give out and she made it outside without coming in contact with him. She was engulfed by the loud and swaying females, they hugged her and exclaimed things like, “Woo! Girl you’re awesome! Oh my Solas, their faces!” Niamh just nodded her head and moved to the back of the group farthest away from the restaurant. When she knew she was well hidden by the others, she peered through them, and her hair, which was almost like a curtain. She couldn’t help it, her stupid mate instincts took over and if she was being honest.  She was curious to see if he had changed since the last time she saw him, years ago on Avallan. Of course he was as handsome as ever, his golden tanned skin seemed even more gorgeous, his chestnut brown hair had a sexy wave to it and his rich brown eyes made her almost sigh. Niamh shook herself and joined her colleagues who were continuing along the sidewalk. No, she thought as they got to the club, he was an arrogant noble fae prick and she saw that look on his face as he drove past in his ridiculously expensive looking suv. That was it, she was done with this night, she knew the others wouldn’t notice her absence if she just snuck off as they entered the club. She would text one of them from a cab. It was all too much - seeing her loser boyfriend, well no, ex-boyfriend cheating on her and her mate in the same place.

‘Why, tonight of all nights, did she have to almost run into him?’ She thought as turned away from the group got past the bouncers and headed back down the stairs as she really did run into someone.

“Oh Luna! I’m so sorry!” Niamh said, her accent slipping a little as she rushed to move out of the way and keep going.

“Nora?!” The person she had bumped into called out from behind her.

Niamh knew that voice, it was the voice of her college roommate, Kamiyah, a jaguar shifter who brought Niamh out of her shell and showed her how to live. She couldn’t ignore her so she turned to her old friend, “Kami?”

“Oh I knew it was you. Wow, you’ve changed, you got...” Kami looked Niamh up and down, “Boring again.” The shifter crossed her arms and gave Niamh a questioning and disapproving look. “I know something happened with your family after graduation and you moved away but why the hell have you gone back to looking like a dull human again?”

Niamh shugged, “Like you said, family stuff. Had to stay under the radar.”

Kami shook her head and smiled, “And you’re running out of a club, you should really come in, I’m playing the next set.”

“Oh really? That’s awesome. I heard you were getting pretty famous as a DJ.” Niamh felt exhaustion hit her, “I can’t tonight though, it’s already been a pretty surreal night.”

“Well I’m glad you’re back in town and I’ve run into you. Here, give me your phone,” Before Niamh could reply Kami took the phone out of Niamh’s hand in a move she would have done years ago. She watched as her old friend excited the taxi app and opened the contacts, typed her number then held Niamh’s phone back out toward her. “There, you have my number now. Text me, we’ll catch up. I’ve gotta go now though,” and like the whirlwind Niamh remembered Kami was gone. Leaving Niamh once again in shock, hoping she didn’t run into anyone else on her way home because the way this night was going, her father was going to be the one driving the cab back to her apartment building.

Thankfully the cab driver was not her father. She saw no one else as she made her way into her building and up to her apartment. Niamh showered, trying to scrub all thoughts and memories of Andrew and Tristan Flynn from her mind as she washed off the grime from the night. She dressed in her softest pyjamas and buried herself in her covers welcoming sleep and hoping not to dream.

Princess Niamh Donnall’s subconscious mind had other ideas.

Chapter Text

Everytime Niamh dreamt about her mate the dream was always the same. The thing was it wasn’t a dream, it was a memory. Of course the night after almost bumping into her mate she dreamt about him too.

“Princess I’m not sure you should keep doing this, someone is bound to find out you’re running around in my clothes,” Niamh’s ladies maid Orla implored.

“No they won’t; you, Finnola and Cormac are the only ones in this castle who truly know what I look like,” she tied up the simple brown boots and smoothed out the skirts of the plain brown dress all the female servants of the castle had to wear, on her fathers orders. She did however forgo the apron and silly little hats he made them wear, the hat especially because it was almost like wearing the suffocating veil her father insisted she wear everywhere. Preferring to leave her long, silky, fair hair unbound, draping over her back and shoulders, with strands framing her face.

She turned back to Orla, “I promise everything will be fine just like it always is.”

Niamh raced down the hidden hallways to one of the servants' exits. She knew their schedules well and knew none of them had cause to be in these corridors at this time. So she was more than surprised when she rounded a corner and ran straight into a tall, warm, hard body. “Sorry,” She muttered and went to take up her run again.

“Wait!” The voice of the male she ran into did not have the Avallen accent, it also sounded like smooth music and seemed to caress her all over. “I apologise for startling you darlin’, I seemed to have gotten lost,” He casually leaned back into the wall.

Niamh turned around and looked up to see the most beautiful male she’d ever seen just casually waiting for her to respond, his own eyes looking her over in an amused and appreciative way, not hiding the fact at all. “Lost or snooping? You’re not from here,” Her brows narrowed as she studied him.

He smirked at her, “Maybe a bit of both.”

She gave him her own saccharine smile, “Well you’re not going to find much back here, just freezing stone corridors.” She pointed the way she had just came, “The servants quarters are that way,” Then she pointed ahead, “And that way is the tapestry entrance to the main guest hallway, I assume that is where you came from,”

He jerked his head slightly to the right of the direction she just mentioned, towards where she was headed. “Where does the door back down there lead to?” 

“Castle grounds, it’s one of the servants exits.” She really needed to go because any minute the servants would have finished their tasks and at least one would be entering this hall. “Really just go back the way you came, I promise you there’s nothing to find here but if the King finds out you’ve been snooping around,” She nervously looked around, “Let’s just say he won’t be treating you as a guest any longer.” 

She started to leave again when she heard him “You’re wrong darlin’, there was something to find, I found you.”

“Yes, well there’s nothing special about me and I was just on my way out.” She gestured to the guest wing again, “Like I said you should head back to your suite.”

She picked up the heavy old fashioned skirts and ran towards the exit, not bothering to look behind her. If she did she would have seen him stare after her with that cocky smirk on his face for a minute before following her.

Niamh ran the whole way through the maze-like gravel pathways until she made it to the edge of the castle grounds. The last obstacle was passing under the archway of the final hedge, as soon as she stepped through it she moved to the side and leaned against the hedge, sighed and smiled to herself. She had successfully made it out again, everytime feeling like the first, that small taste of freedom. 

For the second time that night she was startled as she pushed off the hedge she heard the crunching of boots on gravel, her heart leaped into her throat. 

Just as she reached for the dagger she kept in her boot she heard that foreign drawl, “As much as I enjoy the chase, are we going to take a breather soon?”

Niamh couldn’t believe it, that handsome yet cocky visitor had followed her! She left the dagger where it was, picked up the tin she was carrying in one hand and her other went to her hip, “You can sit here and catch your breath all you like because you’re not supposed to be here.”

Clearly it didn’t take him long to catch his breath because his smug amused face glanced at her hips, causing her to drop her hand not holding the tin nervously, before he said, “That castle is immensely boring, following you seemed like the more interesting option.”

Niamh huffed, “I don’t have time to waste convincing you to go back. If you’re going to insist on following me,” She squinted at him before adding, “Which is creepy by the way;” Turning and starting off again Niamh didn’t bother to look back as she finished, “Don’t get in my way and don’t bother asking me questions about the castle and the royal family. I cannot afford to lose my job.”

Flynn was awed by this female, she was clearly a feisty little mystery and just as he mentioned before, much more interesting than sneaking around that freezing, depressing castle. He caught up to her easily and sneaked a sideways glance at her, there was a light around her, one that made his chest feel warm and he was sure became brighter the moment they left the awful castle. 

It was then that he noticed the tin she was carrying again, “What’s in there?” Her steps didn’t falter as she gave him a quick sidelong glare. He smirked, “That wasn’t one of the things you said I couldn’t ask about.”

Niamh rolled her eyes, “You’ll find out soon enough.” She gave an exasperated sigh, “You’re going to be so distracting.” She heard him snigger, making her sigh again, “Not to me, to them.” She pointed ahead of them and he was confused until they rounded the corner. 

Before them was a dilapidated stone farmhouse and before he could ask a little girl came running out of the house towards them. She was surprisingly fast and loud for her size, squealed and called out behind her towards the building, “She’s here! I told you she was just late, she wouldn’t forget us!”

Niamh bent down, put the tin on the ground and held out her arms as the small girl flung herself into them. She held the girl tightly and listened intently as she whispered to her, “Who is that male?”

Niamh whispered back so only the little girl could hear, “I’ll tell you all in a moment but I need you to promise me and tell the others to do the same, get them to swear it.” She felt the girl's head nod vigorously, “He cannot know my name, can you keep that secret?”

The little girl’s voice was determined, “Yes. I don’t tell secrets.” Then she jumped out of Niamh’s arms, snatched up the tin and ran back to the house, stopping and whispering something to the female who looked to be in her early teens, before continuing on inside.

Tristan was trying not to seem confused or jump to conclusions, did this pretty and intriguing maid from the castle have a family, were these her children and what was she whispering about? “What just happened there?” He asked.

Niamh turned to him with a slight smirk of her own on her lips, “She wanted to know who the male in the ridiculous foreign clothes was.”

He wanted to laugh, this female was something, “What did you tell her?”

“I told her I would tell her with all of them,” She turned back to continue to the house and as she did she added, “How do I explain to a six year old that I don’t even know, I just let some strange male follow me. Not really a good example is it.”

He caught up to her step again and whispered near her ear, “It’s-”

She cut him off, “Don’t tell me, because then I will be bound to tell the King who exactly was snooping around his castle, if I don’t know I can’t tell.” Before he could speak again she sniffed delicately, “You smell like oranges and oakmoss and…something else, anyway I know exactly what to call you.”

Tristan really hoped it wasn’t orange, from what he could gain about this female in the very short time he had known her, she would have a sense of humour like that. He was too late to find out because she was already embracing the teen fae and heading inside, gesturing with her hand for him to wait there. He still didn’t know why he felt the need to follow this female, sure she was a mystery and he and Dec were supposed to be sneaking around the castle uncovering whatever they could about Ruhn’s evil uncle but it definitely didn’t include following the most beautiful yet puzzling female he had ever seen out of the castle. And yet it was as if something deep inside him was telling him there was nothing more important to him than getting to know her, it was almost as if he could follow her forever.

“How are you?” Niamh hugged the auburn haired girl.

The girl smiled and hugged her back pulling her into the small warm kitchen, “Can’t complain, so glad to see you, the wains have been begging for a new book.”

Niamh reached into the folds of the thick brown skirts, deep into her pocket and pulled out a book, “Good thing I brought one then.” Before Niamh could give it to her, one of the other young girls, there were six of them, weaved between them and took it into her hands. “Thanks!” 

She and the oldest smiled and shook their heads at each other but turned their heads when they heard another shout, “Hey! The cake is for all of us, stop sneaking it!”

The little one wasn’t the smallest but she was the quietest asked, “Who is he, is he having tea too?”

The oldest girl’s head whipped around seeing the handsome male through the window leaning against one of the verandah posts, arms casually crossed across his chest and she blushed, causing all the other girls to giggle.

Niamh immediately shushed them, “That’s enough all of you, that is no way to repay Holly and her parents for their kindness. Now sit down and let me explain.” At that all the little girls sat around the table with their hands in their laps and Holly sat too, sending Niamh a look of thanks. “I need to be honest with you all, I only just met that male, he is a guest of the King and I am taking him on a tour of the best parts of Avallen. His name is Oak.”

The girls giggled again and one of them, the one that hadn’t spoken yet, piped up this time, “Princess, that’s a funny name.”

Niamh just shrugged, “Anyway that’s why I can’t stay tonight,” There were groans from the girls. “I’m sorry girls but we have to get on with our tour.”

A chorus of ‘Awws’ sounded and Niamh just laughed as she went back out the front door and called behind her “I’ll try to come for an extra visit next week!” She mentioned for Tristan to leave with her and he followed, she still couldn’t understand why he would follow her, but something about him felt safe to her. 

They were almost out the gate when Niamh heard Holly behind her, “Wait!” Niamh turned and Holly handed her a canvas bag, “Da’s not home and I don’t want the wains to eat the extra. Plus I put in some good Avallan tea.” Niamh went to disagree but Holly stopped her, “You know Ma would have my hide if we didn’t offer any hospitality.”

“I can’t be the reason for you to endure that then,” Niamh said as she took the bag and headed back to where Tristan was waiting with a curious expression. She just walked right past him continuing on her usual path.

“So those feisty little faelings aren’t your kids?” He’d easily caught up to her again.

Niamh stopped in her tracks and whipped around, “What! You thought all those children back there were mine?” 

His hands immediately went up in surrender, “Just trying to make sense of my ‘tour’, you know since you’re not really being forthcoming darlin’.”

She rolled her eyes, “First of all you followed me, it’s not an official tour. Second, stop calling me ‘darlin’.” She went to leave again but he grabbed her elbow, his grip was firm but gentle.

“What about ‘Princess’?” His voice was low and made her feel a sense of warmth at the same time she panicked. She had hoped he didn’t hear what the girls called her. Darn fae hearing.

“Huh,” She tried not to be flustered and breathed out a laugh. “Oh the younglings just think because I visit them from the palace I’m a princess.” Her head shot up, “I’m not by the way, the princess I mean, I’m not her.”

His face was full of charm and something she couldn’t place, “Oh I thought as much, there’s no way you could be the daughter of that dick King Morven.” 

He moved his fingers from her arm and she almost felt as though she missed the touch for a second but shrugged it off because she more focused on the fact that he seemed to buy her lie. 

He tapped the tin in the bag she was holding, “What about cupcake… no definitely not that sweet.” He made a show of tapping a finger to his chin, then looked straight in her eyes, “Hazel.”

“Fine,” She tried not to smile, she knew he just chose it because of her eye colour. “Let’s just continue your tour then, Oak.” They both laughed.

As the evening continued Tristan Flynn found himself thanking Solas, Luna and every other deity that he chose the corridor on the right and Dec went left while Ruhn distracted his cousin Cormac. Sure he hadn’t learnt anything personal about the King, Cormac or where the starsword was and he definitely hadn’t learnt anything about ‘Hazel’. Those topics stayed off limits, the only time he mentioned it since they left he noticed her get skittish and a frightened look was in her eyes. So he dropped it quickly and instead learning about life on the island outside the castle. The enthusiasm this female had for the other everyday people like herself was endearing. 

It turned out that she had taught the older girl Holly to read and Holly was teaching the younger ones now. Apparently females on the island weren’t allowed to attend school, they wouldn’t need it if they were to become good wives and mothers. Just learning that made his blood boil.

She had taken him past farms and through a village where she said she would usually stop in and spend some of her wages because the everyday people of Avallan are struggling to survive while those in the castle ignore it. Hazel said it took them a while to trust her because they don’t trust many who live and work in that castle. As they were passing the pub a couple of musicians asked her if she was coming in for a dance but she cheerfully called out in reply, “Not tonight lads!”

“You should go and dance if you want, it’s your time off and I feel like I’m in the way,” Tristan couldn’t help but feel sheepish. Usually he was so secure in himself he didn’t care but the more time he spent with this female the more he wanted to impress her. He found quite quickly that his usual ways to win over a female, physical strength, position in the AUX and his rebellious nature weren’t going to cut it with ‘Hazel’. Instead he resolved to intently listen to her pretty accented voice and take in every word she said.

Chapter Text

Niamh’s sleep remained undisturbed as the memory of the most magical night of her life continued to play out in her dreams. Only when she wakes up will she feel the bittersweet sting that it will never be repeated.

Niamh had almost gone in a full circle with her tour for this friend of her cousin. She figured that must be who he was because no one else from Lunathion was due to arrive at the castle around this time except her cousin, Ruhn Danaan. They had just passed the windy and dangerous cliffs and were outside a high stone wall covered in thick ivy, “This is our last stop.”

“It’s uh…,” Tristan wasn’t sure what to say he didn’t want to offend her.

“Sorry I know it’s probably anticlimactic, I can’t get in through the door anymore and I don’t expect you to climb over like I do.” Niamh honestly didn’t even know why she had brought him here to her favourite place, she should have just shared the tea and cake with him back by the cliffs.

“Why do you need to climb? I’m fully capable of climbing just so you know.” He gave her a smile and  really tried not to imagine her climbing that wall. He was sure it would be equal parts sexy and adorable. He had never been this way with anyone before, it was as though he didn’t need to hide behind his rebellious bravado. He also knew if his friends could see him they would probably mock him.

Niamh pointed towards a thick clump of ivy hanging over a section of the wall.

Tristan felt alive he rarely used the magic he inherited from his parents for that reason but if he could help ‘Hazel’ he would. It took a lot more strength than it normally would, it felt as though something on this island was dulling his magic but moving vines wasn’t that hard. Within moments the strands of greenery moved aside like curtains parting. When he heard her audible gasp his heart warmed.

“You have Earth magic! That’s so useful!” Niamh pulled a brass key from her pocket and ran to the door, opening it with ease. 

Tristan just shrugged and followed her in, “I guess it is.”

He watched as she closed and locked the door behind them and when he looked around he could see they were in a garden. It was overgrown and needed a lot of care but he could feel the life still in it.

“Sorry this must look horrible to someone with your powers…” She looked down, “I guess I wanted to end the tour here because I always come here before going back. It’s my favourite place in the kingdom. We can go if you want, back to the cliffs?”

Tristan had spent the whole evening with the most vibrant, courageous and kind female he’d ever met and he hated seeing her looking sad, maybe even embarrassed. He reached over and squeezed her small hand. “I don’t want to go anywhere.” His own courage was back, his free hand gently touched under her chin and tilted her head back up so he could see those pretty hazel eyes, “Show me why this is your favourite place.” The smile that bloomed across her face almost made his heart stop. Sure he had brought females happiness in the past but none of it ever made him feel that way.

Niamh played tour guide again and took him around the garden most of which needed a lot of work and care. As they walked along the paths and over stone bridges she explained why she came here often, as best she could without giving her true identity away. “This garden used to be the Queen’s private garden. We would come here with her when we were children, I guess it was our playground and our sanctuary.”

“We?” He looked at her needing more clarification.

“I grew up in that castle, the only other children in the castle were the prince and princess. The princess and I are the same age so we became friends.”

“I thought you weren’t going to talk about the royal family,” He gave her a teasing smirk.

Their hands were still linked so they were close enough she could bump him slightly, “I needed to, for context.”

“Are you really the princess’ friend if you work for her?” He frowned slightly.

She noticed the little change in him, “I can see what you’re implying but the princess treats me more like family, she’s the one that gets the books for the children, covers for me so I can go out like this and more. It’s because the Queen treated us that way, it is because of the Queen that both the princess and I were educated well, she did it in secret, disguising it in feminine tasks.”

He softened again and she felt his thumb rub the back of her hand, “I’m sorry I guess I only have the noble fae families I have met to base my opinions on, including my own, they’re true assholes.” 

This time he felt the gentle brush of the fingers from her free hand on his arm, “I understand, from what I’ve heard from the princess, most nobles are horrible that’s why she… well she doesn’t like them very much.”

“I heard the Queen’s death was a tragic accident?” Tristan couldn’t help himself, he had to ask.

“That’s what they told everyone outside the palace, but there was nothing accidental about it,” Her spare hand curled into a fist and her breathing became heavy. Angry tears pricked her eyes, for a moment she forgot herself and who she was with, “He killed her and I, we, saw.” She shook off the feeling and the memory as they rounded the corner, “Here, I’ve been able to keep this little patch alive at least.”

As much as Tristan wanted to find out more, he could see how much just reliving and sharing that memory affected her and he didn’t want to be the reason she became more upset. He joined her on the soft grass missing the feeling of her hand in his.

Niamh opened the tin and put it on the ground next to him, “Holly didn’t want the little ones to eat all the cake, it’s just a simple Avallen Apple Cake, probably nowhere near the fancy food you have in Lunathion, but we like it.”

Tristan helped himself to a piece and practically ate it in one bite and he smiled as he heard Niamh giggle. “That is amazing! Wait a minute, the food we ate at dinner tonight wasn’t nearly as delicious as that.”

Niamh blushed and shyly answered, “That’s because the palace cook didn’t make it, I did, it’s an old family recipe.”

“You should do that professionally,” Even though he liked seeing her cheeks pink with modesty, he didn’t just say that to make her blush deepen he meant every word.

Niamh ducked her face behind her curtain of blonde hair and passed him a cup of the tea before sipping some herself. She didn’t expect to hear him sputter and cough.

“That is terrible, I’m sorry but I hate tea and I can’t understand why it’s so hard to find coffee here,” Tristan swapped the napkin she offered him for the cup of the offending liquid.

She hid her smile behind the thermos as she took another sip of the delicious tea as he put his used napkin back in the bag and ate the remaining crumbs from the tin, then put the lid back on and packed it up for her too. 

What he did next she didn’t expect, he stood and bent holding out his hand for her to take. She quickly packed up the thermos and put it away too. As she put her hand in his again he said, “I heard what the males in the village said, you usually go dancing.”

Niamh nodded, “Yes but it’s ok if I miss it, there will be other opportunities.”

“Yes, like now.” He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and before she could protest he said, “I know the internet doesn’t work on this backwards island but I have some songs already downloaded onto my phone.”

“Apart from some of the dances that are important to know for balls I only know how to two-step, I don’t know how to do modern dancing like they do where you’re from,” Niamh tried not to feel like an idiot.

Tristan however smiled, “There will be no ball dancing, I don’t need reminders of the paid lessons my mother hovered over, but I know a little two-step. There’s a country bar in Crescent City I used to go to sometimes, when I was in college.” He puts a song on that Niamh had never heard before but the beat was similar to the one when the little village band played. He put one hand on her waist, she put one on his shoulder and their free hands held each other. As they started to step in time with the song she was surprised he wasn’t too bad at all, even spinning her out or around him every so often. 

As the song ended he dipped her like they had been dancing together for years. She hung there in his strong and steady hold for what felt like forever but, was merely minutes, they just stared into each other's eyes. She was sure her heart was going to leap out of her chest with how fast and loud it was beating. 

Then Tristan pulled Niamh back up and she lost her footing and fell into him, he mustn’t have expected it because he fell too and they both ended up back on the grass. Tristan had broken Niamh’s fall so she was on top of him, her hands on his shoulders and acutely aware of his very strong, hard body beneath her soft one.

Tristan brushed her hair out of her face, “Are you alright?” She just nodded and he breathed out the breath he didn’t know he was holding, “You are remarkable, I’ve never felt like this with anyone.” She was so close, her eyes were so pretty, her nose almost touching his own and her lips parted slightly. Tristan didn’t think he just lifted his head a little and titled it slightly so his own lips brushed hers ever so lightly. His brain immediately kicked in and he pulled back, gently moved her off him and sat up running his hand through his hair and looked down to the side whispering “Shit! I’m sorry I should have asked first before just kissing you like that.”

Niamh quickly recovered from being left hanging mid-kiss, the best kiss she had ever had if she was honest and sure she didn’t have many to compare it to but none of the others ever had her feeling as though she was floating and nothing could ever make her sad again. Involuntarily letting out a contented sigh she propped her head up with her hand and smiled, “Is that another one of your modern Lunathian things? Solas knows males do not ask for anything here.” 

Tristan’s head whips over to her, “Who?! Did someone here hurt you?”

Her heart melted, she knew everything she had heard about modern, immoral fae from Lunathion was untrue. Well at least this male wasn’t like that, he couldn’t be, sure she barely knew him but what she had learnt tonight showed he was different. “No one has hurt me like that, knowing who I am, I mean who I work for and where I live, no one would even try.” Gods, if anyone had actually tried to hurt her they would have her brother and his power to deal with but she didn’t add that because the last thing she wanted to do was to bring her brother into this conversation. 

Tristan’s eyes softened, “Good, my friends would be pretty pissed if I incited violence during our trip.” She giggled and that stirred those feelings inside him again and he remembered who he was, “Hazel, can I kiss you again?” He sees her breath hitch and she nods, not breaking eye contact with him. “I need you to use your words.”

Niamh wanted to roll her eyes at that, yes, his chivalry was very attractive and refreshing but how could he not tell that of course she wanted to kiss him again. “Yes,” she breathed out and reached up to tug him down to her.

All Tristan needed was her verbal consent but again she surprised him when she pulled him towards her. She was perfect and he wasn’t going to waste anymore time not showing her, he kissed her fully and deeply. He felt her lips move against his returning and matching his kisses. Making out with a female had never felt this amazing. Not only was his cock straining against his jeans but his heart was bursting. His mouth moved down the curve of her chin to her neck, one hand was in her silky hair and the other travelled down her side, grazing the side of her breast and down to where it rested on the soft curve of her hip. The best part was when he started moving his lips lower to the top of her shoulder she let out the smallest and sweetest moan. That almost had him wanting to say things he’d never said to anyone, instead he let out a groan of his own and continued to lick and suck her soft skin, marking her.

Niamh was in heaven, this male could kiss and if she only had this night and never kissed another male again she would be the happiest female in the world. She knew he was probably leaving a mark on her skin but she didn’t care, she was sure she had a dress or two that would cover it anyway. As she lay there feeling ecstasy, wetness pooling in her underwear, happy her arousal wasn’t the only scent in the air, she tried not to shudder and say things no one should say to someone they barely knew. Instead she let out a little moan and continued to grip his muscled back and run her fingers through his soft chestnut hair.

She was so content and caught up that she would have let the night keep going to a place she’d only ever been to once before, she wanted to give him everything. An owl hooted from a tree nearby and snapped Niamh out of bliss, “We have to stop, I’m sorry,” Her breaths were coming out ragged as she caught them again. They sat up, his hand still on her hip and a questioning look on his face. Before he could ask what was wrong, which she was sure he was going to do, she explained, “As much as I would really like to continue what we were doing here, I have to get back to the castle before the housekeeper locks up the female servants quarters for the night. If I’m late I will be in so much trouble and be punished.”

“I can just say you were with me, I was lost and you were helping me find my way back,” He offered gently and tucked her hair behind her ear.

She cupped the side of his face with her hand, “You are so sweet, but that wouldn’t work, I would get punished anyway for not reporting you wandering around outside the guest wing and for not getting a male servant to help you.” Niamh stood and picked up the bag, hooking it over her shoulder. As she felt him stand next her and she realised that the only way she would make it back in time so Orla could make it upstairs to her servant room, would be if she used her magic. She was close enough to the castle that it would work, she hadn’t taken others with her very many times but she had to risk it. She felt him reach for her hand, she linked her fingers through his and turned to face him taking his other hand. Niamh looked up into his rich brown eyes, “Do you trust me?”

His eyes were still soft and crinkled into a smile, “Yes, beautiful, sweet Hazel, I trust you.”

She stood up on her tiptoes and whispered into his ear, “Close your eyes and please don’t open them until I say, oh and please don’t ask me how I did it.” She watched him close his eyes and smile, shaking his head slightly, then she surrounded them in shadows and moved from her secret garden back to that stone cold hallway where they met. “You can open your eyes now.”

Tristan opened his eyes and was stunned how they ended up back where their night started baffled him. He was shaken out of his stupor when he felt her start to move away from him. His arm shot out and he gently and firmly pulled her back into him, “Wait!”

“I have to go,” she protested but didn’t fight against him or try to leave.

He holds her in an embrace and whispers to her almost desperately, “My friends and I are only her to look for something and then we’re leaving, come with me. Come back to Lunathion with me Hazel.”

He felt her shudder and it sounded like she sniffed, “I’ve always wanted to leave.”

He pulls back and her eyes are glassy like she’s holding back tears and he feels like he might get emotional too, something he never does. “Then come with me, meet me in the garden in two nights time and we’ll leave together.”

“Okay, I'll think about it,” She nods and starts to pull out of his arms. 

Tristan pulls a red peony from his back pocket, he had used his magic to put it there from the little patch in the garden that was thriving now, near where they had been kissing. He pressed the stem into her palm, then bent down and kissed her again. She kissed him back briefly and ran off down the hall.

That was how the dream was supposed to end if it was truly a memory thought Niamh as she woke. Instead it tended to end in the garden, with her deciding not to go back to the castle. Dream Princess Niamh Donnall stayed with Lord Tristan Flynn in her secret garden and spent the night together. Her subconscious wildly inventing many ways they would give in to their desires and passionately give themselves to each other fully that night.

She groaned, feeling how her breasts ached and the spot between her legs was wet. She gave into it, one of her hands going to squeeze her breasts, the other trailing down her body and sighing as her fingers started to rub her most sensitive spot. As she brought herself to the peak of pleasure she opened her eyes and focused on the frame on her bedroom wall. 

In the frame was a delicate, dried red peony.

Chapter Text

It had been weeks since he witnessed that pretty human woman take down her boring, asshole, cheating boyfriend. Weeks. Why couldn’t he stop thinking about her. She wasn’t the female he’d been dreaming about from Avallan, Hazel, he’d called her. So why after all this time was he thinking of another. Sure there was something similar about them, same height, physicality, tone of voice but her hair and eyes weren’t the same. There was also the little fact that this woman was human.

He had just finished his afternoon workout and shower and headed over to where Dec was supervising the packing up of the tech he would need for the Summit. “I’m surprised you’re letting others do that,” Flynn drawled as he sat on the edge of his desk.

“Rivers, be careful with that! And don’t put them in the same case, that’s why I gave you two cases,” Dec ran his hand through his firey hair before straightening his already immaculate desk.

“Oh Dec, I love it when you get all bossy like that,” Tristan made a gesture of fanning himself and fluttered his lashes with a stupid smile on his face.

Dec gave him the dirtiest side-eye and pushed his best friend, “Just because you don’t care about the importance of this Summit and what you need to bring.”

Flynn feigned offence moving the fanning hand to his chest, “How dare you, I fully understand the seriousness of it. As a matter of fact I delegated the task and I know that all the weapons we will need and possibly more are packed and ready to go even if we’re not going til the day after tomorrow.”

Declan looked at his friends smug face, “Don’t tell me Niko did it, didn’t he?”

Flynn just smirked and shrugged his shoulders. Dec rolled his eyes, “The guy probably spent hours doing it and triple checked to make sure it was right too. It’s a bit creepy how he idolises you.”

“No it’s not, he can’t help it that he wants to imitate perfection…” Flynn drawled and Declan shook his head. “Anyway, you heading home soon? We all need a night to relax and let loose before we go, plus we need to help Ruhn take his mind off the whole betrothal thing.”

“Yeah, give me another hour,” Dec had picked up his laptop and was scrolling through something, probably a list.

“Perfect! Gives me time to go and stock up on party favours,” He pushed off the desk and rolled his shoulders.

“You’re going to him? What happened to the usual drop?” Dec was still studying the screen as he spoke.

Flynn just shrugged, “Don’t know, he said something about having to meet with an important customer and it not being the usual day. Whatever, he knows better than to try and screw me with product or try and snitch.”

Dec laughed, “Yeah ‘cause he knows you’ll kill him before he can even speak, without weapons.”

Flynn just made a mock bow and headed to where his SUV was parked in an executive spot in the underground parking garage. 

As he pulled into the alley behind the take out restaurants in the Meadows he was trying to remember the last time he’d had to come here. Definitely not since becoming a high ranking member of the Aux. It didn’t matter, with the tension brewing with the upcoming Summit and his mind always drifting to now two females some quality mirthroot and the bonus of not bad pizza was worth it. As he sauntered over to the back entrance he heard Kacee, his dealer for many years and owner of the pizza joint, say to the figure, “As always a pleasure doing business with you my lady, you’re my best customer.”

The ‘lady’ in question was hidden by an oversized black hoodie that bunched and sat on her hips. Hips that led to an amazing ass covered in tight black jeans usually a body like that would have been enough to tempt him and he would have stopped her to flirt and ask her back to the house to join the party. 

It was Flynn himself who was frozen to the spot when she quipped back in an elegant Avallan accent, “Whatever Kacee, we both know you say that to everyone.” 

She either didn’t notice him as she passed him or she was avoiding him, but he wasn’t focusing on that, it was the flash of brown hair that reminded him of the female from weeks ago and the way she held the pizza box, was not unlike the way a hazel eyed female held a cake filled tin in the past. It was almost as if they had merged into the same female. Fuck he was losing his mind, he needed a few stiff drinks and hits, bad.

“Ah Fae Aux!, Let me grab your order,” Kacee disappeared into the back of the restaurant. 

Flynn shook himself out of his daydreams and headed over to the door. When Kacee reappeared he took the three boxes, only one with ‘extra topping’ in it and handed over the usual amount of cash. As he did he asked, “Who was that?”

“You know I don’t share my customers personal details sir,” He went to close the door. 

Flynn stopped it with his boot, “What if I was asking you as an officer of the Aux?” 

“Even if you were asking in a professional capacity I wouldn't give away the identity of that pretty female, she is my best customer,” Kacee tried to close the door again.

Flynn just wedged it open a little more, “I thought I was your best customer, Kacee?”

“You are my favourite customer, there’s a difference.” He shifted on his feet but looked Flynn in the eyes to emphasise the truth of his next statement, “I want to keep it that way. So believe me when I say, I don’t know. I have never known, she never gives anything away and always dresses like that.” Flynn hated that he could tell the man was telling the truth, he removed his foot and let Kacee close the security door. As he did he heard Kacee add, “She pays just as well as you and you and I both know I do not betray high paying customers.”

‘Well,’ Flynn thought, ‘She can’t be the maid from Avallan then. There’s no way fucking Morven would have paid her a good enough wage to pay a similar amount of money Flynn paid for his entertainment. If the King had paid her at all. He probably counted room, clothes, basics and food as payment.’ He let out a low growl as he got in his car and carefully put the boxes on the passenger seat. His racing thoughts continued as he turned the ignition, ‘She sounded like her though.’ He clenched his fists, that fucking interrogation was a waste of time! He could have just gone after her, stopped her and seen for himself… Like some kind of creep. No, that was a stupid idea too, Tristan Flynn was not a creep. Honestly, if you asked his friends, colleagues, hell anyone they would also tell you that Tristan Flynn never chased after a female. He sighed as he reversed out of the alley and headed to the house. Talking to his friends would be the mature thing to do… but why do that when music, females, drink and the sweet relief of the best mirthroot in the city were on the agenda for the evening.

Flynn was bored, the Summit was like watching paint dry, that was putting it mildly. The things he did for his best friend. He knew though that this was also the last place Ruhn wanted to be. That was the foundation of their friendship, their shared hatred of fae nobility and politics. Obviously as prince Ruhn had to pay attention and Dec was busy recording it and most likely monitoring the communications of everyone in the room without them even knowing. His other best friend was just that good at hacking, most likely the best in Midguard. It still made them laugh sometimes when Dec would hack high profile companies for fun, then the company would contact him to find the hacker and improve their cyber security so it won’t happen again.

It wasn’t as if he was entirely useless, he was there to support his friend and if any negotiations became less friendly he had five weapons within reach, two of them cleverly concealed. Though Dec always argued that with his power he didn’t need weapons, sometimes just even a look was lethal. That last part always stroked his ego and Flynn didn’t hate it. His earth powers would struggle out in this desert though. His friends always assured him he wasn’t just the muscle or the entertainment, it was times like these that made him question it, just a little. He glanced at his phone, nothing. He talked himself out of checking in with Niko for almost the hundredth time. The kid had everything handled back at the Aux and had provided him with detailed updates even when Flynn wasn’t requesting them. Niko really wasn’t a kid, but he was twenty years younger than him so the nickname was justified. 

In an effort not to give into the boredom and fall asleep he pulled out the notebook he always carried with him. It was small enough to fit in his inner jacket pocket but big enough for his other, often neglected, relaxing hobby. He opened to a fresh blank page, pulled the pencil out of its holder and started sketching. By the time Jesiba Roga had brought the Summit to a halt with the call from Bryce who they then watched go through her ordeal, after Dec pulled up the security feed from the gallery, his drawing was disregarded. 

A sketch of a very familiar female in a garden, one of many in that notebook.

Chapter Text

One thing Niamh still hadn’t gotten used to was the stifling, thick, humid air of Lunathion late spring weather. ‘Thank Luna for modern conveniences like air-conditioning,’ She thought to herself. Even in the busy grocery store it was a respite. She pushed the cart up and down the aisles a little slower. It was just before summer vacation, her contract had finished, she didn’t have work so she had more time. Though Estelle was waiting for her and would probably have something to say about her taking too long. Niamh chuckled to herself, honestly she wouldn’t have it any other way. Not that Estelle would ever say but she relied on Niamh’s brownies to help with the pain now, more than ever. After picking up the special ingredient from Kacee’s pizza shop the other night, she just needed to replenish her basic baking supplies, and get Estelle's groceries of course. It was one of the few tasks she had. Unlike a lot of human teachers she didn’t need to get a summer job to supplement her income. She was scheduled to move again, that would definitely keep her busy. Not this time though, she had been thinking about her recent decision to take back her life and that would be the start of it. Even though she had liked teaching that was part of the reason she had to keep moving. Niamh was thinking it might be time to try and turn one of her other passions into a career. Estelle did always remark that Niamh baked too much for the two of them and she should open a bakery or something. Niamh had even texted Kami yesterday and they planned to catch up next week. 

She used one hand to lift her braid and let the artificial air in the store cool the back of her neck, then went to resume her task. As she reached for some flour she heard the sirens. They were so loud even in the store that Niamh cringed and grabbed at her ears, as she did she felt their points. ‘Shit!’ She thought to herself, the shock from the sound had caused her to drop part of her glamour. Still holding her ears she looked around and noticed that the others in the store were either doing the same or looking at their phones in horror. Niamh shook herself and pulled her own phone out too, she had the fae Aux news and safety app installed just in case her brother couldn’t warn her about an impromptu visit from her father and for Estelle. As she read the alert, her own face reflected those around her, ALL FAE: CRESCENT CITY UNDER ATTACK. GET TO YOUR HOMES FIRO GATES WILL CLOSE. AUX WILL DEFEND FIRO - SHELTERS ALSO OPEN FOR THOSE WHO CAN’T MAKE IT HOME.

Niamh dropped the flour immediately and the thoughts panicked, ‘Estelle!’ She never left that apartment, there was no way she could get to a shelter on her own and even if there were any of their neighbours not at work and at home, she couldn’t trust them to help. Even if they did they wouldn’t be able to get her down all those stairs and into a shelter in time. She joined everyone else running out of that store but instead of running with them towards the closest shelter she ran to the side into the closest alley and without caring if anyone saw she disappeared into shadows. 

“Girl you did not just use your magic to appear in my living room, I know I’m closer to death every day but I’d rather not go earlier than needed,” Estelle chided Niamh from the sofa. Niamh didn’t stop as she answered her, she ran across the room, “I’m sorry Estelle, it’s an emergency,” She stopped briefly in front of the elderly woman. Just to respectfully ask for permission to get her up, “I’m going to help you up and get you out of here okay?” She took Estelle’s hand and gently, firmly pulled her onto her feet and bent to put an arm around her and under her arms. “Sorry we can’t wait, something happened, there’s demons everywhere, I need to get you to a shelter, I need to use my powers to take you.”

Estelle’s grip on Niamh’s arm became tighter as she said, “Well what are we waiting for.”

Again Niamh disappeared in shadows, taking her neighbour and friend with her. In seconds they reappeared in front of the shelter closest to the Rose Gate, opposite Five Roses. She led, almost carried Estelle to the opening, saying as she did “You’ll be safe in here.”

“We will Nora, dear, you’re a good girl bringing us here,” She didn't see Niamh waving a female down as they crossed the threshold.

Niamh took her arm out from around Estelle as she addressed the fae female who had kind eyes, “Please can you take my friend the rest of the way and make sure she’s safe?” Niamh moved her head quickly gesturing to Estelle’s ears and lied, putting Estelle’s hand into the other female’s one. “She’s fae, she can’t see and…” The female nodded, taking Estelle’s hand and Estelle spoke sharply, cutting off Niamh, “You can take me yourself, you need to stay and look after yourself too, don’t you dare leave girl.”

“I’m sorry, I saw too many out there who need help. I’ll go to another shelter if I don’t make it back here, I promise.” She gently squeezed her friends arm, “I am like my brother and our mother taught us to always help others when we can. I’ll see you when it’s over,” Niamh pushed her way through the fae still flooding into the shelter. Once free of the crowd she checked her phone, four minutes until all the shelters closed. There was a text from Kami, Hey I don’t know where you are but get to a shelter! I’m helping humans, at the north most shelter, near the Mortal Gate!

Niamh typed furiously, Helped my neighbour, coming to you .

Three and a half minutes left, it was chaos on the street not too far from the shelter. People were running with children and pets in their arms, their screams mingled with the screeches and roars from the demons and creatures from hell. She saw one hideous one with wings and razor sharp claws fly towards a family. The parents were carrying their children who were crying, terror in their eyes. Niamh didn’t even hesitate, time to focus her magic on her true power. She focused on the creature, pointed at it with her hand then threw her hand down and the creature was thrown away from the family, it smashed into the ground, it’s skull cracking on impact. Niamh ran to the family, she held onto the mother and the father and took them in shadows to the open door of the shelter. Before they could even realise what happened she disappeared again. She took children who couldn’t be carried or seemed to be on their own, anyone who she thought wouldn’t make it. Again and again she helped humans get to the shelter until the sirens changed and grew louder, more urgent signifying that the shelters would close in thirty seconds. Kami, a leopard shifter and few others were pulling at the door to keep it open as long as they could so the last few people running up the street could get in. Niamh knew they wouldn’t be able to hold it by themselves so she used her power to push against it from the outside. The people made it inside but Niamh had used a lot of power and needed to catch her breath, just for a second. In the time it took to steady herself and refocus her strength the door closed. Her friend and the others couldn’t keep it open and it was warded against magic, Niamh couldn’t travel in shadows to get in there. 

She was stuck outside with demons.

Niamh was familiar with demons, sure the ones she was used to weren’t crude and chaotic as the ones flying and racing around the city, they were cold, calculating and psychotic. The thing they had in common was that Niamh had fooled her cousins and father, she could fool these stupid demons too.

She let her shadows mostly block her from view and focused on a car down the street, she used her power to open and close its doors, it also somehow cause the car alarm to go off. The attention of the beasts was piqued and they headed off in that direction. This was probably her only chance, she just had to decide what she was going to do. She had used too much power and knew she couldn’t make it out of the city, doubted she would even make it to her apartment. Looking around she saw a few firearms around, she had never used one before, they weren’t weapons used on Avallan. Cormac only taught her to fight using her magic, hand to hand combat and using a dagger. One of those choices was slowly becoming useless, she was clever enough to know she wouldn’t last long trying to take on one of those things with her bare hands and daggers weren’t the weapons lying near her feet. She picked up a hand gun even though she knew it probably wouldn’t help her and looked around. Then she saw them, down an alley to her right, two dumpsters. Hiding and waiting it out was going to be her only option, a disgusting option but at this point there was no other choice. 

Niamh ran and climbed into the one directly under a fire escape, throwing the lid open she jumped and pulled herself up onto the side of the bin. As she was falling into it excruciating pain ripped through the lower half of her right leg. One of the demons must’ve heard her open the lid and sunk it’s teeth into her. She continued to fall in, she tried to kick at it with her other foot, but gravity took over and for some reason the creature didn’t follow her in. Niamh couldn’t help it, she screamed. She landed hard on her shoulder and heard a crack but that wasn’t the worst pain, her leg and ankle were on fire, to say it was excruciating was an understatement. Of course her scream was like a beacon calling more of the demons to her location. She didn’t have time to focus on her pain, she had to secure herself in there. Looking up she used the last of her power to pull the fire escape stairs straight down, right before they landed she waved her hand and the lid flipped back onto the dumpster. The crash of the stairs above her was deafening, but there was no way those things could get to now. Niamh would figure out her way out of there later. Someone would surely be coming to take care of them. The pain in her leg and collar bone were overpowering, her eyes felt heavy, closing them and resting seemed the best and only thing to do.

Niko and his team were the only ones to go against protocol and the Autumn Kings directive. The kid called Flynn as soon as chaos erupted in the city, “Sir what are your orders?”

“Get to the Meadows, near the Mortal Gate and help the humans there!” 

Without missing a beat Niko replied, “Yes Sir!”

Thank Solas there was at least some fae on the Aux that were decent. The kid was definitely getting some sort of a promotion after all this, “Oh and Kid, good work.”

Later on after Bryce had made the drop and used her immense starborn power to close all the gates Flynn went to the shelter near Five Roses. He was still pissed that his people had selfishly hidden away and not helped more, so he had two reasons for going there first, one to see how many Aux were in there and two to see if they had filled the shelter. None of the deities would help them if his suspicions were right on both counts. Fortunately for the Aux soldiers who were in that shelter Flynn had barely stepped inside when his arm was grabbed and his attention was demanded. He looked down to see a tiny, elderly fae female, she had a firm grip and a fierce look on her face. “Excuse me ma'am,” He went to gently pry her off him but she just gripped tighter.

“Young man, I need you to take me back to my apartment.”

“Of course I can get one of my soldiers onto it,” Flynn gave her a charming smile and patted her hand holding him.

“No. You will take me. The soldiers in here are idiots. They only let fae in and closed the door early, I wouldn’t trust them with my garbage.”

Flynn couldn’t argue with this feisty older fae, she was right and funny about it. If he wasn’t so livid he would have laughed. Before he could answer her she went on, “Don’t bother trying to palm me off on someone else because I can't see, all my other senses work perfectly.”

He hadn’t realised she couldn’t see, she didn’t need to, she was a firecracker. “I wouldn’t dream of it ma’m. If you let me know the address I’ll take you straight there.”

“Good. I knew you were a good young male. Now lead me to your vehicle and I’ll tell you the address. And stop calling me ma’am, my name is Estelle Martinez.”

“Nice to meet you Mrs Martinez, my name is Tristan Flynn.” 

Flynn knew the apartment building, it was near Kacee’s pizza place. He drove the SUV carefully avoiding the cars left in the road. When he helped her out of the car and into the building he noticed it didn’t have an elevator. She wouldn’t be able to make all those stairs up to her apartment. He cleared his throat and asked, “Would it be okay if I carried you up there?”

“If we want to get up there before next year it would be the better option,” She answered with a commanding tone, he was sure he detected a hint of humour in it too.

He helped her into her apartment and even though he had done all the work she looked exhausted. He helped her sit on her sofa, “Thank you Tristan, now be a dear and fetch my phone. I need to let my neighbour, Nora, know I am home safe.”

Flynn found the phone easily and handed it to her, it was an older style one with big buttons with funny bumps on them, which he then realised were because she couldn’t see. He could see she was settled so he went to leave, “I’ll head out then-”

“Wait! She’s not answering. Please check that I am calling the right number. She is a lovely girl, always taking care of me. She took me to that shelter and went to help others. I need to know she is alright,” Estelle was starting to panic as she waved her phone at him.

He took it and checked the screen, she was calling the right number. He pressed the call button and held it up to his ear listening as it rang and rang. His own chest started to feel tight, why was he caring about this random female he’d never met, he didn’t know anyone called Nora. The call rang out, before even thinking he pressed the call button again. Ring… ring… ring… ring… “Hello?”

The voice at the other end definitely wasn’t female, actually it sounded like, “Kid? Niko?”

“Flynn? I mean Sir, why are you calling this phone?”

“Why are you answering it?” Of all the fae to be at the other end, thought Flynn.

“When the shelter opened my team and I split up to patrol and make sure everything was safe for everyone to return home. I heard this phone ringing in a dumpster and found it and female inside.”

“Is she okay?” He knew the old female behind him was listening but there was no other way to ask about her.

“She’s alive and breathing, got a nasty injury from the demons by the looks of it. I’ll get the others to help me get her out and I’ll get her seen to.”

“Thanks kid, I’ll let her neighbour know.” He breathed a sigh of relief and thought to himself, why did knowing that this female, Nora was going to be okay make him feel so much lighter?

“No worries Sir. I should go now and get her that help.”

“Yes of course. Good work Niko, check in with me when you’re done.” Flynn hung up the phone and handed it back to Estelle. “It seems Nora got hurt but she will be alright, my best man is on it.”

“Thank Luna,” Her frail hand that had been clutching her hand dropped to her lap. Her head whipped up again, “Before you leave, you can make me a cup of tea and bring me a slice of cake.”

Flynn shook his head, if this was what life was like for Nora having Estelle as a neighbour she would have to be sweet and very patient.

“And mind you make sure to get the cake, not the brownies! They’re… well never mind about them.”

That piqued Flynns interest, the old girl had ‘special brownies’, then he saw all the medication on the bench and it made sense. He took the tea and a slice of what looked like strawberry shortcake to the table to the side of the sofa. Both the brownies and the cake were homemade and he wondered if this mysterious neighbour made them, if so where she got her special ingredient from. “There you are Mrs Martinez, anything else I can get for you?”

“No you have been a dear, I’m sure you have much more important fae Aux things to be getting on with, off you go and leave a tired old lady in peace.”

He didn’t hold his laugh back that time, “Okay, I’ll be going then.”

Chapter Text

Water dripped from Niamh’s body as she emerged from the crystal clear pool and made her way back to her lounge chair partially shaded by an umbrella. Kami was on the chair next to hers, sunglasses covering her eyes, her tight curls settled around her shoulders, she held a drink out to Niamh. “I can’t believe we’re going home tomorrow.”

Niamh took a sip of the fruity beverage before placing it on the table between them and lounging on her own towel covered chair. “I know and then I need to sort my life out,” She put her own sunglasses on. She had learnt a day after they had got to the vacation island that the heat would dry her quicker than a towel. 

Kami waved a hand dismissively, “We already figured all that out. You’re going to use some of that money your mom left you to set up your small, orders only, baking business. To begin with you will make all your delicious baked goods and we will hand out free samples at my gigs with your business card. You will have business in no time.”

“It sounds so easy,” Niamh replied dryly.

“It is and it isn’t but you won’t know if it will work if you don’t try. Besides you told me when you were being fixed up at the healing clinic after the attack you were going to try doing things for you. Following your dreams.” Kami turned to Niamh and lowered her glasses to look at her directly, “I will remind you again before you say it again that I know it wasn’t just the drugs talking. Also I am going to hold you to that declaration and help you achieve said dreams.” She put her glasses back and rested her head again, “I am already succeeding, got you to finally take a proper break and come away with me didn’t I?”

Niamh laughed, “You did. Thank you again, I still don’t know how you managed the extra room last minute and the help for Estelle so I didn’t worry about her.”

“The room was easy, I’ve had a regular gig at this resort every summer for years, a lot of rich kids vacation here just because of me. I always get a private two bedroom villa.” Niamh couldn’t argue with that logic now and when Kami invited her initially. She heard her friend drain the rest of her drink before speaking again, “As for your unofficial queen of sass grandmother, who I love by the way, she agreed with me that you needed a break and a holiday would do you some good. She was pretty picky about who would help her out but all I had to do was ask your new friend Niko if there’s any fae assistance and it was all sorted.” Niamh rolled her eyes under her sunglasses when she heard the playful emphasis in Kami’s voice when she said the males name. “Once Estelle met him and he explained that he and his boss had personally vetted the home helper she was sold. I think she’s a little smitten by him, but we both know he’s only got eyes for you.” Kami’s voice was teasing again.

Niamh snorted and was the one waving her friend off this time, “She’s just been isolated at home for too long without any male presence, it’s a novelty to her. Anyone interested in males and in her position would act the same way if a handsome male was charming towards them.”

“Handsome, charming, single and I repeat, totally into you…” Kami stood her neon green two piece swimsuit somehow brighter in the direct sunlight. “When we return you really should give him a chance, even if it doesn’t work out, I have a feeling you will definitely have a good time. Don’t even try and use the same feeble arguments again, they haven’t held up in the weeks since you met him and they still won’t now.” She picked up her towel then flashed Niamh a smile, “I’m going to shower before my date with a lovely female I met at the bar earlier, I’ll see you in the morning for brunch before we leave.” As she walked away she called out, “Don’t spend all of your last night here thinking too much!”

Contrary to her friends advice Niamh was of course going to spend the rest of her relaxing vacation evening, swimming more, eating a quiet dinner, packing and thinking about maybe, possibly entertaining the idea of getting to know Niko better. There was nothing wrong with becoming his friend, even if he reminded her a lot of a young fae Lord.

Niamh remembered how they met. She had come to after passing out from her injuries in a dumpster, hearing a male voice. She saw him standing over her, her phone in his hand, noted his Aux combat attire, weapon slung over his shoulder and panicked. Her arm that still worked, and didn’t have shooting pain any time she even slightly moved it, grabbed the gun she had picked up before jumping in there and swiftly pointed it at him. Even though she’d never used one before, her finger was on the trigger.

She could tell from the way his lips quirked slightly he was trying not to smile or even laugh, “I’m sure you’re trying to look intimidating, Miss, but you’re not going to do much damage with the safety on.” 

Niamh sighed, something told her the male in front of her didn’t have nefarious intentions, she’d known too many in her past, besides the throbbing pain in her leg along with her arm, caused all fight to disappear. “Why are you in here, and why do you have my phone?” She tried her best to sound in control at least, as she lowered the gun letting it drop beside her.

“I was outside with my team helping those who needed it after getting out of the shelters and making sure all the danger was gone and then I heard your phone in here. It kept ringing and apart from being annoying, I thought to myself, bit weird a phone in a dumpster, maybe I should check and found you in here too.” Before she could answer he added, “Your neighbour was worried, but I relayed that you were alive and I would take you to Medwitch before making sure you got home. If that’s okay with you of course, if not I guess I will leave and I’m sure you can get out all on your own.” He pointed to her ears and gave an almost serious look, “Though if I did that, I would be neglecting my duties you being fae and all. My name is Niko,” He smiled genuinely at Niamh as he said the last bit. 

Niamh relaxed a little, no one with nefarious intentions would look that sweet and eager just wanting to do their job and help someone, “I guess I could use some help to get out of here, my name is Nora.” She hadn’t missed that he had noted the points on her ears which meant her magic was drained and her glamour had dropped. No point trying to change them back now, may as well embrace them. Her hair she could change and easily explain later and she suspected with the lack of light he wouldn’t notice an eye colour change. She probably wouldn’t even see this male again after today anyway.

Niamh noticed Niko kneeling next to her, “Before I help you out, are you hurt anywhere other than your leg?”

It was as if thinking about her injuries had immediately caused the pain to amplify. Niamh winced and let out a shuddering breath, “I think I broke my collarbone as I fell in here after the shelters closed and I needed to hide from the demon creatures. I’m fae and I made the drop years ago so I should heal.”

His movements were firm but gentle as he put one arm under knees and the other around her back with his hand holding her arm close to her side so as not to stop it moving and causing pain. “You’re right, your bone should heal on it’s own, but we noticed that even Vanir who were bitten by the creatures aren’t healing without assistance. Some of them had some kind of poison in their bite.” Niamh watched as he or maybe one of the Aux soldiers with him was manipulating the metal of the side of the dumpster. It jutted in towards them at different levels creating steps, the same thing happened when they got to the top, the steps appeared on the outside. 

He continued to hold and carry her to an SUV parked up the road, Niamh recognised it as a generic Aux vehicle. She only half listened as he filled her in on what happened after the shelters closed. Something about how the Asteri were going to solve the problem by launching brimstone missiles at the city. Niamh thanked Solas they hadn’t. In the end a half fae woman called Bryce having starborn powers used her power to close the gates, kill the creatures, restore anything damaged outside the shelters. It wasn’t that she wasn’t interested or because of the pain. The reason she couldn’t concentrate was because he was an Aux soldier and whenever Niamh thought of the Aux she thought of Tristan Flynn.

Before Niamh couldn’t dwell on thoughts of the male she would never forget she heard Kami’s voice. “Hey Aux! What are you doing with my friend?” 

Niko halted about to place Niamh in the back of the SUV and turned towards the female. Kami reached them in quick strides without even shifting into her jaguar form. He did a double take, then looked down at Niamh with raised brows, “You’re friends with DJ Kamillia and you have a neighbour who convinced a Lord to take her home. Are you someone rich and famous too?” Niamh paled but he just grinned and continued in a whisper, “Don’t tell me you’re royalty, a princess maybe.”

Niamh suddenly felt light headed. He didn’t know…? He couldn’t… A Lord took Estelle home… the only Lord she knew who was a member of the Aux was… No, no, no.

“Nora.” Nora looked up and Kami was next to her in the SUV. When did Niko put her in there? “Nora, you with me?”

“Yeah,” it was all Niamh could get out, she tried to block out her thoughts and the pain and focus on her friend.

“We’re five minutes away from the nearest clinic.” Kami jerked her head to the left, to Niko driving them, “Golden boy here is taking you to a Medwitch, I told him I wasn’t leaving you.”

Niamh smiled, “You didn’t have to, I’m sure I would have been fine.”

Kami shook her head smiling, “What and give you a reason to evade our catch up, not a chance, not after all these years.”

“Darn, I really thought a random demon attack would work,” Niamh forced out. As she closed her eyes again, she heard both her friend and the surprising Aux soldier laugh loudly.

Kami went in with Niamh while the Medwitch worked on her and Niko waited outside insisting his boss would fire him if he didn’t make sure she got home safe. Niamh bit back a scream when the Medwitch cleaned the demon bite wound and injected an antivenom directly into the site before wrapping it. Next she put Niamh’s arm firmly in a sling, telling her it was to keep the bone in the correct spot so it could heal on its own. Before they left the Medwitch gave Niamh two bottles of pills, one for the pain and the other to aid with the healing. She was also told to rest for at least a few days and she might end up with a scar. Niamh just nodded to show her understanding, she was exhausted and just wanted to go home and rest.

Niko took his duty very seriously not letting even one of her toes touch the floor until she was safe and on the sofa inside her apartment. “Thank you Niko, you really didn’t need to go to so much trouble. I’m sure you have much more important work to be getting on with.”

“Not at all Miss Nora. I doubt anyone else I work with had the privilege of rescuing and escorting to safety the prettiest female I’ve ever met,” He opened the door and bowed. Niamh smiled, shook her head and heard Kami scoff from the kitchen where she was making tea. As he straightened, Niko added, “Don’t think you’re going to get rid of me that easily, I added my number to your phone and called it so I have your number.” He saw Niamh’s brows raise, “It is part of my job to check up on you after an incident like this.” He flashed her a smile and winked as he closed the door.

Kami didn’t stay long after they finished the tea she made. She needed to go and check on her apartment and all her equipment but promised she would drop by with food the next day. Niamh settled back into the cushions ready to rest. She had barely closed her eyes when a familiar voice called her name, “Niamh!”

At first she thought she was dreaming hearing her brother's voice call her real name with his thick Avallen accent. She heard it again closer this time, in the room with her and she cracked an eyelid open to see him standing in front of her a worried crease in his brow, “Cormac?”

“Naimh, what the hell happened?” He didn’t let her answer, even though his voice was even and controlled, she knew him and he was scared. “I have been trying to call you. Father had me watching the summit in case there was anything discussed that might concern him or Avallen. The next thing I know Declan Emmett had the feeds switched to demons attacking Lunathion and I see you, no glamour on and using your power to throw them around and kill them. What if it was our cousins watching instead of me or worse yet, father? Do you realise how dangerous it would be for you if he saw you?”

Niamh groaned and tried to shift without aggravating her healing injuries before she answered him. “We both know that father and those two sadistic assholes don’t remember what I truly look like. Solas if I didn’t take off my glamour every night I probably wouldn’t after this long.”

Cormac sighed and sat next to her resting his palms on his thighs, “I remember what you look like. I will always remember, you look like mother and you're my little sister.” He looked at her properly, noticing the sling and bandages, “The camera wasn’t on you for long, what happened, how did you get hurt?”

Niamh relayed in detail everything she had gone through that day and saw his control slip and soften. 

“Oh Neevie, you can’t stop yourself from helping others, just like mother.” He used his old nickname for her and gently hugged her around her shoulders taking care not to hurt her.

“You can’t talk, you’ve always helped me Cor and now you’re-” He gave her a look that said not to finish her sentence. Niamh gave him a little nod even though they were in her apartment talking openly about some of the things Cormac did without their father and cousin’s knowledge was dangerous. “You still seeing her?”

He nodded, then whispered, “I love her, I think she’s my mate, you know like the old fae legends mother told us about.”

Niamh’s breath hitched but she covered it feigning surprise at his revelation, “I hope she is, I hope she loves you back and accepts the bond when you’re both ready. You deserve it Cor,” She used her nickname for him again to emphasise how happy she would be for him if it turned out to be true. Even if she wasn’t going to be lucky enough to have a happy ending with her mate.

He gently knocked her good shoulder, “You do too.” Niamh couldn’t help it, she sniffled a little. He turned to face her fully true concern and care on his face, “Hey what is it? Are you in pain? What can I do?”

She really wanted to tell him, she’d wanted to tell him for so long but she knew too well how protective he was and that he would kill Tristan just for making Niamh sad without even really knowing. That would put him in the line of fire with their uncle The Autumn King and their own father. Instead she just shared the other feelings she was having especially because she was exhausted. “I’m just tired and miss you big brother.”

“Come here,” he held her delicately as she let herself cry onto his shoulder just like when she was a child. “I miss you too little shadow. One day we will be free of him and we won’t have to hide who we truly are.” He patted her head gently, “Remember just because I’m not physically here, I’m always here,” He tapped her heart as she pulled back from him and rested back into the cushions again. Cormac stood, “I can’t stay too long but I’ll get you some food.” 

She heard him head into her kitchen and called out, “We both know you can’t cook and I doubt you have learnt since I’ve been gone!”

Around ten minutes later he reappeared with bread, cheese, fruit and a fresh pot of tea with an aroma she hadn’t smelt in years. “You’re right I still can’t cook, but I’ll never forget how to make mothers healing tea.”

Her brother ate with her and watched carefully as she drank her tea. He then got her a blanket, carefully tucking it around her, making her cosy on the sofa and sat with her until she fell asleep.

As she got into the luxurious hotel bed Niamh looked over at her packed suitcase ready to leave the next day. She hadn’t heard from her brother since that night, which wasn’t unusual. Niamh just hoped that he was okay with the secret thing he was working on and that he wouldn’t be too angry when he found out about her new plans for her life.

Chapter Text

Flynn and his friends entered one of the usual clubs they went to and headed straight to the VIP section. First thing he thought was ‘thank Urd that the music was too offensive’. He didn’t even need to look over to look over to the booth to know it was DJ Kamelia. She was one of the more tolerable DJ’s, most of it was just noise to him. He preferred metal and maybe a little country, it was a guilty pleasure that went hand in hand with going to the bars to two step when he was younger, he was allowed a wholesome guilty pleasure. He sighed, on closer listen it seemed as though she was nearing the end of her set.

Second thing, it had been a day. They had found out Ruhn’s asshole cousin Cormac Donnell was apparently betrothed to marry Bryce, Ruhn’s sister. That’s if their fathers The Autumn King and The Stag King had their way. One would think those conniving bastards had enough of trying to marry people off. Ruhn was still going to play along with his betrothal to Hypaxia for a little longer until they figure out a solution. But there was no way Bryce would go through with marrying Cormac, nevermind that he is her cousin. She and Hunt Athalar had a pretty strong thing going. He heard Ruhn mention once that they might even be mates, what the fae believe are soul destined. Flynn used to think the concept of ‘mates’ was another form of arranged marriage, being tied to someone for your immortal life without choice. He had already refused MANY attempts of his noble parents to make him marry some other noble fae, once it was even a princess. If he did have a ‘mate’ out there somewhere there was only one female he wished it would be.

Flynn sipped his whisky and realised his friends were staring at him. 

“There he is. Welcome back to us, don’t tell us, dream girl again?” Ruhn smirked and chuckled as he finished his sentence.

“Real talk okay, you’ve been pining after this chick for twenty years now and never found her, maybe you should move on. Unless she’s really not real.” Dec

Flynn glared at his best friend and before he could say something Ruhn cut in, “Or seriously try to find her. Go to Avallen and find her. You know, to prove she’s real.”

Again Flynn was cut off but this time it was Ithan, “Wait, so apparently there’s a female out there you met once and haven’t stopped thinking about and you’ve never tried to find her? Are you sure you have real feelings for her?”

“You know what, fuck the two of you I thought you’d always have my back,” he turned to Ithan and said, “And fuck you, I’ve supported all your crazy shit since you’ve moved in so you think you’d have my back.” He glared at all of them again, “For your information I’ve been trying to find her. She’s not in Avallen, she’s here somewhere.”

Both Dec and Ruhn smirked at him, it took a minute but then Ithan caught up. 

Ruhn clapped his friend on the shoulder, “Bout time you confessed to all your extra patrols around the meadows, you're not very covert.”

“And you know you are shit at covering your tracks when you’re searching things on the Aux database, also I know you’ve been replaying the ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ clip of the female helping keep the shelter doors open at one of the meadows shelters before running off.”

“Wait, I think I saw her,” Ithan mused and all three heads turned to him.

“What was she like? What powers did she use?” Ruhn asked. Both Ruhn and Dec were poised to hear what Ithan had to say.

Flynn however whipped his head around to the right and down towards the lower floor and the exit. Mixed with the onslaught of scents in the club two distinct ones hit his senses, he knew them anywhere, “No. She’s here.”

He raced down the stairs following it like a bloodhound, a male possessed. It took him to the dj booth where Kami had just exited and another dj was taking over. No sign of blonde hair or the shapely female he was searching for. He was so busy looking around for her he bumped into someone.

“Oi! Oh Tristan Flynn, what are you doing?” Kami looked at him sharply at first and then her gaze was curious.

“Was there someone here with you? Another female, with a scent of cinnamon and syrup?” He kept looking behind the jaguar shifter as he spoke. 

Kami just raised her brows and looked at him incredulously, “You sound like a stalker Flynn. If I did happen to know someone like that, why should I just tell you?”

“Because if you don’t I could just hack into your phone right now and go through your contacts and socials and find her that way,” Declan threatened. Flynn hadn’t even noticed his friends catching up to him.

“Woah Dec that’s-” Ruhn had started but got cut off.

Kami bared her teeth at his best friend, “Threaten me or my friends like that again Declan Emmett and you will be sorry.”

Flynn held his hands up in surrender and gave Dec a quick look over his shoulder that said chill. He took a breath, coming to his senses again. “I apologise for my overzealous friend and for ambushing you. Could I instead propose this, if you are in fact friends with the female I described, would it be more reasonable to invite you to a party at our house and you could bring your friend? You could even play if you want and we would pay, of course.”

Kami had never known or heard of Lord Tristan Flynn ever pleading with anyone for anything. Still she was guarded, for some reason she always felt the need to protect Nora and she’d known Flynn a long time he wasn’t a romance and relationship sort of male. Her friend deserved a lot better than a one night stand, even if it was with one of Lunathion’s most attractive and if she believed the rumours, satisfying males. She studied her nails, the tips of her razor sharp claws only just sticking out. Her voice sounded bored as she said, “If I did work at one of your parties, the next availability I have is Saturday in three weeks.”

“That will work,” Flynn tried to hide his disappointment at having to wait longer but it was better than waiting years. 

“I will invite my friend but it is up to her if she comes,” She turned to head out the back where her car was waiting. As she started to leave she called over her shoulder, “Oh and you will pay, premium rate.”

A few days later Flynn was at work and bored, it probably wasn’t the best thing to only be excited for conflict. He needed something to occupy his mind so he wouldn’t think of her or the fancy luncheon at his parents house they were forcing him to attend on the weekend. He sat up from leaning on his chair, taking his boots off his desk and putting them on the floor. Then he had an idea. He would go and check what Niko was up to, there had to be something he hadn’t taught the kid yet. He grabbed the mouse and clicked a few icons on the screen of his computer. It didn’t take long to show him that Niko had used his pass to access the armoury. As he headed that way, he wondered what he was doing there. Surely he couldn’t be doing inventory again, he had just completed it yesterday.

“What are you up to in here kid?” Flynn leaned casually against one of the shelves near the door.

Niko placed the hand gun he had just finished loading down onto the table, safety on. “Sir, I was just readying a couple of guns for use on the firing range.”

“Nice. If you’re practicing I’ll come shoot a few practice rounds with you,” He pushed off to go and collect one of his favourite weapons.

He was stopped by Niko clearing his throat, “Sorry Sir, I have prepared them for a lesson I am taking in ten minutes.”

“Ah. Hang on, we don’t usually give one on one lessons,” Flynn raised his brows at his protege.

“I cleared it with you Sir, a while ago.” He picked up the two guns from the table and locked them in a case to take downstairs. “It was the day of the attack on the city. I spoke to you about the female I helped out of the dumpster at the northmost shelter near the mortal gate. The one that had no idea what to do with the gun she was holding.” Flynn vaguely remembered and Niko could see his confusion so he added, “The neighbour of the elderly fae female you helped.” 

Flynn nodded, “I remember now. I’ll leave you to it, good work kid.” He held the door as Niko left, then ambled back to his desk and wasn’t going to watch the clip of that day again. No he wouldn’t do that.

Niamh’s initial nervousness regarding heading to the Aux headquarters this afternoon dissipated everytime she thought about how well her sample cakes and pastries had been received. Since arriving back from the island holiday Niamh had gone all in with her plan baking non stop and handing out samples with a simple card she designed and had printed at Kami’s gigs. Sometimes she stayed for the set and handed them out herself, other times she just dropped them off. It had all paid off though, this weekend she had her first job, catering a noble fae family’s function. It was the big break she needed, she knew if a noble fae Lady recommended her she would have her pick of jobs. 

Thinking about her baking success also took her mind off the recent news she heard. Her brother was betrothed to their half-cousin Bryce Quinlan. She knew this was some sick twisted scheme cooked up by her father. Cormac wouldn’t, he was already in love with someone else. Niamh couldn’t believe it, it was stupid and infuriating. Her father didn’t have her around anymore to marry off, he had to subject her brother to it. No, she knew her father, he found out about Bryce’s star power and that she could wield the starsword her cousin Ruhn had ‘stolen’ from them twenty years ago. More likely The Stag King wanted the sword back and to covet Bryce’s power. The thing that infuriated her the most was she hadn’t heard it straight from her brother, she hadn’t heard from him since his last visit after she was hurt. He was somewhere in the city right now and hadn’t bothered to see her or even contact her. As Naimh walked through the glass doors and checked in at the reception she was so annoyed at her brother she thought to herself, ‘He better not be here.’ Then she remembered she was here to learn how to use firearms correctly with Niko and being in a surly mood probably wasn’t the best. So while she waited for him she took some calming breaths and thought about her favourite place. Her mothers secret garden, just the garden and not a certain magical night she spent in there.

Flynn held off watching the clip for at least fifteen minutes. He went to find Dec and annoy him but he wasn’t in his office and Ruhn was on a call. So he went and got coffee, made small talk with some other Aux members and checked the patrol schedules. He was back at his desk then, at his computer, it couldn’t be helped. He clicked on the footage and watched as the female on the screen used some sort of wind or other power to hold the shelter door open. He saw her face flash on the screen as she turned and yelled at the last humans to get in. Her hair wasn’t the same blonde as he remembered but he would never forget those hazel eyes. 

It was in that moment when he was thinking of her eyes that he realised what shelter she was holding open. The northmost shelter near the mortal gate. He jumped out of his chair and ran out of his office. Forgoing the elevator he raced down three flights of stairs to the firing range. He vaguely heard one of males call out that he didn’t have the correct protection on. He just flashed them his pass as he tapped it to get in the secure doors. His heart stopped and his breath caught. She was here, in the Aux, where he worked. The female he had named Hazel was here. Her hair was different and he couldn’t see her eyes with her wearing safety goggles and looking at the target, but he knew it was her. Her spicy cinnamon and sweet syrup scent lingered. Hazel was here and the kid was behind her, arms around her fixing her grip. 

Niamh was vaguely aware of Niko’s arms around hers, gently fixing her grip so she would have more control so she could hit inside the shape on the target this time. She heard his voice but she couldn’t focus on what he was saying, a new scent entered the room, oranges, oakmoss and a hint of mirthroot. In the past she would run from close encounters like this, but here and now, there was no way she could. She was finally living her life so maybe it was time to give that warm familiar tug in her chest a chance. 

She heard him clear his throat in a sound that was almost a growl but then turned into a cough. Niamh tried to hold back a giggle at the ridiculous noise that clearly shocked Flynn because he made it and Niko because he jumped so far away from her it was like he’d been tasered. Remembering what Niko had taught her she put the safety back on, carefully putting the gun on the table pointing away from them. She then took off the safety goggles, placing them down too, while listening to the verbal exchange happening behind her. 

Niko had never heard his boss sound like that, “Sir, is everything alright?”

Tristan had never acted that way towards another male over a female, Niko was a good kid, he was just teaching. He realised he had never behaved that way because she wasn’t just any female and he didn’t want anyone, not even his trusted protege touching her like that. Still he wasn’t some creepy possessive asshole (or alphahole if you asked Bryce). He wasn’t saying anything and the kid asked him a question. He cleared his throat again, less like a mad man this time, “Yes. I was reviewing footage from the day of the demon attack near the mortal gate. I then reread through the corresponding report and noticed there was an interview missing. I thought since she was here, it’s just a few routine questions, which won’t take long. I’m sure Miss…”

Niamh turned as he trailed off and before Niko could answer for her she said, “Davies, Nora Davies, you are Lord Tristan Flynn and I don’t mind being asked questions.”

Tristan couldn’t help the involuntary eye roll when he replied, “Just Tristan Flynn, or Flynn that’s what my friends call me. None of that Lord crap, Hazel.” His eyes focused on Niamh waiting to see her reaction to the nickname he gave her all those years ago when they weren’t exchanging names. He didn’t even bother to look at Niko as he took a step toward the booth and added, “Give us the room kid.” Neither of them noticed as Niko looked between them bewildered, shook his head and walked past them and out of the room.

Niamh smirked and took a step out of the booth, “I think I preferred Oak.” 

“My friends would never let me hear the end of it but I like it too,” He stepped closer to her and went to take her closest hand hanging by her side. 

Her eyes flicked up above their heads, “I’m guessing those cameras up there are on and working?” His brows furrowed, she finished her point, “I’m not sure you want your friends to have more ammunition to make fun of you.” 

He laughed quietly wondering if she knew the irony of what she said in this room before replying in a faux professional voice, “You make a good point, we should conduct this interview in a more appropriate venue. I know just the place, please allow me to escort you.” He made a mock bow as he went over, opened the door and gestured towards the exit, “Ladies first.”

Niamh went to walk through then paused, “This place better not be your room.”

Still holding the door he righted himself and dramatically put a hand on his chest, “I feel offended you would imply such a thing. A gentleman always buys a lady a drink first, at least.”

“At least, though from what I’ve heard around the city, ‘gentleman’ seems a bit of a stretch.” She really had to hold back her giggles at his dramatics.

“Rumours all of it, well actually some may be true. I’ll confirm or deny anything you have heard and maybe you can fill me in on where you have been for twenty years?” Flynn let the door close behind him and lightly guided her with a touch of his elbow to the elevators. He called behind him as he did, knowing full well Niko was still loyally waiting where he had asked him to, “Kid, Miss Davies will resume her lesson at another time. I’m sure you’ve got other work to do. If anyone wants me, tell them I’ve taken the rest of the afternoon off.”

Chapter Text

“Do you usually conduct interviews in tiny cafes?” Niamh asked as she followed Flynn into a tiny hidden away establishment.

Flynn held the door for her again and grinned, “No. I also haven’t personally conducted a bystander interview in years.”

She let herself be led to a corner with cosy armchairs and a small round table, “Should I be concerned that a very high ranking member of the Aux has offered to interview me then?”

He raised his eyebrows, “Only if you intend on running away and disappearing again for twenty years?” 

“That is yet to be decided,” Niamh kept composed as she answered him. Yes, she had just left a perfectly good training session, with a kind fae male to reunite with Tristan Flynn and give him a chance, but that didn’t mean she should let her emotions get the better of her just yet.

Flynn’s playful grin just grew, he remembered this guarded but sassy version of her and Urd did he love it. “Have a seat darlin’, I believe it is my turn to provide the refreshments.”

Niamh looked around her, she had never been to this cafe before. It also didn’t seem like somewhere someone like Tristan Flynn and his friends would go. The armchairs were so comfortable with blue and white checked fabric. There were only six other tables in the place either with similar style armchairs or wooden chairs that looked hand carved. There were plants either in pots or climbing up trellis on the walls or along the beams above. There were little pots of flowers on each table with an assortment of daisies in each. The whole feel was a mix of cosy cottage and farmhouse charm. A tiny little respite from the busy chaotic city outside. Not at all what she expected from Tristan Flynn.

She had been so busy absorbing her surroundings she didn’t notice he had returned and was sitting in the chair next to her, an ankle casually resting on his opposite knee. His smirk was gone and was replaced with a curious gaze, it was almost a little unnerving. “What is it? Do I have something on my face?” Feelings of inadequacy began to overcome her.

“It took me a moment to recognise you, your features have changed. Your hair is obviously brunette now, but I could have sworn your eyes had more green in them and your nose and chin were narrower.”

“Things like that are easily explained, you only spent a short amount of time with me before, it was evening which became night, Avallen has that pesky mist all the time,” She took a breath and looked up straight into his eyes before continuing, “And it was twenty years ago. I’m sure your imagination conjured up some goddess-like beauty in replacement of me, a standard I cannot possibly hope to live up to. If it is not to your liking, I can always go.” Niamh averted her gaze and went to stand. She didn’t stick around in her fathers throne room when he dismissed her because of her title and the way she had changed her looks back then and she wasn’t about to now.

Flynn mentally chastised himself, why did he do that, of course that was insulting, idiot! All his bravado from moments ago vanished and he tentatively reached his hand over to her smaller, softer one and pleaded, “Wait! Hazel, please give me a chance.”

Just then a kind looking older fae female approached their table with a tray, “One coffee and a pot of tea.”

On feeling the warmth of Flynn’s hand and hearing that he had remembered she preferred tea and ordered it for her she lowered herself back into the chair and nodded to the female in thanks. Flynn didn’t let her hand go and she didn’t want him to. She turned her head towards him slightly, not looking at him yet, “You remembered, thank you.”

“I think you will be surprised at what I remembered,” He was overjoyed she didn’t leave and used his thumb to brush the back of her hand gently.

Niamh took a moment to pour herself some tea and could feel Flynn studying her again, “I’m not sure what further information I could provide to my account of what happened the day of the demon attack.”

Flynn scoffed, “I don’t care about that, I’m sure what you said before was fine. That was just a bullshit excuse I gave the kid.” He realised as she sipped her tea, her eyes filled with mirth as she watched him over the rim of her cup. He wanted to smile at her in reply but he needed real answers, “What happened to you after the night we met?”

“Well thankfully I made it back in time that night and I went about my usual routine the next day,” she was deflecting. “I’m sorry I couldn’t leave with you, the princess needed me.” 

He watched as she smoothed the non existent wrinkle in her jeans with her free hand and gave the other a reassuring squeeze. He was worried if he rushed her she would disappear again.

“I helped her run away,” Niamh’s voice was barely a whisper. 

“I remember you said you grew up with them but why did you have to help?” He was really trying to hide his disgust in noble born fae and the way they’ll use anyone to get what they want.

“For that exact reason. Her father the king only ever bothered with her to marry her off so he had no idea about her life but the twins, her cousins, they knew I spent a lot of time with her. She didn’t want them to hurt me for information when they went looking for her.” Niamh saw Flynn’s face darken at the mention of her psychotic cousins, “I heard what they did to your friend when you guys were there helping prince Ruhn, I’m sorry.” Niamh shuddered remembering them, “He got off pretty lightly though, if I’m being honest.”

Flynn’s voice was hard and dangerous, “What do you mean? Did they hurt you?”

Niamh couldn’t help the bitter laugh that escaped, “Who haven’t they hurt in some way? It’s their favourite pastime, they have powerful mind powers. Not only can they enter someone's mind and find any thought or information they want but they can also make you see your worst nightmares, give you visions of what they want to do to you and even take over your mind and make you do whatever they wish. The king uses them to gain information for him all the time. They’re both so sadistic that they just do it for fun, on anyone really, but they prefer torturing females.”

Flynn had dropped her hand because he was gripping both of his own in tight fists, he was so angry some of the vines hanging from the beams above started withering. “If I didn’t have a reason to kill them before, I sure do now.”

She placed her delicate hand over his clenched fist closest to her, “I know you probably won’t believe it but when prince Cormac found out they were targeting me too, he taught me how to lock my mind, create shields, to keep them out.”

“Still I’d like to kill them and I’ll take your word for it regarding Cormac,” He grumbled. He calmed himself, sipping his drink before questioning her again, “So you and the princess ran away…” He rubbed his jaw as he thought, “But no one has ever found her or heard from her again. No one was looking for you,” Except me, he thought, “You could have come here anytime, I would have kept you safe. Why didn’t you let me see you until now?”

Niamh sighed, “I guess there were many reasons. If anyone found out I was associated with her they could send me back to be interrogated by the King and probably killed.” Also I wasn’t sure I could truly trust you, she thought to herself. “I couldn’t come to you and risk you too.”

Tristan shook his head, “I’m flattered you were worried about me Hazel darlin’, but I can look after myself.” He picked up her hand he was holding and kissed the back of it. As he lowered it he asked, “Why is it any safer now? Is it because You couldn't handle living in the same city as me and being apart from me, the desire for me was too great?” Tristan couldn’t help the cocky smirk that took over his features.

Niamh chose that moment to sip her tea just so she could look over the rim at him with a look that would wipe the smirk from his face and make the blood rush from his head to another place. She carefully put her cup down and cleared her throat, “You’re right, it was all too much for me.” She extracted her hand from his and stood the smallest of smiles on her face, “It’s so overwhelming I should probably go before I embarrass you or something.”

Tristan Flynn was in love with this female, he wasn't going to admit it out loud yet, but there was something else he could do that he had been dreaming of doing again for years. He stood, blocking her way, usually he would just let a female go but not her, not Hazel. She looked up at him and that was the only movement she made, “Truthfully, I decided I didn’t want to run and hide anymore. I decided I was finally going to live my life how I wanted.” 

He tenderly touched her chin, lowering his head so they were almost eye to eye. His voice was a husky drawl as he asked, “What do you want darlin’?”

Niamh stared straight at him and wet her lips lightly rubbing them together, “I want to know if kissing you was as good as I remember.”

Flynn’s gaze became heated, “I’m willing to find out.”

She pushed herself up a little as he inched closer and their lips crashed together. His hands moved down to her curved hips, making her want to moan. Kissing Tristan Flynn was better than she remembered, it was everything.

Flynn felt her hands go up over his shoulders and into the soft and silky waves of his hair, weaving her fingers through it, making him almost shiver. Kissing Nora Davies, Hazel to him, was better than he remembered and dreamt about, it was everything. Barely stopping he lowered himself back onto his chair and pulled her into his lap so she was sitting sideways, her legs hanging over the arm of the chair. 

Niamh giggled, pulling away from him slightly and looked around remembering where they were and noticed the vines had grown and were hanging down around them like a curtain. “Umm won’t the owners be a bit upset that you’re just changing their decor?”

Flynn just kissed her cheek and down her neck answering a word between each kiss, “I’m their best customer, besides who do you think helped them to have this much foliage inside a dark cafe?”

“Oh,” Was all she could say before his lips were on hers again and she had forgotten all about it as she kissed him back.

They could have stayed that way kissing and embracing like teen fae for a lot longer, if it wasn’t for the interruption from Flynn’s phone playing some very hardcore metal music indicating it was ringing. Niamh attempted to extract herself off his lap as he reached under her to get his phone, instead his free hand came around her waist holding her in place.

“This better be important kid,” Flynn’s voice was full of exasperation but his eyes were full of mischief as they looked into hers. 

Due to fae hearing Niamh could hear Niko at the other end of the call, “Both Prince Ruhn and Mr Emmett came to me asking if I knew where you were. I said what you told me to.”

“I’m sensing a but coming. What else?” The fingers of Flynn’s free hand traced over the small glimpse of Niamh’s leg that could be seen through the intentional rip in her black jeans, just above the knee.”

“Mr Emmett wanted to know who you left with, he saw it on the surveillance footage.”

“What did you tell him?”

“He’d seen the footage of me teaching her at the firing range so I had to tell him something.” Flynn felt Niamh tense hearing what Niko said. He gave her knee a little squeeze and a reassuring look before letting the kid finish, “I just told him her first name, I said I couldn’t remember her last name. Prince Ruhn reprimanded me for not following protocol and getting her to sign in properly, then he and Mr Emmett left. I wanted to let you know in case they ask you about it later.”

“You did good, don’t worry about what Ruhn said, I’ll sort all that out.” Before he could say anything else his phone beeped alerting him that he was getting another call, “Thanks kid, I gotta go.”

Flynn was going to ignore the call at first thinking it was probably Ruhn or Dec and they could wait, but when he saw the name on the caller ID he had to answer. “Mrs Martinez, how lovely to hear from you,” He drawled his voice dripping with charm.

Niamh however had a different reaction, her back went ramrod straight, her eyebrows rose and a look of pure concern came over her. She listened intently hoping to Solas nothing was wrong.

“I need your help, my neighbour Nora, that’s her name, her phone isn’t answering my calls. I’m worried she’s gone missing or something terrible has happened to her, she always answers me you see and if she’s not answering me something must be wrong.” The older fae females voice was all business.

Niamh was immediately reaching for her phone as she heard Estelle talking to Flynn. When she pulled it out and saw the blank, black screen she groaned inwardly at herself for letting the battery die.

Flynn smirked at her and shook his head in mock admonishment before answering into the phone, “How can I help?”

“You are in the Aux, you can use your resources to find her. Why else would I call you? Urd give me strength, I don’t have time for you to be dense. When I met you, you sounded like one of those rich fae with more looks than brains, but your actions proved you could be more than that. Don’t make my first impressions correct now, young man.” Both Flynn and Niamh could hear the indigent tone of her voice. One that meant they weren’t going to be able to continue with what they were doing, Niamh had to go.

“I’m sure it won’t take me long to find her, when I do I will personally make sure she returns to you promptly. I give you my word as an honourable member of the Aux.”

“Good then stop nattering away to me and get to it,” Estelle immediately hung up.

Flynn casually dropped his phone on the table behind Niamh, “You’re neighbour is something.”

“I know but under it all shes a sweet old lady. I better go,” She felt his hands on her hips again holding her in place. “Flynn,” she protested.

Flynn wasn’t looking at her, he just bent his head and started kissing her neck. In between kisses he whispered, “I have to find you first.”

Niamh sighed and was about to run her fingers through his chestnut hair again, it was one of her favourite things about him, when Flynn’s phone beeped twice quickly. This time Niamh was able to twist out of his grasp and reach around and pick it up. “Something is telling us our time is up.” She noticed the actual time on the screen and realised why Estelle would have been calling her. She was late for their weekly afternoon tea. Also Kami would be arriving at her apartment to help her bake. Well not necessarily help but keep Niamh company while she baked for her first big job. Tomorrow she was dropping off an assortment of cakes and pastries to a noble fae house in Five Roses. A really nice young fae called Sathia had eaten one of her cupcakes at a gig, then called to ask if she would cater some desserts for a luncheon her mother was hosting. Of course Niamh said yes.

Flynn took his phone from Niamh and noticed the messages were from Ruhn and Dec. 

It is all well and good for you to give yourself the afternoon off but there was an important meeting in half an hour you can’t miss. - Ruhn

We know where you are and we will be there in ten minutes to drag you back if you don’t get your ass headed back here. - Dec

He reluctantly let Niamh stand and tapped his phone a couple of times. Standing with her, he took her hand and put his phone in it, “Our time is up for now.”

She looked at the phone and it was on the screen to add a new contact. He had typed in ‘Nora’ a tiny part of her wished she could give him her real name and see it in his phone. Instead she pushed that feeling aside and typed her number underneath. She smiled up at him, holding his phone out for him to take back, “For now.”

Flynn took it back and dropped it into his pocket with one hand. The other came up to cup her cheek as he leaned in and his lips brushed hers, just once. He waved his hand towards the vines and they parted and Flynn gestured for her to go first. Niamh did, looking back as she did and giving him an almost shy smile, before heading out of the cafe.

The vines receded back up towards the ceiling where they were originally without Flynn having to barely move a finger. He got his phone out again and sent a quick text to Mrs Martinez to let her know he found Nora as he walked to the door. When he got to the door he noticed his friends outside, he hoped she hadn’t bumped into them on her way. It’s not that he wanted to hide her from them, they had been very supportive of him finding her and she definitely wasn’t someone to be ashamed of. He just wanted to keep her to himself for a little longer. He wasn’t ready to have his best friends make fun of him for it just yet, or for his family to find out about her and scare her away because she wasn’t of noble fae blood. ‘Shit!’ He thought he just remembered what the meeting was about. They were going to discuss security for his mother’s luncheon tomorrow. The luncheon she had invited Prince Cormac Donnall to. The luncheon he was obligated to attend where no doubt his mother would once again try and set him up with some boring, stuck up, female who looked like a twig, laughed like a hyena and had the personality of a box of crayons. At least this time one of them won’t be a princess, being in the Aux meant he would know if there was one currently in Lunathion.

Flynn typed another text into his phone, ‘Let me know you got home safe Hazel’.

Chapter Text

Niamh ducked into the alley to the right of the cafe and shadow walked to Estelle’s door. She knocked once and then used her key to let herself in. “I’m so sorry Estelle! I got caught up and I let my phone battery die.”

She busied herself first plugging her phone into the charger on the kitchen counter, then with preparing their usual tea things and heard Estelle scoff, “Pfft. I’m blind not senile girl. You got here too quickly.”

Niamh turned sharply from the pantry where she was retrieving her latest cake and gaped at her odd neighbour. “What do you mean, you were looking for me, I was found and I’m here.”

“Even using your power to get back here it was still too quick, that Aux male surely would have needed to find you, relay my message and distract you with his charm and handsome looks. All of that would have taken longer.” Estelle made her way over to the table as she finished her explanations.

Niamh gave her a suspicious look that came through in her voice, “How do you know he’s handsome?” 

This time smugness radiated from her as she poured tea, “Because he sounds and acts handsome, and you just confirmed it.”

“Oh.” Was all Niamh could reply. 

She distractedly and hurriedly finished plating the slices of cake and put the rest away. As she closed the pantry she heard the buzz of her phone. She knew if she didn’t check it it would just alert her again, when she looked at it Niamh couldn’t help the smile that took over her face. The text was from Flynn wanting to make sure she got back safe, Niamh typed a reply and sighed dreamily as she pressed send.

She was snapped out of her distraction when she heard the sharp raps of Estelle tapping her cane on the floor in demand. “Alright girl, who is he? Who has got you all dreamy and neglecting to bring the cake for my tea. Is it that male who organised my help, now I remember you said you had an appointment with him today at the aux. He seems very sweet, not as sexy as Tristan Flynn but…” Niamh almost dropped her cup instead just rattled it into the saucer, she wasn’t sure she ever wanted to hear the word sexy come out of Estelle’s mouth again. “What, he’s the young male who is my personal contact at the aux, the handsome one.” 

Still reeling from Estelle’s more than usual brashness, it took her a second to answer, “I didn’t realise until you called him that he was the one who helped you home that day.”

“Ha! There it is, I knew you were distracted by a male and it was him, you were with him when I called. That's why it didn’t take you long to get here. The two of you should have spent longer stalling if you really didn’t want me to figure it out.” Estelle took a sip of her tea and then waved a hand impatiently in Niamh’s direction, “Well go on girl why did you end up with him when you had an appointment with the other one?”

This time Niamh was the one to take a drink, only it wasn’t a sip it was more like a gulp and she wished it wasn’t tea. Then she told Estelle everything. Well almost everything, she cut the making out down to a goodbye kiss. “That was him texting just before, wanting to know if I got home safe,” Niamh couldn’t help the sigh that escaped as she finished her sentence and picked up her fork to take off a piece of cake. “He’s nothing like his reputation of being a too charming, rebellious, rich playboy,” She popped the piece of chocolate cake in her mouth and couldn’t help but think about Flynn’s lips on hers as she pulled the fork out of her mouth.

“I told you before my dear, males are different with their mates,” Estelle replied matter of factly.

“I didn’t say he was that male.”

“You didn’t need to, I could hear it in your voice. It took on the same tone it has before when you’ve mentioned him.” She had finished her cake and put her fork and napkin down on the plate. “You better not be thinking of running away again, running away from him. Any one who treats me well and can put up with my cantankerousness is a keeper girl. Regardless of that you think he’s your mate and it seems that Solas, Cothona and all the other gods agree, throwing him in your orbit again. You need to give it a chance.”

Niamh finished her cake and her tea, “I am, even though I know it’s dangerous if the wrong people in the fae community found out which family I come from, but you’re right I can’t keep avoiding it.” She started clearing the things and taking them to the sink to wash up.

“I’m always right.” Niamh heard Estelle stand up and head away from the living room, “I’m going to take a nap, you’ve worn me out with all your excitement.”

Niamh smiled and shook her head, she washed up the dishes and went let herself out, making sure she grabbed her phone on the way. She couldn’t help but check to see if Flynn had replied.

Perfect, your safety is my priority darlin’. I hope the old dear wasn’t too hard on you. I have to pay attention in this meeting. Talk later Hazel 

As much as she wanted to then reply to him it would be rude to disturb him in a meeting, besides she had to get everything out to start baking before Kami came over. She stopped at the door when she spied a letter, it had been typed but underneath the words she could see the raised bumps signifying the language for the visually impaired. It was the bottom part that really caught her eye, ‘I know we haven’t been close for some time but I worry about you in that city mother. Come and visit with us out at the farm, maybe even stay, we have plenty of room for you to have your own space. I’m sorry, I want to make up the time we missed and your grandchildren want to get to know you. Please think about it, your daughter Merianna.’

Estelle had only briefly spoken about her daughter before and Niamh knew she hated they were estranged. From the look of that letter they were reconnecting. Of course Niamh would be happy for Estelle if she wanted to visit or even live with family, but to Niamh Estelle had become family. She wasn’t sure she was ready to lose her. She sighed as she closed and locked the apartment door, no point worrying about it until it happened. She had plenty to worry about right now, most importantly making enough cupcakes, mini Avallen apple cakes and Avallish shortbread for up to fifty people by tomorrow.

Niamh had just transferred her last batch of mini apple cakes into the oven when she heard her friend's distinct knock, “It’s open! Come in Kami!”

“It smells so good in here!” Kami exclaimed as she entered the apartment, throwing her bag onto the sofa. She strode over to the kitchen, got out two glasses of wine, used one of her claws to uncork the bottle she brought and poured them each a glass. “I am here, what can I do to help?”

Niamh wiped her hands on her apron, “Nothing actually.” Kami gave her a skeptical look but Niamh just shook her head, “No really I was worried at first but I’m more organised than I thought.” She waved to where five batches of cupcakes were cooled and in airtight containers, “The cupcakes are done. I won't ice them until the morning so they’re fresh.” Next she pointed to the oven and the cooling cakes on the racks above it, “The last batch of mini apple cakes is currently baking. I will glaze them and top them with the crystalised apple in an hour.” Lastly she pointed to the fridge, “The batter for the Avallish shortbread is chilling in the fridge. As they only take a few minutes to bake I will put them on in the morning while I’m icing.”

“I still can't believe how you’ve made everything fit in this kitchen,” Kami looked around them at how strategically Niamh had stacked the trays and cake boxes. “I mean this kitchen isn’t tiny but it’s also not catering sized. If you get any more jobs like this maybe you should find or rent an industrial kitchen?”

“You’re right,” Niamh smiled as she put two plates and forks on the bench, one for Kami and one for herself. “I’m sorry I don’t have more for you to do, but as you can see I will still need your help tomorrow. Without your car I don’t know how I will get everything there.”

Kami looked down at the plate and then up at Niamh, “You made pies too? How did you have the time? Didn’t you have your firearms lesson with Niko this afternoon?” 

The way she emphasised Niko’s name wasn’t lost on Niamh but she wouldn’t get annoyed by her implication. She definitely hadn’t forgotten about that afternoon, it just wasn’t Niko that was in the forefront of her mind, causing that happy smile to remain on her face. Niamh could have answered but she used her fork to break off some of the pie, “Eat, it will get cold, it’s not good for you to go out on an empty stomach.”

Kami took a bite and watched Niamh as she did, then she suddenly slammed her fork onto the table. “Something happened this afternoon! Oh my Solas you slept with the Aux kid! Shit, was it at the Aux? Nora you minx!”

“What?!” Niamh’s eyebrows shot up and her eyes went wide, “No! Nothing happened with Niko, he’s sweet but he’s not who I… and I didn’t sleep with anyone!”

Kami gave Niamh a shit eating grin continuing to break pieces off, “Ok so you didn’t sleep with anyone and Niko isn’t the one for you but something did happen Miss and as your best friend I deserve to know, spill.”

Nimah took a deep breath smiling again as she remembered her afternoon with Flynn, “While I was at the Aux I bumped into someone I knew in Avallen. If it hadn’t been for my family and my having to leave and hide we might have been more at the time. I’ve known he lived here for a long time but as you know I’ve been letting fear run my life.”

Kami cut in with a mouthful of food, “Mmm hmm.”

The ding of the oven timer threatened to interrupt Nimah’s story but she continued while she got the cakes out, setting them down to cool before moving back to her food. “Anyway there really wasn’t any way to avoid him today. When he saw me he asked if I had time to catch up. We went to the cutest little coffee shop and talked and…” Niamh trailed off and interrupted herself by taking a bite of food.

Her friend however had finished, ended Niamh’s sentence for her, “And kissed. I can see it all over your face, you kissed this guy.” Kami paused and took a drink of her wine looking at Niamh over the rim of her glass while she did, “You kissed him a lot and while you didn’t sleep with him, you want to.”

Niamh couldn’t help the blush that heated her cheeks, “We did kiss, a lot and it was amazing and maybe I do want to sleep with him but that will be our business.”

Kami raised her glass, “Thank Solas and Cothona, my girl is finally getting some. This guy just better treat you right. What’s his name and tell me you have his number.”

Nimah nodded, “He calls me Hazel and I call him Oak, and that’s all I’m saying for now. Oh and I gave him my number and he texted straight away to check I got home okay.”

“Weird about the name thing but good that he texted you, he should at least do that.” 

She finished her drink and stood, “So speaking of males wanting your attention,” Niamh was finishing her last couple of bites but she looked up at her friend questioningly. “So yeah last week after I finished my set at the club I was practically ambushed by some fae nobility.”

Niamh put her fork down, “Who, was it for another job?” It would make sense because it was a female from fae nobility who had eaten and apparently taken home several of Niamh’s free samples thus leading to the job tomorrow, so another job would be great.

“Umm no, not a job for you, a job for me. They want me to play at one of their parties coming up and one of them wants to know if I will bring my friend who was at the club with me that night.” Kami seemed to be avoiding Niamh’s gaze as she spoke, she even went out of eyesight by picking up her bag.

“Are these fae nice people?” Nimah wasn’t sure what was wrong about Kami going to a party and bringing her along.

“Yeah. I mean they’re nice to people they like, they kinda hate their own kind, fae nobility.”

“Why are you being so weird about it?”

“I didn’t want it to seem like I was just going to take the job and take you along just because some guy is into you.”

Niamh shook her head and got out an already prepared box of samples and business cards for Kami to take with her tonight. “Look, you didn’t promise this guy a date with me.”

Kami turned to Niamh with a relieved smile on her face, taking the box of baked goods from her, “You’re right, besides if you’re still seeing this new guy, you can just bring him to the party as well then you won’t have to fend off any unwanted advances.”

Nimah laughed and shut and locked the door behind her friend, before tackling the last few jobs for the evening and falling into bed.

Chapter Text

Everything was boxed up and ready to go. The only thing that wasn’t quite ready when Kami arrived was Niamh. 

“Umm I‘m not an expert but I don't think cute cotton underwear is the correct attire to be wearing to deliver baked goods to a fancy vanir party,” Her friend was smirking as she spoke, clearly trying not to laugh.

Niamh rushed back into her room and Kami followed her, Niamh gestured dramatically to the pile of clothes on her bed, “I’ve been trying to figure it out for ages and I don’t know!”

“Okay let me have a look,” Kami said as she peered at the pile. She then began rifling through it and throwing pieces of clothing at her friend. A simple white blouse with elbow length sleeves, a tailored knee length black skirt and a pair of black stockings. “I know it’s hot but the stockings will make it more professional. Then just add that pair of black flats,” She pointed to the shoes in the corner, “And put one of your cute aprons over the top.”

Nimah nodded relieved and started to dress, “I was overthinking it wasn’t I?” She tucked the blouse into the skirt, “What about my hair?” It was in a simple braid, she pulled the end over her shoulder.

“Leave it, it’s out of your face and looks neat.” She grabbed a black ribbon from the dresser and held it out, “Just add this.”

“Thanks,” Nimah took it and tied it into a bow at the bottom of the braid. “I don’t know why I couldn’t do this simple thing, the food is the important part, it shouldn't matter what I look like.” Then she thought, ‘As long as I’m not recognised by anyone who knows my father or cousins.’

“I do, it’s your first gig, doing what you truly love. I was exactly the same. You want it to be a success and unfortunately the visual impression will matter as much as the taste.” Kami put her arm around Niamh, “Come on, you know I’m not usually even up, let alone awake this early. I love you but after I drop you and all your amazing pastries off I’m going back to bed.”

Niamh laughed, “I know, how dare people do things before one in the afternoon.”

They each filled their arms with boxes so they only needed to take one trip down.

Kami’s SVU pulled into the service driveway of an opulent villa in the heart of Firo. It was concealed by neat box hedges either side, wouldn’t want the family or their guests to see the help coming and going. It reminded Niamh a little of the servants entrance of her fathers castle, though more chic and updated. Before they had turned in, she had glimpsed the front of the residence. It screamed wealth, pale marble, sparkling blue fountains, beds of fragrant lavender under olive and orange trees. Oranges immediately reminded her of Flynn. He had texted her earlier to say he had to do some obligatory vanir thing today but he wished he was going out with her instead. She had told him she had work today so it wouldn’t have worked out anyway. She almost sighed out loud at his last text, Don’t make plans for next weekend because I’m taking you on a date .

The sound of Kami ringing the bell at the servants entrance snapped Niamh out of her daydream. 

The door opened and a stern looking female peered at them, “I take it you’re the specialty baker Miss Sathia organised.”

Niamh nodded, “Yes.”

“Good. The other caters are all set up and have already served canapes and the first course. The serving platters you are to use are in the kitchen,” She pointed to the left, “Just down that corridor.” The female left down a corridor to the right.

“That was welcoming,” Kami remarked. 

Niamh just shrugged and led the way down the corridor to the left. As they entered she had another flashback to her life in Avallen. There were chefs cooking and warming the food for the second course, servers were moving about. It was organised chaos, only the staff wore much more modern attire that was a lot easier to move around in. 

“Want me to ask someone where you can put your things?” Kami asked.

“No,” Niamh was used to having to find a space in a busy kitchen to bake. She moved over to a spot in the corner where she saw tiered plates waiting for her cakes, “Over here,” She put her half of the boxes down.

Kami put hers down in the only available space left and yawned, “Are you sure you don’t need me to stay and help?”

Niamh shook her head, “No, all I have to do is plate the cakes up and just make sure they all still look pretty. You go and nap, I’ll call you later.” Kami hugged her and Niamh expertly weaved though the others working in the kitchen to clean her hands at the little washing station before getting to work.

About halfway through plating up her cakes, the room went silent. Only the controlled clips of heeled shoes could be heard and they were getting closer to Niamh. She slowly turned around to see the chefs and servers continuing to work but in silence. In front of her were two vanir females, high fae, dressed immaculately in designer dresses and heels, they also had minimal makeup on as all well bred females are required to do. The taller one looked older with a slim figure, flowing blonde hair, a narrow face and a haughty gaze. The shorter one, who was actually a little shorter than Niamh, was beautiful and petite. She had tan skin, silken black hair, a pretty, heart-shaped face and green eyes, which seemed kinder. Niamh quickly determined the two women must be Lady Hawthorne and her daughter Sathia.

The older, taller one spoke first, “You must be Miss Davies, the baker from Avallen.”

Niamh knew they weren’t royalty, still noble fae, but she couldn’t remember if nobility were to be greeted similarly to royalty. Most of the time when her father had guests she wasn’t permitted to meet with them unless he was trying to marry her off. She gave a small curtsy just in case, when she arose she knew she didn’t need to do that but could tell it stroked Lady Hawthorne’s ego. “Yes, good afternoon Lady Hawthorne. Thank you so much for the opportunity.”

“How authentic, I didn’t quite believe Sathia when she said you were actually an Avallaien.” She peered at the cakes and the way they were arranged, then gave a curt nod, “They look acceptable, please continue,” She glided away. 

Niamh did not miss interacting with people like this, she kept her pleasant smile on her face and even though she would have hated it she knew that if that female had known who Niamh truly was the whole interaction would have gone a lot differently.

Sathia gave a quick glance behind her then turned back to Niamh and beamed, “Thank you so much for taking the job. Those cakes look divine and smell delicious. I convinced mother to have this luncheon and to invite Prince Cormac so these will make it perfect! He will love that we found someone who can make proper Avallen desserts.” 

Niamh gave the female a polite smile in return, “Thank you, for giving me this opportunity. It will help me expand my client base.”

“I am sure you will get a lot more orders after today. Our housekeeper Mrs Anderson will bring you a cheque before you leave.” Sathia half turned to leave but stopped then said, “Oh and if my disgrace of an older brother comes in and tries to flirt with you, just ignore him. The amount of poor maids and other females who have had their hearts broken by his good looks, charm and whole ‘I hate nobility and my family doesn’t understand me, please don’t call me Lord Tristan Flynn darlin’, it’s just Flynn’ routine is so sad and embarrassing. Anyway, thanks again, I have to get back to the party.”

Niamh was glad she wasn’t holding one of her cakes because she would have dropped it. Not only was her brother here but she was at Flynn’s house and everything his sister just told Niamh made doubts start to creep into her mind.

Chapter Text

Flynn was thanking all the deities that Bryce was at his parents party, at least he would have someone normal to talk to. She had arrived with Cormac keeping up the illusion of their engagement but as soon as Cormac went to greet Sathia, Flynn and Bryce broke away from his parents and all their hideous guests. Flynn downed a glass of champagne on the way from one server they passed and quickly replaced it with another, grabbing one for Bryce too as a second server came by before they made it over to one of the floor-to-ceiling windows. They talked about his mother who was pissed Bryce was betrothed to Cormac and she wasn’t able to secure it for Sathia. He then explained that his sister had always been ambitious, fit perfectly into this life and knew that was exactly what she wanted.

Flynn took another drink, “I’m surprised you allowed the Prince of Assholes to drag you here.”

Bryce shrugged, “Part of the deal, keeping up appearances and what not.”

Flynn snorted, “Yeah same.”

Bryce arched a brow, “You really hate all this don’t you?”

Flynn’s own brows lifted, “Why are you so surprised?”

She shrugged again, “I don’t know, I feel like I owe you an apology for not realising it earlier.”

Flynn winked at her but it was all for show and he knew someone like Bryce would see through it, so he explained that was how he and Ruhn became friends, bonding over shared disdain of their noble families. Dec was the first friend they made that showed them what having a normal family and childhood looked like, his parents actually love him, he’s a person to them not an heir or marriage pawn. “The three of us are a family,” He winked at her again, “And you're in it too.”

“Aww Flynn I’m touched.”

He leaned in to whisper in her ear, “And I just thought of something creepy and suggestive to say but I can’t because one I just said you are family now and two I would feel like I’m betraying someone.”

Bryce laughed at first then gasped quietly, “Ooh are you talking about the female from Av-”

Flynn cut her off with a shake of his head, just in case they would be overheard, he didn’t want it getting back to either of his parents because if they found out about Hazel they would do anything to keep her away from him even get rid of her, his father had done it before. He whispered even lower, “I can’t risk her, can’t risk them finding out. How do you know?”

Bryce nodded, confirming she understood his serious tone, even though his bored facade displayed the opposite, “Ruhn may have mentioned.”

“Of course he fucking did.”

“Sorry, I won’t mention it again. All I will say is she must be special if you’re not even tempted to flirt with me to piss your parents off.” She took a sip of her drink.

Flynn gave her a grateful smile and finished the rest of his, “Thanks, she is.” They both saw his mother across the room beckoning him over from where she was talking to a pale, meek-looking female. He couldn’t help the groan that escaped, “Duty calls.” He added just before he headed over, “At least she isn’t here, having to watch me pretend to care about whoever my mother is trying to set me up with this time.”

“I’m just helping daddy with some marketing for his business to pass the time until I marry,” The perfectly poised, elegant, insipid, boring female seated next to Flynn fluttered her eyelashes at him as if expecting him to reply. When he didn’t she just continued, “I can’t very well have a job when I become a wife. A proper fae female needs to look after her husband, their children and home.”

Flynn was stuck at a table away from the rest of his family and Bryce. Gods forbid he might embarrass them in front of the precious Prince and they wouldn’t want him and Bryce talking either. No, instead he was all the way over here with the heiress his mother was trying to set him up with. He couldn't even remember this female's name, it didn’t matter, it never mattered. All he could think was, he needed to ask Hazel what she was doing for a job now. There was so much more he wanted to know about her. So much to learn and he was wishing he was next to her instead. He often wished he could spend all his time with Hazel, a wish he hadn’t had about a female since he was a teenager. If he truly thought about 

He realised that the female had paused for too long and he should probably say something, “I don’t know if I believe in marriage.”

Whatever her name was laughed like a hyena, “Oh Tristan you’re so funny!”

He just took a drink and was beyond glad that the dessert course was about to be served. He was going to bail as soon as it was done. He really wanted to text Hazel and see how her day was going. Solas, he’d never wanted to do that with any female before.

It was clear that Hyena Laugh next to him was going to start talking again but she was cut off by his mother standing, “Distinguished and dearest guests, could I please have your attention for a moment.” Everyone's conversations halted, “To celebrate our honoured guest Prince Cormac Donnall, my daughter Sathia found a baker from Avallen to create a selection of traditional Avallien and Avallien inspired petits fours.” Polite murmurs of appreciation and applause resounded around the room, the Prince of Assholes nodded graciously at Flynn’s mother and his sister and it took everything for Flynn to pretend to be impressed too. While everyone was focused on his mother, delicate tiered cake stands were placed throughout the tables in perfect silence as if by magic. “Please everyone enjoy a taste of his majesty’s home.” Flynn’s mother sat and he couldn’t help himself then, rolling his eyes at the pageantry. It was as if his parents and Sathia thought all of this would ingratiate them even further with Prince Asshole and his dick of a father. They weren’t going to join the royal family now, Cormac was engaged to Bryce, sure it was fake but they didn’t know that. Their attempts to get him to marry the princess years ago failed. Honestly their obsession with someone in their family becoming royalty was embarrassing.

Hyena Laugh had to comment, “Oh how quaint, not very sophisticated but Avallen is quite rustic and old fashioned isn’t it.” 

It was obvious he despised the royal family of Avallen, he doubted very much that whoever baked the very delicious and mouth watering pastries in front of him was of royal blood. Sophistication wasn’t important to everyday fae, so of course the baker who made these wouldn’t have the refinement of nobility. Something that only intrigued him and made him more interested in the desserts. He watched as she dismissively threw the little menu card from the platter in front of them onto the table. He picked it up to read, each card was hand written in the the neatest, prettiest script. On the top tier were cupcakes decorated with the emblem of the stag for the King and Avallish shortbread. It was what was listed on the bottom tier that snagged his eyes, ‘Mini Avallen Apple Cakes’. Totally ignoring Hyena Laugh now Tristan grabbed one and took a piece with his fork. As soon as the sweet, moist cake hit his tastebuds he knew only one person could have made these cakes. It was smaller but identical to the one he had eaten years ago, in a struggling garden on the island they were named for. He made sure to eat the whole thing, he didn’t want anyone to think he didn’t enjoy it. As soon as he had swallowed the last bite, he carefully and quietly pushed his chair back, excused himself from the table and headed towards the hallway where the bathrooms were located, the best way to leave without suspicion. Once in the hallway he  switched directions and went down the hall towards the kitchen.

He noticed the room was empty save for her, she was in the corner back to him, packing things into a basket. The chefs wouldn’t have been needed anymore so likely would have gone home and the servers were probably on a break. For the first time in Tristan Flynn’s whole life the minute he stepped into the cold, soulless, designer kitchen, his mother had never cooked in, he felt at home. Because there she was, Nora Davies, Hazel to him, in the cutest frilly apron he had ever seen. Solas, it did things to him both physically and mentally, images of her in just that apron took over his brain. “Holy shit, you’re gonna be the death of me Hazel. As soon as I tasted that Avallen Apple Cake I knew you made it and seeing you here in this house is surreal darlin’.”

Tristan saw her flinch or shiver, he wasn’t sure. He watched as she carefully took off her apron and folded it, putting it next to the basket. He didn’t understand what would be wrong. He went over to her, gently turning her toward him and taking her elbows. “I didn’t mean to surprise you,” He said. What’s wrong, Hazy Girl?” 

She took a breath and spoke “It’s been a long time since I’ve had to remember everyone in the noble families and their titles and so when I took this job, my first job in my baking venture, I didn’t realise that it was your family until I was here and then I didn’t think you would be here anyway. But now you are and you’re doing everything that she said you would.” 

She was looking down, he put his fingers under his her chin so she was looking at him, “Who? What did they say?” 

“Please Flynn, someone could see.”

“There’s no one here, besides I don’t care. What I do care about is someone saying things to upset you, tell me who darlin’?” 

“It doesn’t matter who, it just matters that everything they said you’re doing right now. They said that to ignore you, that you would come in here and you would flirt with me, call me darlin’ and it’s something you always do with anyone working for your family.” 

“Shit Hazel,” He went to hug her but she stepped back against the bench. 

“It's okay. I get it. I mean that’s all that was back then too wasn’t it? I was a maid and that’s your type. I’d rather not get any further into this if I’m just. Someone you use to piss off your parents. Please let me finish this job and I’ll go.”

He reached for her but before he could say anything someone behind them cleared their throat. He wanted to ignore them and tell them to go away but the curt, firm tone of his parents housekeeper Mrs Anderson cut through the air, “Miss Davies, I have your cheque.” From the corner of her eye he saw her hold out an envelope. “Lord Tristan, you should get back to the party, I’m sure your mother will notice your absence.”

Before he could stop her Hazel grabbed her basket, moved past him, took the envelope with a quiet, “Thank you,” and left.

Mrs Anderson eyed him again, “Back to the party young Lord,” He couldn’t help it, he flipped her off as she left. He was about to follow her when something caught his eye on the counter, that damn frilly apron. He snatched it up, folded it smaller and stuffed it into the inside pocket of his suit jacket.

An hour later, as soon as he could get away from that disaster of a party, Tristan Flynn stood outside an unassuming apartment door, knocking for the third time. He had tried to text and call Hazel but he couldn’t get through, he needed to see her and explain, knocking at her door was the next step. He also had in his other hand the excuse for turning up there, he had to return her cute apron.

He raised his fist to knock again and heard a familiar sharp, older female voice behind him. “Do not bang on that door again young man. I’m blind I’d rather not go deaf too.” She turned and shuffled back into her own apartment calling after her, “She’s clearly not home, no point standing out there waiting for her. Come in and make yourself useful.”

Flynn shook his head and smiled a little and followed her in, closing the door after him, “How have you been Mrs Martinez?”

“I’m the same as I always am. You however cannot hide behind your charm. Make me some tea and explain what you have done, because you wouldn’t be at that special girl's door like that if you haven’t made some sort of mistake.”

He watched her expertly sit at the table and point to where the kettle was in the kitchen. Something about this cranky but kind old female reminded him of his own grandmother, the only person in his family he liked and the reason he continued to attend the family obligations. He was planning on waiting for Hazel anyway and this would definitely be a more enjoyable wait.

Chapter Text

Niamh tried not to look too suspicious by running out so she walked out of the service door and down the long driveway as fast as she could. She had told Kami she didn’t need her to come back and pick her up, she would just use her magic to travel. What Niamh hadn’t anticipated was the way Firo was designed. The streets were immaculate, light and had surveillance cameras. There was barely anywhere to hide so she could discretely disappear. She sighed and was about to resign herself to the long walk to the main gate when she noticed a small alcove in one of the identical hedges. Thanking the gods that it also wasn’t noticeable on any of the cameras she ducked in and used her magic to travel directly into her apartment. 

She dropped her basket onto the sofa and started to head for her bathroom. She needed a very cold shower, Flynn finding her in the kitchen was dangerous and thrilling and so tremendously hot. Just the sound of his smooth, southern voice made her body react on it’s own, causing her to give an involuntary shudder. One she hoped he didn’t notice. Sure she noticed that the interaction was exactly what his sister had described would happen but seeing him in that suit made her feel even more attracted to him than she already was. She couldn’t spend another minute in that kitchen with him lest he or Gods forbid anyone else scented her true feelings. So what did Niamh do instead? Rambled on about things she didn’t believe, voicing doubts and worries she truly didn’t have just to distance herself from him. ‘Why?’ She thought to herself, when not only did she worry him, but he was also proving she was right, he was different with her, more sincere. She wrung her hands, she had to fix this. After her cold shower she would call him.

Niamh finished dressing in a more comfortable and casual outfit of short denim shorts, dark green tank top, white shirt and brown sandals. She had blow dried her hair and just ran her fingers through it. There were many, many things she didn’t miss about her fathers medieval castle, one in particular was the lack of electric hair care items. She shook her head, she was getting distracted, reaching for her phone she heard a message alert. It wasn’t from the phone she was reaching for, it was from the burner phone. Niamh groaned as she picked that one up instead. She didn’t even need to see the notification, she knew her brother had figured it out. Of course he would, especially if Tristan Flynn had. She tried not to wince as she brought up his text: We need to meet. I will be at your apartment presently.

Niamh’s fingers were flying as she replied: Not my apartment, our usual spot.

Fine. Leave now. Was Cormac’s reply.

Nimah emerged from the mist on the tiny isle to find her brother standing rigid and regal with his arms tightly crossed over his chest. He was pissed. Niamh was annoyed too. Sure they kept their distance from each other for their safety but she hadn’t seen or heard from him since she was hurt. He was going to help with an important and very dangerous mission, he hadn’t even bothered to check in and let her know he was okay and how dare he get betrothed to their cousin and neglect to tell her.

“Why did I just come from a party at a very prominent noble vanir families villa in Firo where your desserts were served?” His disappointed stare was boring into Niamh’s soul and usually she would have felt shame and remorse at letting him down, not this time.

“Hello brother, so nice to see you’re alive,” She mimicked his stance crossing her own arms.

“Don’t be sarcastic and passive aggressive little sister, it diminishes your intelligence,” Cormac’s anger could be heard in his clipped response.

Niamh backed down a little because she had only seen him angry at her like this once before and the anger then veiled his true feelings of terror. It was just before he helped her escape and he was afraid for her more than anything. Their father was done with her games with prospective suitors and he was out for blood. 

She softened her approach, her brother was never able to stay angry at her for long if she wasn’t a brat. “Cor, I’m sorry. When I took the job I didn’t realise it was that noble family.” She paced a little in front of him, and rubbed her arms because she hadn’t dressed properly for this stupid cold island. She also avoided looking at him, “Besides, they had no idea who I was, Lady Hawthorne was a foot away from me and didn’t recognise me.”

Cormac made an indignant noise and shifted on his feet. 

A sign Niamh knew well, she was wearing him down, “You know you’re the only one who truly remembers what I look like. If I was ever allowed to join dinners when we had noble fae guests, father always made me wear that stupid veil.”

He interrupted her, “Yes but some of them knew our mother and you look just like her.”

She turned to him and gave him an almost withering stare, “Apart from the one portrait we saved, that I have hidden in my closet, I doubt any remember what mother looked like. Even if they did, none of them would dare mention her name because he would condemn them.”

Cormac loosened his arms to hang by his sides and took a step towards her, “What happened to the teaching and you were scheduled to move, to keep with the plan we created, Neevie?”

“It was fine, sure I could sustain it but I almost died Cor and I didn’t want to live like that anymore. I have friends, I’m doing something I love.” She looked at him imploring him to see her point of view, “I haven’t changed that much. My appearance is still changed, I still have a fake identity, it’s just my job that’s changed, really.” Niamh could tell he was scared for her but he had the look in his eyes she knew, he trusted her. She pushed away the little voice in her head that was screaming at her for lying to him about Tristan Flynn. She wasn’t ready to tell him yet, she would tell him later, when she had spent more time with Tristan.

Niamh was shocked out of her thoughts when her brother’s arms abruptly came around her and pulled her to him. The chill she was feeling from the island gone when she could feel his warmth, a sign of his other magic he had inherited, fire. Her voice was muffled as she spoke into his shirt, “I’m being safe Cor, I’m okay.”

She heard him sniff, “I’m not.”

Niamh wanted to pull away a bit just so she could see him but he was holding on so tight. She resigned to just speaking into his chest, “What happened?”

“She’s dead.” There was another sniff, Niamh stayed silent and let him talk. “We did what we set out to do to save her brother, but just before we got away we were caught and she was killed. No. She sacrificed herself, I loved her Neevie. I was ready to be like you, give it all up and disappear with her.”

Niamh gently eased back so she could talk to him and breathe, “I know, I remember the way you talked about her, you’ve never talked about any female like that before.”

His grip on her lessened and he quickly swiped at his face with one hand. Niamh had only ever seen her brother let his emotions surface once, when their mother was killed. Just as before he barely let them show, cleared them away as soon as they came, his stoicism returning as normal. “She begged me to look after her brother before she died. I was hurt and he ran away. I am searching for him here and for her body.”

Niamh was shocked for a moment at that last part, but her shock dissolved when she thought about it, who was she to judge how her brother gained closure from losing the love of his life. “Of course you want to find him.” She nodded then gave him a questioning look, “You’ve just lost her, why are you letting father control your life with a betrothal to Bryce Quinlan, our half-cousin?!”

Cormac sighed, “He’s getting suspicious, I was away too often and this time too long. Our other cousins are bored and I couldn’t risk him insisting on them following me wherever I go.”

Niamh shuddered at the mention of her other cousins, the evil twins, “So it’s all a ruse, you can freely come to the Lunation, search for her and her brother, all while pretending that you’re going to go through with marrying Bryce.”

“Exactly,” the corner of his mouth quirked up and his right eyebrow raised slightly. A movement she knew well, his sign of approval for her. “You’ve always been clever little shadow. I’m sorry I was angry, I was worried.”

She was the one to hug him this time, it was fierce and firm, “I’m sorry I was petulant in return. I was worried too and I was right to be, you were hurting in many ways and all alone. I wish I could help you.”

He held her arms around her shoulder and rested his chin on her head, “Knowing you are safe keeps me going and is all the help I need. Promise me you will keep safe, stay away from fae nobility who know us or the royal family here.”

Niamh’s heart tightened, she wouldn’t lie to him, instead she nodded into his chest. 

“I need to go, I have to report today’s outing with my betrothed to father and our uncle.” She felt him lightly kiss the crown of her head, before releasing her. “I have no doubt Hunt Athalar is keeping tabs on me, making sure Bryce isn’t in danger. Ruhn and his friends too, I suppose.” His gaze was back to the commanding but caring look he gave her when he was deathly serious about something, “Neevie, with all these eyes on me, please do not contact me unless it is a dire emergency. Wait for me to contact you.”

“Yes.” Cormac turned to leave, disappear with magic, “Cor,” He turned back to her a question in his eyes. “Do you think that maybe we misjudged Ruhn and his friends?”

“Ruhn, yes. Declan Emmett, maybe, he is useful. However Tristan Flynn will never be redeemable in my eyes, he spent the whole time during the luncheon spitting in the face of his gracious parents. And don’t think for a moment I have forgotten how he spoke about you all those years ago. I thank the gods, nothing became of that betrothal. Why did you ask?”

Niamh shrugged, hiding the fact she was disappointed with her brother’s answer. She was right before, best not to tell him yet. “No reason, just a thought.”

“You and your kindness Neevie.”

Before he could turn to leave again Nimah whispered, “I love you big brother.”

He shook his head, remembering how when they were young their mother insisted that they tell each other just that, “I love you too little sister.”

Niamh could have used her magic to travel straight into her apartment but she felt after that emotionally charged catch up with her brother walking up all the stairs would do her good.

Her hand was almost on her door handle when she heard Estelle’s door open, “Could you come in for a moment dear?” Niamh didn’t hesitate as she strode straight over to her neighbours, as the door opened wider Estelle added her voice laced with mirth, “I believe this belongs to you.”

Niamh focused on the tall, lean but strong figure dressed in expensive jeans and shirt with chestnut hair, back to them at Estelle’s kitchen sink, dish towel over his shoulder, placing a dish in the drying rack.

Tristan Flynn was standing at her elderly neighbour’s sink and had been washing dishes. If Niamh hadn’t started falling in love with him already, this was the moment she did.

Chapter Text

Every word Tristan had prepared after his talk with Estelle vanished from his mind. How the hell could he explain and apologise to the female in front of him when she was looking like that. Her brown hair had that wind swept look, the green tank top she was wearing under the white shirt just accentuated the curves of her breasts, but it was the tiny denim shorts that made his dick twitch. Her legs were long, they looked smooth and she had the most delicious thighs. He was fucked.

“You can hang the dish towel where you found it, boy,” Thank Urd for Estelle snapping him out of his stupor.

He hung the towel back up and turned to Hazel, “I need to apologise.”

“I’m sorry for running off.” She spoke at the same time, “Wait, no sorry you finish.”

He shook his head, “No, you go.” 

“How about you both go, out of my apartment. Find somewhere to talk and do things that young people do and I get some rest.” Estelle huffed and started shooing them out the door.

Flynn smriked, “Of course, Mrs. Martinez the last thing we want to do is disturb your peace, any more than I already have. Thank you for your generous and kind hospitality ma’am.”

Nora/Hazel, no he had decided Nora was boring and didn’t suit her so she was only Hazel to him. She was out the door first but he heard her say as she left, “Yes, thank you, Estelle. I’m sorry I wasn’t home and you had to entertain.” 

“That’s enough of that now, dear, I’ll entertain handsome young fae males who are too charming for their own good, anytime. I won’t however be subjected to whatever awkward exchange the two of you are about to have. Off you go, be good you two don’t get up to too much mischief.” Smiling slyly at Flynn.

As he passed her he whispered, “You promise you will tell her soon? Keeping secrets doesn’t help anyone.” 

“That’s my business young man, but I appreciate your concern for her.” She basically pushed him out the door, closing it on them. Then opened it again to say, “Oh and don’t worry, dears. I’ll put my earplugs in tonight.”

If Tristan had ever blushed in his whole life, tonight was gonna be the start except any embarrassment disappeared quickly when Hazel was right next to him, hand over her mouth trying to stop herself from laughing. It was infectious and he chuckled a little with her.

After a moment she composed herself, “So umm, you wanted to see me? I’m surprised you did after I ran off.”

They had reached the few steps to her door, she wasn’t facing him, posed to open her door instead, “That’s why I came, I needed to apologise.” She turned to him with a questioning look on her face so he continued, “I shouldn’t have been so forward and used those terrible awful cheesy moves on you. You deserve so much better than that and I truly am sorry I made you feel like you’re just like any other female I’ve dated because you’re not,” He was interrupted because her expression changed, “You’re smiling, why are you smiling”

She leant back against her door, “Because I was going to call you right now actually. To tell you that I was sorry for running out on you and for saying all those things I didn’t believe it for one minute it just came out. I was rambling because well you caught me off guard and… oh,” She hid her face behind her hands.

“Oh no, Hazy Girl, you can’t start saying something like that and not finish,” Flynn gently pulled her hands down. 

“I just really like seeing you, that’s all. In that moment I needed to stay professional and I didn’t need you or anyone else around, knowing just how much I like seeing you,” A blush was creeping up her pale, small neck and her eyes averted his as she finished.

Flynn thought it was cute she was getting nervous, but when they spent time together before she wasn’t this nervous… Then it was clear what she meant by others noticing how much she liked him and gods knowing she wanted him like that was hot. He was tempted to demand she open the door immediately before he grabbed her and fucked her against the door. Nope, that is what he would do with any other female, then leave and never think about them again. The whole point of this visit was to show Hazel that she was worth so much more than that. He took a breath to compose himself, “Ah, ok well since we’ve both said what we wanted to say and neither of us is feeling in any negative way towards the other…”

Her head shot up, almost barely missing hitting his chin, those big beautiful hazel eyes looking at his with sincerity, “No, not at all, definitely not.”

He was leaning over her, his hand went up as if to caress her face, he wanted nothing more than to kiss her at that moment. Instead he rested it next to her head on the door, “In that case, what are you doing right now?”

She took a short intake of breath, for a second her eyes went dark clearly aroused, then she innocently blinked her long lashes, “Leaning against my door, talking to you.”

She was going to be the death of him, but if she wanted to be cheeky he could play too. He leant down further and whispered in her ear, “What are your plans this evening?” 

He smiled when he saw her shiver and clear her throat, he had won that round. “I don’t have any plans.”

Tristan straightened up to give them both room to cool down a little, “Perfect, this will be my last non-traditional approach to dating, I promise.” Urd smite him, why was this so hard? “I know it’s last minute but would you like to go out with me now?”

She gave him a soft smile as if she could tell this wasn’t easy for him, “I’m not sure, I mean a whole lot of nothing isn’t gonna do it itself…”

“Of course it sounded very appealing by all means, I should go and leave you to it,” He turned to leave, then took a step before turning back to her, “On the other hand you did work really hard today and it seems like whatever that appointment was, it wasn’t that fun, so I just thought maybe you deserved to relax and enjoy yourself and I think I know just the place.”

He watched as she unlocked her apartment and open the door. Was she not coming? Was she just leaving him there at the door? Shit! Did he do this all wrong, his thoughts were getting the better of him. “Hazel?”

She flung opened the door and turned to him looking down at his boots quickly then back up, “I was just going to quickly grab my purse but I should probably change quickly. Wait there!”

Flynn sighed with relief, he called after her, “You really don’t need to change it’s a casual place.” 

A huge smile took his face. He grabbed out his phone and sent a text to his group chat with Ruhn and Dec.

Not going to be home for dinner tonight. Actually I might be late. See you both later. 

Immediately Dec replied, All good. I’m out with Marc anyway. 

Runs reply came next, I’m not in either dealing with Cormac and whatever he wants. I also don’t think the kid is there. You would have the house to yourself if you and your girl wanted some alone time…

Tristan fired off a response, Fuck off, go hang out with your evil cousin I told you before she’s different it’s not like that with her.

Both his best friends sent messages with the exact same reply, Wait a minute, are you actually taking her on a date?

Flynn rolled his eyes, Good night to the both of you.

Just then, Hazel appeared at her door again. “Is this okay, I hear you say casual but I wasn’t sure if the shorts were appropriate.” 

“Not at all, Hazy Girl, what you’re wearing is perfect for where we’re going.” He wanted to say he missed the shorts because the jeans she changed into were hiding his new favourite part of her but at the same time they weren’t hiding anything. He didn’t miss the brown well worn boots, he hadn’t said where they were going.

“Oh, okay then,” Her smile was infectious, within moments she had closed and locked the door to her apartment. He held out his hand for her to take and she slipped her small delicate one into his just as they had before and it was a perfect fit.

It had been months since Tristan had been to this bar, but every time it was like coming home. On the ride over there she asked him about the party and he filled her in on his side of it, he reciprocated by asking about her baking. There was no awkward silence, if there were lulls in the conversation it was peaceful. When they pulled up for the first time in his life, he was a perfect gentleman to open her door and lead her in with his hand resting gently on the small of her back.

He cleared his throat before they went in,“I know it’s not fancy and I can definitely take you to a five star restaurant if that’s where you wanna go, but I remember when we first met you took me to your favourite place and I want to take you to mine.”

She simply smiled up at him, “Lead the way.”

Everyone working there and the regulars at the bar greeted him, then he realised they were greeting her too. Flynn whipped his head round and down to her in surprise, “I didn’t think many people knew about this place.” 

“I’m not many people,” she said and he thought, no she definitely wasn’t. 

“No, you’re not,” He looked pointedly at her boots, “How did you know we were coming here?”

She gave him a sly smile, “I noticed your boots under your jeans.” She turned reaching to push the door open, her hair flipping over her shoulder as she added, “I also remember you telling me that you liked to go to a place like this and it’s the only one in the city.”

He reached past her, moving a chair out of the way, his mouth next to her ear, “I also haven’t forgotten that this is the kind of dancing you like.” 

Her mouth made an adorable little ‘oh’ shape either from the surprise of his memory. It didn’t last long because an excited look overtook her features, “I haven’t been dancing or here in so long, thank you for bringing me back.”

Flynn felt like his heart was going to burst knowing he was the cause of her joy, “But it wouldn’t be a proper date if I didn’t buy you dinner before I take you dancing.”

The place was packed as usual and if it wasn't for the joy in Hazel’s eyes Flynn was about to have second thoughts on bringing her here. There wasn’t a table to be found, it wasn’t the type of place you could book. He hated those places anyway, maybe he could sweet talk a few people to give up a table. No, that would scream entitlement, something he was distancing himself from. He resigned himself to the thought that if they had a drink first a table might open up.

He felt her hand tug on his, “Look two seats, come on,” She pulled him over to the end of the crowded bar, effortlessly slipped onto one of the stools and gestured for him to take the other. Before he could even ask she leant over the top of the bar and grabbed two of the sticky menus and handed him one. They quickly gave their orders to the bartender. 

The corner of the bar she had found was a little quieter and more secluded than the rest of the place making it easier to talk. She turned her body to the side to face him and he did the same, causing their knees to touch. It was such a small and intimate touch, Flynn couldn’t remember a time when he had been like this with a female.

“This place is always busy but it's so much fun and reminds me of the pub in the village back home. What brought you here?” She took a drink waiting for him to respond.

He rubbed the back of his neck, he had never really told anyone why he came here. His friends knew and sometimes they joined him but mostly it was a place he came on his own. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to tell her, of course he did, he would tell her everything. He'd never told anyone before, never spoken the words aloud. “After my grandfather died and my father became Lord Hawthorn my grandmother moved away. She bought a ranch with a few horses in Oia, because it was what she always wanted to do. I remember when I was younger my parents would ship my sister and I off there for summers because Urd forbid there were noisy sticky children around.” He saw her give a small smile in understanding but let him continue. “My sister hated it, she missed her friends and the city, but I loved it. I loved learning from the ranch hands and my grandmother, working with the horses and riding them. It was still a privileged country lifestyle but I felt freer and more relaxed.” He took a drink, “When my parents found out how much I loved it they stopped us from going. My father wanted me to start behaving like a future lord.” He smirked, “His plan didn’t work though, the only reason I’m doing it is because my Gran said to play the long game. Once my father steps down I can do whatever I want with our wealth and title.”

“She sounds like an inspiring lady, please tell me you still see her?” The concern on her face was adorable. 

“Yeah, as soon as I was old enough to drive I went to visit her. I got busier as I got older with the Aux and stuff but I still see her once a month. She used to just show up at our house for random visits just to scare the shit out of my mum.” He chuckled and shook his head, “You know Estelle reminds me of her, they would get on well.”

“I don’t know, sounds like putting them together would be dangerous, I can only imagine the trouble they would get into,” They both laughed.

Tristan reached for her hand, gently taking it in his, “I would love to take you to meet her one day.”

Hazel beamed at him, “I would love to meet her.” 

Tristan loved how her whole face lit up when she smiled, he was getting lost in the mixing blues, browns and greens of her hazel eyes and only noticed that their food had arrived when she brought attention to it ducking her head as she reached for a fry.

Hours later both Flynn and Hazel had danced every dance and were one of the last couples to leave. They were both sweaty and sated in the most innocent way. As they approached his car while holding her hand he felt her shiver. She went to open the passenger door for herself, “Wait.”

She turned to him, “It’s okay I can open my own door.”

He quickly opened the one behind hers and pulled out his Aux jacket, even late at night in the height of summer in Lunathion there was sometimes a cool breeze. “Here,” He expertly draped it over her shoulders and opened the passenger door for her.

“Why Tristan Flynn if you were going for the perfect gentleman trophy you’ve definitely won tonight,” She gracefully hopped into the car.

As he closed the door for her he whispered, “The night’s not over yet Hazy Girl.”

He drove her back to her apartment building in the meadow again in a comfortable silence, listening to a random playlist, fingers entwined. His hand found hers again after they got out of the car and he walked her up to her door.

He watched as she unlocked her door, “Would you like to come in? I could make something for dessert.”

This was the moment, in the past he would go straight in and usually there wouldn’t be food on the menu. Once they had both got what they wanted and the female was asleep he would leave. No, he wasn’t going to do that to Hazel no matter how much she was driving him crazy right now because her scent had changed. Fuck! Her cinnamon and syrup scent had just become a lot less innocent and every hormone in his body was doing it’s best to overpower his resolve.

He was brought back to the moment and the fact he hadn’t answered when he heard her clear her throat, “Umm… it’s fine, just forget I asked.” She shrugged off his jacket and held it out to him, “I’ll let you go, thank you and sorry for taking up your evening.” She turned and started to close the door.

Gods what was he doing! He stuck his foot out to stop the door at the same time saying, “Hazel, wait!”

She pulled the door back and looked up at him eyes big, beautiful and confused.

He reached out and held her hands. “I’m sorry, I froze because my body would love for me to step over this threshold and spend all night worshipping you. Solas, it’s what I do, but I have been looking for you and dreaming of you for years and you deserve more than that.” He lifted his hands up her arms along her shoulders and trailed his fingers up her neck until he was cupping her face. “If it’s alright with you, I would like to end the best date I’ve ever been on with a kiss.” Niamh just nodded, her eyes softened and her perfect pink full lips parted slightly. Flynn leaned in and kissed her tender and soft full of yearning. He felt her kiss him back sweetly, he deepened the kiss and just before it went further than just a kiss he pulled away. Sure he had kissed many females before and he had kissed her before but this one felt different. If he truly thought about it, it felt like the beginning of the rest of his life.

She opened her eyes again and he saw her compose herself, “Goodnight Hazel, I’ll call you later.”

Chapter Text

Later came sooner than Niamh thought, she had reset her apartment, showered and was settling down into her bed with tea and her current book when the phone on her nightstand rang. She couldn’t help the smile that took over her face at seeing Flynn’s name light up her screen.

“Hey so… I couldn’t wait to call you. I don’t usually even call,” She heard him give a frustrated sigh and she tried not to voice her amusement, giving him time to finish, “There’s probably some sort of ridiculous unspoken rule about when to call isn’t there.”

Niamh couldn’t contain herself then, “Wow the infamous womaniser Tristan Flynn, worried about dating rules, I should document this because no one will believe me.”

“I prefer the classier term ‘rake’, though labelling my personal life choices is conformist in itself isn’t it, Hazel,” His voice sounded smug as if he thought he’d won that round.

“If you’re going to prefer to be called that then should we not then be going further than the modern idea of dating and consider this whole thing a courtship and if that’s the case we really should be asking the experts. Your sister or even your mother perhaps, I’m sure they’re encyclopedias on proper courtship etiquette.” She couldn’t help the playfulness that crept into her tone as she finished.

“No way are my sister or mother having any say in what you and I do and how we further our relationship,” He made a sound of distaste as he spoke.

“Good, I hate societal, in particular noble fae societal rules.”

“Urd knows I do too, so no rules, good to know.”

 “We did meet when we were breaking the rules.” She reminded him and then thought to herself that he didn’t know the extent of her rule breaking but she would tell him later. “I like that you called me Flynn, did you call for a reason or just to talk?”

“I realised on the drive home that you never finished your lesson with Niko. Are you free on Thursday afternoon, I could take you through the basics and we could go to dinner after?” Flynn tried not to dwell on the fact that this was officially the first time he had ever asked someone out on a date. He was also aware that if his friends overheard him they would give him so much shit.

“I am and I would love that. I couldn’t believe how unprepared I was without my magic, I guess I rely on it too much.”

“To extent all fae do. Now that I think about it I don’t really know much about your magic and how it works.” He purposely left it open for her to respond.

Instead Niamh evaded him, she was worried it might give too much away, “Oh it’s nothing fancy or special.”

“I’ll get it out of you one day. In the meantime, care to explain to me what is in those special brownies at Estelle’s?” He kept his voice light so she wouldn’t feel threatened.

“Did you eat them, you probably shouldn’t, I make them specifically for her, they’re medicinal for her arthritic pain. That’s all I don’t give them to anyone else or sell them, I promise.”

“I didn’t have to eat them, the way she spoke about them and the way you are now tells me everything.” He heard her sharp intake of breath through the phone, “Calm down Hazey Girl, I’m not going to rat you out. Rule breaker remember, I use mirthroot too among other substances, all of us in the house do. I was just curious.”

Niamh’s heart slowed to a normal beat again, “Oh okay.”

“I am concerned as to how you get it darlin’, rule breaking is one thing but hanging around the types who sell it is dangerous.”

“I appreciate that, but I’m super safe and I only get it from a pizza shop…”

“I knew it! I knew that was you I saw there. Regardless, you don’t need to go back there now.” His voice had become almost authoritative, like he was at the AUX. He cleared his throat and added in a kinder tone, “I mean I can get whatever you need for Estelle with my order.”

“I can’t ask you to do that,” She was trying not to be annoyed that he was being a little too protective.

“You’re not, I’m offering and I’m not going to back down, does it really matter how you get it as long as you have it so you can help Estelle?” Gods he was good because he heard her sigh in a way that told him he’d won.

“Alright but I will still pay for it,” Even as she said it she knew he would disagree with that too, as much as he thought himself progressive and a rule breaker she could tell he liked spending his families money on things for himself and others they would loathe.

“Nope, the only payment I will accept is if you made some for me too. They would be cool at our next party, though I have a feeling I won’t want to share.” 

“Fine,” Niamh shook her head to herself, Gods he was smooth. Then something in her brain clicked and she just had to ask him, “Hang on! You have earth magic. Why don’t you just grow your own mirthroot?” 

Flynn laughed and said, “You are perfect.” 

They talked about lots of other things, until Niamh went quiet and Flynn could hear her peaceful breathing on the other end, indicating she had fallen asleep. He hung up and couldn’t help imagining still hearing her sweet breaths right next to him as he fell asleep.

The next morning Niamh didn’t even feel tired when she got herself ready for her day. Midway through her routine she heard a knock at the door and thought Kami was very early for their brunch date but instead there was a package there. Niamh was confused because she hadn’t ordered anything other than baking supplies recently. Knowing she didn’t have much time she quickly opened it. Inside was a fancy clothing brand bag and inside the bag were new boots the exact same colour and style as the ones she was wearing the night before but newer, clearly more expensive and when she felt the inside it was obvious they were going to be more comfortable. She carefully laid them onto the bag in the box and as she put it on the sofa felt the note sticking up from the side of the box. It read, ‘I hope you don’t mind Hazel, I noticed you needed new boots.’ 

She placed it back and rushed to her room to grab her phone to text Flynn, Thank you, they’re gorgeous. Too much after just one date.

I’m glad you like them. I thought we were breaking dating rules? - Flynn

We are but it seems too much - Niamh 

No, Hazel you deserve them, get used to it - Flynn

Okay, I’ll try. Thank you Flynn - Niamh

My pleasure darlin’. I gotta get to work, enjoy your brunch date with Kami - Flynn

Kami arrived just as Niamh was grabbing her purse. 

“Why didn’t you call me when you finished the job and why have your texts been so sporadic?” Kami’s hands were on her hips and she was giving Niamh her I’m kinda pissed face.

Niamh could tell her friend was in protector mode and she hated that she had worried her, “Sorry I promise to tell you all about it when we get there.”

“You sure will and you will tell me where you got those cute boots from too,” She grabbed Niamh’s arm and dragged her out of the apartment and down to her car, clearly eager to hear all that went on after she left Niamh at the Hawthorn mansion.

Niamh filled her friend in on almost everything, she still kept Flynn’s name a secret from her friend, just for a little bit longer.

The days before Niamh’s second official date with Tristan Flynn seemed to go by at a snail's pace. She kept up her usual routine with her yoga in the morning, work on creating a website or some sort of marketing online and had a couple of jobs each day. People who had tasted her samples and taken her card at the clubs had placed basic bulk orders for a small selection of her baked goods. The bakes were easy and she was able to make the deliveries herself. She and Flynn would text during the day but the best time of the day was at night when they would talk. As she was baking at night she suggested they video call so she could work. 

“I see you got my gift today,” Niamh could hear the teasing appreciation in his voice.

She wiped her flour covered hand on the very cute but practical apron, “I told you after I thanked you for every gift you sent me each day this week that I didn’t need anymore.”

“And every time I replied and told you I wasn’t going to stop, I think of you all the time and I like showing you that,” Flynn winked at her and Niamh was starting to recognise he did that when he was being sincere as a way to make light of it.

She gave an exasperated breath but smiled as she did, indicating she couldn’t be annoyed with him when he was so sweet and making her feel like her insides were melting.

“I like watching you bake Hazel, I can practically taste those cakes,” Flynn commented from her phone propped up in a stand on her bench.

“You could always come over here and experience it in person,” She briefly looked up from her mixing to give him a teasing look through the screen. 

He laughed and made a tsk noise, “Not yet Hazey Girl, too dangerous.”

She quirked an eyebrow, “You’re currently at work where you could head into a life threatening situation at any moment. I would hardly call the small kitchen in my apartment dangerous.”

“For one thing there is no way I couldn’t be near your baking and not eat some, that would be dangerous for my workout routine.” Niamh rolled her eyes then, turned and bent to place another batch of cakes in the oven. She heard him groan from behind her, “That is the real danger. How could I remain a gentleman if you were like that right in front of me.”

Instantly the heat of the oven wasn’t the reason she felt very warm, “Oh.”

“‘Oh’ indeed darlin’. I’m supposed to be working here,” She heard the edge of restraint in his voice.

She took a breath before turning around, “Time to change the subject then.”

“Good idea,” She heard him clear his throat, “How is my second favourite sharp-witted, wise, elegant female of a fine vintage.”

Niamh laughed out loud, “Careful, sometimes I think she can hear through the wall. Does your grandmother know that’s how you describe her as well?”

“Of course, she thinks my cheek is adorable,” She looked at Tristan through the screen and there was that charming smile of his.

“She has to, you're her grandchild.”

“I’m her favourite grandchild.”

“Ah so she’s biased then,” Niamh the batch in the oven was the last one so she started cleaning up.

“Who’s being cheeky now?” She didn’t answer, just smiled slyly. “Seriously Hazel, I haven’t heard you mention Estelle in a few days, all good with her?”

She put down the cloth she was going to wipe the benches down with and sighed, moving closer to the phone before answering quietly, “She called me the other day to let me know her daughter was coming to visit so she wouldn’t need to trouble me for help. I told her I didn’t mind, I just liked visiting with her but she insisted it would be good for her to spend this time with her daughter and that I didn’t need her distracting me from my work and social life.” She paused, focussing on a chip in the benchtop then added, “I think she’s going to leave.”

“Hey, Hazel,” Niamh looked up at Tristan’s eyes that were full of concern and sincerity, “I haven’t known Estelle for long, but I know you’re important to her. Whatever’s going on with her I know she’ll talk to you.”

That time Niamh sighed for a different reason, he knew exactly what to say to make her feel better. “Thank you Flynn.” She would have said more but she could hear an alarm coming through the phone.

“Damn, I’ve gotta head out, sorry Hazel, I’ll text you when I’m done.”

She nodded, “Of course, be careful.”

“Don’t need to be, but for you I will,” He winked at her before the screen changed to her lock screen.

Niamh approached the fae Aux headquarters and was surprised to see Flynn waiting outside for her by his car. She couldn’t help the smile that took over, “I thought I was meeting you inside?”

He kissed her cheek and ushered her into the passenger seat of his suv, “We were, but I remembered what you said about your anonymity being an important factor in you staying safe from those Avallan assholes.” He smoothly pulled out of the parking space, “And after your last visit when you convinced the kid not to make you sign in…”

“The kid? Oh Niko, he didn’t get in too much trouble for that did he?” She really did feel bad about it.

“Yeah Niko. No, I took the blame for him. Ruhn didn’t care, it’s Dec who was slightly pissed about it.” He flashed her a perfectly crooked smile and saw the worry in her eyes, “I think it’s really ‘cause he’s a clever nosy bastard, he loves to show off how easily he can find out everything about someone.”

At first Niamh was overwhelmed with how well he remembered things that were important to her. Her demeanour quickly changed when she really thought about the situation, Flynn’s friends were extremely important to him, they were his family. Was being with her separating him from them too much? She looked away out the window as they clearly headed away from the city.

Flynn noticed her change and it worried him, “Hey Hazel, what is it? I meant it, no one is getting in trouble.”

“Is being with me, spending time with me, separating you from your friends too much? I know you consider them family more than your real one. I don't want to come between you, I don’t want to cause problems, have them resent me before even knowing me,” Her voice was barely a whisper.

He felt something inside his chest ache hearing her worry for him like that. He reached over and took her smaller, soft hand in his and brought it up to his lips giving her knuckles a light kiss. He lowered it but didn’t let go, “Hazel, darlin’ I need you to understand you are doing no such thing. We’re not just avoiding Aux headquarters because I don’t want you signing in. The Autumn King is interested in what is going on there, who is there, for once.” She looked at him and she could see the confused concern, “Cormac is there a lot while he’s staying in the city and reporting his progress to both his father and his uncle. Normally Ruhn’s sire couldn’t care less and we only see him for official occasions. Like I said, the change of location is to make sure you’re comfortable and feel safe.”

A small smile crept back onto her face, “So your friends don’t resent me?”

He breathed out a laugh and shook his head, “No, they’re almost as happy as I am to have found you and they can’t wait to meet you to tease me and tell you how pathetically I was secretly pining for you.” Her sweet little giggle caused reactions in several parts of his body, not just his heart. “I was going to ask you later if you wanted to come to a party at our house on Saturday night and meet them?”

Niamh’s small smile grew quickly, “Of course! Oh no, Kami asked me to go to a party with her then, she was asked to DJ by someone who wanted to meet me.”

Flynn awkwardly cleared his throat, “Uh yeah that was me, I recognised your scent at a club and followed it to the booth where she was playing, she said it was creepy, which I admit it was, then said I was looking for her friend. I begged her to play at one of our parties and bring her friend along.” 

“When she mentioned it she said she felt weird about it, she hates set ups. I’m so glad it turned out to be you.” She had a mischievous look on her face, “Let’s not tell her.”

“Okay Hazey Girl,” Was all the reply Flynn gave her.

A couple of hours later after much serious firearms care and safety instruction and several frustrating misses and way off centre hits Niamh was starting to get frustrated. If she was using her magic she would have speared a hole through each can perfectly. Flynn’s encouraging, calm, very close instruction wasn’t helping either. He was behind her so he could adjust her stance, arms, and her hold on the gun, she could feel his body heat and his breath on her neck, she was firm in her belief that was the reason she missed so many times. She thought he would step back like Niko had done after his instructions. However he insisted he wanted to be right behind her to steady her during the recoil, which made sense for the first few shots but she thought he would have stepped back by now.

His voice was warm and low in her ear, “You were so close last time, you got this darlin’.” She just nodded, pushing all her aroused thoughts down again, then concentrated, taking aim and pulled the trigger. At first she thought she missed again but the whistle Tristan let out behind her made her think otherwise.

“You did it! Got it right in the middle!”

“Really?” She turned to get confirmation, not quite believing it.

“Woah Haze, safety first,” He firmly took the gun out of her hands, flicking the safety on and noticed her disbelieving gaze. He squeezed her shoulder with his free hand, then gently took the safety glasses off her and indicated behind them. “You really did it and perfect timing too because we have dinner to get to. Go take a look while I pack up.”

She walked over to where the can targets were lined up and there in the one just left of the centre was a bullet shaped hole perfectly in the centre of the can. She was so excited, she squealed, “I did it!” She ran back to Flynn who had just closed, locked the case and loaded it into the trunk of his suv and had turned back to her his grin matching hers. She couldn’t help it, she jumped into his arms and he caught her expertly. Niamh grabbed his face and kissed him hard, “Thank you,” she breathed then immediately started kissing him again. The whole lesson was torture when all she wanted to do was kiss him. She ran her tongue along the seam of his lips begging for entrance, she felt him squeeze her ass as he obliged. 

As her tongue stroked his he groaned into her mouth, his hands moved to her hips and gently broke their kiss while placing her on the ground. He noticed her pout, “At least let me feed you dinner first, please?” He pointed to the still open trunk where a picnic basket, cooler and blankets and pillows were stowed waiting to be set up.

Niamh’s disappointment disappeared seeing all the effort he went to. She almost swooned then remembered he had just stopped their make out session, “Fine, but I expect to revisit that moment immediately after.” She helped herself to the blanket and pillows heading over to a clearing nearby, making sure her hips swung in just the right way to drive him crazy.