Page 163 of The Robin on the Oak Throne

Kierse stilled, enraptured as he spoke about a time that she’d rarely heard him discuss. Let alone to atable of people.

“Myself, Lorcan, Niamh, Emilie, and Saoirse,” Graves said like he had gone very far off. “Saoirse and Niamh were best friends then. They’d grown up together. Lorcan was in love with Saoirse right away, though that took much longer to develop. Both Niamh and Lorcan were in love with the wisp at the center of their triskel.”

Gen and Ethan glanced at Kierse, and she held her hands up. “I already have enough to deal with.”

They laughed. A sound that was so familiar it warmed her heart. She wanted to bottle it up so she could listen to it anytime she needed.

Graves looked like he was going to say something more about Emilie, but instead he kept going, describing the grueling routine they’d followed. Ethan interjected now and then to explain the differences. A picture built of the respite Graves had had in the countryside, with friends and a family she knew he’d never had before or since. It was a glimpse into a different time and a different world.

“I can’t believe they had you gethighon the full moon to unlock your magic,” Ethan said with wide eyes. “Like psychedelic mushrooms!”

Graves shrugged. “It was a different time. It calmed us down enough to let us reach further.”

“Don’t get any ideas,” Corey said with a laugh. “I cannot imagine you on psychedelics.”

Ethan started to argue with Corey about the idea. Kierse leaned into Graves and smirked. He arched an eyebrow in response. If he’d had his gloves off, she could have lifted her absorption and known exactly what was running through that mind, but as it was, she was pretty sure she already did. He’d built a bridge. A small but necessary one.

The night continued on with laughter and joy. Ethan and Corey got up later to dance. Gen twirled the room with Maura and her nursing friends. Graves slid his hand into Kierse’s and surveyed the crowd, an almost contented look on his dark face.

Nate was slightly inebriated when he approached them late in the evening. “So, this is really happening?”

“It’s happening,” Kierse agreed. Graves nodded. “Actually, we have business to discuss with you, if you’re sober enough for it.”

Nate laughed. “I’m probably not.”

“You’ll want to hear this,” Kierse said.

Graves nodded. “We should go somewhere private.”

Nate gestured to the party. “Where exactly would that be?”

“I know a place.”

Graves came to his feet, offering his hand to Kierse to help her up. Then they headed across the room, dodging the drunk partygoers and bypassing the restrooms. Kierse glanced sideways down the darkened hallway. Gen had disappeared some time ago and had never returned.

Her eyes widened as she saw Ronan had her pushed up against the wooden paneling of a back hallway, their mouths connected and limbs entwined. As if they were trying to get as much out of this kiss as they could without shreddingeach other’s clothing.

Nate guffawed behind them at the display. Kierse grabbed his arm before he could say anything. “Leave them. They’ve earned it,” she hissed.

“Fine,” he grumbled.

Kierse didn’t know what was going on with Gen—if Niamh’s rejection had pushed her into Ronan’s arms, or if Ronan was what she really wanted. But Kierse had too many relationship problems herself to interfere where she wasn’t needed. Gen was an adult and could figure it out herself.

Graves turned to a hardwood door labeledcellar. He pushed against it, but the door was locked. Kierse grinned, stepping around him to pop the lock with one of the pins in her hair.

His eyes shot to hers. “You’re a little too good at that.”

“You like it,” she teased.

“Sure is handy,” Nate agreed as they started down the set of stairs.

Graves flipped a switch to reveal the massive cellar stocked floor to ceiling with fancy, vintage wines. “Used to house old presidents’ and movie stars’ wine collections,” Graves told them. He continued past the exclusive tasting table set for a dozen to an upper right corner of the shelving. “Ah, here we go.” He removed a bottle the color of blood. He plucked a wine opener from a nearby tray and began to uncork it. “I left a few bottles here in the eighties,” he said as he poured a small amount into two glasses and passed them off to Nate and Kierse.

Nate gulped it back and frowned. “I’m too drunk to know if that was good.”

Kierse chuckled before taking a sip. “Whoa. It’s sosmooth.”

Graves poured himself a glass and tasted the wine. “Ah yes, just as I remembered it. I’m not sure how many bottles are left of this.”

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