between symbiotic twins. She treated them like completely separate
 
 beings when they weren’t. If Beck’s heart was engaged, then Cian
 
 wouldn’t be able to help himself. He would fall in love, too. He shook
 
 his head. Why had the name Meggie suddenly shot through his brain?
 
 He didn’t know a Meggie. There wasn’t anyone named that in the
 
 village. Or was there?
 
 Liadan tossed the towel his way. “You’re just too stupid to
 
 remember. Beck and I are getting married one of these days.”
 
 Cian waded out of the pond, wrapped the towel around his waist,
 
 and started back up toward the cottage. He still remembered where he
 
 lived, at least. He didn’t pick up the clothes he had brought with him.
 
 They didn’t matter. “No, you’re not. He won’t marry you. You aren’t
 
 a bondmate.”
 
 Liadan kept pace. “He loves me, and there are no more bondmates
 
 to be had. He needs to marry, Cian. He needs to have children. You
 
 116
 
 Sophie Oak
 
 know it’s true. He is too important to just languish out here in this
 
 piss-poor excuse for a plane. He’s let you hold him back far too long.”
 
 Cian’s heart ached a little at the thought of children. He’d thought
 
 he’d have a few by now. He loved children, and they always loved
 
 him. He’d started a small school when he and Beck had settled in this
 
 village. It hadn’t taken long before an entire community of immigrant
 
 Fae had built up around the former heirs. They had brought their
 
 children with them, or adopted the orphans they found along the way.
 
 Those children needed to be educated. Cian could remember looking
 
 at their little faces. He’d loved teaching them.
 
 “Where am I?” Cian asked out loud.
 
 Liadan exhaled heavily. “You really are far gone, aren’t you? You
 
 won’t remember a thing I say five minutes from now, you poor