Carrier 02: Shadow of the Mark (8 page)

“You’re Áine’s intended?” Hugh asked. His face turned several shades of red before settling on flushed pink.

Matthew gave an exaggerated bow. “The one and only.”

“Let’s get you a cup of coffee before we go anywhere,” Adam said, grabbing Matthew by the sleeve and dragging him away.

Hugh’s eyes bulged. “
That
is what Áine is expected to marry? It can’t be. He was hand-selected! We were assured, nothing but the very best would be considered for—”

“It’s all right, Hugh. He’s not normally like that.”

Adam and Matthew, now clutching a coffee cup, rejoined us.

“Let’s get going,” Adam said, grasping my hand and leading the way to the parking lot. As soon as we were out of earshot of Hugh, I started talking. “He has a trust fund from the Order?”

“It’s an incentive, I guess.”

“He’s paid to be Áine’s intended? You can’t be serious.”

“We all know how much it sucks to have your future decided for you. I’m sure having the Order pick up all your bills is major incentive not to opt out.”

“I guess so, but he’d be staying for all the wrong reasons.”

Adam shrugged. “There are no right reasons when it comes to arranged pairings. It certainly isn’t for love, so why not money?”

I felt my skin begin to crawl. “I thought it was more about honor and obligation.”

Adam glanced at me squinting against the sun. “Once upon a time, yeah, but times have changed.”

I rubbed my arms as if it would wipe away the dirty residue the conversation had left on me. “So why don’t the Marked have trust funds? Surely you deserve what the intendeds get, if not more.”

“We do.”

“You have a trust?”

“The Order sees that we are all financially taken care of, but we don’t use it.”

“What?” I gasped, turning to him in surprise. “You mean, you’re loaded, but you don’t use the money?”

“You know how Fionn feels about the Order. He doesn’t want anything from them, so he never accepted any money. We didn’t have personal access to our trust funds until we turned eighteen.”

“But you’re eighteen now. You could spend it on anything you want!”

“We don’t, out of respect for Fionn, and because we don’t need it. He looks after us.”

“Do
I
have one?”

“I guess.”

“So you’re telling me I’m rich.” I stopped walking, my thoughts churning.

When Adam realized I was no longer beside him, he swung around and exhaled heavily. “Potentially, yeah, when you turn eighteen.” A sly smile crept across his lips. “Until then, you’re still a pauper.”

“And it never occurred to you to tell me?”

“Nope. As I said, I don’t think about it; it’s just there. We respect Fionn’s decision.”

“Think of all you could do.”

Adam’s eyes narrowed. “Megan, the Order is a twisted organization built on centuries of corruption, betrayal, and power. Everything you take from them comes at a price. Don’t let the Dublin Order lull you into a false sense of security. They’re not all like that.”

His words lingered in my mind through the entire ride home. There was so much I didn’t know about the Order. The depth of the distrust and the scars of betrayal went far deeper than I thought.

As we got out of the car at the DeRíses’, Matthew stumbled and fell against me. “You know, Áine doesn’t want me.”

“It’s not like that, Ma—”

He shook his head. “Nope, she won’t have me.” His sandy hair flopped down over his crossed eyes. “You could have me . . . if she won’t, you can. I can be . . .” He turned his head slightly to the side and burped. “S’cuse me.” He giggled. “I can be your intended.”

“Tempting,” I muttered as my eyes darted to Adam. He approached Matthew with a face that could sour milk.

Áine came running out, pushed past Adam, and threw herself between Matthew and me. He looked winded for a second, then locked his arms around her, diving in for a killer, full-on kiss.

Áine fought him off. “Matthew! Not . . . in front of everyone.”

Hugh smiled uncertainly. “Um, well, I’ll leave you youngsters to catch up,” he said, and shuffled across the yard to the scullery door.

As soon as he was out of sight, Áine shoved Matthew. “What the hell was that?”

“I was role-playing.”

“Ugh!” Áine wiped her mouth again.

Adam’s hand slipped into mine. “Don’t mind him, Áine. He’s langers. You better sober him up before dinner—otherwise, he’ll open his big fat gob.”

Áine grabbed Matthew’s sleeve and pulled him toward the house.

“Oh, and Matthew,” Adam called after him. Matthew turned slowly, suddenly looking a little less drunk. “Stay the hell away from Megan.”

Inside, Fionn was ushering Hugh down the hall to his study. “Megan, any chance you could have dinner with us tomorrow?”

“I would love that, Fionn. Thanks.”

“Excellent,” he said, disappearing from view.

Adam shook his head, leaned back against the kitchen table, and gazed into the hall. “I don’t know what’s gotten into him.”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s been making a big deal out of every family meal, like each one is our last. It’s beginning to freak me out.”

“Really? I hadn’t noticed.”

“That’s because you don’t know him like I do.” Adam’s troubled eyes met mine.

“There are going to be some huge changes over the next year,” I said. “Once the alignment is done, there won’t be anything tying you all here anymore. You guys are all he’s ever known. When you think about it, it must be fairly daunting.” As I said the words, the realization hit. Áine, Adam, and Rían had their own lives to lead, loves to be found, and families to be had. Where did it all leave Fionn? I felt a sudden rush of compassion for the man who had dedicated his entire life to them . . . to us.

Adam’s face softened. “I never really thought of Fionn’s future or our future without him. He’s always just been there.”

Áine trundled down the stairs and stopped at the kitchen door. “Hey, guys, fancy going out later? I don’t want Matthew talking to Hugh tonight—he could wreck everything.”

“Maybe. Where is he?” Adam asked.

“Passed out on my bed. What was he thinking? He knew Hugh was going to be here!”

“Maybe you two should talk some more about this whole intended thing,” I said. “He doesn’t seem too happy about it.”

“Nah, he’s fine,” Áine said.

I scrunched up my face. “Trust me, have another chat.”

“Not now. The last semi-coherent thing he said was ‘digia know b-b-bannnnanash wash a herb?’”

I laughed. “Oh god, he’s a mess.”

“So are you up for tonight?” she asked again.

“Sure, but I promised Caitlin I’d drop by.”

“Bring her along as well.”

I turned back to Adam. “You want to?”

“Sure.”

“Okay, Áine, you’re on. I’ll call Caitlin.”

Matthew sobered up by the evening. Looking a little sheepish and nursing a massive hangover, he came out with us and actually seemed to fall for Caitlin. The speed at which he could swap affections left me dizzy.

We went to a local pub called the White Lady. It still felt weird to me that we could all hang out in a bar. I kept expecting to be carded. Tonight there was a cool band playing, and the place was buzzing. The only thing bringing me down was Rían, who sat in the corner of our booth, looking miserable. I imagined myself running my finger over his angular profile. His eyes met mine. For a moment, I couldn’t look away. A crooked smile worked its way across his face, and the bottom fell out of my stomach. What was wrong with me? I had to get a grip. I got up.

“Are you okay?” Adam asked.

“Sure, I’m just going to the bathroom,” I said, avoiding his eyes. I didn’t dare to breathe until I was away from everyone and standing in front of the sink. “You do not want Rían. You do not want Rían,” I whispered to myself over and over as I splashed cold water on my cheeks. But all I could see were Rían’s black eyes, laden with unspoken intentions.

I finally got myself under control and erased the smoldering image of his face from my brain. Relieved, I fixed my hair and opened the door. There, leaning against the wall, was Rían.

“Why are you here?” I asked, feeling my stomach start to twist again. I glanced down the little hallway, filled with crates of empty bottles and smelling of stale beer, wondering if we could be seen. Luckily, our table was hidden around the corner.

“I was just checking on you. You seemed a bit . . . shaken.”

I tucked my hair behind my ears with trembling fingers. “Oh, I’m fine.” I started to leave, but Rían put his arm across the narrow hall, blocking my way. I tried desperately to avoid his dark, burning eyes boring into mine.

“What are you doing?”

“No, Megan. The question is, what are
you
doing?”

“What do you mean?”

“You know what I’m talking about.”

“No, I don’t.”

He swung around so his hands were on the wall on either side of my face. “You’re not a good liar, Megan.”

“Rían, please stop. Adam will see us.”

He leaned closer to me. I could see my reflection in his pupils, my face surrounded in a halo of flickering flames in his irises. His eyes held me in a vise grip.

“He’ll see what?” Rían whispered, his lips now so close to mine that I could feel his breath.

“Rían, please, don’t do this.” I pressed my head into the wall, trying to put distance between us.

“Do what? Ignore this thing going on between us? Ignore the fact that when I’m with Chloe, I have to push images of you out of my mind? Get over the near-murderous thoughts I have toward Adam every time he touches you? Do you know how screwed up this is, Megan? Whatever you’re doing, stop it.”

Anger boiled up in me. “You think it’s me doing this? Did it ever cross your mind that it’s you? I love Adam. I’d never be with you. EVER. So get over yourself.” But the thudding in my chest threatened to betray my words.

He stepped closer to me, his body brushing against mine. “I don’t want you either,” he growled, staring at my lips. “I don’t.” The words caught in his throat as his mouth dropped to mine.

“Ahem!”

Rían jumped back. His eyes darted to Caitlin, who stood tapping her foot beside us. Rían stumbled over himself and disappeared into the men’s room.

I was still pressed against the wall, heart racing as my chest burned. I raised a hand to my mouth, running my fingers over the tingling skin where Rían’s lips had briefly met mine.

“What are you doing?” Caitlin asked, wide-eyed with shock. She grabbed my hand and hauled me back into the bathroom.

I moaned, slithering down the wall. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“You and Rían . . . seriously?”

“No! There is no me and Rían—I don’t know what happened. He followed me out, then pinned me against the wall, we were just talking, then . . .”

“What about Adam and Chloe?”

“It was just a moment of stupidity. It will NEVER happen again.”

Caitlin’s eyes glazed over with disappointment. “I thought you and Adam were happy.”

“We are, it’s just . . .”

“Just what?” she said, sliding down the wall beside me and taking my hand. “What’s wrong?”

“Seeing Chloe and Rían so . . . so physical. Maybe . . . I don’t know, I think I might be a little jealous.”

“And you and Adam don’t . . . ?”

I shook my head. “It’s complicated. But I do love him. And I don’t want to be with anyone else. It’s just sometimes when Rían looks at me, I get this wave of feelings . . .”

“But you’ve got Adam, and he’s devoted to you.”

“Right.”

“Well, I guess we’re all allowed moments of complete and utter stupidity.”

I frowned. “Forgive me?”

“Hey, it’s not me who needs to forgive you.”

I felt my face drop.

“Don’t worry, I won’t say anything. But you better make sure Rían doesn’t plan on opening his mouth, because if he does, you’d be wise to get to Adam first.”

“You took your time,” Adam said, taking my hand as I returned to the table.

“Oh, you know us girls in the loos, it’s all fun, fun, fun,” Caitlin said, breezily flopping into the booth beside Matthew.

I looked at Rían’s stale, untouched pint on the other side of the table and noticed his jacket was gone. “Where did Rían go?”

“He suddenly had the urgent need to talk to Chloe. No doubt he’s whispering sweet nothings to her at this very second.” Adam laughed. My heart raced. What if Rían told Chloe? How could I have done this to them? How could I have these feelings?

“You look tired. You want to get out of here?” Adam whispered in my ear.

I nodded, relieved at the idea of putting distance between myself and the scene of the crime. I leaned into Caitlin. “Do you mind if Adam and I take off?”

Matthew perked up. “Don’t worry about Caitlin. I’ll make sure she gets home safe,” he said in a voice laden with meaning. He put his arm around a startled-looking Caitlin.

Áine laughed. “Don’t worry, Caitlin, I will see you home too. Lothario here”—she elbowed Matthew—“can ply his wares another time. Matthew, can’t you see you’re scaring the poor girl?”

“Aren’t you two sort of an item or something?” Caitlin asked in confusion.

“No. Our families were kinda hoping we would be, so we just play along, is all,” Áine reassured her.

Caitlin visibly relaxed and grinned up at me. “In that case, I’ll be fine.”

“Come on,” Adam said, taking my hand and pulling me to the exit of the pub. “Let’s go.”

The evening was cold, crisp, and clear. Adam took a deep breath. “You want to go home or do you fancy a walk?”

I gazed up at the sky. “A walk sounds nice.”

We wandered hand in hand through the little winding streets with Randel shadowing us. As we left the twinkling lights of town behind, we made our way along the water’s edge, stepping over the crab pots and neatly folded fishing nets that dotted the quay wall all the way to the marina.

“Come on,” Adam murmured. He punched in the code at the yacht-club gate and pulled me through it. The beauty of the marina at night always took my breath away. The only sounds were the tinkling music of the masts swaying gently above us, and the quiet lapping of the water as it wrapped itself seductively around the boats. Adam led me down the gangway toward the club’s yacht and lifted me on board. A wave of guilt crashed over me, and I shuddered.