The Day Human Way (2 page)

Ronan looked at Devin. “What happened?” Ronan repeated Turner’s words. They both were worried. Devin’s anger melted a bit as they stared at him. Both were obvious in their concern.

Devin sighed and gave them the short version of events. “I was about to ask her to marry me when some other sidhe showed up. Guess he took the early train to the village for the coronation, but whatever. He interrupted me as I was asking Nessa by making it very clear he’s interested in her also. He asked to court her, and she said yes.”

Turner’s mouth dropped open in shock. He understood exactly what Devin was feeling. Nessa was choosing to allow someone else to court her. Devin looked like he might be repeating history.

Ronan smiled and laughed. Turner and Devin both turned at his laughter in shock. Where they came from, you didn’t court other people when you already loved someone, especially someone you were already bonded to. Ronan, it seemed, didn’t take it as a serious matter.

“Who was it?” Ronan was still smiling.

Not finding anything about the situation amusing, Devin glared at Ronan. There was nothing funny about Nessa breaking his heart. Devin never really gave his feelings freely. When he loved, it was with his full heart. Now it was broken.

“No. Seriously, who was it?” Ronan asked, sobering up at the look Devin gave him.

“A big redheaded guy named Liam,” Devin replied like it mattered. Nessa had said yes, that was enough to crush him. Who did it matter who she said yes to?

Ronan shook his head. “Liam Kay came early. No surprise there.” He didn’t seem worried about the situation at all. Devin was planning to leave the sidhe, and Ronan was laughing. How could Ronan laugh when the one person who held the power to fix everything was running away?

“What do you mean?” Turner asked, getting into the gossip a bit when Devin just wanted to head into the village and disappear. He didn’t need to know more.

“Liam Kay has had a crush on Nessa since we were all children. He put in a formal request to court her when we were small, and her father said yes. Nessa wasn’t saying yes because she was interested in him,” Ronan explained to Devin, “she had no choice. Her father already promised. She couldn’t break her father’s word that, when she came of age, Liam could court her. Nessa is just following tradition, and the promise of her father that was already given. It had nothing to do with her love for you. She’s just doing what she has to do and that’s all.” Ronan smiled like he was pleading for Devin to understand the situation meant nothing to Nessa.

That was odd news. Devin wasn’t sure Ronan was correct. He had seen the smile she had when she recognized Liam. And if Liam truly had been one of the first ones to save Nessa from Rhys’ wrath, then she probably did have feelings for him at one point. There was no way Devin could sit around in the same room as her if she was confused about what she wanted from life. Just because they were bonded, that didn’t mean they were married. Nessa was still allowed to make her own choices, and Devin didn’t want any doubts in their relationship. He loved Nessa completely—that much he knew—but did she feel the same? He couldn’t be sure, and he was still moving out.

“Fine. If you say so,” Devin replied, swinging his bag over his shoulder.

“Wait. Where are you going?” Ronan asked. The smile vanished from his face as he realized Devin was still leaving. “There’s nothing to worry about.” Panic was about to set into the sidhe.

“That may be why she said yes, but we’re nothing more than two people bonded together. She’s allowed to court and do whatever else her father promised. I don’t have to sit here and watch it,” Devin answered. Turner nodded in agreement. Devin was thankful that even though he had a rocky relationship with Turner at times, he was still his best friend.

“But you can’t leave us,” Ronan continued, starting to panic. He understood what it meant if Devin left, even if Devin didn’t get the gravity of the situation. He was the force that was holding the sidhe together. Without Devin and his power to keep everyone under control, they would revert back to the old ways where the clans would fight each other for power. Devin needed to stay to maintain the peace if nothing else.

“I’m not leaving the sidhe,” Devin answered. He could feel the anxiety pour off Ronan. He didn’t completely understand his powers yet, but they were keeping Nessa safe. He wasn’t about to leave her unprotected, even if seeing her with someone else was crushing him.

“Then where are you going?” Ronan asked. He was getting to the verge of being hysterical.

“I’m not leaving. I’ll stay in the village and tell your father where I end up. Don’t worry about it. I’ll make sure everything remains safe for everyone,” Devin replied. Ronan’s reassurances weren’t enough to keep Devin around when Nessa returned. “But I’m not going to sit around here and watch someone else win over Nessa. If she wants someone else, that’s her choice. I can live with that. But I don’t need to see it happen. I’ll be around.” With his last statement, Devin turned from Ronan and Turner and walked away. He gave a wave back to them as he walked. He would be true to his word. He would protect everyone if it came down to it. He would even protect Nessa if she decided to be with the big oaf. That was one part of himself that he couldn’t stop—he’d been raised to protect others. Too bad he forgot to protect his own heart this time.

As Devin kept
walking, he passed more people heading home after the night. He had never really noticed the time difference too much growing up inside, but out in nature it was different. It felt like the sun had set not too long ago, and the sidhe village burst to life. It was fun to see it happen. What looked like well-worn pathways through the woods were actually walkways through the village. The houses blended so perfectly with their surroundings that you didn’t actually see them as you passed by. Trees, large bushes, and vines hid just about everything else. After spending the past few days in the sidhe village, and time before that in the common part of the village, Devin was seeing the difference between everything. The large tree to his left wasn’t really a thick trunk, but the doorway to a home. The overgrown bushes on the other side weren’t just overrun; they were the front wall to another home. It was like that all around him. His first walk-through he could barely make out a single home—nature hid the inhabitants—but now, as he spent more time with them, he could see it all.

Devin nodded to the first sidhe he encountered, and the person bowed to him. He was a little taken aback by the gesture, and then realized that everyone was figuring out who he was. Reluctantly, Devin nodded again to the man. It was simpler just to be the day human pet of some elite sidhe. No one treated him differently then. But now it was going to be different. He could already feel it. He made his presence known when he ran through the village the day before, wearing the sidhe king’s twin swords on his back and searching for the assassin. Things were going to be awkward now, and Devin wasn’t too happy about that.

The pathway became more rugged as he walked on. He was coming to the end of the road and couldn’t go farther, or he would be out of the village. He had yet to find any options for a place to crash, and he didn’t want to stay in the palace, since it was too close to Nessa. Yet, he didn’t want to leave the village. It wouldn’t be safe to leave them either. There was something about being on the sidhe lands that made him connect with everyone. What was he supposed to do?

“Day Human.”

Devin turned to the voice of a man beside him. He had been lost in his thoughts and not realized that he was standing still.

“Hello,” Devin said to the old man. He had met Old Man Winters on his first outing in the village.

“You look lost,” the old man commented, stroking his white beard.

Devin shrugged with a slight smile. Winters had not bowed to him before speaking. The old man wasn’t acting like Devin was any different. There was no change, no fear in his eyes.

“Just trying to figure out what to do,” Devin replied, looking at the pathway that ended abruptly feet away from him.

“Whether to stay or leave?” Winters observed.

“Oh, I have to stay,” Devin replied. He knew that much was true. His life was already linked to Nessa’s. “I just don’t know where. I’m not sure where I belong at the moment.”

The old man nodded as if he understood. “If you need some time to decide, you can always stay with me,” he offered. “I know my place isn’t much because I don’t need much, but you’re always welcome with me. What’s mine is yours. That is our way here.”

Smiling, Devin nodded. He didn’t want to impose on the man. In fact, he didn’t want to impose on any of the common sidhe; they had it hard enough as it was. Winters saw in Devin’s eyes that he would be refusing.

“Why not just come in and have a seat while you think about what you will be doing? You don’t have to stay, just rest a bit. The sun will be full up in a few hours, and I’m sure you’ll have an easier time getting around with everyone in bed.” The old man had seen the reactions of the villagers that Devin was struggling with.

The old man didn’t wait for Devin to reply, but walked up to his house and opened the door. Devin followed behind as the man led him into his small home. There was a bed on one side of the large open room, and a kitchen on the other hosting a small table. Only one chair sat at the table. The man went to his hearth and took a kettle off the fire. Pouring a cup, he set it on the table and motioned for Devin to sit, but Devin didn’t want to impose or take the only seat in the house.

“I have deliveries to make. By the time I return, I’m sure it will be easier for you to wander in through the village.” He smiled like he already knew Devin would never stay long.

“Thank you,” Devin replied.

The old man stared at Devin and then nodded. “It will take much, but know that no one likes change, especially those in charge. No one person is meant to stand still in time. Change is supposed to happen. Traditions can kill a race if they let them, and the sidhe are steeped in tradition. Most don’t even know why or when the rules they follow began. Don’t let that deter you. Be the man you’re meant to be. The rest will just have to deal with it. That’s the burden that comes with power.” The old man hobbled back to the door. “Feel free to stay as long as you’d like.”

Devin didn’t respond as the old man shuffled out the door and to his waiting cart. He wanted to ask what the man meant, but Old Man Winters’ horse was well now, and there was really no excuse Devin could make to go help the man. And he was right, Devin needed to think, needed to decide what to do next.

This wasn’t what he planned, and even if his plans kept changing he definitely never wanted to be in the situation where the girl he loved was begin sought after by other men again. He had done that before and lost. He didn’t want to repeat it.

Devin took a drink of the tea in front of him. He could taste a handful of different herbs in it, but the honey did well to blend everything together to keep Devin from analyzing it too much. He looked around the meagerly furnished house. There was a hearth with a fire that seemed to be well stocked. Also, a small set of kitchen cupboards that were mostly empty. The tiny bed was only inches off the ground, and a well-worn blanket was neatly made across the bed. There was one thing on the walls, a picture of an older woman Devin had never seen. There had been a Mrs. Winters at some point. Beyond the picture, there were no more decorations. The old man had very little to himself. Were all the common sidhe like this? Devin had to wonder about the village. The elite had rooms upon rooms packed full of stuff, but this old man, who supplied the milk to the villagers, had close to nothing.

Devin stood and walked around the small space. It was too closed in to think. He needed to be outside, even with the slight nighttime chill still in the air. Finding a second door in the house he opened it. It led outside to the back of the house. Devin stepped through into the overgrown pasture. It must not have been used recently as the grass was waist high. He walked through the meadow to a spot by the side of the house that allowed him to see when the old man returned. He didn’t want to leave without thanking him.

Devin sat down in the grass, and it covered him while he could still watch the house. People didn’t come past the house as it was the last one before the lane ended, but Devin could still see the commotion of people up the road. The old man was right that it was slowing down. The day would be the best time for Devin to wander more in thought. He would have to stop and find a place to rest eventually, but his mind was too busy for sleep at that moment. He needed to plan. Devin didn’t like to do anything in life without a plan, and a backup or two.

Devin glanced up beyond the trees where the sun was beginning to rise. The lighter streaks in the sky told him the day was coming, and the village would be quiet again.

He felt the tingles as Nessa walked down the street before he could see her. Devin had blocked his mind from her since he found her saying yes to being courted by someone else. He could still feel her through the bond, but he was sure the only thing she felt was his location.

Nessa walked up to the door of the Winters’ house. She paused and raised a fist to knock on the door. Quickly, she lowered her hand and stepped two steps back. Devin wanted to eavesdrop into her mind but decided against it. Nessa paced a few steps, and then returned to the door. This time she knocked. Devin didn’t reply as he wasn’t in the house, and he didn’t really want to hear her excuse.

Nessa placed her hands on her hips and blew her curls out of her face in frustration. She knew he was there and not replying. Devin found himself longing to touch the stray hair that wouldn’t stay in place.

Nessa reached up and knocked again. Still no response. Her anxiety turned to anger as she stared at the door like she could see inside it.

“Devin Alexander, I know you’re in there,” she complained, hands on her hips, tapping her feet. Devin still didn’t reply. It was childish, but he didn’t care. He didn’t want to deal with her at that moment, and part of him wanted to make her angry.