Homelands Pt. 09 Ch. 02

"What's wrong with pale?" Wynne asked. "I thought fey are supposed to be-"

"Fey are, yes. But I didn't know I was. Neither did anyone else. Remember, Faerie and the Dreaming were completely separate worlds when I was growing up."

"Oh, right," his daughter said, almost chiding herself. Was that a chuckle? "I forgot." After a moment, she added, "That must have been so weird."

Aeife laughed. "I suppose it all depends on what you're used to."

"You think maybe mine'll grow some more?"

His daughter's question was met with a brief silence, followed by, "Honey. You're so young! You're not even close to done growing. Come on now."

"Some girls I know-"

"You're not them. And you don't need to be."

Wynne drew a deep breath, exhaled, and expelled greater world-weariness than should have been possible for a girl her age. As was only possible for a girl her age.

"It'll be different when I'm older, I guess," she said at last.

"It will," Aeife assured her.

Cahill heard what sounded like a hand slapping a pillow. "It's no fair! By the time that happens, he'll have fallen for somebody already. He's practically an adult already."

"You shouldn't even be thinking these thoughts yet," his grandmother told her, sounding as though she felt obligated to say. "You know that."

"Well, I'm not supposed to watch any good movies either. Just stupid cartoons made for kids. But just the other night, you let me watch-"

Aeife laughed. "Okay, okay." From the sound of it, she gave her granddaughter a kiss at that point. He could just see her, smoothing back Wynne's hair and pressing her lips to the girl's forehead. The way Caronwyn would. "Let's not tell your father about that, hmm?"

"I know."

"Anyway, don't you worry about that ship sailing without you," Aeife continued, sounding like the fairy godmother she sometimes was. "When the time comes, he'll be there."

"You don't know that," Wynne said. It sounded more defeatist than argumentative.

Cahill wanted more than anything to gather his little girl up in his arms and hug her. But he knew this wasn't a job for him.

"No, I don't. Not for a certainty," his grandmother replied. "But don't forget, I've spent a lot of time with your brother. And boys aren't that hard to read." That got a snicker from Wynne. "He doesn't always see the truth of things at first, and he'll resist mightily if you try too hard to get him to do so, but everything's basically working right upstairs."

"I didn't say I thought he was dumb," Wynne said, in a tone that almost suggested she thought her grandmother was. "Just that-"

"Well, he'd have to be," Aeife cut in.

Cahill smiled to himself as he sipped his coffee.

"You take after me more than your mother," she continued. "I bet you're going to go through the same thing I did. Unpopular when you're young, beating them off with a stick when you're older." She quickly added, "Or just enjoying all that attention."

"Grandma!" Wynne said. "Modest, aren't we?"

"Honey, if you've got it, flaunt it."

The two broke into a fit of giggling.

"But seriously," Aeife said. "Let me tell you a story. There was a Queen of Faerie, who many said was the most desirable woman alive. And, much as I hate the b-i-never-you-mind, I'll admit that she had a certain...traditional...something going for her." His grandmother paused, perhaps deciding whether that description was sufficient. She apparently decided it was, for when she continued, she said no more about Titania's appearance. "Every one of her sons was impressive, if in different ways. But one of them really put the rest to shame. I mean, he was something, girl, let me tell you." Wynne giggled at her grandmother's choice of language. "Naturally, he was the queen's favorite. And his heart belonged to her in turn." Cahill could practically see the self-satisfied smile on Aeife's face at this point. "Until one day, this prince met a woman who made him forget all about his mother."

If only she believed Oberon's change of heart was as sincere as it was. Hopefully after Cahill talked to her, she'd realize she never should have doubted him.

"Lemme guess," Wynne said. "Do I know this woman?"

"You might," Aeife confirmed. "And you might look a little something like she did at your age. Only less awkward. And not as pudgy."

It sounded like they hugged at that point. "Thanks, Grams," his daughter said.

"Any time, dear," she replied before kissing the girl's forehead again. At least, Cahill assumed that's what that sound was. "Besides, if he doesn't come round, I'll turn him into a donkey for you, as punishment being a jackass."

Wynne giggled to herself and the mattress squeaked as Aeife presumably rose up off the bed. Upon hearing that, Cahill popped down to the common area.

A few steps out of the bedroom, his grandmother saw him. A sly smile spread across her lips. Before she could say anything, Cahill pressed a finger to his lips. He then pointed first to the stairs then up at the ceiling. Aeife nodded and followed him up to the fourth floor.

The moment she stepped off the last stair, he rounded on her, took her in his arms, and kissed her good. A powerful orgasm erupted within her. Her back turned to jelly and her legs wavered. The flood of energy from her Libido nearly knocked him over.

"Heard most of that, did you," she asked, gasping for air, once he released her.

Cahill nodded, running a hand through her jet black hair. "I know we don't always-"

She shook a hand in front of his face, cutting him off. "No need to explain."

"I'm just trying to say-"

A smile spread across his grandmother's lips. "I know, sweetie. And it's appreciated. But there's no need." She placed a hand against his chest, sending a jolt of ecstasy through his torso. "Honestly, I like the give and take. If you start treating me differently, I'm gonna have to go and do something to piss you off just to get things back to normal. Got it?"

He snickered, then nodded.

The other hand joined the first and she leaned in a little closer. "That was some kiss, though. Feel free to do that whenever you want."

Cahill laughed the kissed the top of her head. She sighed in mock disappointment that he hadn't placed it a little lower or put a little more juice behind it.

"We need to talk," he said.

"It was only an action flick," she protested. "And there was no nudity. Just some cursing, and a bit of violence. Really wasn't that b-"

He snorted. "Not that. Grandmothers are supposed to spoil their grandchildren. Though, for the record, I never condoned such behavior." He almost forgot the rest of what he was going to say, so enchanted was he by her beauty. At times, she really got under his skin, and he convinced himself that she wasn't so attractive. But she really was. Especially when she went around cheering his daughters up. "It's about Titania and our sabotaged glamours."

"Oh," she said. "That. Yeah, we should talk about that."

"I know," Cahill said, chuckling.

"Wait," she said, scurrying over to the couch. Once she sat on her feet and placed a pillow in her lap, she nodded for him to continue. Then, before he could, smacked the leather cushion beside her, beckoning him to her side. "Okay, now tell me."

He went and sat beside her, propping his bare feet up on the oak coffee table. When his grandmother leaned against his shoulder, Cahill put an arm around her and kissed her hair.

Why couldn't she be like this more often? She might like the fact that theirs was often an antagonistic relationship, but that didn't mean he did.

That was hardly the most important thing to worry about just then, though.

"Oberon's not responsible," he said.

Aeife stared at him flatly for a time. "You sure?" Before he could answer, she said, "Of course you're sure. You wouldn't say it if you weren't." With that, she leaned up and kissed him into orgasm the way he had her just a moment ago.

The world fell away beneath him. He floated off into a sea of euphoria, high above all his worries. Wild Hunt? What Wild Hunt? Titan-who?

When he returned to his senses, his grandmother said, "Thank you."

The only reply he could give was a goofy grin.

"I really didn't want it to be him," she said, as if that was anything but obvious. "I just thought it had to be." A look of disgust came over her. "Ugh! What was I thinking?" Disgust turned to panic. "You think he'll forgive me?"

"I think you'd have to do much worse than doubt him before he'd give up on you."

Aeife smiled. "You're right. He's a keeper, isn't he?"

The temptation to laugh wasn't easily resisted, but Cahill somehow managed.

"So. Who is it?" his grandmother asked.

He explained everything, including the flute and its origins. Much as he'd resisted telling his mother that, there didn't seem to be any reason to hide it from Aeife. Unsurprisingly, she didn't question how he might be taken in by someone he shouldn't have trusted, the way he feared his mother would. Nor did she read any betrayal into his actions. And why should she? He hadn't known anything about the Puck or Clan Dreamsmyth then.

Well, that wasn't quite true. He'd known less than he did now, but he'd known enough.

Still. His grandmother hardly batted an eye at any of that. All she wanted to hear about was his mother's divination and where the flute was now. When he told her that he'd unmade it, she breathed a sigh of relief and patted his thigh approvingly.

"You think you can figure out a way to protect their dreams? Or, better yet, all of ours?"

Aeife frowned. "Maybe." Presumably sensing his disappointment, she rushed to add, "The two of them won't be hard. I'm just not sure I can cover the whole clan."

"Well, that's something, at least," Cahill said.

"I don't think a web will do for this," she continued. "It's got to be internal. And that sort of glamour is easier to do through physical contact. Particularly intimate contact."

Of course.

"I'll do my best, but Titania ain't weak. I'm afraid I might only be able to keep her away from those who I can give, hmmm, special treatment."

"If you think you can teach me, I'll cover my mother and sisters," Cahill said. "The kids will have to make do with the watered down version." He frowned as he said it. That didn't sit well with him at all. If anything, the children should get extra protection. But there was nothing to be done about that. "We'll just have to hope she wouldn't use-"

Aeife stared at him like he was a child.

"Right," he said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We'll have to keep an eye on them. Especially the older ones."

Ty. She would start with Ty.

Fuck.

Maybe that acorn charm didn't need to be on his flute anymore. He had no knack for making jewelry, but Brittany did. Not the way he did with musical instruments, but she'd worked glamours into necklaces and bracelets before, back in the days of Walk the Ways. She could make his son a ring. Her natural talent, supplemented by the acorn charm, might not be enough to keep Titania out of Ty's dreams, but it might.

"What about what she's already done to them?" he asked. "Anything you can fix?"

Aeife fretted at her lower lip. "Depends. If she's just got them under a glamour, then yeah. Might take some time, since she's been working on them forever, but whatever that bitch can do, I can undo." She drew a deep breath. "The problem is that it might not be supernatural. If she's messed with their psyches badly enough, turned them against us in their heart of hearts...." She shrugged. "Might not be anything any of us can do."

Good thing that was hard to imagine. She'd only had sixteen years to fill their heads with sweet lies and tempting promises, after all. No big deal.

"I'll do what I can tonight," she said. With a mischievous grin, she added, "I mean, I do so hate being pinned between two strong young men, surrendering my body to their every need. But if it must be done, it must be done."

Cahill was not amused.

"Relax," his grandmother said, pressing a hand to his cheek. "I'm kidding."

"I know," he said. "But-"

"This is serious?" she finished. "So will I be, when it comes time for that."

He hesitated a moment, then nodded.

"Now, why don't you let me show you what you're going to need to do for the others," she said, reaching between his legs.

Cahill grabbed her wrist. "Later," he said. "I've gotta go win a bet."

She stared at him in disbelief, but said nothing as he stood from the couch. Cahill gave his grandmother a quick kiss then headed back down to the first floor.

#

He waited for Caronwyn to finish her game in the third round of the tournament, which happened to be against Maeve. Despite the occasional pointer Cahill gave his daughter, or perhaps because of that, she lost to her mother. She didn't make much of a showing, either.

"I don't like chess," she said afterwards, knocking her king over then crossing her little arms over her chest. "When'm I going to play concertina again, Daddy?"

His mother gave him a sly smile. "Yes, dear, when is that going to happen?"

Cahill mussed his daughter's strawberry blonde hair. "After your tournament."

Maeve sulked. "Chess is dumb. It's for dummy dumb dummies."

"Like your mother?" Cahill asked, prompting Caronwyn to shoot him a glare.

"Noooo," their daughter said. "Not her. Just in general."

Cahill kissed the top of her head before asking, "Would you like to see Daddy get revenge for you? Put Mommy in her place?"

"I guess," she said, freeing the chair for him. She leaned against his back after he sat down, resting her chin on his shoulder. "But don't do it too quickly, or I'll feel even stupider."

"That's not a word, sweetie," Caronwyn said, trying to hide a grin.

"Is now," Maeve replied.

Just then, Regan ran over to them. "Mommy, Daddy, Uncle Seamus cheats."

"Why do you say that?" Cahill asked.

"Put me in checkmate on the fourth move. That's gotta be 'gainst the rules!"

Maeve went over to him and punched him on the arm. "Took Mommy hundreds and hundreds of moves to beat me. So there! You stink!"

"Do not!"

She punched him again and then promptly ran away.

Her brother took off after her so fast, he slipped and fell right away. He got his hands out in front of him in time to avoid kissing the ground, but only just. Then he picked himself back up and returned to top speed immediately. Because that was, of course, the only sensible thing to do after nearly knocking your own teeth out.

"Should I stop them?" Cahill asked.

Caronwyn twisted around in her seat to watch them. What looked like it was going to be a fight rapidly evolved into a game of tag. Though the two continued to call each other names, they did so as good-naturedly as children can. "They're fine," she said, turning her attention to setting her pieces up for a fresh game. "Just keep an eye on them."

"You're eager for a spanking, aren't ya?" Cahill asked as he put Maeve's side back in order. "Alright. It's your doom. Just remember, I offered you the chance to escape it."

"Big talk," his mother said. "What are we playing for?"

He lowered his voice. "A threesome with you and your mother."

She didn't react to that in any way. Not at first. Then her lips tightened just a little before she said, "Fine. If that's what you want."

"I need to hookup with her at some point soon," he began.

"Wow," she said. "Guess you better win then."

"Because she needs to teach me how to protect a person's dreams from being invaded," he continued, a bit more forcefully than might have been strictly necessary. "Which I'll then do to you. It works better if you have a strong physical connection at the time."

Brow furrowed, she regarded him in silence. "Hmmm."

"Just two birds with one stone."

"Naturally," his mother said.

"And if you win?" he asked.

She studied the board for a few moments. Two lovely, delicate fingers gripped a pixie pawn, picked it up, then put it back down. "A threesome with Gallech and Reilly that you have to watch without participating."

He was tempted to ask if that's what she would have said if he hadn't gone first, but he didn't. He knew the answer. Didn't really matter anyway.

"Would you like to throw Seamus in while you're at it?"

His mother shrugged. "Sure, why not?"

Cahill snickered. "Good thing you're gonna lose."

She slid her hands together, fingers interwoven, and pushed the hand tapestry outward. Her knuckles cracked with soft pops. "We'll just have to see about that, won't we?"

His heart started beating a little faster. "I'm sorry."

"Too late now," she said.

"No, not for that," he said. "For the whooping I'm about to lay down."

In spite of herself, his mother smiled. "It's a good thing you're handsome."

"Very handsome."

"Let's not go too far," she replied as she moved the same pawn she'd flirted with earlier. It advanced two spaces towards his end of the board. After she released it, the pixie yawned, covering its mouth as it did, gave its wings a few flaps, then became a lifeless statuette once more. "You're like a five or six. Maybe a seven, if we're being generous."

"Mmm-hmm," he said as he flicked one of his knights with a fingernail. The centaur leapt over the row of pixies, reared back on its hind legs and thrashed at the sky with its forelegs, then trotted calmly to its new position and went still. "Being generous."

"That's right," Caronwyn said, staring intensely at his knight.

She took her time deciding to move another pawn, as if his standard opening had somehow taken her by surprise. Or as though she hadn't thought as far ahead as her second move.

"So how did Cori do?" he asked.

"What?" she asked, looking up from the board. "Oh, fine. Good, actually. I won, but she lasted quite a while. Not 'hundreds and hundreds' of moves, of course, but still. She's got good instincts. Hardly made any blunders."

"Good," Cahill said.

"You gonna move?" she asked. "Or are we gonna talk about your daughter?"

He laughed. "Nervous already?"

"Anxious," she said. "There's a difference."

"You know something?"

She gave him a forced smile. "What's that, dear?"

"I love you." He reached across the table and covered her hand with his. Though it was he who'd touched her, a jolt of pure ecstasy shot up his arm. "More and more each day."

Her Libido warmed and her cheeks darkened. Under the table, a bare foot teased his, snuck up to caress his ankle, then back over the arch of his foot. "I love you too," she said at last. After her foot retreated, she added, "But you're still going down."

Cahill snickered at that then deployed his other knight.

While contemplating her next move, she asked, "So the divination meant something?"

His skin went cold. He still had no idea how to explain that without telling her about the flute. "Yeah." Lowering his voice, he added, "Turns out, Titania's been controlling Gallech and Reilly through their dreams."

"Hence the threesome," she said, deadpan.

"Right." Cahill cleared his throat. "Aeife's going to tend to them first. Then Seamus and Finnegan, I guess. Meanwhile, I'm responsible for you, Fi, and Brit."

"How'd you figure that out?" she asked, bringing one of her own knights forward.

Cahill stared at the ranks of chess pieces. He knew what his next move was, but pretending he didn't gave him a reason not to look his mother in the eye. "The flute you saw," he said at last, unsure what else he could say without telling an outright lie.

"How so?"

He moved a pixie forward. "He didn't get it from me," he said. True enough. "Seemed like it had to be a gift from her." Also true, so far as it went. "Could've just been symbolic, I guess, but I checked his room when we got back this morning, and sure enough, there was one just like you described in his closet."