Visiting the Siblings
Downstairs, Ainmire waits in the living room eager to see his future daughter-in-law. As soon as Quinn’s feet hit the base of the stairs, Ainmire runs to her and lifts her off the ground. He swings her around and smiles gleefully as Quinn struggles to get free.
“You can put me down now, Dad.” Quinn presses her hand against Ainmire’s chest and lowers he lowers her to the floor.
“On my, you are getting so big.” Ainmire beams from ear to ear.
“Thanks,” Quinn swinches her nose. “I will take that as a compliment.”
“Oh my beautiful daughter, it very much is.” He hugs her tight, his massive arms still able to reach around her.
Ciaran stands to the side giggling at the sight of his fiance and father getting along. He places his hand on his dad’s shoulder and squeezes. “You aren’t trying to make a move on my girl, old man?” Ciaran laughs.
“Old man,” Ainmire sneers at Ciaran. “I’ll show you old man.” Ainmire traps Ciaran’s hand on his shoulders and wrestles Ciaran into a headlock.
Ciaran protests and laughs. He taps at his dad’s arm. “I give up. I give up.” Ainmire releases his hold on Ciaran and turns his attention back to Quinn.
“Are you ready to go?” He asks.
“I did not realize you were taking us to Boston. Are you riding with us to the airport?” Quinn looks between Ciaran and Ainmire.
“Airport?” Ainmire glances at Ciaran then at Quinn. “It would take forever to get to Boston if we flew. I have a much quicker means of transportation.”
A puzzled look crosses Quinn’s face and she shrugs her shoulders. Curiosity gets the best of her and she asks, “How are we getting to Boston?”
“By portal,” Ainmire replies and waves his hand in a downward motion through the air. A large seam appears in Quinn’s living room.
Quinn stammers as she stares at the opening, “But I thought opening a portal drains your energy?”
Ainmire laughs as Ciaran steps through and holds his hand out to Quinn. Ciaran responds for Ainmire, “One of the perks of being the leprechaun king is you never run out of energy.”
Ciaran pulls Quinn through the portal and they arrive in the entry of Ainmire’s Boston castle. Dominique strides towards Quinn and for the second time in ten minutes she is lifted and swung in the air.
“Every one is determined to make me dizzy today,” Quinn declares.
Dominique, still holding Quinn, as Ainmire steps through the portal, gives a low belly laugh and lifts her higher into the air. “If I could, I would carry you everywhere. I am so excited to meet my…” Dominique stops and looks at Quinn's belly as he lowers her to the ground.
“Your grandnephew,” Quinn finishes Dominique’s sentence as she smoothes the wrinkles out of her dress.
Dominique claps his hands together and smiles wide. “Yes, my grandnephew. I am so excited to meet my grandnephew.”
Everyone laughs and Ainmire calms himself and declares, “We probably should make our way to the formal dining room.” He looks at Dominique. “I assume everyone is waiting there for us?”
“You would assume right, My Lord.” Dominique smirks and bows.
“Cut it out, Dom.” Ainmire growls. He softens his voice and addresses Ciaran and Quinn, “Dominique will show you guys to the dining room. I have some things to wrap up in my study.”
Ciaran places his hands on his hips and fumes, “I know where the dining room is, Dad.”
“Good, than you can help Dominique show your wife there” He heads to the opposite hallway. “I will be there in a few minutes. Try to not get into any trouble.” Ainmire disappears into the corridor.
“What does he mean by trouble?” Quinn inquires of Ciaran.
Dominique chuckles as he extends his arm in the direction of another hallway, “Master Ciaran has been known to have a row or two with his brothers.”
“I am curious, Ciaran. You said you had older brothers, but do you have any sisters or younger brothers?” Quinn stops at the entrance to the hallway.
“I am the youngest of my siblings,” Ciaran replies.
“Your mother and father did not have any more children after you?” After the question surges from her mouth, Quinn realizes the stupidity of it.
“No, neither of my parents had children after I was born. My father chose to remain celibate after my mother passed and has been content surrounding himself with family and puttering around in his garden. He loved my mother so much, he vowed to never touch a female who was not her. He has held true to his vow for hundreds of years.” A frown intrudes on Ciaran’s face.
“And your mother, why did she not have any more children? At least with Ainmire?” Quinn wraps her arm around Ciaran’s waist as they walk down the corridor.
Ciaran stops and smiles at Quinn. He gently rests his fingers on her cheeks and cradles her chin in his palm. His deep blue eyes darken into muddy pools and he sighs, “My mother is a story for another time.” He kisses Quinn on her forehead then drops his hands from her face. He grasps her hand in his and proceeds down the hallway.
“I am sorry,” Quinn whispers and curls her fingers around Ciaran’s knuckles.
“There is nothing to be sorry for, my love.” They stop at the double door entrance to the dining room and Ciaran places his hand on the doorknob of one of the large white doors with gold inlaid filigree. Quinn stares at the knob, wondering if it too is gold.
As if to read her mind, Ciaran says, “Yes, it is solid gold.” He snorts, “My dad does like his gold.”
Ciaran cracks the door to the room and Quinn places her hand on his arm to stop him from opening it sooner. “Are you okay, my love?” Concern peppers Ciaran’s features.
Quinn furrows her brow and worriedly asks, “Are all your brothers like Alroy?”
Ciaran pats her on the shoulder as they step into the large dining hall. A massive group of large men congregate around several tables. They all turn to see Quinn and Ciaran enter the room. A round of applause deafens Quinn.
Ciaran leans towards Quinn and whispers, “Not a single one of them.”