The Pillars Of The World

so he shrugged, and said negligently, “It was nothing.”
    Especially since he hadn’t known about it. Then he thought of a reason for her wariness and the less-than-enthusiastic welcome. “Did he upset you?”
    “He startled me a little, but the rabbit was most welcome.” Ari smiled, humor lighting her eyes. “
    Especially since Merle doesn’t eat vegetables.”
    “Merle.” Jealousy burned in him along with lust.
    Ari gestured toward the empty bench behind the cottage.
    Wondering what game she played, it took him a moment to notice the puppy sleeping under the bench—
    not because the puppy was hidden but because it looked so at home his eyes had passed over it, as if it was something that had always been there. He’d seen that mongrel pup in Tir Alainn only a few days before and knew without a doubt how it had ended up with Ari. What he didn’t know was why.
    Falco he could deal with easily. He would have to take more care when confronting his sister. But both those discussions could wait.
    Stepping up to Ari, he cupped her face in his hands, and bent to kiss her. “I’ve missed you.” He’d intended it to be a friendly kiss, but hunger snuck in, and the kiss turned possessive, demanding, and hot.
    He felt her weaken and yield.
    Then she pulled away, stumbling as she backed away from him.
    “No,” she said.
    “Why not?” he demanded, the heat in his loins sparking his temper. “You want me. You can’t deny that.
    And I want you. So why should we turn away from the pleasure we can give each other?”
    She didn’t argue, and she didn’t yield. She just watched him too closely.
    Frustrated, he raked his fingers through his hair. “Men get angry when they’re denied.” Before he could add that it was bluster edged by frustration and was nothing more than another form of persuasion, Ari said, “The Fae also get angry when they’re denied. When the man is Fae, does it become twice as dangerous to refuse him?”
    He shifted, ready to take a step toward her.
    She tensed, prepared to flee.
    That shocked him enough to make him step back and regain some control—and to remember that she had little experience in the games between men and women. “If you’re going to refuse me, at least tell me why.”

    “It’s not the same now, Lucian, and I—”
    “You didn’t welcome me to your bed only out of obligation,” he snapped. “You enjoyed what we did there are much as I did.”
    “I don’t deny that, but there are other things that have to be considered.”
    “What things?” Then he knew. “You mean there’s someone else who has to be considered. Who is he?”
    She shook her head. “The point is, it wouldn’t be right for me to dally with you while he’s waiting for my answer.”
    Dally. Dally . It was one thing for him to consider this nothing more than a dalliance. It didn’t sit well for her to call it so—especially when there was a rival waiting to take his place.
    “You’re considering having an affair with him?”
    “I’m considering marrying him.”
    If she’d struck him, it wouldn’t have stunned him more. “You’d actually give yourself to one of these . ..
    humans . . . instead of being with me?” It wouldn’t do. It simply wouldn’t do. “Ari, think about what you
    ’re doing, think about what you’re turning away from.” When she didn’t seem convinced, he added, “I care about you,” knowing it was the sharpest weapon that could be used against a woman’s heart.
    “I— I care about you, too, Lucian, but . . .” She looked troubled, torn. “I need to work.” She hurried to the front of the cottage, disappeared around the corner.
    Lucian walked over to the well and leaned against it.
    When he’d come down the road through the Veil a short while ago, it had been with the intention of persuading Ari to continue a pleasant affair for a while longer. Now that he knew another man wanted to claim her in a way that would take her completely out of his life, he wanted more.
    But how much more? Not marriage. The Fae didn’t have such chains between men and women. There were some who remained with the same partners for years, but they never promised not to accept pleasure if it was offered elsewhere. Why should they?
    He had to think carefully about what he wanted— and what he was willing to offer. Right now, though, he had to overcome any reluctance she might have about him.
    He went to find Ari. Just as he reached the corner of the cottage, he