Gryffynhall (the Danu Cycle: Fiann Trilogy Book 1)

Chapter Twenty-Three

"What is the meaning of this?" Prince Donagh asked, staring intently between Niamh and Eamon, his silver eyes flashing in anger.

"Nothing, brother. I deserved it," Eamon replied, still smiling at Niamh as though they shared a joke. Niamh couldn't stop the slight upwards turn her lips took, and that made him smile more. "We should be pleased to welcome Niamh to our ranks, she hits well."

The anger in Prince Donagh's eyes faded and he merely looked exasperated. "If my fool of a younger brother says he deserved it, I do not doubt that he did." He bowed shortly. "Please accept my apologies on his behalf, Niamh..." His voice trailed off in question.

"O'Callaghan," Eamon told him before Niamh could answer. There was something about the tone of Eamon's voice that Niamh couldn't quite put her finger on, but it made Donagh raise one eyebrow slightly.

"That is right. She is an O'Callaghan." He bowed lower and there was a muttering among the crowd. Niamh wasn't sure why the princes seemed so concerned with her last name, and she didn't think royalty were supposed to bow that low to anyone. "It is a pleasure to meet you. Perhaps we will have a chance to talk before I must return to Elfhaven."

"I...would like that, your highness," she said, making an awkward curtsey.

He gave her one final look, a parting nod, and disappeared back into the crowd. She felt a hand on her arm. Across from her, Eamon must have seen. He smiled; it was a smile of challenge and superiority, like a man who has found his prey and anticipates enjoying the chase and the fight. It was strangely not markedly different than the previous look on his face, but it was enough to break Niamh's desire to get to know him better.

"Perhaps we too will have the chance to...talk before I leave," Eamon suggested. The gap before 'talk' was long enough that Niamh didn't think that was actually what he had in mind.

"Perhaps," Niamh replied sarcastically, smiling politely.

The hand on her arm tightened.

"I despise him," she heard Killian's voice by her ear.

"Shush," Lochlan said. "He's still a prince."

She turned and saw it was Killian with a firm grasp on her arm, and Lochlan was standing right behind her. Everyone around them slowly went back to what they were doing, smiling at Niamh and the boys.

Killian steered her away from Eamon, who watched her intently. Killian didn't stop until they hit the end of the room. Myrna, Fergal, Fergus, Owen, Molly, and even Luke and Teague bustled over to them.

"Niamh, you punched a prince," Molly exclaimed, looking more excited than scandalised.

"What did he say to you?" Myrna asked, her eyes shining brightly, and Niamh wondered if she'd been partaking of the wine.

"Never you mind what he said. But, it was super inappropriate." Niamh shrank back against Killian and Lochlan. They both put their hands on her arms, as though they were protecting her.

The fact Niamh didn't want to talk about it, and it probably shouldn't have been talked about, seemed to pass Molly by. "Did he...proposition you?" she whispered rather loudly, excitement and envy clearly written on her face. Niamh wondered what was so special about Eamon as to elicit such responses from the two girls.

A couple passing them looked over, scowling slightly.

"Leave it, Moll," Killian said curtly, his hand squeezing Niamh's arm reassuringly.

Molly's faced dropped, but she recovered quickly. "You're right, I'm sure it was terrible. Owen, would you like to dance?"

Owen's face flushed a strange shade of blue and red. He nodded, but Molly didn't wait for that. She just took his hand and led him away. Owen looked back at them, looking half-ecstatic and half-terrified.