Gryffynhall (the Danu Cycle: Fiann Trilogy Book 1)

Chapter Nineteen

Niamh didn't have many more incidents of blind fae instinct taking over, but she was getting close to Killian's ability. The date for starting her final year of high school came and went with little notice. Niamh couldn't imagine being anywhere else in the world anymore, she felt like this was where she belonged. Although, she still felt a little separate, like she hadn't proven herself yet. Lochlan, Killian and Myrna rarely left her side, and she'd found it relatively easy to keep her thoughts of Killian above the belt. There had been two or three moments when they'd nearly kissed, but on the whole, they stayed just friends, even if there was some - a lot of - flirtation. Combat magic was coming more easily, but lessons were still hell.

"You did great, Niamh," Myrna said and Niamh brought herself back to the present.

"Aside from nearly skewering Kill...again," Lochlan agreed.

"Oh, it wasn't that bad," Killian argued.

Niamh could do little more than grunt.

The four of them were sitting in Lochlan's room after dinner that night. They'd trained until dinner, eaten, filed through the Med Room to get some salve for the worst of their injuries, and were now relaxing - nigh on the same procedure they had followed every day in the last eight weeks. Well, Myrna, Lochlan and Killian were relaxing. Niamh lay face down on the floor, trying to ease her back.

Lochlan's room seemed very...human to Niamh. It had a nice light blue carpet, very pale blue walls, and pretty basic furniture; double bed, night stands, desk, chair, couches, tables and chairs, coffee table, big screen television... It all seemed so normal to Niamh. All the materials were shades of blue, silver and cream.

"What are you going to wear on Friday, Niamh?" Myrna asked.

"Trust girls to talk about clothes," Killian grumbled.

"Clothes are important," Lochlan said. Niamh couldn't see their faces, but she sensed they were all staring at her.

"What's happening on Friday, again?" she asked, getting a mouthful of nice blue carpet.

"The graduation ceremony and ball," Lochlan reminded her, sounding exasperated.

"Ugh, since when do we have time for that?" Niamh asked.

"It's tradition. Sidhe make time for tradition," Killian said, though he sounded less than impressed.

"We'll need to get you a dress," Myrna said. "What colours do you like?"

"What goes best with bruised and battered?" Niamh replied.

There was a laugh. "That will all be cleaned up," Lochlan told her. "We have to look nice for our first fiann photo."

"When do I have to decide?"

"Decide what?" Killian asked. "You have to go."

"Decide what to wear!" A sudden thought hit her. "Are we supposed to...have dates or anything?"

"You don't have to," Myrna answered cheerfully. "But you can."

"You sound like you already have one," Lochlan chuckled.

Even with her head buried in the carpet, Niamh could hear the smile in Myrna's voice. "I might."

"Who is it?"

"Just a friend."

"Is it Fergal? I bet its Fergal!"

"It's Fergal," Killian agreed.

"How did you...?" Myrna started.

"He told me." Niamh could envision Killian's shrug.

Myrna made a noise that even Niamh knew commonly stood for frustration and a lack of knowing what to say in one's defence.