by Calinda B
“You mean forced upon me, like a noose.” Her lips curled into a pout. “I apparently didn’t come here of my free will, and, if what you’re saying is true, I won’t be able to return to Dublin.”
He let out an exasperated groan. “Forced, given, it’s yours. Do what you will.” He flicked his fingers at her. “I can’t be sitting here arguing with you for much longer. I’ve got to do my job.”
“Oh, right, play the hero while the idiot human over here struggles to process.” She plopped back down in the sand, drawing her knees up to her chest.
“Goddamn it, Lassi. I have no choice. You do. You seem to be the one woman who can go against the Finn spell.”
“Can I? I’m here, aren’t I?” She sucked in a lungful of breath, affording him a side-eyed glance.
“You are. But, I don’t think you had to come here. But you did for reasons of your own. I hoped you arrived to be with me, as my companion, of your own free will. For nearly three centuries, I’ve been alone. I’ve lived with despair and loneliness. And I’ve been as lustful as the day I found Rosalie.”
“Have you fucked anyone?” Lassi snapped, unsure why she asked.
“Finn women are extraordinarily beautiful.”
She lifted her chin in defiance. “You didn’t answer the question. Have you fucked anybody in the last two-hundred and fifty years?”
“Why does it matter?”
“Because you’re supposed to be a priest,” she said, heat rising in her neck.
“But I’m not, am I?” Sharp lines appeared on his face, making him look angry. “I’m nothing but a freak.”
“Have you fucked anyone?” She rocked onto her knees and stabbed her finger into his chest.
As quick as a viper, he seized her hand and pulled her to him in a searching, scorching kiss.
She put her palms on his chest and shoved away. “Answer the question.”
“I just did.” He clutched her wrists and pressed them against her bosom. His eyes flashed fire. “As tempted as I’ve been, no, Lasairfhíona. Ever since I was turned, I’ve never fucked, plowed, or been with a woman. I’ve been sorely tempted. But never as much as when I met you. I’ve only done one thing—keep Ballynagaul safe from the Dearg-Due. You destroyed everything. You, with your good intentions to honor a dead woman, broke the seal on the grave. She’s loose now. She hasn’t been loose since 1796.”
Lassi stared at him, panting.
He stared at her, matching her ragged breaths.
Silence stretched between them.
“Cillian! Lassi!” Conway called.
“What is it?” Cillian said, his head whipping to the side.
“You’ve been in there a while. Mother and I are getting a bit nervous. The sky—it’s an ominous blood red. She’s out there. Mother can feel her. We don’t want anyone to be her next victim.”
“We’re coming. Give me two seconds.” Still clutching Lassi’s wrists, he wrestled them up to standing. Then, he reached down and adjusted his pants, making room for his erection. “You’ve bewitched me like no other, Lassi.”
He placed his hands on either side of her cheeks and gave her another soulful kiss.
This one she didn’t resist.
When they pulled away from one another, she studied him. Her head jerked back. “What’s happened? Your eyes are...” She lifted her hand and pointed.
His sea-green eyes now bore a distinct bio-luminescence. Pale yellow light outlined his black irises, like jagged lightning bolts. “Quiet. I’m trying to sense something.”
“What?” She stammered. “What are you looking for?”
He placed a finger over her lips.
“Shhh.” He blinked and it looked like a camera shutter. “One hundred years ago I put up a safety net of sorts in case something like this happened. In my Leviathan form, I brought large ocean rocks onto the beach and then hired the nearby stonemason’s men to cart the boulders to the four corners of the parish. That established a boundary. Irene and I used old magic to call the four corners and beat the bounds into place. The Dearg-Due can’t pass the perimeter.” He cocked his head, appearing to listen. Then, he nodded. “Good. They’re still in place.”
“Okay, so...” She drew out the word in a hiss. “That means we’re trapped with her. Can we leave?”
“You can go. I can’t. I must stay and do my job.” He gripped her shoulders and lowered his forehead to hers.
“No! This is all my fault.” She grabbed his wrists.
“You didn’t know what you were doing,” he said, as if absolving her.
“So, what do we do now?” She considered his strangely hypnotic eyes.
“I don’t know.”
“You’ve got to know! You’ve been doing this for centuries.” She threw back her head, brushing against the stone. “I always do this. I always get into more trouble than I care to mention.”
“Don’t beat yourself up, love.”
“Cillian!” Conway’s voice sounded shaky.
“We’re coming.” He started to guide her from the stones.
“Wait!” she said, stopping, one leg inside the circle, one being whipped by sand and wind.
“What?”
“Before I came down, I got a phone call. On the phone that doesn’t work.”
“You did?” He looked at her eagerly.
“I did.”
“Did anyone say anything?”
“Yes! They told me to follow the stones. So...” Her shoulders bunched around her ears. “Let’s find them, whatever they may be, and follow them.”
Chapter 21
When Lassi stepped from the safety of the stone circle, into the undying wind, the clouds appeared to drip with dark blood. This is the ghastliest sunset I have ever seen. She kept a death grip on the flashlight, flicking it on and off with her thumb.
Mary stood, wringing her hands, next to her son. Whistling gusts made her coat flutter like a flag. “He told you the whole story, child?”
“He did,” Lassi said, facing her.
“And you believe him, don’t you?”
“What choice do I have? And, seeing is believing. Unless he carries contact lens movie props to make his eyes turn all...all...” She shuddered, picturing the glowing luminescence she’d seen in his eyes. “Yes, I believe him.”
“Good, good. He needs an ally, not another enemy.”
“Does he have enemies?”
Mary lifted her shoulder and let it fall. “Not in the manner you might think but he’s often regarded with uneasy acceptance.”
Lassi tucked that thought away for later examination.
Inspector Conway leaned toward her, his face lined with worry. “You see that, right?” He lifted his trembling hand to point overhead at the bloody-looking clouds. Even the tree next to the grave looked like it dripped with blood. “The vampire’s left us a sign. There’s going to be a bloodbath.”
His ferret-like face looked drawn and pale. Shadows made his cheeks appear hollow.
“There will be no bloodbath,” Cillian said. He had to turn sideways to slide through the opening. “Not if I can help it. We have Lassi in on the situation now. That will help.”
“How will it help?” She blinked.
He said nothing, his face grim.
She still struggled to process everything she’d been told. And, me, magic? I’m a damn good delivery nurse, but magic? Lassi studied him for a moment. He seemed taller...more confident...far sexier, if such a thing was possible. Maybe now he’s spilled his secret he can breathe...let his true colors fly.
He caught her gaze and smiled, warmly. Then, he turned his attention back to Conway.
Conway literally vibrated. His hands moved in jerky gestures. He took a few steps, then whirled around. Then he took a few more steps, and whirled around again. “I heard you say, ‘follow the stones’. What kind of advice is that?” He swept his arm out. “Ireland is littered with stones. How else could we build all these fecking stone walls?”
“It�
��s got to be a clue, dear,” Mary said. “If Lassi got the call.”
“Follow the stones,” he muttered, continuing his pacing. “The only solution I can think of is to determine who will be her next victim.”
“It will either be Cillian or Lassi because of breaking priestly vows,” Mary said, in a calm voice.
“What?” Lassi’s legs did another jelly-like surrender. She grabbed for Cillian to steady herself.
“She’s right, love. I’m afraid I’ve put you in harm’s way. Same as I did Rosalie.” He dragged his hand through his hair. “She won’t come after me—I’m too strong. I’m a bloody Leviathan, after all.”
Cold sweat formed on Lassi’s skin. “Oh, God,” she panted. “Oh, God.” She clutched Cillian’s muscled forearm. “I...I...”
I’m not used to losing control. Fecking get it together, Lassi! She forced several slow breaths from her lungs. When she’d managed to create a measure of calm inside, she brought her gaze to him. Then, she cocked her head and studied him. He’s not even listening to me. He’s doing that super-human Levi-O-vision eye glow thing again.
Oddly silent, he squinted and peered around with his eyes lit like chemiluminescence.
“What are you doing?” She shook his arm.
His body remained statue-stiff, in the same way as when she found him all unnaturally solid in the nave of the church. And when I gave him one heck of a guilt-inducing blow-job.
“Cillian?”
Mary took a step toward her and placed her hand on her shoulder. “This is how he gets. He’s sensing things...looking for clues.”
“Okay,” Lassi said. “Okay. This is normal Cillian. Got it.” She scrunched up her face and stared at him. Then, she waved her hand in front of his face.
“I can see perfectly well, Miss Finn,” he said, startling her. “Far better than anyone.”
She took a step backward. “Oh. I’m sorry.”
“No need for sorrow in this moment.” He kept his eyes trained on some distant focal point. “But unless we come up with a plan, there will be plenty of sorrow.”
His words landed hard in her chest. “What are you seeing?”
“Small ocean rocks on the land, some even the size of skipping stones and pebbles.”
“No shite. We’re at the beach. And, like Conway said, Ireland is the land of rocks.”
Cillian afforded her a smirk. His eyes became normal. “No, it’s not that. They’re in... a pattern. Like an aisle leading from the open grave.”
Lassi pictured some bizarre wedding procession leading from the grave. “Well, fecking Christ on a cracker. What does that mean?”
Conway responded in the same annoyingly logical manner with which he’d questioned her. “If the stones contain her, then the aisle is meant to contain and lead her somewhere. A certain kind of rock, only found in or near this ocean, can hold her.”
“What? What are you talking about? The Dearg-due? How did you get to be such an expert?”
Conway opened his mouth to respond when his phone buzzed. He reached into his pocket to retrieve it. He tipped his chin down and studied the screen. “It’s Brown.” His eyes scanned. “Fuck.” He gripped the phone so hard his hand shook. “I’m about to get the shite kicked out of me.”
“What’s wrong, dear?” Mary said, placing her hand on his arm.
“She’s fecking furious with me for letting the two ‘suspects’ out. She’s going to have my badge and my balls, but later. Penny called Galbraith to report mysterious noises outside her house. I’ve got to go.” He pivoted to stride away.
“We’re all going. You’re not in this alone, Conway,” Lassi said. She flicked on her flashlight and waved the beam at his face.
He turned to protest, but her fierce determination—plus, the flashlight beam in his eyes—must have shut him up.
The four of them sprinted up the hill, their path dimly lit by the bobbing light beam.
“My patrol vehicle is up here,” Conway said, breathing hard. He pointed toward his SUV parked along the road.
“I knew Penny was next,” Lassi said, wheezing.
“I thought you said Liam was next,” Cillian answered, as composed as if they were on a stroll, even though he was in the lead.
“One of them,” she said, swishing her hand in the air. “Never mind.”
Once they got to the SUV, they all trundled inside. Mary sat in front. Cillian and Lassi sat in the back.
She stayed close to Cillian, drawing strength from his supernatural self or his super-sexy, manly self, she didn’t know which.
His eyes shifted to Leviathan-mode. “This can’t be good.”
“What?” She squeezed his thigh.
“The rocky path leads to Penny’s house.”
Conway floored the gas pedal.
They bumped and jostled up the hill, toward Penny’s.
Once they reached the house, Conway slammed on the brakes, skidding to a stop.
Lassi leaped from the vehicle and took off running.
Cillian met her side in a few short seconds, thanks to his long legs and magical stamina.
“Down here.” He pointed beyond the house to the barn. “Oh, Lord,” he said when the barn came into view.
“Whoa,” Lassi said, her scalp prickling with fear. She eyed the path of rocks leading toward the house. They skirted the dwelling, heading toward the livestock area. When they reached the barn, they branched into a circle, completely enclosing the large structure.
Cillian looked as ill as when he’d told her the story of Rosalie. His stride began to falter.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
“It’s...it’s...it’s exactly like when I found Rosalie.” His voice sounded strangled.
“There was a stone path?”
“Yes. I could have saved her,” he cried.
Her insides boiled with jealousy. He still loves Rosalie. He never got over her. Well, so be it. Do your job, help him out, and get back to Dublin. She straightened her shoulders. Then a jolt of anger shot through her as her compassion weighed in. Damn the fecking Dearg-Due for taking away his love and bringing him endless grief.
“Don’t go in there!” Conway shouted from some ways back. “It could be a crime scene!”
Cillian stopped short. He leaned against the wall, his eyes moist. Another anguished look marred his face once again.
She placed her palms on his shoulders and gripped him fiercely.
His eyes were squeezed shut. Tears streaked his cheeks. He drew his arm over his face.
“Cillian. Look at me.”
“I can’t. It’s like...it’s just like...” His chest shook with unshed grief, held captive all these many years.
She bit back her own tears. She’d dealt with a parent’s grief on many occasions. Babies died. Or, they hung in the balance while their tender bodies healed. But to witness such despair in someone she cared for was cracking her professional resolve. Fecking get it together. She shook her whole body, limbs, and all, like a dog, ridding itself of water. “It’s the past, Cillian. You’re reliving a nightmare. It’s no longer real. Now open your bloody eyes and look at me.”
He righted himself, took a breath, and met her eyes.
Certain his love for Rosalie shone in his luminous, Leviathan gaze, she fought against her jealousy, willing herself to stay cool and composed.
He clutched her upper arms. “I can’t lose you. I refuse.”
She blinked a few times. He’s worried about losing me? “You won’t lose me. Not if I can help it. Don’t forget I’m a nurse. That’s nearly a superhero. And now that I have magic skills, well...I’m beyond super.” She shrugged one shoulder. “Look out, world.”
A keening wail came from the barn.
“What the fecking hell?” Lassi’s hair stood on end.
Conway and Mary finally drew up close to them. Conway bent, placing his hands on his knees, and gasped for breath. “Need to...work out more. Penny’s...in the house...I checked.”
&nb
sp; Horrible clawing sounds emerged from inside the barn, accompanied by ragged panting.
“Shite. So... what’s in there, then?” Lassi hissed. Sheer, unbridled terror filled her insides. Her skin grew clammy yet her mouth was dry as a bone.
More footsteps lumbered toward them from the rear.
Lassi whirled around, clutching the flashlight like a weapon.
Galbraith and Brown stormed toward them.
“Back away from the crime scene,” Galbraith said, in a wheezing voice.
Brown immediately took command. “Conway! You head for the house. Mrs. O’Donnell’s up there. Take your mother, and stay the fuck there. Do not, under any circumstance, come back down here.”
“Are you kidding me? You have no idea what’s in there,” Conway blurted.
Mary gave him a stern gaze, accompanied by a subtle shake of her head.
Brown skewered him with a steely expression. “I’ve dealt with serial killers, Conway. What can be deadlier?”
His mouth opened and closed. “Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry, ma’am.”
“Now, go! We’ll deal with this situation. You take care of Mrs. O’Donnell.” She pointed toward the house.
He started to turn to go, but stopped, staring at Cillian.
Cillian turned to face Brown. His presence seemed to grow as he towered over her, but it could have been a trick of the light. “You and Galbraith need to go, too.”
Brown puffed out her chest. “Who’s in charge here, Father, you or me? You’re a suspect.”
“I’m not the one to worry about, Inspector. I’m your best chance at catching the killer.” His eyes glowed softly for a second.
Inspector Brown blinked a few times. “Right,” she said. “Galbraith, let’s go help Conway with Penny.”
