“He laid one on ya,” Raibeart supplied, pursing his lips to give an air kiss. “Muah!”
Euann held his arms to the side and added, “I gave ya a quick peck on the mouth to break a sleeping curse. I promise, no advantage was taken on my behalf.”
Cora touched her lips. He’d kissed her, and she’d missed it? The tingling in her body hadn’t lessened. She felt different. “What kind of magick? What’s wrong with me?”
“Don’t be afraid. The effects might not last.” Euann held a hand out for her to take. “Please, stay and rest. You’re safe here, I promise. In the morning, we will try to discover the answers to your questions. My brother has a lot of explaining to do.”
Cora trusted him. The sting of her new magick lessened when he was near. She hesitated before taking Euann’s hand. “I’m frightened.”
“Don’t be. For as long as ya need it, my home is your home.” Euann walked her away from the front door toward the stairs. His eyes were kind, and she didn’t feel threatened. “May I get ya anything? Are ya hungry?”
Anything but cookies.
“I think I need a drink,” she said, partly joking.
“That’s my girl!” Raibeart clapped his hands and disappeared into the dining room.
Cora stood alone with Euann in the front hall. She didn’t release his hand. His touch eased the current in her nerves and helped her to think clearly. “I keep expecting to be woken up at any moment by my alarm clock telling me I need to go to work.”
“Where do you work?”
“I have a job as a library manager overseeing special collections, or at least I did. I’m not sure I still have my job after disappearing for days without checking in. The director is a stickler for rules and won’t be happy with my being a no-show.” She gazed at his hand on hers, compelled to speak. “I also work with an English bulldog rescue sanctuary. Though really, we help all dog breeds. It just started with English bulldogs. My apartment doesn’t allow pets, and I can’t afford to move, so it’s a way I can play with several dogs instead. I was on my way home from a transport run when Jewel found me at a gas station.” She gave a small laugh and pulled her hand away. “And I don’t know why I’m running on at the mouth. You probably didn’t need that big of an explanation to answer your question.”
Cora realized she sounded nervous like they were on a first date. She glanced around the marble and oak foyer. Correction, like she was on a first date with a freaking Rockefeller.
“My uncle has an English bulldog. We call him Traitor,” Euann said with a playful grin. “Fergus loves that dog, dresses him in the family tartans.
Cora chuckled. “I’d like to see that.”
“Here we are! I have single malt scotch, American whiskey, Canadian whiskey, and, ah,” Raibeart adjusted an armful of bottles, causing them to clank loudly, “and…sherry? Sorry, that one’s a mistake.”
“I think she probably meant water,” Euann pointed out.
Raibeart looked confused.
“No, I meant a drink,” Cora corrected. She pointed at Raibeart’s arms. “Vodka?”
“Um…?” Raibeart glanced over his shoulder.
“Whiskey’s fine,” Cora said. “Tall glass.”
“Whole bottle—well, half bottle work?” Raibeart sat the bottles on the floor before grabbing one that was half-full with a caramel-colored liquor. He handed it to her without waiting for her to answer. The label indicated it was a rye whiskey.
“That works.” Cora nodded. Anything to take the edge off. With Euann’s touch gone, the stinging came back. “Thanks.”
Raibeart grabbed his own bottle, leaving the others on the floor.
“Whiskey drinker. That’s my girl. She’s more Scots than ya, Euann,” Raibeart teased, only to add, “Want me to pour ya a glass of sherry?”
Euann frowned at him. “I’m good. Thanks.”
“So, Cora, can I ask ya a question?” Raibeart grinned.
“No,” Euann answered for her. “Cora, if ya would like, I can show ya and your bottle to a guest room.”
“Let the lassie speak for herself,” Raibeart protested.
Euann touched her elbow, and she again felt the effects of his nearness. He led her up the stairs. Under her breath, she asked, “What was he going to ask me?”
“Ya have to ignore Uncle Raibeart. That attic light dimmed long ago.” Euann gave a small smile to show he was joking.
Cora opened the rye and took a small drink. The liquor burned, and she coughed. Maybe asking for hard liquor wasn’t the best idea. Then again, couldn’t hurt. She took another swig.
Chapter Eight
Euann thought of Cora upstairs in his room. He wasn’t sure why he had given her his bedroom the night before and not a guest room, only that when they touched, he had a hard time concentrating. He’d not been thinking about where they were going until his hand had been on the doorknob and he was inviting her inside. By then it was too late to turn around. Well, he could have, but any inarticulate version of, “I thought ya would like to see my room, ya know, just in case ya want to come stay the night here, with me, in this room, in that bed,” would not have come out right.
He shifted his hips. It would have come out honest, but not right.
The feelings he experienced when they were forced to dance hadn’t left him, even after the phoenix’s magick no longer influenced their actions. He had felt attraction many times. He had felt protective of a woman before. Never had both feelings been so intense. Even now, his hand ached to make contact with her.
He had a possible explanation for it. Running through the forest as he chased after Kenneth had infused his magick. He hadn’t meant to pull so much power, but his emotions had been high. Now energy buzzed in his system like it was about to explode out of him.
Seeing his long-lost brother stirred a mixture of feelings. Knowing that same brother had abandoned the family on purpose made those emotions even more complicated.
Kenneth was alive.
Twenty-five years, and he’d chosen to be away from them.
Euann had a powerful niece.
He hoped a grandchild would be enough to stop the breaking of their ma’s heart when she found out the truth. Margareta MacGregor might come off as a strong and powerful warlock, but she was more delicate than she seemed. Kenneth’s actions would wound her deeply.
How could Kenneth do this to their mother?
The light shifted over the MacGregor library as the clouds churned outside. The threat of a storm came on suddenly, and the strange weather could only be attributed to Erik’s mood. His oldest brother barely managed to contain his anger. Erik stood, arms crossed over his chest and feet planted shoulder-width apart as if at any moment he’d attack.
Euann sat beside Rory on the sofa, their bodies angled toward Kenneth. Now was not the time to think about Cora in his bedroom, tangled in the blankets of his bed. Not that logic stopped the idea from dancing around the edge of his thoughts.
Rory kept quiet, except for the nervous tapping of his fingers on the arm of the couch. He stared at his cousin as if daring the man to try to disappear again.
“Euann tells me ya left us willingly.” Erik’s words barely made it through his clenched teeth.
Kenneth sat on a chair. The position struck Euann as being one of a man on trial as the rest of them stared at the offender in judgment. Truth be told that was a fair analysis. Kenneth had a lot to answer for.
Iain kept his eyes trained on the floor, his arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against the edge of a cabinet that made up the base of a bookcase. He refused to look at Kenneth. “Someone should call Da. Let him be the one to tell Ma.”
“Raibeart already called her,” Euann said. “They are on their way back. He also called Aunt Cait and Uncle Fergus. They’ll take longer, but they’re coming as well.”
“Twenty-five years and not one word to ease your ma’s breaking heart.” Erik continued his condemnation.
“Someone should tell Malina,
” Iain put forth, still staring at his feet. Their sister was in Las Vegas with her luck demon husband, Dar. Just because he was called a demon didn’t mean he was evil in the usual sense of the word unless a person was at the craps table betting it all. Dar might make sure a person lost…or won, depending on his mood and the needs of his magick.
“Can’t. I lost my phone,” Euann said.
“I’ll do it.” Rory stood up from the couch. He pulled his cellphone from his pocket as he strode from the library as if he was so upset, he couldn’t wait to get away from Kenneth.
“I’m sorry if my absence caused ya pain.” Kenneth’s voice was quiet. “I had no choice.”
Silence followed the statement. That was it? No choice.
“Give us something, brother. Was it a portal?” Euann asked. “An enchantment?”
“Was it witches? Demons? Fairies?” Erik demanded. “Lake spirits? Mountain spirits? Bad magick? Spells?”
“Where have ya been?” Euann tried to keep a reasonable tone. “What have ya been doing?”
“If ya must have an answer, I’ve been teaching eighth-grade math in rural Oklahoma,” Kenneth said, “and coaching little league baseball.”
Euann wasn’t sure if Kenneth was trying to make a joke. If so, it wasn’t funny. No one was laughing.
“Ya had no choice but to teach math?” Euann wasn’t sure what to make of that.
“I had to take care of my daughter,” Kenneth stated. There was no apology to his demeanor, no hint of regret or remorse.
“Jewel is what? Five? Maybe six years old? Ya have been gone for twenty-five years,” Erik said. “Try again, math teacher. The truth this time.”
It was evident that Erik’s anger wasn’t going to wane. The clouds darkened. Kenneth had always been stubborn. Since they were children, he’d never backed down from a fight, and whenever he was in trouble, he’d lock up and refuse to see the other side.
“She’s six.” Kenneth stood. “I’ve said all I can on the matter. Tell Ma I’m sorry, but we can’t stay and ya need to stop looking for us. I can’t protect Jewel here. She has been out in the open too long.”
“She’s family. She belongs here with us,” Erik said. “So do ya.”
“Her magick brought her here for a reason, even if she doesn’t know it,” Euann argued. “Out of all the places she could have gone off to, she came to Wisconsin.”
“We can protect her from whatever it is you’re scared of,” Erik continued. “Surely it’s better if there are more of us.”
“It’s better if we hide, and no one knows where to find us.” Kenneth denied the offer. “This family isn’t always known for its discretion in the magickal community.”
“Who is looking for ya?” Euann wanted to both hug and strangle his brother at the same time. He was being hardheaded and for no understandable reason. Everyone’s emotions were running hot, and he felt a fight about to explode.
“Ya stole the phoenix, didn’t ya, laddie?” Raibeart entered the library. Euann hadn’t realized their uncle had been listening. “I’m not saying ya didn’t have your reasons, but I suppose those who had it want the powerful creature back.”
“Ya kidnapped Jewel?” Erik frowned, dropping his arms from his chest to relax his stance. Finally, they were getting somewhere. If Kenneth stole something of such value, it would make sense that he felt the need to be on the run.
“It is more complicated than that. She is my daughter, but the phoenix’s power was entrusted to me. It’s difficult to explain.” Kenneth became agitated. “I didn’t steal anything.”
“Where is her ma?” Euann also stood, not wanting to be the only one seated.
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is Jewel is my daughter and I have to protect her.” Kenneth made a move to leave. “If I needed your help, I would have come home sooner.”
“No, ya wouldn’t have.” Iain finally looked up from the floor and went to his brother. “Ya forget how well we know ya. If ya thought whatever ya were doing would pose a threat to us, ya would not have come back. Ya would have stubbornly thought ya could handle things on your own.”
“Daft twit,” Raibeart muttered.
“Who is Jewel’s ma? Is she safe? Do we need to send someone for her?” asked Euann.
They didn’t need to speak the words out loud to know that no one was letting Kenneth and Jewel leave the MacGregor estate. Regardless of his reasons for going, and the heartache it caused, he was family. Family always protected family.
Kenneth sighed.
“Stop the act. Ya know you’re not going anywhere,” Euann said, stating the obvious. “If ya were, ya would have tried to sneak out last night while everyone was asleep.”
Kenneth closed his eyes. “I met Jewel’s ma in a dive bar in West Virginia.”
“Which is the last place we tracked ya to,” Euann said. “Go on.”
“Her name was Geneva and she came from mountain people. She clearly knew what I was before she approached me. I had been drinking for hours and had no clue who she was until it was too late. My guard was down. She enspelled my moonshine and the next thing I know, she’s performing a ritual over my naked body.”
“Kinky.” Raibeart grinned with a knowing nod. “Been there.”
Kenneth lifted up his shirt to show a series of scars on his chest and stomach to create a broken spiral. “Painful.”
“Wild cat, was she? Tangled the sheets with a shifter?” Raibeart pretended to flinch. “Had a few one-night stands like that myself, laddie.”
“Mountain witch,” Kenneth corrected.
“Och, why were ya up in their territory?” Raibeart’s grin faded. “They are not to be trifled with.”
“As I was saying, Geneva performed a ritual. She took my blood, took my,” he glanced down meaningfully, “stuff, and nine hours later—”
“Months,” Erik corrected.
“No, hours,” Kenneth insisted. “Nine hours later, I’m stumbling around like I’d been on a bender, the entire forest is in flames, people were literally coming for us with enchanted pitchforks, and Geneva was handing me my daughter, insisting I take her and hide her away from those with magick for she would be hunted. It ended up being Geneva’s dying wish, one I could not say no to. She controlled me as much as Jewel can control others. Geneva distracted the others and then threw herself into the fire. For a while I thought she might be a phoenix too and would come back for the baby, but then the mountain witches started attacking us. The best I can gather is, whatever was done that night brought the phoenix power into my daughter. As Geneva’s influence over me slowly faded, I knew I had to protect the baby. Jewel is too powerful, and in the wrong hands she could be devastating. So I took my child and hid her away from all magickal things for twenty-five years.”
“Your math is off,” Iain stated. “The kid is six.”
“So it was a portal?” Erik’s voice sounded calmer than before.
“There is no portal. She’s a phoenix,” Raibeart said as if the answer should be clear.
“Time travel?” Euann asked. “Is that how she bent time in the forest?”
“Something like that,” Kenneth said. His head twitched to the side, and he stiffened. Soft footsteps sounded outside the door.
Raibeart opened the door to let Cora in.
“Rory said…” She faltered a little when she saw everyone standing. “I’m sorry. Am I interrupting?”
Kenneth placed his hand on Euann’s arm. “She radiates with the phoenix’s magick. Ya can’t let her leave, or danger will come looking for her.”
Cora made a weak noise. Kenneth strode past her as he left the library. She walked toward Euann. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”
“It’s not ya. We’re dealing with old family wounds.” Euann wanted to excuse Kenneth’s behavior, but instead found himself asking, “Feel like a walk in the woods? I think I dropped my cellphone out there the other night.”
“Oh, ah,” she brushed at her clothing, “right now?”
“It looks like it might rain.” She nodded at the clouds through the window.
“Hopefully not for a few hours.” He wanted to be close to her. His fingers stretched as if drawn to her.
“Okay, yes. I think the fresh air will do me some good. I’d be happy to help you look for your phone.” Cora walked beside him until they reached the front door. Without thinking, he lifted his hand, opening the door without touching it. The magickal display caused her to give a little jump of surprise.
“I’m guessing ya have a lot of questions. I will help ya find answers.” Euann led her down the front steps to the driveway. The clouds still churned in the sky, and a cool breeze swept over them, but it didn’t look like it was about to rain. Erik’s temper appeared to be calming.
A small screech broke into their conversation. Cora gripped his arm as a gremain ran past. Her touch soothed him even as she squeezed. It was chased by a second one wearing a pair of bikini brief male underpants around his neck like a scarf. A loud cackle echoed, and their little feet crunched on the stones of the drive. The gremains were getting bolder. If they didn’t do something soon, they’d be all over Green Vallis, infesting every plumbing and electrical system in town.
The shock on her face did not surprise Euann. He waited for her panic. She’d been quite upset the night before about her possible magick. Cora’s breathing deepened as her widened eyes stared after the creatures.
“We’re getting rid of them,” he assured her. “We should have done so already. They’re more pests than anything.”
A small laugh erupted from her. “Was that thing wearing underwear on its head?”
“I’m ashamed to say they stole it from Uncle Raibeart one night when he passed out in the forest.” Euann let loose a relieved sigh to see she wasn’t frightened. “I honestly did not want to ask questions beyond that.”
She laughed harder and released his arm. “You must be completely fascinated by each day. Everything around here is so…not normal.”
Kisses and Curses Page 5
