Silver at Midnight: A Paranormal Romance Urban Fantasy (The Keepers of Knowledge Series Book 5)

by Bridgette O'Hare

  “As d’you,” I replied slowly, still wrapping my mind around what was happening. How could Darek be their informant? How could he be standing in front of me. He was human. He had to be in order to be one of The Hunters. The Saiad would never have allowed a Supernatural to infiltrate their ranks so deeply.

  “Ye also look surprised,” Darek said with a hint of the smile I remembered.

  Cian moved around the table to stand next to me, his back toward Darek. As he leaned against the table to look down at me, he placed a hand over mine, and the gravity of the connection pulled me from my trance. I angled my face to meet Cian’s, darting my eyes back to Darek once and then returning to Cian’s stare.

  “How?” I whispered to Cian, bewilderment behind my gaze.

  Cian’s eyes narrowed. Clearly, he was as confused as I was. “How what, lass? What’s goin’ on? Ya okay?”

  I glanced to Darek, who was hands down taking this better than I was, and back to Cian. “I thought he was human. How is he here?”

  Recognition dawned on Cian, and he nodded as if he finally understood. But he didn’t really understand. There was no way he could possibly understand.

  Darek stepped forward and placed a small wooden medallion on the table before me. “I think that's the answer you're looking for.”

  The moment Darek laid the small artifact down, he was no longer protected by its power and the cloak of humanity was gone. For the third time since setting foot in Pyreshore, I was looking at a soul that was blocked from my view. Clearly a trait of anyone working with Davar Magén.

  I picked it up, twirled it between my fingers and studied it. “You had the Gelimah Medallion.” The words spilled out as if I were speaking to myself.

  “Aye,” Darek replied. “My question is, what artifact allowed you t’ hide among the natives?”

  My focus shifted from the medallion to Darek and then fell to rest on Cian who was regarding me carefully. The confidence I had held when I was alone with Cian wavered. Had it only been him, I would have likely confessed to my innate ability to cloak the nature of who I am. But things had clearly changed very quickly. While I was certain Darek was trustworthy, I was hesitant to share my secrets. So, instead of being forthcoming, I gave my cover story.

  “I’m afraid I’m not at liberty t’ share that information. My employer has strict guidelines.” I inhaled deeply and slumped back in the chair.

  “Ya sure you’re okay, Aish?” Cian’s words held genuine concern.

  I nodded. “Just a wee bit taken back.”

  Knowing that Darek was, in fact, not human explained why he remembered me. The magic used to alter his memories was meant for humans. When used on any Supernatural, the effects would not be permanent. Eventually, the magic would have worn off on its own. However, if Davar Magén employed the same protocols as Natra, Darek would have undergone a series of cleanses after being pulled from an operation, just to be safe. A supernatural debriefing if you will. Those cleanses would have stripped away all magic, including the magic I had used to alter his memories.

  “Is the weather still nice out?” I asked Cian.

  “Aye, not a cloud in the sky. Why?”

  “I think I’ll have my lunch in the fresh air. I’ll let ya two catch up on Davar Magén business, and we can discuss the list of artifacts when I get back.” I made eye contact with Cian as I grabbed my jacket from the table.

  He reached for my hand. An unspoken apprehension passed between us, and I knew he sensed something was off. I forced a smile, but it wasn’t the smile he’d grown accustomed to in the short time we’d spent together.

  “I’ll be in the picnic area next t’ the museum if ya need me,” I said softly to Cian as if he was the only one in the room.

  “We’ll talk about this later?” Cian whispered his question.

  I offered an affirming nod and picked up my coffee and lunch.

  “I’ll see you boys when I return.” I tried to leave the room without looking at Darek, but his gaze locked on mine as I opened the door, and a rush of sensations assaulted me. I pulled the door shut quickly and bolted down both flights of stairs.

  I contemplated calling Kara as soon as I was out of the building, but I was still processing. I decided to finish eating my lunch first. Just as I was throwing my trash away, I shot her a text saying she needed to call me ASAP. And I followed it with a 911. I knew no matter what she was doing, I'd have a call within a matter of two minutes. I was not wrong.

  When I answered, in true Kara fashion, she didn't even say hello. Her concerned eyes filled the screen.

  Kara’s first words were, “Do I need to get on a plane? Because I can get on a plane.”

  “I don't know. Maybe. I'm fairly sure the world just imploded. At least, mine did.”

  “Did Cian do something? I know people. You know I know people. What happened last night?”

  “No, no, no. Cian is amazing, actually. Are ya sitting down?”

  “I can be. Should I?”

  “Umm . . . aye. I'm pretty sure ya need t’ be sitting down.” I watched Kara grab a chair and settle in.

  “Okay. Sitting down. What's up?”

  “I’m just gonna spit it out. Darek Walsh is not human.”

  Kara's eyes shot wide open; her head cocked to one side in astonishment. “Say what?”

  “But wait . . . there’s more,” I added.

  “That wasn’t enough?”

  I shook my head. “Apparently, no. Not enough. He’s here. Like, he was just standing in front of me here. And . . . he remembers everything.”

  Kara covered her mouth with her hand in a very southern belle gesture. “And how are you handling this? I mean, ya seem a little calm. Wait, are you in shock? You’re in shock, aren’t ya?”

  I nodded. “Lit’l bit.”

  “Well, what are ya gonna do, Aish?”

  “I’m not sure what t’ do. I mean, it’s even more complicated than that.”

  “How can it get more . . . oh, cac. Cian. He kissed ya, didn’t he?” Kara shook her head.

  I nodded slowly, my lips pressed hard together.

  “And you like him.”

  “I do. I didn’t plan t’, but aye.”

  “How are ya feelin’ about Darek though? This is one heckuva monkey wrench. I know the reason ya didn’t let yourself get any closer to him was because he was human. Only, now he’s not human. Wait, what is he?”

  I had to answer her, but I didn’t want to admit that I’d had three encounters where I couldn’t read the origins. So, I told the truth without admitting everything. “He’s the same as Cian. And Cian’s brother, who I have not yet met but I assume I will soon. I feel like I should be on a reality TV show.”

  “Dang. I really don’t envy you. I mean, at least they are both ridiculously gorgeous. Could be worse, right?”

  I narrowed my eyes. “You are so not helpin’, K. Not even a lit’l.”

  “I know. Sorry. Just trying to at least see a bit of a bright side. To be honest, I don’t know what to tell ya. But if you decide you just need an escape route out of there, I’m your huckleberry. Let me know. I’ll be right on that! Seriously though, how did Darek act?”

  “He just looked at me with that look. Ya know? And his voice, the way he spoke t’ me . . . it was the same Darek. It was a little surreal standing there with him, knowing he remembers everything.”

  I was about to elaborate, when I saw Cian exit the side door of the library and head my way.

  “K, we will have t’ talk about this later.” I glanced up as Cian approached.

  “Which one is it?” Kara asked.

  “I’ll catch up with ya later,” I said hoping she’d understand. I didn’t want him to know we’d been talking about him. “If you find more info on that dagger or the artifact, let me know.”

  Kara caught on immediately. “Will do. I’ll get Lazlo on it. Ciao for now!”

  “Bye, K.” I waved and ended the
call just as Cian stopped in front of me.

  “I think we need t’ talk,” he said.

  “Isn’t it usually the woman who starts a conversation like that?” I asked, trying to lighten the moment even before it grew heavy.

  Cian straddled the bench next to me and leaned on the table with one elbow. Just like every time before, the close proximity sent waves of energy skating across my skin.

  “Things got a little tense in there. Care t’ tell me what that was all about?”

  “Well . . . seeing him unexpectedly jus’ caught me off guard. I believed he was human, so the last place I expected him t’ end up is here. I'm sure you can understand that it was quite the shock for him t’ be standing in front of me.”

  “Aye, I can understand. But . . . I saw the way he looked at ya, Aish. I heard the tone in his voice. He wasn’t expectin’ t’ see you here either. I have t’ ask. There was more between the two of ya than passing information, wasn't there?”

  I didn’t want to admit it to Cian, but I wasn’t about to lie to him. “There was.” My heart sank along with the countenance in Cian’s beautiful eyes.

  “Is that the reason ya left the assignment?”

  “Aye,” I admitted. “As I said, I thought he was human. And caring for a human is a recipe for disaster. So, before my feelings grew, I requested a reassignment.”

  Cian drew in a hard pull of air and let it out slowly. “Thank you for being honest with me.”

  “I’ll never be anything but honest with you, Cian. I trust you. And I don’t give trust easily. I want ya t’ know you can trust me also. It’s a two-way street.” I placed my hand on his, needing to feel the connection. He looked up at me, his eyes hooded and still burning with the emotion I had seen before.

  “I’ll trust you unless ya give me a reason not to. Seem fair?

  “Seems just as it should be.” I meant it when I said I’d never give Cian a reason to question my trust. But that didn’t mean Darek’s presence didn’t affect me. It did. I was still trying to figure out how.

  He leaned in and placed his lips tenderly to the middle of my forehead, and I melted a little.

  “Ya think you’re ready to go in and review the list he brought?” Cian spoke, his lips still lingering just above my eyes.

  “Aye, I’m nothing if not professional,” I snickered.

  “Yeah. Yeah. Don’t forget, I know all about your twenty percent behavior,” he smiled against my skin.

  “I’ll deny it. I’m as professional as they come.” I sat upright, winked, and pecked a soft kiss on his lips. “C’mon. We need t’ find an artifact. And the clock is tickin’.”

  I dragged him from his seat at the picnic table and we made our way back to the third-floor archives. Not that I was looking forward to spending the next several hours in a confined space with both Cian and Darek. I was not. But the sooner I completed research on the list of artifacts Darek had acquired from The Saiad, the sooner I could escape this triangle of awkwardness.

  Twenty-One

  I had known spending any amount of time in close quarters with Darek was going to be a little awkward at best. Adding Cian to the mix ramped up the discomfort factor by a few thousand decibels. I tried my best to stay focused on the list in front of me. I kept my head down and researched one artifact at a time to see if there was anything The Saiad had in their storehouse we needed to be prepared for. In reality, ninety percent of what they had acquired was something we needed to be prepared for. Whoever was in charge of artifact recovery for the Hunters knew their stuff. They knew what would be helpful and powerful to their cause. We were not dealing with amateurs.

  When I came across an artifact I had seen in a picture at Uncle Lachlan’s office, I glanced at the time and wondered what was keeping him.

  “Hey, Cian, have ya heard from Uncle Lach? From what he said last night, I expected him t’ be here by now.”

  Cian checked his phone for messages, then looked at me from across the table and shook his head back and forth. “Nay. Not a word. I'll give him a call.” Knowing any signal inside the archives room was sorely lacking for a phone conversation, Cian glanced at me and silently questioned if I'd be okay. I knew he was really asking if I’d be okay alone with Darek. I gave one short, subtle nod to assure him, and he rose and headed for the exit. When the door closed behind him, I began to reconsider the situation. I instantly returned to my research as uncomfortable silence ensued.

  Within moments, I could feel Darek staring at me from the seat only a few feet away, but I didn’t dare look up from my reading.

  “How long have ye known Cian?” The silence had been broken, and it would have seemed suspicious if I ignored him, you know . . . considering we were the only two in the room.

  “I'm sorry, what?”

  “I'm askin’ how long ye have known Cian McCallister,” Darek repeated.

  “Oh. We met the day I arrived in Pyreshore. So, not long,” I offered the information casually and promptly returned to my reading. Or, at least, pretended to. I wanted to ask why he was interested in knowing, but I thought better of it. Not that it mattered. He continued his line of questioning regardless.

  “How long is not long?”

  I answered without looking up. “A few days.”

  “Interesting. Ye two seem much more . . . familiar.”

  The way he said the last word held a twinge of insinuation that my curiosity wouldn’t ignore. My attention shifted from the book I was reading to Darek. He had turned his chair to face me and was studying me, no doubt to gauge my reaction. I tried to keep it neutral. Keyword: tried.

  “I’m not sure what ya mean.”

  “I mean the way ya two interact, it just seems like there’s more than a casual knowledge,” he clarified.

  I shrugged. “I suppose sometimes you’re just naturally comfortable around some people.”

  He rolled his chair closer until he had eliminated the space between us, and he leaned on the chair arm toward me. Behind his stare was a symphony of forgotten moments being played to a tune I no longer knew how to dance to. “Aye. Ya mean like when we met,” he recalled, his voice low and resolute.

  I didn’t respond. Couldn’t respond. Speaking is nearly impossible when you’re holding your breath.

  “Aish, I remember everything. Every quiet moment we shared. Every stolen glance. Every embrace . . . I remember it as well as you do. I know ya know that. I could see it in yer eyes the moment I looked at ya. I wish ya had talked to me and not just disappeared.”

  Forcing myself to breathe, I inhaled slowly to steady myself before responding. “Darek, ya have to understand my reasons.”

  “I do. Ya thought I was the enemy.” He leaned in, his hazel eyes demanding contact with mine. “And you were fallin’ for me.”

  I wanted to deny what he was saying. I wanted to insist that he had imagined it all. But that wouldn’t have been the truth. Instead, I played it down.

  “I cared about ya. I won’t deny that.” The words hung heavily in the air between us for a moment, and then he smiled. It was a knowing smile, like he was certain there was more I wasn’t saying. Instinctively, I leaned back in my chair, needing to establish some distance between us.

  “Ya still do,” he insisted in almost a whisper.

  I swallowed hard. “It’s been a long time, Darek.”

  “Six months isn’t all that long, Aish. Feelings don’t just disappear because ya tell them they shouldn’t exist. Mine haven’t.” The gravity of his stare intensified. “Admit it, ya still feel something for me.”

  I opened my mouth to speak just as the door opened and Uncle Lachlan entered followed by Cian. It would be a lie if I said the sight of them was anything other than a relief.

  Darek smoothly eased his chair just far enough away to not draw obvious attention from Cian. Uncle Lachlan, on the other hand, offered a glare in Darek’s direction and then his gaze dashed to meet mine. My eyes widened and returned t
o their normal state just briefly enough to relay an unspoken message to my uncle. I only hoped he understood that I had not been the one to create the illusion of intimacy they had interrupted.

  “I was beginning to wonder about ya,” I immediately addressed the now present Keeper. “I’ve made some notes while you’ve been gone that I need t’ discuss with you. I trust your trip was productive?”

  “Aye. ‘Twas. I understand ye have had a rather productive day, as well.” Uncle Lachlan placed a small leather pouch on the table along with a roll of parchment.

  “Is that the artifact you retrieved?” I asked.

  “This is,” he clarified as he picked up the leather pouch and emptied the contents onto the table: a five-inch-long fragment of jade-colored stone chiseled into the shape of a spearhead.

  I reached out a hand, and he placed it in my palm. The warmth of its energy radiated into my skin. “Wow. It’s powerful. What is it and what does it do?”

  “It’s referred to as the Seeking Spear. It points to the truth in its many forms, whatever they may be,” he replied and then held the pouch open for me to return the artifact.

  I dropped it in and asked about the parchment. “So, what’s that then?”

  Uncle Lachlan offered a sly smile. “That, m’dear, is why my trip took longer than anticipated. I’ll let you do the honors.” He placed the tattered, yellowed parchment in my hand.

  The paper was dry and withered, but still soft and pliable beneath my fingertips. I pushed aside the books spread out in front of me and slowly unrolled the parchment, laying one of the nearby books just over the top edge to hold it in place. Handwritten in Aramaic across the top were the words The Tribe of Kanna.

  I caught my breath—for a completely different reason—for the second time tonight. If this was what I thought it was, it might give some information on the Kanna Stone. I stared at it for a moment in awe, lightly tracing a finger over the handwritten words, and that’s when I noticed the drawings partially hidden within the curl at the bottom of the paper. Pushing my fingers carefully across the center, a dagger was revealed.