“Well, there weren’t any marks on the journals or that pillar behind ya either, until they were revealed. What if this has hidden markings as well. Seems t’ be a thing lately.” Cian held the stone out. “Take it. Give it a go. We got nothin’ t’ lose.”
Reaching my hand out, I stopped halfway to the target. “And if it is the Hébel Stone? AKA the Kanna Stone . . . AKA the Stone of Two Brothers. What does that mean for me . . . for us? I just—”
Cian stepped toward me, placing the stone in my palm as he closed his hand around mine, cocooning the stone inside. “I’m scared, too, Aish,” he breathed, leaning his forehead to mine. “But I’m right here with you, and we will face whatever is thrown at us . . . together.”
“Stronger together,” I whispered.
“Stronger together,” he repeated, reaching his hand around the back of my neck and lacing his fingers into my hair. He pressed a warm kiss to my forehead and leaned back to look me in the eyes. “Ready t’ see if this thing is hiding something?”
I nodded and stepped back, opening my hand to reveal the stone. With my other hand I dangled my pendant, lowering it closer and closer. “Nothing’s happening.”
“Flip it over,” Cian suggested.
When I did, it revealed itself.
בכר
“That’s Hebrew,” I mumbled.
“Bechor,” Cian followed up.
“Firstborn. Cain was firstborn. Oh . . . wow.”
“Wow? What’s the ‘wow’ for?”
“The Stone of Two Brothers . . . Cain and Abel . . . Kanna and Hébel. How did I not put that together before now?” I marveled. “This explains the duality of the stone. Heavy yet light, smooth yet jagged.”
“And that’s why no one has ever seen the Hébel Stone before, it was always hidden within the Kanna Stone.” Realization echoed in his tone.
“But . . . how are we seeing it? Why aren’t we seeing it as the Kanna Stone?”
“Because you get t’ choose, Aish. Maybe anyone else who used it already had plans in mind for it as the Kanna Stone. They knew what it could do, and they knew what they wanted from it. You have no agenda. Pure heart, remember?”
“Aye, I remember. No pressure or anything.” I inhaled slowly and held it a moment before releasing. “I guess we need t’ find a way out of here and try t’ get our hands on that blade. Seems I have a prophecy t’ fulfill.”
“I don’t even remember which tunnel we entered.”
“Lucky for us, I marked it. I didn’t think it best to count on that haywire arrow,” I announced. I shoved the stone in my pocket, picked up the Moon Orb from the bench to light the way, and began searching the openings for the rock I’d placed. “This one!
Cian took a few steps toward me and said, “Seems the arrow is still pointing toward the stone. It’s not spinning now, but it is aimed at you.”
“I wish it would aim at how t’ get out of here. But I think I can remember.”
“You remember the turns and directions, right?” he asked.
“Aye.”
“Well, I counted the steps. I’ll go first and when I stop, ya can make sure I turn the right way.” He moved in front and started down the corridor. “I don’t suppose I really need this haywire arrow now, do I?” he joked and glanced down at it then stopped.
“Why are we stoppin’?”
“Umm . . . because you have the stone and it didn’t turn to keep pointin’ at you,” he claimed. “See?” He held his hand in a way that showed what he was explaining.
“Hmph. Well, let’s see what it says when we get to the spot where we’re supposed t’ turn.”
The arrow moved in accordance with each of the turns we remembered along the way, until we came to the last one—the one that was set to lead us out of the cavern and back to where we had entered. The arrow continued to point straight down the corridor. After some consideration, we decided to go straight and see where it took us. We could always turn around and return the way we came.
The corridor inclined and curved a few times before a faint light began to trickle into the darkness in the distance. Cian slowed the pace as we approached the exit covered with vines and thicket. Wisps of silver radiance beamed between the branches.
“There’s no way t’ know where we might come out at in the ruins. I’m goin’ t’ try to get a look. Might want to hide that flashlight just in case,” Cian said before easing forward. Slowly, he pushed aside a small section of the vines and peeked through. His head angled back and forth then tilted upward before he let the vines go.
I pulled the Moon Orb out but kept it partially covered with the velvet cloth. Just enough light to see, but not be seen. “So . . . what’d ya see? Where’d we end up?”
“We’re t’ the right of the steps that lead up t’ the altar. The hedge that runs around the courtyard, this is part of it.” He pointed to the thicket.
“So, let’s go then.” I started for the opening and a hand shot up, stopping me in my tracks.
“Not so fast. Kage has everything set up t’ make this happen. He’s just waiting for me t’ bring the wolf’s fang back so he can use it t’ locate the stone. And you have it. Our best bet for stopping him is not letting him get his hands on it. If you go waltzin’ up there with me, he’s goin’ t’ perform the ritual and make his own lit’l silver arrow that’s goin’ t’ point right at you.”
“Then what d’ya suggest?”
Cian thought for a moment, then answered, “I guess we’re goin’ t’ have t’ give it to him.”
Thirty-Three
Cian’s plan was to plant the Kanna Stone but use the Moon Orb as a decoy. It was a long shot, but it was the best shot we had.
“Listen t’ me, Aisling. I need you safe. So, promise me ya won’t go rogue if this goes sideways.” His gaze bored into me, searching for confirmation.
Part of me wanted to agree, but deep down, I knew it was a promise I couldn’t make. I’d always been one to adapt to a situation and revise on the fly. Cian read my expression and knew.
“Can’t promise me that, can ya?” he asked with a smirk.
My shoulders gave a quick shrug. “I promise not t’ knowingly put myself in danger. Best I can offer.”
He moved close to me, slipped a hand on each side of my face. “I s’pose I’ll have t’ take that offer, on one condition.”
I smiled up at him. “Are ya really in a position t’ be makin’ conditions?” I teased.
“No. But we aren’t assured another breath. I told ya I knew the moment we connected the first time, I was all in. I meant it. My condition is this . . .”
Without even giving me a chance to speak, his lips claimed mine with raw emotion. For a moment, time seemed to stop and the tingling that had once existed when we touched evolved until every cell in my being melted and merged with the magic that intertwined with mine. Every stronghold I had been hiding behind crumbled beneath his kiss. I was acutely aware of the softness of his lips against my mouth, of how feverishly he invaded all of my senses, but mostly of the gravitational pull fusing my soul to his.
When he finally pulled back, we stood there, hearts pounding, chests heaving, unable to speak . . . physically. Not that we needed to. Soul bonds offer a connection beyond words and more. The fullness of my energy raced through my veins again. All at once, with blue fire staring into my green gaze, I felt the intensity of his emotion, I understood the depth of his loyalty, I sensed relentlessness in his desire to protect me, and . . . I heard him speak to me without saying a word.
“I have waited a lifetime for you, Aisling O’Cléirigh.”
I hesitated with my response, uncertain how to weave the complexity of my feelings into something that made sense, that truly expressed my affections. I wondered how you tell someone how you feel when just a few words don’t seem sufficient?
“I think ya just told me.” His voice echoed in my head and a satisfied smile overtook his face.
&n
bsp; “Wait, you could hear all of that?”
His smile widened into a grin. “Aye. But don’t worry. I’m told the mental link to all thoughts is only open for a short time after a soul bond is established. It should fade.”
“Glad I wasn’t thinking about—”
Cian laughed. “You’re still thinkin’ it, Aish. I hear it. And we will revisit that thought later.” He winked and gave me a quick kiss. “Right now, we have t’ go save the world. Ya ready?”
“Ya say it like it’s somethin’ we do e’ryday. Like goin’ t’ get coffee. Some of us aren’t immortal, ya know.”
“I’ll be right there, lass. Stronger together.”
I huffed, pulled him to me, kissed him once more . . . as if I might never kiss him again. Just in case. Then I took a step back and nodded. “Now I’m ready.”
He let out a hard breath and shook the moment back to reality. “Yeah, okay then. I’ll . . . I’ll wait until I can see you and we will proceed as planned.” He grabbed my hand and squeezed and held on until my fingers slipped from his as I walked away.
I made my way back down the corridor and exited the cavern on the eastern side of the courtyard, not quite opposite of the spot Cian stood waiting to emerge. When I stepped from the cavern entrance, I opened a mental link to him as if I’d done it a million times and it was the most natural thing to do.
“I’m coming up the footpath now,” I informed him. His plan was to step out from the vine-covered tunnel and get to Kage in order to distract him so that I could sneak down the edge of the courtyard and get to the fountain without Kage seeing me.
“I’m heading up the steps t’ the altar, wait for my word.”
I watched through an opening in the bushes as Cian made his way up the steps and realized how dangerously close to them I really was. Close enough I could hear their conversation. Kage turned to speak to Cian as he ascended the last few steps.
“Where is Aisling?” Kage questioned, looking around the courtyard behind him.
I jerked back away from the edge of the bushes to keep out of sight.
“I left her here,” Cian lied. “She was supposed t’ watch the journals until we returned.” He moved around to the opposite side of the altar and began opening one of the journals like he was looking for something.
I eased back to peek through the foliage and saw Kage take one more glance around before he turned his focus to Cian.
“Go! Now!” Cian commanded and reached into his pocket for the wolf’s fang, taking his time so that his action held Kage’s interest while I hurried to the opening that led to the garden.
My foot caught a vine at the top of the garden entrance and nearly sent me plummeting. Loose rocks tumbled down the steps and I glanced back over my shoulder as I tried to detangle myself. Kage began to turn just as Cian knocked one of the books off the altar and pulled Kage’s attention away from me just long enough to free my foot and scramble out of sight.
When I made it to the bottom of the garden steps, I stepped to the side and caught my breath. Time was short, so I regrouped quickly and hurried over to the fountain. I made quick work of replacing the orb that represented the half-moon with the Full Moon Orb the Lunar goddess had given to me. Then, I wrapped the Kanna Stone with the silvery velvet cloth and hid it where the water poured from the pillar into the basin just beneath where the Full Moon Orb sat. Hopefully, it would lead Kage to the Moon Orb and give me the chance to get my hands on the Tartaros Blade before he realized he was being played. I glanced at the reflection of the moon in the fountain just as I finished placing the Kanna Stone inside the pillar. Only a sliver remained before it filled the basin completely. I wasn’t completely sure what the Lunar goddess had meant about realizing my full power because I already felt my powers coursing through me.
I stole one more look at the fountain and then hurried back toward the steps up to courtyard to keep an eye out for when they completed the ritual. I ducked into the bushes and crouched down when I heard them walking toward me. I could barely see them making their way across the patchy grass. Kage was a few steps ahead of Cian who was holding a small wooden bowl in one hand—the little silver arrow, I presumed.
“Aish, can ya hear me? Are ya someplace safe?” Cian’s words rang through my thoughts.
“Does hiding in the bushes you’re about t’ walk past count? He did not waste any time.”
“No, and he’s quite concerned about your whereabouts. So, stay outta sight,” Cian warned.
“I’m guessin’ he didn’t leave the blade behind on the altar for me, did he?” I asked sarcastically.
“No such luck. I’ll wait for an opening. Just be ready.”
Only, that opening never came.
Thirty-Four
Their shadowed figures approached, the glow of the torches Kage had lit near the altar offered the only light. Kage slowed so that Cian could catch up to him and they walked side-by-side for a few beats. Then I watched Kage fall back by a step and reach to the scabbard at his side. It took all of three seconds for Kage to have the Tartaros Blade drawn and pointed at Cian’s back. Not enough time for me to make a move to do anything. But I was contemplating my options for attack when Cian stopped me.
“Don’t even think about it, Aish,” Cian immediately warned. “You promised.”
“But I need to—”
“You need to stay safe. Let’s just play this out.”
“What’s the deal, Kage?” Cian asked calmly. “Stop messin’ around.”
“Tell your girlfriend to come out from wherever she is,” Kage demanded. “Ohhh Aisling!” he called out.
Cian glanced back at him but didn’t stop moving forward. Doing so might have caused a nick from the blade, and since the blade was certain to take a life when used accordingly, no one knew what a scratch from it would mean for Cian’s kind. It wasn’t a chance he was willing to take apparently. And I was glad.
“Not sure what ya mean. Ya know she’s pissed at me for lyin’ t’ her.” Cian walked slowly toward the garden steps and closer to my location.
Kage scoffed and then laughed. “Dude. Do you really expect me to believe that you two didn’t kiss and make up and you stashed her away somewhere for safe keeping while I was gone? Have ya seen yourself around her?”
“You’re overreactin’, Kage. I’ve only known her a few days,” Cian countered.
“Seriously, Cian. I’m a little insulted. I’ve been around long enough to know a soul bond when I see it. And don’t try to tell me it’s not possible. I know as well as you do her father was one of us. Now, tell her to come out or you won’t get to tell her anything. Ever again,” Kage threatened.
I didn’t give Cian a chance to say anything. Not that he would have. I stepped out from the concealment of the brush.
“You wanted me? Here I am,” I announced, drawing Kage’s attention.
“Aish, what the—? Ya promised.”
“I’m not knowingly in danger here . . . you are. And I can’t let that happen any more than you could if this were reversed.” The fear in his eyes when our stares connected mirrored my own.
“See, Cian, she’s not so mad at you after all,” Kage jabbed. His upper lip curled in the moonlight, and his glare fixed on me. “Walk ahead of us. No sketchy movements. I think you know why.”
“Ya should’ve stayed hidden,” Cian expressed.
“Ya knew that wasn’t goin’ t’ happen.” I glimpsed over my shoulder, just to lay my eyes on him and get a bead on how far back they were as I started down the steps into the garden. My mind began running through various scenarios, trying to adapt our initial plan to the situation and figure out a way to get the Tartaros Blade away from Kage before he got his hands on the Kanna Stone, too. If getting the blade wasn’t possible, I had to prevent him from getting the stone. One or the other alone would be dangerous. If he had them simultaneously, well . . . that’s when his plan came together, and an entire race wouldn’t stand a chan
ce. Nor would me and Cian.
Kage snapped the fingers on his free hand and the torches around the fountain illuminated. “Which direction?” Kage barked at Cian.
Cian glanced down at the wood bowl in his hand that held the small silver arrow. Though he already knew where I’d hidden the stone, he had to play the part. “Straight ahead.”
I started to slow my pace, thinking if I could get closer to Kage, maybe I could distract him, and Cian could at least put some distance between him and the blade.
“Stop right here,” Kage commanded, placing a hand on Cian’s shoulder to ensure compliance. “You can keep going,” he said to me. When I was a few steps ahead, he shoved a hand against Cian’s shoulder, and they began to walk forward again.
More proof that Kage was, in fact, smarter than I had initially thought.
When I got to the fountain, I began to walk around it. Considering I wasn’t supposed to know what was happening, I needed to act like I didn’t know. Cian had a much harder role to play than me. He had to act confused when the arrow went haywire again. As they approached the fountain, the arrow zoned in. But the moment Cian and Kage were next to the pillar that contained the stone it searched for, it began whirling around just as it had before.
“Uh . . . Kage—” Cian held the object to the side for Kage to view. “Take a look at this.”
“What is . . . why’s it doing that?”
“No idea,” Cian replied.
“What’s happening?” I asked from my position on the other side of the fountain.
Cian held the bowl down, but it was more for show than anything. I could barely see the arrow.
“It’s just twirling around. Goin’ a lit’l haywire,” Cian explained.
“Maybe the water is throwin’ it off?” I suggested. “Isn’t this supposed to be some kind of mystical moon spring or something?”
“Walk that way,” Kage ordered and pointed away from the fountain. Cian complied.
Silver at Midnight: A Paranormal Romance Urban Fantasy (The Keepers of Knowledge Series Book 5) Page 25
