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

by Bridgette O'Hare

  “She said you could hold on t’ the orb, ya know.”

  “What? When did she say that? I don’t recall that part o’ the conversation.” I bumped my shoulder against his.

  “That was the message I was t’ give ya. She wanted ya t’ have it. Of course, she also mentioned somethin’ about us needin’ it later, but I was bent on getting’ in here t’ you that I don’t recall what exactly.” Cian reached over and looked at the time on his phone. “It’s a few minutes after midnight. How long would ya like t’ stay and wait this out?”

  I shrugged. “I dunno. It was a long shot. Not even sure what I was waitin’ for anyway.”

  “Me. You were waiting for me, Aisling,” the voice sounded in my head loud and clear. It was familiar, yet I didn’t recognize it.

  I immediately looked to Cian; my brow furrowed. “Did you hear that?” I asked in a whisper.

  “He can’t hear me, love. I had hoped to meet you face to face. But that’s not an option with Cian here. It’s a long story. One I hope you’ll understand some day. One I hope I get to tell you.”

  Realization set it. I don’t know how I knew, but I knew. “Dad?”

  “Yes, sweet girl.”

  “How? Why? I . . . I don’t even know what to say or where to start.”

  “I know, Aish. Soon, I will try again soon. Just know that I’m so proud of you. Your mom would be proud of you. I have to go now, but I couldn’t leave without at least making contact. I love you, Aisling. Hold tight to Cian. I’ll find you . . . soon.”

  Just like that . . . he was gone, and I was aware that my father was alive.

  And that changed everything.

  Epilogue

  A Fae walked into a bar.

  Nope. Not the beginning of a bad joke. I kinda wish it were. Especially since I’d only been in this town four days.

  Four. Days.

  It was a record, really. Especially considering I’d been keeping to my small circle of contacts since I arrived in Pyreshore.

  Typically, it takes me a solid month in a new place to establish a permanent spot on the local law enforcement’s cac list. So, I wasn’t sure if I should have been impressed with myself or highly concerned with my rate of progress. Kara would say impressed, but that in itself says something. Then again . . . how often can you say you started a bar brawl that included a Mimic, a Werewolf, a Gargoyle, and two Vampires. Fine, it likely included at least one of every supernatural race in existence considering when it was all said and done more than half the bar was involved. But let’s not get lost on the unimportant details. Let’s stop a moment and try to figure out how I had managed to get myself into such a mess in the first place. Only one way to really put things into perspective—a little Fae magic.

  I raised my hand and pressed it forward in the air as though to tell someone to stop. And they did. All of them. It’s a time pause . . . a little trick I learned from Uncle Lachlan just this morning that really would have been handy to have over the last few days. According to him, Grams never did get the hang of it. Explains why she never taught it to me, God rest her soul. She would not have been pleased to learn I started a full-on bar fight. Or she might have been amused. Toss up.

  The time pause gave me a chance to evaluate what was happening around me. Truth was, I wasn’t even sure how what was happening had even happened. That’s what I got for trying to be friendly. Cian was not going to be pleased when he learned I was responsible for the destruction of Rocky’s. I’d already caused him enough stress and yet there I was wreaking havoc in a whole new way.

  I rotated my hand counterclockwise to rewind the scene until I was walking through the front door of Rocky’s Tavern . . . again.

  I glanced around for an opening at a high top, meandered past a couple of Witches chatting it up with a Banshee, and made my way to the first empty spot I saw at the other end of the bar. A spot that just happened to be next to one of the most attractive Vamps I’d ever seen. Granted, most Vamps were oddly physically attractive for some reason, just not to me. One of the downsides of being able to see someone for who they are at their core. Soul Sight wasn’t always a blessing, I supposed. So, I sat down next to Hot Vamp Guy and waited for the bartender to take my order. Innocent enough, so far.

  But I could feel Hot Vamp Guy’s glances bore into me every so often. And that’s when I made my first mistake.

  I tried to be friendly.

  When the feeling of his next glance rushed over me, I immediately turned to meet it and offered a friendly smile. Harmless, or so I thought. It was then that Hot Vamp Guy’s female companion glared at me. I would have sworn I heard her hiss, but her lips were pressed hard together.

  To most, she would be considered gorgeous. But there was darkness in her soul. That’s right, I said it. Vamps have souls. Contrary to what the lore might say about them being the walking dead, there is still a soul there. It’s a long story. Goes back to the beginning of time. Literally.

  Thing is, some Vamps—just like every other race in existence—have both good and bad. Not every Fae is good . . . not every one is bad. Some of us often find ourselves teetering somewhere in the middle. But this Vamp, she was definitely getting coal in her stocking every year.

  So, Dark Soul Vamp was shooting daggers at me with her stare, and that’s when I made my second mistake.

  “Is there a problem, Witch?” I spouted it without missing a beat. I should really work on my filter. Scratch that. I should really develop a filter. But sue me, I’d had a tough couple of days.

  Turned out, Dark Soul Vamp did not like Witches much. I, personally, think they’re delightful and would have taken it as a term of endearment. Not the case here.

  Less than a split second later, fangs grazed the collar of my leather jacket—and it’s my favorite jacket—just before Dark Soul Vamp found herself crashing into a rather unpleasantly surprised cute little auburn-haired pale girl who happened to be walking by.

  “Sorry!” I mouthed to Pale Girl just as I recognized her. The Mimic I’d seen reading at the café my first night in Pyreshore. Never would have pegged her for the bar type.

  I barely had a moment to offer Pale Girl an apologetic nod before Dark Soul Vamp was bee-lining back at me. I had to give it to the Vamps—they were fast. But this one wasn’t fast enough. I dodged her just as a considerably large, and might I add rather impressive, specimen of the male Gargoyle persuasion stepped into the line of fire. I didn’t have time to warn him or push him out of the way. Next thing I knew, he was tumbling over Hot Vamp Guy and crashing into some poor soul at the end of the bar. And the domino effect began.

  Have you ever watched one of those bar fights in movies where Guy Number One tumbles accidentally into Guy Number Two, Guy Two turns and gets all pissed off and immediately breaks a beer bottle over the head of Guy Number Three, and all hell breaks loose from there? Yeah. That’s what was happening at Rocky’s Tavern. Only, instead of beer bottles and wooden chairs as weapons, you faced the possibility of swords, elements of nature, fangs, and more coming at you. So much more.

  In fact, Gargoyle Guy literally manned up and took a sword straight to the chest to protect Pale Girl. A sword! One of the perks to being made of literal stone. Also, major points for taking one for the team. I didn’t need Soul Sight to know his soul was putting out some light . . . stone or not.

  Just as Gargoyle Guy wrapped himself around Pale Girl to shield her, I noticed Dex Long standing by a booth near the back with someone like he was simply watching a tennis match—looking from one side to the other as if he saw this type of thing every day. I shook my head. At least he wasn’t caught in the middle of it like I found myself.

  While I had everything in slow motion, I looked around for an escape route. Yes, fleeing the scene that I managed to create seemed like a punk move, but it wasn’t like I started it on purpose. Sometimes, I just didn’t do a particularly good job of holding my tongue. I’d apologize to Cian for the damage to his
bar later. Now, I just needed out.

  I sped up the time pause by moving my hand just a smidge quicker to fast forward to the point where I halted the scene. I needed to get close enough to see a viable escape path. Once I watched a Werewolf tackle Gargoyle Guy through a window at the back, I knew I had my exit strategy, I memorized the pathway through the chaos, and I let the time pause loose.

  Without delay, I dodged the first obstacle—a Sphynx taking down a Merfolk who then hurdled over what appeared to be an alligator. Shifters came in all shapes and sizes, I supposed. I tried to time it so I arrived at the window just after Wolfie and Gargoyle Guy crashed through. I was about one second off, so I had to spin around a Mimic barreling straight at me. Only, I didn’t realize he was heading straight for me because a Vamp had thrown him in my direction. I pummeled square into him, but he caught me before I tripped over a broken chair.

  “You good?” he asked, setting me upright?

  I nodded. “Aye, thanks.”

  He smiled and moved forward to continue his altercation. I made a direct route for the now open window and carefully climbed onto the table next to it, then hopped through, and landed on the sidewalk just as Dex rounded the corner merely a few feet from me. We locked eyes and he shot me a wickedly amused grin.

  He was about to speak when a Banshee wail pierced the night air and everyone around me dropped to their knees, covering their ears. It was deafening to the point of covering my ears as everyone else had, but somehow it didn’t take me down in horrific pain like it did most. I promptly swished my fingers in an upward motion and spoke the command Cian had taught me that was needed to surround myself, as well as Dex and his friend, in silence—the Bulletproof Bubble . . . still yet to be tested, by the way. It was also handy to keep any rogue brawlers at bay. I should have thought of it while walking through the chaos. But it was still new to me.

  Dex and his friend shook their heads like they were shaking the sound out and stood.

  “Well, that’s a neat little trick. Beautiful and talented. But do you cause this kind of commotion everywhere you go?” Dex jabbed.

  “Commotion? This is just a casual Tuesday night. Also, you’re welcome,” I fired back.

  “Well, now I sure as hell want to see what a wild night out looks like for you. We should make that happen,” Dex winked, and the corner of his lips curled up in a devilish grin.

  “People keep telling me curiosity kills the cat, I don’t know how many lives you have left, Dex. I’m guessing you’re getting pretty low,” I quipped, then looked to his friend and extended a hand. “Hi, I’m Aish, by the way. I won’t judge you on your friend’s lack of manners.”

  “Ellio,” he replied as he took my hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  He seemed a little quiet and kept staring at me with a goofy smile. He was cute.

  “Say . . . does this thing keep out more than sound? Like, does it make us invisible?” Dex asked, looking around.

  “I’ll never tell,” I teased. “Why?”

  “Well, because I think we’re about to get busted,” he added, nodding in the direction behind me. From a few blocks away, red and blue lights illuminated the sky though the cars themselves had yet to come into view, but they were heading in our direction.

  “Crap,” I spat. “You guys go, ya shouldn’t take the heat for something ya didn’t even participate in. Though—” I cut my eyes back at Dex. “I’m fairly sure betting is illegal.”

  “No money exchanged hands, right, Ellio?” Dex claimed.

  “Yet,” Ellio glared at him.

  I chuckled. “You’ll never see that money, will ya?” I asked Ellio.

  He shook his head.

  The sirens grew closer. “You guys should go,” I insisted and lowered the protective shield.

  “And leave you behind?” Dex questioned.

  “Meh . . . I know the owner. Besides, small town. Fairly sure I’m the first one Vamp Girl is goin’ t’ try t’ throw under the bus. Best if I stop the bus myself first.” I started walking toward the front of the tavern. “I’ll see ya around,” I said to Dex over my shoulder. “Nice t’ meet ya, Ellio,” I added, and I disappeared around the corner just as I heard Dex call out.

  “Martyr,” he yelled.

  I laughed just as I hit what seemed like a brick wall. A brick wall clad in a burgundy pullover and khakis. “I’m so sorry,” I bumbled as I regained my balance and looked up to find a pair of familiar hazel eyes locked on me.

  “Happy t’ have ya run int’ me any time ya want,” Darek beamed.

  “Oh, hey. Umm . . . I . . . I should’ve been looking where I was goin’.” I wasn’t sure what to say. I had known I’d have to face Darek at some point, I was just trying to postpone it.

  “Aish. Yer about t’ start ramblin’.” He smiled and reached out like he was about to brush a hair from my cheek, then pulled back and shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “Look. I know this is awkward. And no matter what we say about not wantin’ it t’ be . . . it’s still goin’ t’ be awkward because one of us wants more than the other can offer. So, how about we jus’ try t’ make it through the next few days until I leave? Whaddaya say?”

  I bobbed my head. “I think we can manage that.”

  While I’d not deny I felt something for him, the last few days had proven to me that whatever existed between me and Darek could never compare to the connection I had with Cian.

  “I want ya t’ be happy, ya know that, right?”

  “I want the same for you, Darek. It’s all I wanted for ya when I walked away.”

  A slight huff escaped under his breath as a half-smile emerged. “Not as easy as one might think in my position. But I will be content knowin’ yer happy. Cian is a solid guy. I wish I could say he’s bad for ya, that I’m the better choice. I can’t. But if ya ever find yerself alone . . . I’m a call away.”

  “I don’t intend to let that happen,” Cian broke in as he joined us on the sidewalk outside of Rocky’s.

  “And I don’t blame ya,” Darek replied. “I wouldn’t if I were in yer shoes.” He never took his eyes from me as he said it.

  “I’m startin’ t’ think I can’t leave her alone for even two minutes,” Cian said as he slid an arm around my waist and looked down at me with disbelief in his blazing blue eyes.

  “Umm. I can explain?” I flashed Cian my best innocent smile.

  Cian just shook his head, an amused smirk playing up one side of his lips.

  “I’m goin’ t’ let the two of ya hash this out,” Darek announced with a laugh. “I’ll see ya both later.” We said farewells and he headed around the corner.

  “So . . . a bar fight, eh?” Cian questioned.

  “I can hardly wait to tell Kara!”

  “I’m goin’ t’ guess she won’t be surprised,” he chuckled.

  “Nay . . . but she will be disappointed,” I informed.

  “Disappointed? How so? She didn’t strike me as the motherly type in our chat meeting this morning.”

  “She’ll be disappointed she wasn’t here to see it . . . or help start it.”

  “So . . . which of you is the bad influence again?” Cian laughed. “Somethin’ tells me addin’ Kara to the mix is no better than leavin’ ya alone on your own.”

  “Hey now . . . this is better than what happened last time ya left me alone. I mean, I didn’t get kidnapped, and I think that’s a vast improvement,” I defended myself. “Let’s focus on the positives.”

  “Okay . . . here are what I see as positives from the last few days. Kage is no longer a threat to the Supernatural’s existence, Lachlan agreed to your terms regarding learning the Keeper ropes but being part time on an as-needed basis, Kara actually likes me, you admitted ya love me, and the bar needed new tables anyway.” He paused. “Aye, I think that covers it.”

  I pressed my lips into a hard purse, looked up, and cocked an eyebrow as I swung my body to face his and slipped my arms around his
waist. “Ya know . . . I don’t recall admittin’ I love you.”

  “I think ya did.”

  “Mmm . . . nope. Unh-uh.”

  “Well, ya soul bonded with me. And that’s kinda the same thing,” he insisted with a wink.

  “Oh, is it? So . . . you’re sayin’ you love me then?” I joked back.

  Sincerity replaced snark and his smirk transformed into genuine emotion. “Aye, lass. That’s exactly what I’m sayin’. And I’d give my life t’ prove it . . . again.” His smile returned and he laced his fingers in my hair, pulling me to him for a soft kiss.

  “Ya know, since I love you too, I’m goin’ t’ request that ya don’t. But ya do still owe me that drink.”

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