Take On Me (Cursed Kin Series Book 3)

by Kyla Riley

  Maine had a pained look on his face as he watched the woman on Fergus’ arm – completely ignoring the chipper woman that was looking at him with adoring eyes. Vanessa wasn’t sure what was going on but it was obvious he was more intrigued by the other female and peeved by the one he ended up with.

  A tall man with dark blond hair stepped forward with the bride. She was dressed in a classic style wedding dress that was covered in lace up to her throat. Her long black hair cascaded down her back with large curls underneath a simple veil. There was no mistaking that this was Daphne and Conn by the possessive, loving looks they gave each other. As they walked up to the altar where the priest stood, Vanessa immediately looked at Fiacha.

  His eyes were already on her and Vanessa noticed that he looked at her like Conn looked at Daphne. He was standing at attention with his brothers but she saw him give her a little wave with his fingers. She couldn’t help but smile at him and knew that he’d do anything to make her happy, noticed, or feel loved.

  As the ceremony went on, she felt Fiacha’s eyes on her several times and knew he was picturing them exchanging vows. They’d never discussed it in the past- but it was currently at the forefront of her own mind in this beautiful setting. Conn raised the veil from Daphne’s face and Vanessa sighed blissfully. Their love was something for the ages. The fact that she could witness their vows made her yearn to tell Fiacha she loved him.

  14

  Apparently there wasn’t going to be a reception after the wedding and this surprised Vanessa quite a bit. Usually every wedding she’d ever attended or had been invited to had held a massive reception after the service. By the looks of the wedding decorations and the fact that everyone was given a lavish cupcake packaged up with ribbons- told her that they had spared no expense… so cost wasn’t the issue.

  As guests were filing out of the church sanctuary, shaking the bride & groom’s hands… Maine pulled Vanessa aside.

  “We aren’t leaving yet,” he said simply. “Stay here.”

  Vanessa sat down quietly on the pew and watched as everyone but the bridesmaids and groomsmen left. Fiacha left his post by the door and walked over to Vanessa, extending his hand with a wide grin on his face.

  “Are you ready to boogie?” he said delightedly.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Maaaaannnn…. don’t tell anyone yet Fi-Fi!” Maine chastised and pulled his tie loose with a smile that matched Fiacha’s. Both of the men put their fingers to their lips and gave a massive whistle before laughing at each other. Vanessa watched in surprise as Conn cheerfully picked up Daphne bodily. She was practically sitting on his arm and hanging onto his shoulders, laughing.

  “What is going on?” Daphne shrieked happily.

  “We haven’t seen each other in centuries and we are about ta’ have some fun!” Niall burst into the sanctuary bodily with Holly nearby, holding some lei’s and paper horns. Everyone had the same idea and raced to the doorway where Niall and Holly stood waiting. Maine and Fergus had their arms on each other’s shoulders and it looked like the rest of the family had conspired to throw a small personal party regardless of the bride & groom’s plans.

  Vanessa expected either one of them to be upset at the casual disregard of their wishes. She was certain that the happy couple was wanting to leave for their honeymoon but instead – Conn looked simply thrilled and Daphne looked to be happy for him. Fiacha took both of her hands and pulled her from the pew.

  “We’ve got the reception all to ourselves for the next few hours and your man wants to dance with you.”

  “Don’t you think we should talk?”

  “Let’s relax and have some fun for a bit – the talking will come later when we are alone. Does that sound good?”

  “It sounds like you are putting it off,” she retorted with a smile as he tugged at her hands. She could hear loud music coming from the reception hall off the side hallway of the church. Red, blue, and yellow flashing lights were coming out from under the door and through the cracks. It sounded like they really wanted to have some fun and she didn’t want to be the one to bring the moment down… in fact, she could use a little fun herself. The notes of a Europop song from the seventies suddenly started and Vanessa suddenly smiled.

  “It’s a good thing I love this song… now show me your moves and let’s dance,” she amended and walked into the darkened hall with him. The music was louder than she realized and she instantly found herself swaying happily. Fiacha took her hand and twirled her around the dance floor, partnering up with her immediately.

  She saw several couples all paired up – his brothers were all dancing with the other bridesmaids or each other. Brion, Maine, and Fergus were both holding their beer bottles above their heads and bumping their hips to the music, laughing. Daphne and Conn looked to be doing a version of the hustle… and for a big guy, the man had smooth moves! Niall and Holly were all over the place - dancing wildly, laughing, and hugging each other.

  “It’s been forever since we have all been together,” Fiacha yelled over the music. “This is wonderful and we can’t let hundreds of years go by again without seeing each other.”

  “Hundreds of years?” Vanessa asked and accidently stepped on his foot by mistake, but Fiacha didn’t miss a beat. He apparently liked to dance as much as she did and intended to do so as long as possible.

  “Yep – about eight or nine hundred years.”

  “Wow,” she whispered, and knew that he couldn’t hear her over the music.

  “Potty break time!” Loegaire announced, cutting in between Vanessa and Fiacha. Holly, Daphne and Aisling, Fiacha’s other sister, stood nearby. With a smile, he released her hand and stepped back… giving her time with the other girls in the group. He walked over to his brothers, was given a beer, and began dancing again. Vanessa was pulled into the hallway and yanked into the bathroom by Holly, who was grinning from ear to ear.

  “Our little Fi-Fi, Van? We need details! How serious is it?” Holly blurted out excitedly and clapped her hands together. Vanessa stared at them in surprise and felt her cheeks heat up in embarrassment.

  “He’s terribly sweet,” she admitted and heard groans at her response.

  “Seriously – are you two a thing?”

  “He told Conn that he loved you more than the air he breathes.”

  “Awww, that’s awfully sweet of my brother. What do you think of him – of the family? You marry one, you get us all,” Daphne chimed in happily.

  “You don’t have to marry him, Daph… just making the decision to become one of us is enough of a wedding ring. I mean, there is no hiding away from an immortal wife, ya’ know? Niall and I haven’t said our ‘I do’s’ but then again- I’ll neuter the mutt if he ever sniffs another woman,” Holly said bluntly, causing Aisling and Loegaire to snicker in delight. Vanessa looked at them blankly.

  “Become one of you?”

  “You know… vampire? The big change? It’s not a secret anymore since it happened to me and Daphne,” Holly revealed happily. Daphne frowned at her in return.

  “If you are going to do it – at least have fun and not make it look like a horror film set. Conn was devastated and honestly, I’d rather not have him look at me like a T-Rex that had spied his favorite dinner. That was one rough night emotionally… but worth it.”

  “What?” Vanessa squeaked. “T-Rex?”

  “Girls, you are scaring her… besides, I’m betting Fiacha still passes out at the sight of blood. Remember Aisling, when we were young and he skinned his knee? He went down like a ton of bricks in the middle of the keep – face first.”

  “He still passes out,” Vanessa confirmed and then hesitated. “Actually, he was able to hang on and keep from fainting when I’d lost too much blood.”

  “Oh! Oh! Did he give you his blood?”

  “Some… why?”

  “Did you get all hot and bothered like you had a bad case of food poisoning- minus the diarrhea?”

  “Holly!”

  “What?
It’s just us girls and it’s natural!”

  “What does Niall see in you? I swear…” Daphne teased Holly and hugged her.

  “His dick!”

  Several of the women laughed and his sisters made gagging sounds. Vanessa couldn’t help the choked laughter that bubbled forth at the blunt announcement that was made so proudly by the gorgeous blonde woman.

  They were all so vibrant and energetic – it was magnetizing, and Vanessa understood exactly what the men saw in them even if they didn’t realize it themselves… their inner personalities shined like a beacon, making them even more lovely than their physical bodies. That is what attracted her to Fiacha – he was just beautiful inside and out.

  “We probably need to head back,” Vanessa said quietly, missing Fiacha’s smile and wanting to see him. She was curious about this change that they’d mentioned and perhaps she’d ask him.

  “Oh! Loegaire – before I forget,” she stopped suddenly as the woman’s bright red hair set off a reminder in her head. “Your step-mother came by my work and said to tell you she was watching… whatever that means?”

  The silence that surrounded her immediately by the four other women was telling. Vanessa could hear the faucet on the sink drip in the deadly calm that descended around them.

  “What did you say?”

  “I don’t mean to ruin things but she told me that I was to pass on a message and if I didn’t she would see to it that I got fired. I am sorry, but she is nothing like you all and she really gave me goosebumps.”

  “Vanessa – what did she say exactly and when did this happen?”

  “A few weeks ago. She showed up at my work and did an inspection of the building. When she was done, she handed me the invitation. She said that I was to tell you that ‘your stepmother… oh wait… she said your loving stepmother was watching you’ – that’s it.”

  “We need to go. Now!”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Cairene is the one who cursed us all. We are in danger.”

  The women ran back to the room and saw the men were still having a good time. They stood together, having a few beers, and chatting amicably. Daphne took charge immediately, surprising the heck out of Vanessa.

  “Conn! We have to go – now!”

  The music was flipped off immediately and she could see the curiosity turn to alarm as they were told of Cairene’s visit to Vanessa’s work. Several quick goodbyes were given and promises to call or text before Fiacha grabbed her hand and headed for the door. Niall stood in the doorway with a strange look on his face and Fiacha bumped into him.

  “Conn!” he shouted in a tone that brooked no argument, “Where is Maine?”

  “He’s not in there?”

  “Has any one seen Maine? Somebody please go and check the bathrooms down the hall. Quickly!”

  “Where is Bridget? She rode in with us. Niall, we can’t leave her here.”

  “Could she be with Maine?”

  “The bathroom is empty.”

  “Brion, you got anything? Fergus?”

  “I can’t see a thing. I feel like something is blocking everything,” Brion said angrily.

  “Maybe they left together? I mean anything c-could happen,” Vanessa said dismally, feeling like she ruined the reception/party. She could feel tears stinging the back of her eyes and just wanted to hide somewhere until this all passed. “I am so sorry. This is all my fault.”

  “No. Don’t say that, lass,” Fiacha said tenderly, pulling her into his arms and against his chest. Aisling and Loegaire immediately came to hug her, putting their arms around the couple. Several others came over and hugged the group, making Vanessa feel a part of something special.

  She felt included.

  “Vanessa might be right- perhaps Maine and Bridget did leave together unannounced, but if Cairene is here in town or knows where we are… we aren’t safe,” Niall turned to Vanessa.

  “We were all cursed long ago. Fiacha can explain more of it and tell you our history, but the short version is that we are immortal unless we are all together. We drain each other’s power, magic, life source, whatever you want to call it…and become vulnerable. That is part of the reason this was so special an event. Daphne and Conn getting married was a perfect excuse for a reunion that was a long time coming.”

  “Maybe you should do this more often?”

  “I agree,” Fiacha said immediately, looking down at Vanessa. “Will you marry me? I want you to be a part of my family and for us to build a life together.”

  “Me?”

  “Lass, there is no one else I want in the world and I thought you realized that,” he said tenderly. “You are my soulmate and I feel it in my very bones that you are the woman meant for me.”

  “I love you too.”

  “Is that a yes?”

  “With a few conditions…” she hedged, smiling softly.

  “Name it.”

  “I want to help find Maine and Bridget,” she began, and felt someone pat her back in approval as she stood there in the ring of friends and family. “And I want you to make me one of you too. I don’t want to ever say goodbye again, Fiacha. I want this to be forever.”

  “Me too, lass… me too.”

  Epilogue

  Life had a strange way of turning itself around. The family had spent days carefully searching for Maine and Bridget in Chicago before expanding outwards to other cities. A text from Brion reported that he knew the duo was safe but could not give more details and would report back as he ‘saw’ them.

  Those weeks had been wrought with worry and fear for the man that was Fiacha’s brother and the young lady who’d attended the wedding. Vanessa had seen a different side to Maine once he had let his guard down and she could see the resemblance in the family members.

  That time period after the wedding had also been blissful even under the circumstances. It was so good to be back in Fiacha’s arms and it felt like nothing had ever happened between them. He’d accepted her with open arms – just like he always had, she realized. He had been ready for her, but she hadn’t been ready for him- until now.

  Sighing wistfully, she laid her head down on his shoulder and thought back of how intense life was since her body went through the change. Things seemed more vibrant, felt more exhilarating, and the passion… there were no words. He seemed like such a loving and giving man that it humbled her to see it in his eyes.

  That was what got her through the pain that came with becoming a vampire. She didn’t miss the cramping, vomiting, fever, and nightmarish breakdown her body felt it was going through – nor did she miss Fiacha’s terrified face as he stayed by her side. He apologized through the entire ordeal and held her hand. Once it was over, he held her close and murmured words of love, vowing to cherish her forever.

  It might not have been in a church, but to Vanessa – he was her husband in her heart and her soulmate. She knew that the years would bring many laughs with him, smiles, and unfortunately sadness too – but they could handle anything together. She was so proud of him conquering his fear of seeing blood, but her strong man was still extremely squeamish.

  And he was perfect… for her.

  “You just had to go back out to your car, didn’t you?” Maine snapped and leaned back against the damp brick wall in the dim light. There was a single shaft of light from high above their heads that made the room glow eerily, and the dust motes danced in the beam like fairies in some legend.

  Maine had walked the pretty blond out to get a different pair of shoes. Fergus was too busy flirting with the other woman, Hannah. She’d been the bridesmaid that Maine had escorted up the aisle during his brother Conn’s wedding.

  Bridget was stunning, but in a cold and reserved way.

  Hannah’s smile was like seeing sunshine and Fergus was fascinated. Honestly, he thought it was comical that Maine kept eyeing Bridget…and Fergus kept watching Hannah – it was like the lines had gotten crossed during the wedding planning.

  Maine had thou
ght about delaying Bridget out in the parking lot to talk and perhaps grab a snack of her blood, wondering if it was as cool and smooth as she seemed to be in public. He was seeing another side of her now.

  Just as he was about to put the moves on Bridget under the moonlight, they’d both taken a dart to the neck. It was just like something out of a hunting show on Animal Planet. He could hear the narrative in his mind and it would be funny… if it hadn’t happened to him.

  And here… the young gazelle faints while the predator is nearby-oh! But wait! The predator went down like a box of rocks too…

  “This is not my fault you know,” Bridget snapped. “Why don’t you just ignore me like the rest of your family and go find someone else to harass.”

  “Pardon me, but if you haven’t noticed – there is no one else here.”

  “Oh, I noticed, alright… if there would have been anyone here- we’d have teamed up to try and clobber you into silence. I swear, the other brothers are silent all the time but noooooo… I get kidnapped and trapped with the bitchy one who won’t shut up.”

  “Takes one to know one,” he muttered.

  Bridget was silent for a long time and that bothered him. They’d been down here for hours and she’d honestly held up better than he expected. Bridget had wept silently for a bit, then gotten quiet, and he knew the fear had taken over… now she was going through the rage and frustration at wanting to be free. His hands were bound tight behind him and tethered to the wall. He assumed that Bridget was tied the same way about two feet from him.

  This was not his first kidnapping.

  He’d been captured by highwaymen in the 1500’s and Indians back in the 1700’s – and the one thing he found is that they don’t capture you for no reason. They always show up and reveal what they want from you… it was just a matter of time.