by Sasha Parker
"I'm not really dying, it's a figure of speech, goof," she said with a laugh.
"We know, but you were thirsty. It's our job to take care of you," Brendan said with the same tone as Ronan had used.
Kira frowned at both men. "I can take care of myself."
Ronan snorted. "Well, now it's our job."
"Your job?" Kira said, not liking where this was going. "Did we stumble into the past and I wasn't made aware of it?"
"No," Brendan said calmly. "What Ronan meant was that we are happy to be able to take care of you and if you were thirsty then we would have gotten you something to drink, that's all." He gave Ronan a sidelong glance. 'Shut it or you will get us in deeper.'
'She's an exasperating woman sometimes,' Ronan complained.
'She's our woman, Ronan, but we don't want to smother her. Remember what Reilly said before he left?' Brendan reminded him of their conversation with Lachlan and Reilly where the two men had warned them of the stubbornness of the Kirkpatrick women. They also told them to tread lightly as Kira was very independent and her sisters guessed that she had been deeply hurt by someone recently.
"What are you two talking about?" Kira's voice broke into their private conversation.
Brendan reached out to hold her free hand. "What do you mean? I was just explaining why Ronan said what he did."
Kira shook her head. "No, you two were having a conversation with each other. I know it, I just don't know how you did it."
Both men raised their eyebrows and then looked at each other in surprise. "Here, let me feed you, you must be hungry from our earlier workout," Ronan said as he grabbed for a grape off the tray and held it to her mouth in offering.
Kira looked between the two and then sighed, opening her mouth and accepting the grape. As she chewed she watched the play of emotions go across their faces and knew they were 'talking' to one another silently. Even though it frustrated her, she found it adorable that they had these 'talks' and she knew this one was about her. She wanted to know what it was about and as she opened her mouth to ask, Brendan popped a piece of cheese in.
"How about I draw you a nice warm bath before we have to go down to dinner?" Brendan suggested. "I know we can't avoid your sisters anymore or you are going to be grilled. Luckily it looked like everyone was on their own for lunch today."
Kira blushed as she said, "Thank goodness." At the men's frown, she added, "I just don't want a lot of questions right now. Especially with our trip to the Council."
The men seemed to take that as a plausible answer and Ronan said, "I will go get the bathwater ready. Brendan, finish feeding our princess while I make sure everything is set."
Brendan crawled on the bed and put the tray between them as Ronan headed to the bathroom. Brendan fed her bites of cheese, fruits, and small cuts of meat while she heard water running in the other room. When she had eaten enough, knowing if she ate any more she wouldn't eat dinner, she waved away Brendan's next offer.
Ronan chose that time to come out of the bathroom declaring her bath ready. Kira jumped out of bed and headed into the bathroom, stopping to kiss both men on the cheek in thanks. As she settled into the bathwater, she moaned as her muscles relaxed and her sore places were soothed by the water. She leaned back in the tub and rested her head against the back in a sigh. Just as she was about to nod off, the men came in and washed her body for her thoroughly. Then they helped her out of the water, making sure they dried her all over. They led her back into the bedroom where she saw they had remade the bed with fresh linens and placed her suitcase back on top.
"We will go and get showers while you finish packing," Ronan said. "We will leave in the morning at first light."
Brendan turned her to him and tilted her chin with his finger for her to look into his eyes. "We want you to finish packing before dinner because after dinner, you will be busy," he said with a wink.
Kira smiled at him. "Okay. I will finish now. See you in a bit."
Brendan leaned down and kissed her softly, nibbling on her lips. Ronan came up behind her and turned her as soon as Brendan let her go. Once she was facing him, he leaned down and plundered her mouth, showing her how much he wanted her again without words.
Ronan pulled back and smiled down at her, running his finger between the towel and her breasts. "We will meet you downstairs. Be good and pack quickly, that way tonight is ours."
Kira shivered at his meaning and his look. "Okay." She couldn't seem to form a complete sentence as he had set her body on fire once again. As she turned to get dressed, Ronan smacked her on her ass as he headed out. "Hey!" she yelled at him, but couldn't contain the giggle that burst forth. She decided there and then that she was going to live in the moment, relish in this happy feeling, until reality reared its ugly head again.
With a sigh, she turned to her dresser and pulled out a pair of capris with a light summer top to dress. She finished packing her clothes and toiletries in her suitcase, then sat it by her door. She took a moment and sat on her bed, thinking about what lay ahead. She was going to the Council. She had to find out who was targeting her family and stop them before someone she loved was seriously hurt or worse.
As she headed out her door to join her family for dinner, she made a silent vow to them and to herself. No one was going to hurt anyone she loved again, she would place her own life on the line to make sure that didn't happen. After losing her parents, Kira learned at a young age how important family was and they had become everything to her. Even now, after discovering the family secret, it had only brought them closer together. No one was going to interfere with her family. No one.
Chapter Thirteen
Kira let herself in the kitchen door from the back garden and saw her grandmother was awake drinking a cup of tea at the small alcove table. She walked over and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Morning, Mamo. Sleep well?" Kira asked as she headed to the counter to make herself a cup of tea.
"Yes, beag amháin, little one, I slept very well," her grandmother answered. "Are you all ready for your trip?"
"Yes, ma'am." Kira joined her at the table.
"That's good. I sense this trip is going to change you in many ways, Kira." Her grandmother had an uncanny way of predicting the future and it made Kira shiver. "Be aware of your surroundings and don't always believe what's in front of you."
"What do you mean by that, Mamo? You know I don't do well at these things," Kira said frustrated.
Her grandmother smiled. "Kira, you are a very smart woman. I am just telling you to be aware of everything and don't be fooled by anyone."
"Then why can't you just say that?" Kira said with exasperation. "It's not like I don't have enough on my plate right now."
"Speaking of which, anything you want to tell me in regards to those two young men?" her grandmother inquired, raising an eyebrow.
Kira had the grace to blush and look away from her as she said, "No, not right now."
"Uh-huh, okay," her grandmother said knowingly as she covered Kira's hand with her own. "Just remember that I am here for you, if you need to talk."
"Thank you, I will," Kira sighed. "I'm going to go have a shower and dress for the day. I'll see you back down here later." After a nod from her grandmother, Kira headed upstairs to her room, hoping the two hunks she had left in her bed were still there.
She crept into her room only to sadly find it empty of the scrumptious male flesh she had hoped to find. She did note with a smile that they had once again made her bed for her and straightened the room in general. She stepped into the shower and as the hot water ran over her body, she imagined it was their hands running all over her body like they did last night. She moaned at the thought of what their hands had done to her as they had made love to her. She hurriedly finished her shower then rigorously toweled herself dry.
Once dressed, Kira headed back down to the dining room where most of her family was now awake and eating breakfast. She stopped in the foyer and listened to the melodious sound
of her sisters laughing with their grandmother, closing her eyes, drinking it in. She wanted to commit it to memory for the coming time apart from them.
She was startled out of her thoughts when a voice near her ear whispered, "Lovely sound, isn't it?" She turned in Brendan's arms and wrapped him in her embrace. "It's a sound I love hearing from your lips, sweetling. How are you this morning?"
Kira gave him a light kiss on his lips and said, "Lovely. You?"
"I slept great, wrapped in the arms of a sexy nymph until I woke up this morning alone in the bed with my brother. Thank the goddess we did not try to spoon each other," Brendan said with a grimace. Kira burst out laughing at the picture he painted for her. Ronan walked up to them and frowned as Kira wiped the tears that had gathered as she laughed.
"What's going on here, luv?" he asked as he joined them.
"I was explainin' to Kira that it wasnae so long ago we were cuddlin' with a bonnie lass, then we wake to almost cuddlin' each other." Brendan's accent always went deeper when he was feeling randy.
"Ach, we wouldnae been pleased with that, luv, ya ken?" Ronan asked.
Kira laughed again and said, "Yes, I understand. I promise next time to wake one of you so that doesn't happen."
Ronan kissed her on her head. "Good. Shall we all go eat?" He gestured toward the dining room and Kira nodded. As they entered the room, her sisters all gave her a knowing look as Brendan pulled out a chair for her and Ronan filled her plate. She rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue at them. She glanced quickly at her grandmother and saw her smile at her antics. Then she ignored everyone as she ate her breakfast, she didn't realize how hungry she had been. She blushed for the second time that day as she thought about why she was so hungry.
"So, you will call us, right?" Sheela asked as they all ate.
Kira nodded. "Of course I will."
"Be careful, Kira. Stay alert," Calli cautioned.
"I will. Promise." Kira looked her little sister in the eye as she answered her.
Erin, who was sitting between her men as well, looked at Ronan and Brendan and said, "You two take care of her or you answer to us."
Kira went to assure Erin that she could take of herself, but Ronan placed a hand on her thigh and stopped her. "With our very lives, sisterkin," he said it so reverently that even Kira felt the sincerity.
"We need to speak before you leave," Myles said from Erin's right side.
"Mamo, may we use your study?" Aedan asked respectfully as the men stood.
Coni inclined her head. "Of course you can, this will give us time to say goodbye to Kira. We will all meet out at the car."
The men nodded in agreement and then headed to the study while the women stayed seated. "Now that they are gone, we have something for you," Erin said with a sly look at Sheela and Calli.
"What's going on?" Kira asked.
"We got together this morning early and made you a small gift," Calli said as she handed a necklace to her. It was on a long chain that had a crystal on the end of it. "This will help keep you safe."
"It works like the Guardian's medallions do, that's where we got the idea. The crystal will warm against your skin when something evil comes near you," Erin explained.
"More specifically, any evil that threatens you," Sheela continued.
"Wow. You guys really are learning your stuff," Kira praised them.
Erin shrugged. "We wanted to do what we could to help you since we knew our first plan wouldn't work with you."
"What was your first plan?" Kira asked curiously.
Sheela leaned forward. "I wanted to come with you."
"No way," Kira said firmly.
"See? So the necklace is plan B," Calli said on a laugh.
Kira laughed as well. "Okay, I see. This is a great idea." She slid the necklace over her head and then looked back at her sisters. "Thank you. You have protected me well."
"I still wish you would let me come with you," Sheela said with a pout.
"I need you here to watch over each other and Mamo," Kira told her.
Their grandmother scoffed. "I can look after myself, young lady," she said loftily.
"Mamo, you know I..." Kira started to explain.
Her grandmother waved her hand in the air. "Oh I understand your concern, dear. No worries, we will all be fine here."
Kira stood and walked over to kiss her grandmother on her cheek. "Thank you, Mamo."
Her grandmother's hand snaked out and gripped her wrist in a surprisingly strong grip. She looked deep into Kira's eyes. "You protect you, beag amháin, little one. We will be fine."
"Yes, ma'am," Kira said solemnly.
Her grandmother nodded and kissed Kira on the head as she stood and said, "Let's walk Kira to the car then, eh, girls?"
Her sisters all stood and they came around the table to hug and kiss her before walking her out into the curved driveway in the front of the castle. Kira had to promise once again that she would keep in contact as her sisters enveloped her in a group hug.
"Don't worry, we will keep Ari off your back while you are gone. She won't know a thing about where you are," Sheela said reassuringly.
Kira laughed. "If anyone can do it, you three can. I'm counting on it, I don't want her honeymoon ruined by this and I know she would freak."
"Don't we know it," Calli grumbled. "She gets so intense. Anyway, we will keep the secret until she gets back and we can tell her face to face.” Calli lifted her pinky finger to Kira and Kira hooked her pinky with Calli's in return. Then Sheela and Erin approached and hooked their pinky fingers around Kira and Calli's. Then all four girls said, "Swear." It was something they had not done since they were little, making a pact between them. Usually it was a pact against Ari because, as the eldest, she was like a mother figure to them and they had to sneak to have any fun. Then the women embraced in a group hug once again, this time including their grandmother.
*****
Reilly looked at Brendan and Ronan trying to look his most intimidating through the screen. "You both know what can happen there. Make sure she is protected at all times."
The men were all encased in the office provided to them by Coni on the main floor of the castle. They had a conference call with Reilly and Lachlan set up. Ari had been made a spa appointment so the men could talk without interruption. Reilly and Lachlan had been filled in on the Council trip with Kira.
"I can't believe you are okay with her going," Lachlan grumbled.
"Trust me, we're not, but there is no choice. She has been invited," Ronan grumbled back.
"Whoever is the threat is powerful, we all know that. What we don't know is if they have any access to the council. That is a big concern," Myles said.
All the men nodded in agreement. "I think your best bet at this point is to try to speak to Una privately. She will be an ally. She must be made aware of what is going on so she can be prepared," Reilly stated.
"Agreed. We will speak with her as soon as it is safe," Ronan said.
"In the meantime, protect Kira. Find the threat." Reilly glared at them.
"Kira is ours, we protect her above all others," Ronan stated matter-of-factly.
"Contact us if you need us. We are not that far away," Lachlan told them.
Brendan laughed. "Yeah, cause I want to face the wrath of Ari by interrupting your honeymoon. We haven't known her that long but we know that would get us killed."
Myles and Aedan laughed along with Brendan and Ronan while Reilly and Lachlan frowned from afar. "Call if we are needed. We are going to collect our bride now. Be safe," Reilly growled and the screen went blank.
The four remaining men shared another laugh as they discussed plans for the safety of the remaining women. "We do expect more Guardians to come. It seems to be a pattern here in who is chosen. I think that Una and Vesta have had a larger hand in this than we first thought," Myles said.
"That remains to be seen. First we have to get through this trip to the Council," Ronan told them as he stood along w
ith the others to head out.
They joined the women in the courtyard as they were sharing a group hug. The men rolled their eyes at the display. They acted as if they would never see each other again. Brendan grimaced as he thought that could be a possibility considering the threat they were facing.
'We will not let that happen, brother,' Ronan's firm voice said in his head.
'She is ours. She will remain that way,' Brendan affirmed.
'She's speaking to you,' Ronan's laughter filled his head.
Brendan snapped out of his revere to find Kira looking at him questioningly. "I'm sorry, sweet. What was that?"
Kira let out a huff of aggravation. "I said, are we ready to go?"
As Brendan looked over at Ronan, Ronan's voice echoed in his head. 'We need to have a final word with Coni,' he reminded Brendan.
"Almost." Brendan turned to Coni. "May we speak with you for a moment?"
"Of course, Brendan. Come, we will go into the living room." Coni gave the women a sly glance and headed into the castle.
As Brendan and Ronan followed, Erin giggled behind them. Brendan heard Myles and Aedan shushing her as they left.
Once inside, Coni turned to them and said, "Is there something wrong?"
"No, not at all," Ronan assured her. "You know as well as we do that this trip is going to be dangerous and we wanted to assure you that we will keep Kira safe at all costs."
"We care deeply for your granddaughter and will protect her with our very lives," Brendan added.
As Coni inclined her head in gratitude, both men knelt before her and Brendan said, "We formally declare for your granddaughter, Kira. She is our match and we claim her. We ask for your blessing." They both bowed their heads to her.
Coni smiled as she placed a hand on their heads and said, "I accept your claiming of my granddaughter and you have my blessing. Thank you for the honor."
Then she waved her hands at them, telling them silently to stand, and hugged them both. "No, Coni, we thank you for honoring us," Brendan spoke for them both.
"Well then, I have nothing to worry about, do I?" she said lightly. "Come then, your journey awaits you."
