Devlin smiled then, beamed actually. ‘Twas an odd interest to have, that’s for sure, but a tender one at that. He loved walking through the old graveyards in Ireland himself. Gorgeous and ancient, they held such fantastic energy. Only a few were to be avoided, and easily done so.
And now came the part of her confession that she hadn’t told a soul, not even her nearest and dearest. Ro’s nerves were making her palms sweaty and knees bob. She didn’t want to stop her story, it all needed to come out.
“After a while though, spirits stopped talking to me. I went from having a line of them waiting to speak, to no one answering me but some crows cawing in the trees. I got frustrated and impatient. So one day, I went out for a walk in the woods and I tried to imagine where they were hiding. I could feel something close, but couldn’t get a good read on where or what it was. Sometimes I can see an apparition clear as day like they were living flesh, and sometimes I see them only in my mind. Other spirits I just hear or smell. It’s never the same. But this particular time, I wanted desperately to talk with someone. Something. I didn’t care what or who. My body was vibrating like I was sitting on a hood of a car with the engine running and my head was pounding. I’ve never done drugs, but I imagine it’s the same feeling as needing a fix.”
Rowan let that memory fill her up, and a heat surged in her very bones as she sat there in the living room with these two men listening to her tell her tales. Rowan remembered the feeling of the air that day, charged and tingling, her body felt like a singing bowl, playing a music that no one else around could hear. She was drawn to the woods, always was, like the very earth beckoned for her to sink into it and become part of its making. It felt amazing. Rowan closed her eyes and shook her head, locking that memory and those feelings back into their box in the hiding spot inside her head. She didn’t open that box anymore, and was a little nervous having done so just now. Looking up at the man with whiskey eyes, she spilled the last of the secret.
“I asked out loud if anyone was out there, anyone at all. And then I said that even if it was Lucifer himself I didn’t care. I sliced my hand with a knife my dad gave me, and asked for whoever was hiding to come out and find me. I said that I was here for them. I smeared my blood over the board and watched crows fly out from every direction. They started to dive bomb me and all but chased me out of the woods. I knew after I’d said it that I had gone too far. I was so fucking stupid. I ran home, left the board where it was, and didn’t go back.”
Well that was unpleasant.
What the hell, it had been years ago. She was just a kid then. Yet, somehow, it felt like it just happened. Feeling the shame of her foolish actions all over again, Ro thought of one of her favorite sayings: Don’t let your elephant mouth get your hummingbird ass in trouble. Rowan let out a big sigh, filled her glass with more whiskey and pounded it. Her body was starting to tremble to the point where she couldn’t sit still even if a house fell on her. Her hands shook, feet tapped the floor and her teeth started clacking together. Boy, was it cold in here? Her hands were freezing.
She looked at Devlin and her gut clenched in fear. She’d done something wrong but didn’t know what it was. The look on his face had her wanting to find where Nora the Brownie’s hiding spot was and go there herself. She turned her gaze towards Adam who glared at her with a stone face. He was so still she couldn’t even tell if he was breathing or not. He was the kind of stillness that comes from an animal that has spotted its prey and was biding its time for the stupid dinner to come closer. The looks the two men sent her made Rowan feel awful. All the years of guilt, fear, and shame washed over her body and poured out of her eyes. She cried hard and ugly. Cried for friendships she had ruined throughout her life by carrying such secrets around. Cried for her loneliness. Cried for being foolish, rebellious and selfish. Cried for the emptiness inside her. Once the flood gates opened, she didn’t know how to stop the tears. She was a sobbing basket case, in a house not her own, with two men that looked very much like they wished they had never met her. Stupid, unwanted, and weak - That was all Rowan was.
Maiden, Mother, and Crone! Devlin and Adam were not prepared for this feisty sprite. Not her tale, not her talent, and not her tears. Snapping out of his thoughts, Devlin had just enough time to duck as Adam’s glass shattered into the fire. Shards sprayed everywhere and the whiskey enticed the flames to burn higher. Adam let out a hiss that rivaled the fire’s taste of whiskey, and bared fangs as his temper rolled off of him in icy bursts. Rowan let out a scream, struggling to find her ground, and then she bolted from the house.
“What are ye thinking man?” Devlin shouted.
“I am no man, Druid. That fucking bitch has single handedly given the Shadow Lord a way into this world. She opened that door because she was frustrated that the dead nay talk with her? Lashing out, making blood sacrifices, and for what? NO rules. NO respect for the magic. NO precautions taken or oaths given. The wench just set about frolicking into the woods and set loose a very dangerous devil.”
Adam snarled and wrenched his shoulder out of Devlin’s grasp. Stalking out of the room, he went to chase down the woman before she caused more trouble. He ran fast as all Sidhes do. Not, I-can-beat-you-in-a-race fast, but Sidhe-style fast. Adam was a blur running up the hill and towards the trees. Leaves swirled in the air by the disturbance from the winds his body made as he ran to get her. Devlin raced to catch up, he was fast, but Adam was much faster. The Sidhe zipped through the trees, tracking Rowan’s scent like a wolf, and found her quick enough behind a fallen tree.
Covered in dirt and tears smearing her cheeks, she faced him with all the bravery she could muster. Fists at her side and fire burning in her eyes, she didn’t budge. If it was Fate’s will that she die like this today, then fine; but she wasn’t going down without a fight. Damnit.
Just as Adam took a step forward to say something to her, Devlin charged through the trees like the Devil was after him. If Rowan had the time to look, she’d have marveled at the powerhouse that was Devlin, he was pure muscle, speed, and fortified strength in these woods, but she wasn’t about to take her eyes off the fanged man in front of her.
Fangs, the man had real fucking fangs.
Devlin cautiously walked between the two of them. Lest it came to actual blows, Devlin was going to try and bring the peace here. He was not going to let Adam strike down their only chance at reaching Lorcan. He stared at his lifelong friend and Adam’s eyes changed from angry to empty.
Letting out a slow breath, Adam bowed his head to Rowan. “Apologies my dear. I tend to let my temper get the better of me as of late.”
Devlin carefully walked closer to Rowan. The lass was covered in dirt, leaves in her hair, eyes red rimmed and weary. She must have tripped more than ran to get away from them. Poor thing has had quite a day, but by the Gods the wee sprite had such fire in her. There she stood, ready to take on a full grown Sidhe with her bare hands and a wee knife, accepting whatever the end would be – hers or his. Spunk like that had to be admired.
Devlin took in the view of this feisty sprite brandishing her wee blade at them. She looked wild and dangerous, and sexy as hell. The woman had a spine, and perhaps a slight death wish. Devlin pleaded in a quiet and calming voice. “Rowan, please come back to the house with us.”
“Come any closer and I swear to God I’ll cut you from asshole to appetite,” she brandished a knife in her hand, one she kept in her pocket at all times, and stood unwavering in front of the two men. Ro’s eyes shifted from one man to the other with her chin thrust out defiantly. She was trying to keep her mind calm and body ready for whatever was going to happen next. Just then, she smelled the strong scent of herbs, the fragrance filled her nose and clouded her senses.
Then the world went black.
Chapter 6
Rowan woke up staring at a summer sky. Was she outside or was that the ceiling? It was a ceiling. She was in a big, soft bed. Ro sat up and heard a small thump and skitter across the wo
od floor. The door was cracked open and she could hear murmuring on the other side of it. A shout and gruff had her sitting up, startled. Ouch, her head was pounding. What the hell happened?
Devlin knocked on the door and poked his head in. “May I come in, lass?”
He stepped inside, carrying a tray with tea, water, a sandwich, apple slices, and something with chocolate drizzle. Following behind him was a big, orange, what the hell was it, a fox? Yup, it was a confirmed fox as the animal jumped into the bed with her and promptly settled at her feet, tail curling around his body and over his face.
“He likes you.” Devlin smiled, laying the tray down on the small bedside table.
Rowan was confused. Last thing she remembered, she was running for her life from a snarling mad man. Now, she’s all snuggled up in a four poster bed, pet fox at her feet and getting room service. She’s had some strange days, but this one’s at the top.
“What happened?” she asked. Ro felt sick to her stomach and the apple slices rang in her head as a good thing to try and eat. Her body felt weak and her head groggy.
“Twas a spell, lass. Forgive me, I had to get ye calm enough to escort ye back to the house. ‘Tis no longer safe for ye to be alone and Adam was in no place to calm ye himself.” He looked sincere and guilty while he said it.
A spell. That was not the answer she was expecting, but one she could accept. Ro had an open mind and spells were something she always marveled at when reading books. She’ll be the first to admit she wished she knew how to cast some herself. Glancing over, Ro saw her knife resting on the bedside table. At least they’d not taken it from her. She breathed in a couple steadying breaths and reached for a piece of the apple. Ro took a small bite of the juicy red slice. Crunchy and sweet, it was one of her favorite fruits. Then she took a good look at the fox all nuzzled up against her.
“Can I pet him?”
With a nod from Devlin, Rowan reached over slowly and stroked the fox’s head. His fur was soft and coarse all at the same time. Thick and plush, she gave him a good long scratch at the head and then went “boop” on his nose. She laughed a little and then offered him a slice of apple.
“Och, he’ll be a spoiled baby after this. There’ll be no end to his begging.” Devlin smiled at the scene in the bed. He was touched by her tenderness with the wee beastie.
Rowan returned his smiled with one of her own, and then popped another slice into her mouth. “Begging isn’t always a bad thing.”
Their eyes locked and his breath caught. Blood surged to his cock like it was the only vessel left in his body. A tingling sensation crawled its way up his thighs and his balls all but ached. This woman was something the likes of which he’d never seen before. Resilient, kind, and strong, the lass was beautiful. And wicked. On a growl, he quickly got up and excused himself, leaving her and the fox to finish the forbidden fruit alone.
Boy, what was that about? Rowan blushed at her boldness of what she’d said, but it couldn’t be taken back now. She seemed to have zero filtering when it came to that guy. He was all big and serious, and she wanted to break down those walls and get inside his head… and his bed. Shaking the thought from her mind, Rowan realized she was actually starving. She shared the rest of her apple and part of her sandwich with the fox, but kept the chocolate dessert for herself. Rowan wasn’t sure if the same chocolate rule applied to foxes as it did to dogs, but she didn’t want to risk it. Pouring a cup of tea, she sipped the steamy goodness while she thought of a plan.
Fight or flight? Well, seeing how fighting got her laid out into this damn bed, she had to believe they’d just work another spell on her to make her stay. And there was no denying it, the darkness is getting worse. She admitted that much to herself while she thought of how many more sinister looking creatures came to her now and how often they showed up. Talk about your past haunting you. These men may be the answer she’s needed, plus Ro had no other place to go for help.
If she was going to be honest with herself, she knew there would be a day of reckoning on some level for what she had done. Maybe she just didn’t want to admit it until now. Perhaps that’s why she spent so much of her time alone or staying busy creating her fragile masterpieces. Friends had come and gone throughout the years, except for Brinley and Christine, and even if they knew the full truth of what she’d done, maybe they would run away too. Waking up in the middle of the night to a black silhouette inches from her face meant that Ro slept fitfully most nights, always paranoid or frustrated. Love was not in the cards for her, at least not in the long term. You can’t keep such a big secret all to yourself when you’re in a “till death do us part” relationship, and let’s face it, if she were to tell a guy what she sees, he’s going to run for the hills or have her committed.
Maybe this is why. Maybe the Fates knew she couldn’t have a bunch of strings attached to her, no baggage to carry around, because she was going to have to go where no one else would dare follow and she needed to travel light.
One last scratch on the fox’s head, Rowan pulled the covers free and hopped out of bed. Fuck it. She was going to do this. When the going got tough, Rowan got tougher. The fox hopped down and scurried out the door with Rowan following behind. Back in the living room, fire crackling, the two men were standing close together in conversation, which quickly ended the second she came into view.
“Alright boys, if there’s a way to fix what I have done I’m all for hearing it. Whatever it takes, I’ll do it.” She walked up to Adam and held out her hand, “I’m sorry I didn’t have enough respect for such magic when I was younger. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to fix the damage I’ve done. I was young and foolish, and I am neither of those things now.” She could admit when she was wrong, but it wasn’t always easy. She tried to not make a habit of it either.
Devlin couldn’t believe his ears. Truly, the lass shocked him fully.
“I too apologize for my behavior earlier; I was wrong in lashing out at you as I did. In the future I will strive for better control.” Adam held his own hand out and they shook on their apologies.
“So boys, what do we do now?” Rowan walked around the coffee table carved from an old tree that had been shellacked and sat back down on the huge couch. Rowan was a planning girl. She liked making lists, having control and order, and creating a battle plan – whether it’s for baking a three-tiered chocolate cake, or in this case, killing a monster she accidently set loose.
“We need to go back to Ireland as soon as possible and you need training, my dear.” Adam pinched the bridge of his nose, already in deep thought.
Rowan bobbed her head in agreement while she stared at him. His hair looked blacker than before, probably the light of day, and his eyes were swirling shades of teal, green, violet and amber. They reminded Rowan of peacock feathers. Why hadn’t she noticed them before now? They were remarkable, stunning actually. Mesmerized with their beauty, Ro thought, why was she just now seeing this? Her brows crunched together in concentration as she stared unwaveringly at Adam for several heartbeats trying to figure out what she was looking at.
Devlin didn’t like it. Why was she staring at Adam like he was the most glorious thing she had ever seen? As if reading the Druid’s mind and trying to diffuse the situation himself, the fox jumped into Rowan’s lap, startling her and sending her gaze down to him.
“Oh hello!” Rowan instantly started running her fingers through the fox’s hair, starting from his head and swooping all the way down to the white tip of his tail. “What’s his name?”
“What?” Adam was getting irritated.
“The name of the fox. He has a name right?”
“Fintan,” answered Devlin striding over to sit beside her on the couch. “His name is Fintan.”
“Oh! That’s a great name! Well hello, Fintan.” Rowan never stopped the steady stream of petting and cooing at the animal.
Adam got annoyed. By Danu, they will be getting nowhere at this rate. Adam’s powers ar
e growing weaker and his glamour keeps faltering the longer he is away from his homeland. Being in America where everything is new, loud, dirty, and filled with iron has taken a toll on the Sidhe. He refused to feed on the blood of humans if he could help it. The ancient ones, such as himself, can generally last years without feeding on living blood. It had been a long time for Adam and it was starting to show. All Fae feed on something to give them power. Sidhe Warriors, like Adam, fed on blood. It’s an easy feast when you’re in battle. When you’re not spilling blood in the fields, however, one may have to resort to bargaining.
Back in the good old days, it was nothing for Adam to feed on the humans who so willingly offered their veins. In return, he’d help their harvests be plentiful and grow enough food to feed whole villages. But now, everything was farmed with GMO seeds, it was blasphemous and revolting. Most humans didn’t care about the lands anymore and were too lazy to grow their own food to feed their family. Grocery stores, happy meals and pizza joints had taken over. Disgusting. Adam chose to opt out of feeding from humans for as long as possible now; it was just too sickening to the Sidhe, and feeding of another Fae was out of the question.
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