by Kiki Howell
“What the hell are you talking about? Powers? As in financial? As in some type of royalty, as in this is a castle and I have some huge inheritance?”
“No, not royalty as in money, but still, a type of royalty in a way. You possess powers inside you, ones you were born with, but through distance and no education, and very specific lies, even certain magical measures, were stifled as much as they could be. Don’t tell me odd things didn’t happen to you as you grew, even despite all of this. Don’t tell me you didn’t always feel different in some way, some way you couldn’t explain because no one else acted or spoke about the same sort of things,” Saoirse asked even as her hands over-exaggerated her every word. “You knew things you shouldn’t. You felt things no one else spoke of. You had much more energy and life to you than you knew what to do with, how to channel. I bet you are overly active and sleep little. Your adopted mother, though she was a great comfort to you, aided in calming you, granting you a normal life. As normal as it could be, under the circumstances.”
Kyna lowered her chin and pursed her lips rather than letting any response escape. Her aunt’s words had touched a little too close to home, but what could her not fitting in have to do with anything? She’d made her way with the help of her strong and resilient mother. They’d weathered financial woes and friendship crises together as she grew. A constant barrage of motivational type speeches from her mother had given Kyna an inflated sense of pride in herself, of confidence in her abilities while remaining compassionate to the plight of the world around her. So much so, she’d pulled herself above the poverty line with a college education she’d fought tooth and nail for. They’d sleep when they were dead had been their motto.
“You feel it, the energy brewing inside you now that you’re back in your native land, so strong you can’t deny it here,” her aunt continued in a rush. “The odd sensations of power, that you can make things move with just a thought. I know you’re feeling them. You felt our energy together when you touched my hand earlier. Your mother in the States was instructed well on how to deal with or stifle any semblance of magic in you as you grew. It had to be that way for your own protection. Just like your name. Kyna was not the name on your birth certificate, but your mother wanted a unique name for the adoption so she could track you down later.”
“Listen, woman...uh, sorry, Aunt Saoirse,” Kyna faltered, “whatever I’m feeling is from lack of sleep, too much alcohol, and static electricity, at best. I came here to meet family I never knew I had, because as my mother prodded when your letter came, I should face whatever comes my way rather than ignore it. But, I didn’t sign on for crazy. And, Aedan...you? How? Why? I don’t understand how you could defend her in such a way. Surely you of all people are balanced by science and the rules of the world.”
She stopped the movement of her head when pain threatened. She hadn’t realized how she’d shaken it back and forth with her denial.
“Put up your hand,” her aunt requested as she held up her own like she signaled traffic to stop.
“No. Why?”
“Please.”
Aedan moved back from them, and Kyna resisted the urge to grab him. Crazy? Well maybe. Strong? Yes. But, she didn’t need him or anyone else. And, she wasn’t afraid. What could possibly happen?
In a fierce display of rising to any challenge, she raised her hand to her aunt's, positioned it just inches from touching the woman. A burst of light formed, scalded her hand like a cup of hot coffee on a cold morning. Pulling back as if she’d been burnt, she quickly became aware her palm remained unharmed. Rays of light shot and sizzled around them, landing on her lap, yet not burning, merely sparkled and disappeared.
“What the hell was that? You some kind of magician?” Kyna accused.
“No, a witch, a sorceress, whatever you want to call me...call us. That was merely energy, ours more powerful together, pulling from the earth, creating, controlling other energy,” her aunt hurried to explain.
“You’re insane, and I’m sorry I came,” Kyna spat as she stood.
The shaking of her legs shouldn’t have surprised her. The storm outside intensified, matched her every shot of anger, her every burn of distrust with light and sound.
Thunder clapped loudly in time with several jagged streaks of lightning. In the next instant, her aunt used her still raised hand to lift a glass off the cart. Kyna stepped forward. Something bordering hatred made her need to prove her point, show her aunt a fraud. She moved her hands in a frantic wave around the glass in an attempt to disrupt whatever means held it there. She met with only intense heat, the sensation of electricity, and tiny sparks that hissed with her every move. Examining her hand, still no burn marks appeared. The damnable glass remained in the air.
Aedan’s breath brushed her ear as he brought his hands to grip her upper arms.
She allowed herself a second to lean into the warm, rugged mass of his chest.
“I know it seems unbelievable. I went through the same when Saoirse first showed me. As a SEAL, I was trained to become an expert in everything overnight, and as much as I’ve tried, I can’t disprove this, what she can do, as anything less than the magic she claims it to be. I’m a voice of reason. From whatever you know about the SEALs, you have to know that. I’m the best of the best, right? Believe at least me. I’ve been here for weeks, and I’ve chosen to stay. I want to protect you both. You’re special,” Aedan whispered.
“Protect us from what, ourselves if we can actually do shit like that?” She motioned to the glass still hanging out in midair, like an ornament without a tree.
“No. I’ve learned of this group, this secret society,” Aedan answered. “For centuries they’ve gone after your family, like an age old feud. You’re the last of this powerful family, and not long ago, this group found you in the US. Your aunt contacted you and flew you here to protect you. They planned to take you, as they’ve threatened before. But your aunt lives in this house, warded, protected, and it’s the only place she knew she could also protect you. So she messed with the truth a bit to get you here.”
“Have you any idea how insane all of this sounds? I mean, how do I even know you’re an ex-SEAL and not just some actor hired to play one?” she fumed. “An actor, yeah that would explain a whole hell of a lot!”
“I’m not sure exactly what you mean by that, but it can’t be good. I am ex-SEAL.”
Temper sounded through his words as he released the tender grip he’d had on her. She felt a sting of pain, like when someone’s deeply insulted you. Ignoring the odd emotions, she shot her aunt a look. The glass finally took its place back on the cart. To her amazement, the cup barely made a sound when it landed.
“And, she sticks the landing,” Kyna mumbled under her breath.
Denying even what her eyes witnessed gave her the false security of sanity. This couldn’t be happening. The new family, the lies unveiled, the trip, the obvious wealth, it all circled around her, so much so she swore the tornado of it lifted her hair. Magic or powers or whatever, though, couldn’t be. Her mind just wouldn’t accept another change, especially one so out there she’d have to have fallen into another dimension altogether.
“I’m truly done.” Kyna continued louder. “Where’s my room for the night, and my things?”
She tried to quell the bitchy attitude that sounded in her voice. That wasn’t her, and would never be no matter what life threw her way.
“I’m sorry,” Kyna apologized with haste, rubbing her hand across her forehead, and then used her thumb and fingers to rub her temples. “I’m just tired, and do not wish to deal with this tonight. You must understand the whirlwind my last days have been. A person can only deal with so much at once. And now magic and some sort of danger? Your letter claimed the danger was gone.”
“I’m sorry. I had to, by any means necessary, get you here where you could be protected the best we knew how. Would you have come if I’d mentioned danger? I had to protect you. And, we’d come to an agreement we could best do t
hat here. You had no reason to trust us, though. So, yes, sorry, the lie seemed necessary. I understand it’s a lot to take in. Of course, I’ll have you shown to your room,” her aunt got out in a hushed, sorrow-laced voice. The first tears had fallen over her eyelids with her last few words.
Kyna had to ball her hands into fists and take a deep breath, in an attempt to remain calm as her aunt reached for a pulley that sounded a bell. She’d fallen into a paranormal episode of some murder mystery where rich and crazy relatives surfaced.
A woman appeared seconds later, dressed in a black uniform, with a long skirt as if she'd stood waiting to be summoned. At her aunt’s quiet, request, the uniformed woman led Kyna, followed by Aedan, out of the room and down another labyrinth of hallways.
Chapter Two
SHE NOW PLANNED to get the information she wanted and go home. What else could she do? Whatever expectations she’d had for this trip, none had gone quite like tonight had. Never had she dreamed of such an eccentric aunt, and this talk of magic, danger, and all that other crap. Even the sexy SEAL apparently couldn’t be trusted.
To top it all off, for some damned reason her room left her shell-shocked. Huge and elegant didn’t even begin to describe it. It catered to a faint whim of hiding out in luxury. Deep brown wood floors running into stone and stucco walls were topped with brick and wood beam ceilings. The canopy bed in the center could fit four without them ever having to touch each other. A beautiful carpet in deep reds, greens, and beiges hung from the opposite wall to match the two on the floor. A glimpse through a large doorway showed a monstrous bathroom she’d be happy to live in.
“My things?” Kyna asked as the servant turned to leave.
“Unpacked and stored,” the woman cooed as she motioned to the grandiose dressing cabinet and dresser.
The details in the wood, same rich stain as the glossy floors, left her breathless, but in a good way. Never had she thought much about the trappings of a room, but maybe she’d just stumbled onto her personal style. Funny, she never knew she had one. Her apartment back home screamed minimalist, though that had more to do with money and time than style and choice.
“If that is all, I shall leave you to settle in. I’m only a ring away.” The woman fingered a rope with a tassel which hung by the door.
So gothic, yet her heart skipped a beat. She had the briefest moment of an excited pleasure as if she’d been crowned royalty.
“Ah, thank you,” Kyna stammered, then cleared her throat.
She stiffened her posture, which had become lax in looking around. Then, realizing her mouth hung open a bit in her sheer astonishment, she snapped it shut.. She’d been a witness to luxury and wealth before, at least she’d thought with working in a luxury resort and all, but this, this mammoth place was something else.
With a nod of her head and a kind smile, the woman left Kyna with Aedan. He didn’t close the door, or enter more than a few steps into the room. Instead, he stood, hands behind his back, chest out. His intense gaze gave a hint of amusement.
“Something funny?” she questioned, unable to prevent a smile from forming on her mouth all of a sudden.
“No. I’m glad you at least like the room. You’ve had a rough first few hours in this country, from the weather to the overwhelming and unbelievable. Nice to see you enjoy something. The house is like nothing I’ve seen before outside of touring castles. While you’re here, you’ll want for nothing. Your aunt has to be the kindest employer ever. Even her employees want for nothing. You should see the rooms she puts them in with so many empty. And, she treats us all like family. I can’t tell you how often she just treats them to things, little gifts, extravagances, even small celebrations. I think she’s lonely. I mean, she goes out, but still—” He stopped, granted her a flash of his even, white teeth.
Her heart melted. Her shoulders relaxed for the first time in days. Such an affect this stranger had on her. Although, still she swore she felt him, his each and every emotion. As outlandish as that was, she was good at reading people. She liked the aura around this man.
“Sorry, to talk on and on like that. I didn’t think after leaving the SEALs I’d ever be happy in another job. But, being home and working here is a close second. I also never thought I’d meet a woman who made me so talkative,” he practically whispered the last sentence.
“My aunt?” Kyna teased as an attempt at flirting.
“No. You. Although, I do truly like working for her here.”
“Yeah. Who alive wouldn’t? Look, honestly here, cause I don’t feel like I’m getting much of it, prove you’re a SEAL. I really need someone I can trust in this place, and so far, buddy, you aren’t looking good either.”
She’d tried to make her voice sound tough, no nonsense, determined. Despite that, all her mind could think about was how good he actually did look, and how much she wanted him to be trustworthy.
His entire body tensed even more, and she felt a second of rage bounce off her body. She wished her imagination would stop trying to decipher everyone. She’d had her moments growing up where she’d thought she could feel others emotions before, but with him it was different. They meshed with hers, as if she could no longer decipher a separation of his from hers.
“I trust you have a phone or computer,” he offered. “Look up SPECWAR Insider. Pick any one of them. Don’t take my word on one. The Verifier should be from the Navel Special Warfare Center in the Coronado, California Public Affairs Office, preferably. Ask them to look me up. There are many who pretend to be Navy SEALs to get drinks in bars or a quick screw. I could stand here and tell you detail after detail of my trainings and missions, but what difference would that make? How do you know if I’m just making it all up from information I found. Fakes say they can’t be looked up because the information is classified. That, too, is a lie. While you can’t just get on the Internet and look me up, there are those who can. Verifiers can access the SEAL Database created in 1943 with the inception of the SEALs during WWII.”
“I will. Thank you.” She’d smiled at him more than she’d wanted to, but he’d returned the gesture making her heart skip a beat, in a favorable way this time.
“Do it now. We’re five hours ahead here. So, it’s three o’clock where you’re from, and another three hours earlier in California. The office is open. But, you look up the number. I don’t want you to accuse me of any foul play here,” he challenged. He moved his hands behind his back, pushing his chest out as he rocked slightly to the balls of his feet.
Confidence glided along the point of arrogance, stopping short at humble and compassionate. She liked this unique combination, especially in a man who didn’t appear to have a narcissistic bone in his body. His appearance were a true gift from the Irish gods, and his personality made him go from ruggedly handsome to drop-your-panties astonishing.
“Fine. I will,” she countered with a nod of her head and turned on her heel.
She grabbed her purse from the bed. Her stomach fell with the realization she’d not had it since she’d entered the house. They’d taken it with her coat. She had to get it together. She was far tougher than this. But no sense berating herself for one misstep or bad decision, as her mother had always said. 'Just move on and do better.' She echoed a favorite phrase of her mother's in her head. She wondered if her biological mother had been the same way as her mom in the States. She still had to get her aunt to answer those questions before she left.
Getting back to business, she took out her phone. It wasn’t the best, but intelligent enough as smart phones went. She needed an ally she could trust, and she wanted one now. She wanted that person to be Aedan, bodyguard extraordinaire.
She followed his instructions, and after a lengthy conversation with some man back in the States while Aedan stood at attention in her doorway, she got the confirmation she needed. The Verifier even texted her a picture of Aedan from training so she could confirm this man wasn’t just impersonating an ex-SEAL. The man at the center clearly took his job very
seriously. Of that, she had no doubt. Aedan Dunne was a former Navy SEAL. He didn’t just look the part to perfection.
“So, I’m legit then?” He cleared his throat after she put down her phone.
“I just don’t get it then.”
She let her arms drop to her sides, not caring that she let some of her exhaustion show as she fell to a seated position on the bed.
“I know. Trust me, I know,” he exclaimed as he moved to her, took a seat beside her. “I felt the same way, and I used every resource available to me, even paranormal research type equipment, to try to disprove what my eyes could see but my mind couldn’t comprehend as possible. I think that’s part of why your aunt hired me, to convince me first and then give you a solid foundation upon which to believe in the unbelievable as fast as possible. She’s a smart woman. Kind. Gifted, I guess I would call it, beyond anything even I’ve seen or even knew existed. And seriously, I’m one of those annoying guys who thinks he knows it all. Plus, the woman cares for you deeply, has loved you even through your twenty-four year absence.”
He remained close. The heat of his breath warmed her face. His gaze never looked away from hers. She wanted to kiss him in the worst way, to get lost in the physical, and to orgasm away the stress the alcohol hadn’t released. Yes, the strong drink she’d consumed had to be the explanation for all she couldn’t explain. These strange feelings continued to rage through her in his presence. All the same, she couldn’t be so stupid. He’d proven himself her only genuine ally right now. He was the only one sane in this insanity, even if he’d believed said insanity by having fallen under their so called spell. Get it together!
“Get some sleep.” He interrupted her derailed train of thoughts. “Things will look better in the morning. Your aunt has me in the bedroom next to yours. Our beds are against the same wall. So all you have to do is yell my name and I’ll be here if you need me.”
That was supposed to make me feel better? Shit! Easy access. One solution gave way to another problem.
