by Leigh Fallon
“Impressive,” Adam gasped. “I didn’t know what you were up to there for a minute.”
My lips curled into a smile. “I guess I have my uses. Now come on, let’s get out of here.”
Twelve
ENSNARED
We burst into the DeRíses’ house, yelling for Fionn and Rían.
“What’s going on?” Fionn demanded.
“It’s Chloe,” Adam said, and handed over his phone containing the photos. “Her whole apartment is a stakeout. They have a camera on our house as well as Megan’s.”
Fionn sighed. “Knights. I guessed as much. Hugh, get your arse down here!”
Áine gasped. “You suspected? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“It made sense to go along with the charade, and I knew there was no way we could get rid of them. If we acted like we didn’t suspect them, they’d have to keep their distance.”
“But they didn’t,” Áine said. “You should have told us.”
Fionn narrowed his eyes. “What do you me—”
“Yes?” Hugh came out, looking a little sheepish. “What’s the matter?”
“You have Knights watching us?” Fionn asked.
Hugh’s eyes dropped. “The Order knew you would never allow it, so it had to be done quietly.”
Fionn was still. “You keep saying we can trust you, yet you continue to deceive us. They were watching us before you even told us about the reinstatement, weren’t they?”
“It was for your own benefit. The Knights and the Council insisted. Honestly, Fionn, they’re different now.”
“Sending in Chloe to befriend the kids was low, even for the Knights. You say it’s different this time, but they’re already breaking codes by getting this close.”
Hugh looked confused. “The Knights aren’t allowed to interact with the Marked. You must be mistaken.”
Adam glared at him. “We’re not mistaken. It looks like your Knights have been misbehaving.”
Hugh started pulling at his bow tie. “Adam, we had no choice. The Order was going to send the Knights whether or not Fionn approved. We are starting the last stages of the alignment training. The stakes have never been higher.”
Adam nodded. “I believe you, but you should have come clean with us. Rían is going to freak out.”
“Freak out about what?” Rían asked, coming down the stairs and tugging his earphones out by the wire. He took in the serious atmosphere and pulled up short.
Adam handed Rían his phone with the photos of Chloe’s apartment.
“What is this?”
“It’s Chloe’s place,” Adam said quietly. “She’s been staking us out this whole time. I’m so sorry, bro, but Chloe is a Knight.”
Fionn watched them carefully. “Oh, for the love of god, Rían, please tell me you’re not involved with her.”
Rían shook his head back and forth, color draining from his face. “No, it’s impossible.” He turned to Fionn. “You said she was clean.”
“No! What I said was to leave it with me. That was not permission to start going out with her.”
“A Knight would never get involved with a Marked. It’s unheard of,” Hugh said, before cowering away from Fionn’s withering look.
The room began to get warm, too warm. Heat was radiating from Rían. Fionn backed down, and his voice grew reassuring. “Rían, this might all be a misunderstanding. Let’s not jump to conclusions just yet, okay?”
Rían held up his hand to quiet Fionn. “Not jump to conclusions? Like what, Fionn, huh? Like, let’s say, being betrayed, lied to, laughed at? Oh no, it couldn’t possibly be anything like that, could it? No, that bitch was just an innocent party in all of this. ‘I’m going home to the UK to spend Easter with my family,’” he said, mimicking her voice. The bruised skin around his eye and the bloodshot veins gave him a sinister air as he scanned the room. His eyes stopped at mine and burned deep into me. The sensation stabbed at my element. “Where is she now?” he roared.
Adam moved forward with his hands up. “We saw her in town about an hour ago, but she was leaving. I found this,” he said, handing Rían the crumpled email from his pocket.
Rían ripped it out of Adam’s hand and stared down at it with murderous eyes. “She’s been here in Kinsale the last few days, then.” He laughed bitterly. “She must have got some kicks out of the phone calls to me, telling me all about the weather in London and how much she missed me. What a load of crap.”
“You don’t know that for sure,” Áine said. “She seemed to genuinely care for you.”
“Oh, spare me, Áine. I know when I’ve been suckered and made a total fool of.” He turned to Adam. “I guess you were right all along.”
Adam put his arm on Rían’s shoulder. “This is one occasion where I really wish I weren’t. I’m so sorry, honestly I am.”
Rían shrugged Adam off. “So she’s a Knight, and from the look of this”—he waved the email in the air—“she’s flying out to Gothenburg this evening. What’s the big deal with Gothenburg, Hugh?”
Hugh sighed. “It’s the Trohet Natten. Allegiance Night. The Knights gather for the ceremony every year on the islands off the coast.”
“Well, I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m off to Gothenburg to gate-crash this party,” Rían said. “I’m sure they will be thrilled to have a Marked One among them.”
“You can’t,” Hugh said. “It’s completely closed to anyone outside of the Knights.”
“Sod that. Who’s with me?” Rían’s eyes darted around the room.
“I am,” Adam said. “And Megan will go too.”
“I will?” I said, catching my breath. “Don’t get me wrong, Rían, I’m all for supporting you, but I can’t just head off to Sweden. What would I tell my dad?”
“Hell, if Megan’s going, then so am I,” Áine said.
“And me,” Matthew joined in.
“Forget it!” Fionn rubbed his temples in irritation. “None of you are going anywhere.”
“Yes, we are. What could possibly happen? I’d be crashing a gig of Knights whose sworn purpose in life is to protect us.” Rían crossed his arms obstinately.
Fionn raised an eyebrow. “The Knights are sworn to protect the elements within you, not you as a person. Never forget that!”
“Please, Fionn,” Rían pleaded through gritted teeth.
“I said no!” Fionn walked closer to Rían and lowered his voice. “She’s not worth it.”
“Probably not, but that’s my call to make.” Rían squared up to Fionn, his eyes glowing. “We’re not kids anymore, Fionn. I’m old enough to make my own decisions, and I’m going.” Flickering sparks lit up along his arms as his elemental magic crashed against the air surrounding him. I felt each spark strike like a fisherman’s line hooking me and reeling me in. The attraction at that moment was unbearable. Ensnared by the power, I found myself moving toward the cloud of fiery sparks. I gasped as the energy from each one touched my skin and seemed to soak in, leaving a warm glow where it had passed through. As if off in the distance, Adam’s voice called to me. Part of me wanted to turn and reassure him I was okay, but the other part of me—the hungry part—wanted more of the power emanating from Rían.
Rían glared at me, his eyes heavy with unspoken warnings. “What the hell are you doing, Megan? Stop!”
I want to help, I tried to say, but the words didn’t make it to my lips.
Fionn tried to approach us but seemed to be repelled back. “Megan, go to Adam.”
Through the fog of blissful power that surged around me, and the glinting, floating embers that surrounded us, I looked at Adam and felt my heart lurch. His eyes pleaded, and he held his hand out to me, but the energy being absorbed through my skin drove my body closer to Rían.
“Go away,” Rían pleaded, and shook his head, but his hand rose up in my direction.
“No,” I whispered, taking his hand in mine, gasping at the surge that ran through me. I felt the flint sparks in the atmosphere wrap
themselves around my wrist like a fiery rope, binding me to him. Shock finally hit me, and I snapped my hand free of Rían’s.
Rían stumbled away, looking from me to his hand. “What did you do?”
As soon as I’d broken the connection, I snapped out of the fuzzy power bubble I’d been floating in. I shook my head and took in a pale and wilting Rían. “I was just trying to help.”
“You, you took . . .”
“I didn’t mean to . . . I . . .” My hand continued to tingle, and I glanced down. There in my palm was a little flame, burning brightly. I gasped and clenched my fist around it.
“Megan.” Adam’s voice was soft. I ran into his arms, ignoring the roomful of confused eyes. He lowered his mouth to my ear. “I thought it only happened when . . .”
“I thought so too,” I whispered.
“Rían, come back here!” Fionn called out. I turned to see Rían escaping out the back door.
“I’ll go after him,” Áine called, looking at me with dark eyes before turning to follow her brother.
“Matthew, do you mind giving us some time?” Fionn asked, though it was clear from his tone that it was more of a command than a request.
“Happy to oblige,” Matthew said, stumbling over himself in his haste to leave the room.
As soon as the door closed, Fionn sat back on the bench beside Hugh, running his hand over his hair. “I’m getting too old for this,” he muttered, exhaling heavily. “Can someone please explain what on earth just happened?”
Adam and I stood there. I could feel the waves of disappointment, shock, and betrayal rippling from him, even though he still held me reassuringly.
“I’m not sure,” I mumbled, feeling a flush of embarrassment creep up my neck and invade my face. “I felt . . . I just needed to . . . to touch.” Adam bristled beside me, and his hold loosened. “I can’t explain it.”
Hugh started pacing nervously. “An Ciorcal Iomlán. How? It makes sense. . . .” He scratched his head, looking at the floor. “I have to get back to Dublin.”
“You don’t have to go anywhere,” Fionn said, standing and blocking his path. “What are you talking about?”
Hugh stared at me, then dragged his eyes back to Fionn. “I can’t say anything until I’m sure.”
“Just tell us!” Fionn threw his hands up in exasperation.
Hugh grabbed the front of Fionn’s shirt. “No, Fionn! This time, you wait!” He pushed Fionn back roughly and walked to the door. “Everything you need is in my notes. Stay safe, and whatever you do, don’t mention this to the Order.”
Before we had time to process what he’d said, he was gone.
Thirteen
CONFUSION
Meg and I are going to my room. We need to talk,” Adam announced into the silence.
My heart thumped in my chest. I followed Adam upstairs and perched on the bed next to him. I didn’t need a light to see the pain etched on his face. The soft glow of the clear night was enough.
“I don’t understand,” Adam finally said, his eyes still cast down.
“I don’t either.”
“What was that?”
“I’ve . . . been feeling . . .” I couldn’t go on. I had no idea how to explain to him the turmoil of emotions that twisted inside me.
“Have you fallen for Rían?”
“No!” The image of Rían’s pale face from earlier flashed in my mind, and everything was suddenly clear. I hadn’t fallen for Rían. I had fallen for his power. “I’m drawn to him, but not in the way you’re thinking. I couldn’t stop myself earlier, I swear.”
“I thought the power thing was just you and me. I thought you only wanted mine.”
“I don’t want any of them, Adam. I’m not doing this on purpose. And it’s not just me! Áine keeps holding my hand, and Rían tried to—”
“He told me,” he said, raising his sad eyes to mine.
“He what?” I managed to say while fighting the urge to throw up. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“He asked me not to. He said it was his fault.”
“I was going to tell you, I swear.”
“I know you were.” He dropped his head to the side and gazed out the window.
The pressure in my throat moved higher, triggering an involuntary sob. I wanted him to hold me, to comfort me, but he didn’t. He just sat on the bed, looking out at the night sky. When my tears finally stopped, I looked up to see Adam lying on his side with his eyes closed. His thick, dark lashes fluttered delicately. I gently ran the back of my hand along his jaw. How could I have hurt him like this? My element was drawn in many directions, but he was all my heart wanted. I leaned down to the warm smoothness of his face and kissed him.
“You’re the one I love,” I whispered, as much to myself as to Adam. I got up and tiptoed to the guest bed, climbing in without bothering to undress.
Just as I was drifting into an uneasy sleep, Adam murmured, “I know.”
I opened my eyes and blinked at the bright light shining in my face. It flicked away from me, and then Áine was there, Randel on her shoulder.
“Trouble in paradise?” Áine whispered, directing the flashlight toward Adam, who was still fast asleep.
“What’s wrong?” I sat up, anxious.
“Rían’s gone, and so is his passport.”
“You don’t think he went to—”
“That’s exactly what I think. But he’s not going to get far. The first flight out of Cork is the five fifty a.m. to Heathrow. We still have time to stop him.”
“Or go with him.” Adam’s voice said through the dark. Suddenly the lamp on the bedside table flickered to life.
I rubbed my eyes groggily. “We can’t just get up in the middle of the night and hop on a plane.”
Adam jumped off the bed. “Who says?”
“My dad, for one! He’d freak out, and so would Fionn. I don’t even have my passport with me.”
“Aren’t you sick of everyone telling you what to do? There’s a whole heap of shit going on around us, and we’re just sitting on our arses waiting for other people to come up with the answers!” He walked over and held down his hand to me, daring me to go with him. “I think it’s about time we started creating our own destiny.”
Ignoring all the voices in my head shouting at me to say no, I let him pull me up. “I think you’re right.”
Áine looked at her watch. “We’ve got exactly one hour and fifty-six minutes to pack our bags, sneak out of here, get Meg’s passport from her house, and get to the airport before check-in closes. We better get a move on.” Áine grabbed a backpack from the floor and threw it at Adam.
“Has anyone thought of how we’re going to finance this little trip?” I asked.
“Fionn’s ‘emergency only’ credit card and cash stash.” Áine fanned herself with it. “He’s going to kill me.” She smiled wryly and shoved the card into her purse along with the wad of euros. Randel fluttered from Áine’s shoulder onto her bag. “I’m sorry, baby, but you can’t come. I need you to keep watch on Fionn for us while we’re gone, okay?” Randel made a crooning noise and hopped onto the windowsill.
“Let’s get out of here,” Adam whispered.
When we got to my house, my stomach dropped. There was a light on in the kitchen.
“Crap!” Adam said, turning off the engine.
“Maybe somebody just left it on,” I said, getting out of the car. I peeked into the kitchen and saw nothing. Phew. I snuck inside and tiptoed up to my room. Fast as lightning, I loaded my bag, grabbed my passport, and crept back down the stairs.
“Where are you going?” Petra’s voice called softly through the darkness. A lamp switched on in the sitting room.
My heart leaped to my throat as I inched backward and looked in from the hall. “Petra, what are you doing here?”
She closed her journal in front of her and started tracing her finger over the words on the cover. “I might ask you the same thing.”
“I . . . I mean, w
e”—I pointed out to the car—“need to go somewhere. I had to get some stuff.”
“Go somewhere?” She looked at her watch. “At four thirty in the morning?”
Ignoring her questions, I narrowed my eyes. “What are you doing up at four thirty?”
She picked up her cell and glanced at it. “I got an important phone call that I had to take. I didn’t want to disturb your father. So where are you going?”
“Adam’s brother went somewhere, and we have to get him.”
She leaned forward. “Rían? Where did he go? What’s wrong?”
She knows Rían? I wasn’t sure which direction I should take the lie in. “He found out his girlfriend was lying to him, and he’s gone after her. We have to stop him.” As soon as the last word left my mouth, I cringed. Without all the significant details surrounding our decision, it sounded crazy.
But Petra just looked at me. “That Chloe girl, right? Where?”
I dug deep for a believable destination. “To her mother’s place.” I bit my lip, not meeting her gaze.
Petra’s eyebrows shot up, and sarcasm crept into her voice. “Her mother’s place? Really?” She stood up, went to her handbag, and produced her wallet. She nodded toward the bag on my shoulder. “I take it you’re not planning on being back tomorrow.” She whipped out all the cash and gave it to me. “You’ll need this.”
“You’re not going to stop me?” Was she that desperate for my approval that she’d send me off into the unknown without so much as a question?
“Tá sé am chun an ciorcal dul iomlán. You need to keep Rían safe and bring him home.”
I hesitated, my mind racing. Why was she talking in Irish? But I didn’t have time to think about that right now. “My dad! He’ll kill me. I have to explain, something, write a note . . .”
