by J. L. Weil
The scent of coffee percolating drew my eyes to the kitchen. Conner was watching me from the doorway, shirtless, a mug warming his hand, and a curve to his lips. “Don’t worry; nothing happened.”
I smiled, not certain if I should be amused or appalled, but I definitely knew I would remember if something had happened last night. Conner was unforgettable.
“Unless you call moaning my name in your sleep nothing,” he added, walking into the room.
My eyes flashed to his.
He was grinning like the Cheshire cat, sly and devilish. “You shouldn’t look this good in the morning. It’s a sin.”
“Is it now? Did that line work on your last girlfriend?”
“Maybe, but it wasn’t a line.” He stared down at me with aqua eyes, steady and unblinking. “Will it be coffee or tea for you?”
The air in the little cottage went up a hundred degrees. Conner and I had been confined under the same roof for too long, and my suppressed feelings for him had reached their limit. If I stayed, something was definitely going to happen between us. I had to get out of here before I did something stupid. Conner and his dimple had the ability to make me lose brain cells. “Uh, tea, but don’t go to any trouble. I can stop and get some on the way to the shop. I should probably go,” I said, brushing at my messy curls. I didn’t think I could look at Conner’s muscular chest much longer without thinking impure thoughts…or touching.
I gathered my shawl and tote from beside the couch, slipped on my boots, and padded softly to the door.
Conner’s eyes were on me the entire time with an evil smirk. “Try not to get into any trouble. And Mirela…”
I stopped at the door and looked over my shoulder. My eyes could barely get past his glorious chest. “Hmm?”
“Stay away from the circle.” There was a warning there, though he tried to keep his tone light. It was there nonetheless.
Saying not a word, I left.
Chapter Seven
He didn’t know it, but Conner had given me my first lead. The stone circle.
He had made it abundantly clear he didn’t want me anywhere near the circle, which meant it was important. And vital in saving his life.
The cobblestone was curvy and clean as I walked to the shop. A postcard village, Kenmare was. No one would suspect what kind of evil lurking in the shadows.
I felt it in the air, chasing the wind with darkness. The wolf. He was out there, watching.
Conner was up to something, and fate had brought him here to me for a reason.
Lighting a few candles, I went about opening the shop, but my mind was preoccupied. As I stood behind the counter, rolling a shard of garnet in my hand, I kept thinking there was something between us, something that connected me to Conner. And that was another mystery. Who was he to me? What role did he play in my life?
I believed in fate, but that didn’t mean I simply had to stand there and let it run its course. Actions could be taken.
Within minutes, the shop smelled of lavender and candle wax. I rarely turned to magick for my own personal gain, and never at the shop. Deliberately, I kept my magick separate, but there were exceptions to every rule.
I went to the back of the room and sat at the round table, pulling the crystal globe from the center closer to me. Laying my hands on either side of the globe, I cleared my thoughts, removing any negativity.
“Show me what I seek, how my destiny is shaped to he, visions in glass become clearer to me.”
I felt color in my eyes go opaque as they do when I’m seeped in a vision. The use of the crystal ball enhanced my abilities, allowing me to see clearer and often longer.
The globe shimmered in green smoke, swirling until images appeared.
Conner.
At least my skills weren’t rusty. He was within the stone circle, magick shimmering around him. But he wasn’t alone.
There was a wolf, but not the dark wolf from my dreams. This one was a white as pure as snow, with electric blue eyes. It was beautiful.
Pacing the perimeter of the circle, Conner’s gaze was zeroed in on the wolf’s movements. The emotion on his face caught me off guard. He wasn’t angry or fearful. There was tinge of happiness and an equal amount of sadness.
The glass shimmered; smoke billowing at the wolf’s paws.
And wolf became woman.
My breath fluttered. A woman? A shifter. What did she have to do with saving Conner? Who was she to Conner?
The woman was tall, with beautiful long, white hair that waterfalled straight down her back. She was dressed in an elegant gown of mossy green. Her smile reached her eyes as she cupped either side of Conner’s cheeks, placing a kiss on each. “Blessed be, Conner of the Whalen’s.”
“Ma.”
His mother? Didn’t see that coming.
“Your trip home was without trouble?” Her voice had the lilt of Irish hills.
“Aye.”
“We’re not alone,” she said, her eyes never leaving his face.
I gasped, stunned she could sense my intrusion.
The corner of his mouth lifted. “I know. She means well,” Conner said, surprising me.
“You care for her?”
His gaze sharpened, and his body stiffened. “I know what I must do. My feelings for her won’t get in the way.”
“You say that now, son. But I know how the heart works. Guard yours with care. Blessed be, my love,” she said softly.
The images in the glass begin to blur, filling once again with the mystical green mist.
Holy crap. Conner’s mother was a wolf. What did that mean? Did she know who the dark wolf was? Why he wanted Conner’s death?
I had hoped for answers, but only ended with more questions.
I didn’t get to the village. My plans changed, and my fridge was going to be sparse another night, but nothing a quick trip to the pub for takeout on the way home wouldn’t fix.
But first I needed to see Nan. Well, more specifically, I needed to raid her library.
Nan had shelves filled with ancient text and history, many of magick, but others recordings of the past—diaries from the founding families of Kenmare. They came into Nan’s possession when she married my grandfather, who had been a bit of a collector and dabbled with magick. Gone over twenty years, like my parents, he was a distant memory, and without Nan’s and my abilities, I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to know him. Through her memories, I was able to see the man he had been, and the life they’d had together, raising my mother.
It had been a good life, and Nan missed him terribly. Because of me, she stayed here, instead of joining him in the afterlife, and I loved her dearly for it. She was all I had left. Losing her would crush my world.
I let myself in, and to my surprise, no one was home. Nan was her own woman, could come and go as she pleased, but I still worried.
She is probably having dinner with a friend or gossiping with the spell club or whatever.
I’d give her an hour before I checked on her, and in the meantime, I would search for what I came for.
Heading toward the back of the house, I hung a left at the kitchen and entered Nan’s office, as she called it. The room was furnished in deep burgundy leather, with an oversized rug. A large stone hearth climbed the wall, black soot covering the bottom. On the mantel were pictures of me through the years and little figures of faeries, mermaids, and dragons, all the things I’d been fond of as a little girl.
I crouched in front of the hearth, letting the tingle of magick spring to my fingertips. Within seconds, the fire was kindling and warmth flooded my face. Nan was much better with magick than I. Like Conner, Nan had abilities. She wasn’t a druid, but her powers came from the same line of gypsy blood that gave me the sight.
Other than little parlor tricks, I wasn’t much a witch. I turned my gaze to the shelves lining the back wall from floor to ceiling. An arrangement of spellbooks and folklore, I searched for a specific book: The Legend of the Kenmare Stones.
Nan
wasn’t the most organized individual. There was no rhyme or reason to the categorization, but the title jumped out at me, as if it was calling my name. My fingers ran over the spine, and a familiar hum trembled under my touch. I removed the leather-bound book, its pages aged and torn at the edges.
I switched on the little lamp, and the small corner of the room was bathed in amber light. I snuggled into the oversize lounge, the one I’d sat in a thousand times watching Nan work. I tucked my feet underneath me and settled in.
If there were anything of a curse or a haunting at the circle, hopefully it would be recorded in this book. I was relying on my abilities to help point me down the right path.
A breeze blew down the hearth, flickering the firelight and whipping the pages in the book. I glanced down and words popped off paper, drawing my eyes.
Legend states the Kenmare circle of stones were the original druid council, turned to stone to protect the sacred ground from a pack of shifter wolves bound by the full moon. The stones are said to be imbued with magick to keep out the souls bound by the moon.
When the last blood of the druids is spilled, the power that protects the stones will finally be broken.
I ran my fingertips over the page. This was it. This was why Conner returned home. As the last druid, it would be his responsibility to ensure the druids’ magick lived on and the stones were protected. But if the wolves outnumbered the druids and were looking to break the treaty now that the druids’ power was dwindling, it would explain why his life was in danger.
An hour or so went by before the wooden door creaked open. Nan handed me a glass of Cabernet. “You look like you can use this.”
“Thanks,” I sighed.
Nan tipped her glass, clinking it against mine. “Slainte.”
“Slainte,” I echoed.
Nan sat in the other chair, her long silver hair tied up neatly in a bun. “Catching up on some light reading?” She picked up one of the books discarded on the table. “Voodoo? Hmm, thinking of expanding the shop?”
I lay the dusty book in my lap. “I was looking for something on the stone circle.”
“Does this have anything to do with Conner Delany?”
I took a sip of my wine, looking at Nan over the rim. “And how do you know who Conner Delany is?”
An impish grin curled at her lips. “I know he is incredibly handsome. Has roots here in Kenmare. And you rode the storm out at his cottage.”
I groaned. “Don’t those ladies have anything better to gossip about besides me?”
Nan’s mossy eyes sparkled. “What else are we to do during our weekly meetings if not gossip?”
Didn’t I know it. I’d once been dragged to one of Nan’s spell clubs. Never again. I left that night with three blind dates and enough dirt on the people of this town to last me a lifetime. I swear, I got more information from them than I did from a vision. “I don’t know. Maybe actually perform a spell or two.”
She waved a hand in the air, dismissing the idea. “I also heard you had dinner at the pub.”
“Aye, we did.”
She winked. “When can I expect the granbabies?”
“Nan!” I gasped. “I’m not marrying the fool. I just want to save his life at the moment.”
She kicked off her shoes. “A fool, eh? Aren’t all men? He’s the one, isn’t he? The one in your dreams?”
I twirled the glass in my hand, staring at the deep color of the Cabernet as it swirled. “He is. A druid, if you can believe that.”
“I can, mo chroí. It’s fate. Your destiny is intertwined with his, but you already know this. Have known for a long time.”
I sighed. “I’m trying to figure why I’m connected to him, and what the stones have in saving him from the wolf.”
“He’s under a curse?” Nan guessed.
I set my glass on the table, sitting forward. “Maybe…I’m not sure.”
“Have you asked him?” Nan was known for being direct, not beating around the bush.
“He told me to stay out of it,” I scoffed.
She grinned, little star wrinkles gathering at the corner of her eyes. “And here you are.”
“Nan, I can’t explain it. The thought of his death leaves me gasping for air. He thinks he is trying to protect me. I’m mean, this whole thing is crazy. We just met.”
“It’s simple. Love.”
I snorted. “I barely know him.”
“Is that true? Have you not seen the man countless times in your dreams?”
“Of course.” My stomach tensed, as I knew what she was getting at.
“Are you saying from those visions, you didn’t learn anything about the man?” Nan asked smoothly.
“You think I’ve fallen in love with him in my dreams.” I bite my lip. “I don’t know.” I said, not entirely convinced. Since he stumbled into Kenmare, one thing was certain: I hadn’t been myself. There was no point in starting something with Conner if he was fated to die. Conner was right. I had to protect myself, but not from the wolf, from him. My heart wouldn’t recover if I allowed myself to love him only to lose him.
“Have you eaten?” Nan asked, drawing me from the dark thoughts.
I clasped my half-empty glass. “Nah. I’ll grab something at the pub on my way.”
“Nonsense. Come. I’ve got some leftover beef we can heat up. It will only take a minute. Then you can finish your wine.”
A minute to Nan was an hour in actual time, but she missed me, and I her, so I’d stay longer than planned, because we both could use the company.
Tomorrow, I would go to Conner, and he was going to have to deal with the fact I was involved. We would both have to deal with what was between us, and what was still to come.
Chapter Eight
The bell jingled over the door, announcing a visitor. I closed the book, placing it carefully under the counter, and glanced up. The smile on my face wavered. “Conner Delany. I’d say I’m surprised to see you…but I’m not.”
He sauntered in with confidence and purpose. “Let me guess. You saw me coming?”
“Something like that,” I mumbled. I couldn’t read his expression. Was he here to scold me for spying the other day with his ma? Or to send another warning?
“Good, then you know I brought you lunch,” he said, dropping a white paper bag on the counter. “Sandwiches from the pub. I hope you like Reubens.”
“Aye, I do, but you didn’t have to go to the trouble.”
“No trouble at all. How’s the shoulder?” he asked, pulling out the extra stool beside me, making himself right at home behind the counter.
“It’s fine. Funny you’re here. I was going to stop by your place after work, but now will do just fine.”
His smile was smug, even a bit daring. “Were you now? What did you have in mind? Another sleepover?”
I rolled my eyes. “Does every girl you meet jump into your bed?”
“You’re not like other girls.”
My heart fluttered, betraying my level headiness. “True, which means I’m immune to your charms.”
He moved without me realizing it, his warm breath dancing over my lips. “Would you like to test that theory?” he murmured.
Uh, hell no. We both knew we’d be using this counter for something other than a table and tearing our clothes off. “You just keep your lips and your hands to yourself.”
He chuckled. “What is it you have on your pretty little mind?”
He was close, and the nearness of him was doing weird things to my belly. His knee brushed mine, and a shock of electricity raced up my thigh. “The curse.”
“What curse?” he echoed, but not before the barest of emotion flickered in his eyes. I wasn’t sure if it was fear, anger, or both, but he wasn’t happy about it.
I played with the corner of my wrapped sandwich. “The one that binds you.”
A moment passed, and Conner sighed. “The more you dig into my past, the more you endanger yourself. How can I save myself, if I am worrying about w
hat you’re doing, or what you’ll do next?”
I jumped at the fact that a denial wasn’t quick on his lips. “So there is a curse. Tell me. There is a reason I’ve dreamed of you time and time again. I’m meant to help.”
One side of his lips curved up. “Dreamed of me, have you now?”
I frowned. That was beside the point. I wanted to know about the curse, not talk about my dreams. “Since I was six.”
He reached out, toying with the amulet around my neck. It thrummed to life. “And I you, Mirela. But in my dreams, it was I saving you.”
My mouth hit the floor. “I don’t understand. How is this possible?”
“In short, you just can’t keep yourself from meddling in my life.” He unwrapped his sandwich, taking a bite out of his pickle spear.
He was going to drive me batshit crazy. “You invaded my dreams,” I reminded him. “Now the score is even.”
His brow arched, the one with the battle scar. “Is it now? I’m not so sure about that.”
I considered throwing my pickle at him. “The other day wasn’t the first time you’ve entered my dreams.”
“Dream casting. And no, it wasn’t the first. I was curious about you. The girl who is linked to my dreams—to me.”
A link? My eyes beseeched his, and I felt it, a strand of electricity humming between us. “What kind of connection?”
He broke the spell and took a bite of his sandwich. “That falls under the category of the less you know, the safer you’ll be.”
I rolled my eyes. If Conner wouldn’t give me the answers I sought, there were other methods, just as effective. I would find out one way or the other. I deserved the truth, especially if Conner and I were somehow connected.
“Eat,” he said, indicating my untouched Reuben. “You’re going to need your strength if you insist on putting yourself in the middle of this fight.”
I took a bite out of the sandwich. “Happy now?” I mumbled, my mouth full, crumbs tumbling on the counter.
Seriousness reflected in his gaze. “Nah. I’ll be happy when you’re safe.”
“Then you understand how I feel,” I reasoned.
