by Ann Gimpel
Fionn felt Arawn’s gaze on him. He glanced at the god of death, revenge, and terror and heard his voice in his mind. “The dark gods are stronger than they’ve ever been. ’Tis chancy to move the lass into the thick of things.”
“And chancier to leave her here unguarded,” Fionn replied.
“Ye needn’t shield Aislinn.” Fionn switched to normal speech and exchanged looks with the other Celts. “We must discuss what is happening openly. None of us are immune, and it affects us all. The Lemurians were greatly strengthened by their alliance with the dark.”
“Aye, and now the dark gods have shanghaied the hybrids. No doubt they have plans to marshal their power against us, too,” Arawn said.
“’Tis unfortunate we doona know if there are more of the hybrids,” Bran murmured. “Or the way of their making so we could undo it.”
“Are there humans left in Ireland? Or did they all get marched into the vortex?” Shivering, Aislinn stretched her body toward the fire. Fionn pulled magic and drew it about her like a coat.
“There are humans all through the Old Country,” Arawn said. “’Tis a lot like here. Those with magic survived the purges.”
“Maybe I could convince them to work on our side,” Aislinn said. “Sort of like I did here. If things are really bad, we’ll need all the help we can get.” She clasped her hands together in front of her and balanced her chin on them. “Besides, I want to help them all we can. They might not trust you, but I’m sure I can get them to listen to me.”
“That’s admirable, lass,” Gwydion said, “but if we are already hard-pressed, we may not have the time.”
“I’ll make time.” Aislinn sounded as protective as Fionn had ever heard her. “I don’t want to live in a world where all the humans have been wiped out.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Ready for sleep, mo croi?” Fionn unfolded his body from where he’d been hunkered behind Aislinn, feeling stiff and sore.
The fire had burned down while they’d discussed first one strategy and then another. The consensus was they’d leave once they had gotten a few hours’ sleep. The dragons, who didn’t need much sleep, agreed to keep watch. Since no one knew exactly what they faced, it seemed like wasted energy to nail down a specific attack plan. The only one who seemed truly delighted to be returning to Ireland was Dewi. She spoke excitedly about renovations to shield her youngling cave from the dark gods.
Fionn held out his hands and drew Aislinn to her feet. Tomorrow, he would bring her, the bond animals, and himself into Ireland well within the wards of his manor house. That should buy them a bit of a breather before anyone pounced on them out of hand. “I am weary, mo croi. Let us rest for a bit.”
She followed him up the back steps and into the kitchen. Bella rode on his shoulder; Rune padded behind Aislinn. The bird hadn’t had much to say since his rescue, but he felt her relief and chiding through the tension in her talons.
“I’m nearly too done in, but I need to eat something.” Aislinn stopped at the pot on the stove and lifted the lid. “Good. There’s something left. It’s so cold in here, I’m sure it hasn’t spoiled. Would you like some?”
Fionn took stock of himself and realized it had been far more than a day since he’d eaten anything of consequence. “Good idea. Do ye suppose I should make up more for the others?”
“Now there’s a thought.” Gwydion walked into the kitchen, flanked by Bran and Arawn. “We can fend for ourselves. If I had a lass to warm my bed, I’d not want to be wasting time cooking for the likes of us.”
Gratitude warmed Fionn. “Thanks.” He grabbed the pot and a couple of spoons.
Aislinn hefted a half full mead bottle. “If we take this one, is there more?”
“Aye, lass. We can always find more mead,” Bran reassured her.
“How?” She raised a brow.
“Much the same way we move ourselves from place to place.”
“I have trouble jumping with anything that’s not strapped to my body, and even then sometimes it doesn’t work.”
“Well, ye see, the way we manage the elements is different from what ye do—” Arawn began.
“Later,” Fionn interrupted. “Come on, leannán. There’s little enough of this night left as it is.”
She grinned crookedly. “I suppose you’re right. Lessons in magic theory aren’t a huge priority at the moment.”
They sat on the bed eating out of the pot and passing the mead bottle back and forth. Rune snored softly from his place in a corner, and Bella perched on a dresser with her head tucked beneath one wing. Aislinn’s eyes drooped.
Fionn got off the bed and moved pot, utensils, and bottle to the floor. He doused his mage light and undressed, draping his clothes over a chair.
“No fair.”
“What isna fair?”
“I like to look at you when you undress.”
He snorted. “Ye could have fired your own light, lass.”
“Nah. I’m so tired, all I want to do is close my eyes and sleep for a week. Besides, there’s moonlight coming through the window.”
“Can I help you with your clothes?”
She shimmied to the edge of the bed and dropped her legs over its side. He untied her boots and then tugged them off. Fionn held one of them up and ran a finger over a place where the leather was split from sole to ankle. “Ye’re needing new boots.”
“For a long time now. It’s not as easy as it is with clothes, since they have to fit more precisely.”
He pulled her pants over her hips and drew them down her legs. The scent of her, honey and musk, hit him right in the groin and his cock hardened. He told his body to stand down, that they both needed sleep, but his penis throbbed hungrily. It wanted Aislinn. Sleep could wait.
She closed her fingers around him. “Mmmm. Nice.”
“Be a good lass and let go.”
Fionn pushed her back against the mattress and reached beneath her layers of tops. Her nipples were peaked even before he rolled them between his fingers. A soft moan escaped her. He bent forward and buried his head between her legs. Her hips bucked against his face, and she twined her hands in his hair.
As he licked and sucked her sex, Fionn dropped a hand to his shaft. He kept the other one latched firmly around Aislinn’s breast and tweaked her erect nipple. He jacked himself while he tongued her. No other woman had ever made him this hot. He couldn’t get enough of her. Even though he’d come with a vengeance in the river just a few hours before, his cock hadn’t fully relaxed since.
She thrust her pussy against his mouth. Her clit stiffened and swelled, and he sucked harder. When she came, pussy streaming with arousal, he nearly did, too. He wanted to be close so she didn’t have to work to bring him off. He knew how tired she was. Fionn strung kisses up her belly. He placed a hand on either side of her head and supported himself on his arms. His cock slid inside her easily, and she locked her legs around his waist.
He tightened his groin muscles so his cock danced inside her. Tiny little movements. He did it again and again, holding himself just at the edge of coming. If he could bring her to another peak before his claimed him, he would. Aislinn dug her fingers into his shoulders. He watched her in moonlight streaming through the glass. Her head was thrown back, her throat corded with passion, her fair skin blotchy with desire. She drove her pelvis against him while gripping his shaft with her hot slickness.
“Soon, mo croi. Soon. I feel your climax. ’Tis so close. Let it happen.” He drew out halfway and made circular motions with his cock right where he knew she was most sensitive. He was so aroused, it was all he could do to keep from coming. His balls ached with need. With a low growl, he lowered the angle of his pubic bone so it rubbed right on her clit.
Something between a shriek and a moan tore from her, and he felt the rhythmic contractions of her release. Fionn drew all the way out. Before he’d driven himself home even once, he came. Spasms shot through him so hard, the air took on a multi-colored hue.
&nbs
p; He collapsed atop her body. Somewhere in the middle of telling her she was the most beautiful, the most perfect, the most sensual woman in the entire world, they both fell asleep.
Aislinn woke to the sound of the hall floorboards creaking as footsteps approached. She pried her gritty eyes open to daylight. Before she could take stock of whether the bedclothes covered their naked bodies, the door flew open.
Gwydion leered at them. “I heard the pair of you last night. ’Twas all I could do to hold myself back from joining in.”
“Voyeur.” Aislinn twitched the coverlet over them.
“Ye wouldna have been welcome,” Fionn murmured sleepily.
“Och, and ye have no sense of humor. ’Tis long past time to be up. We all slept longer than we should have.”
“Is there breakfast?” Aislinn felt hopeful. She and Fionn had polished off what was left of the barley mixture, but she’d still gone to bed hungry—at least for food. Not for other things. A soft smile curved her lips. Fionn was an incredible lover. His mouth and fingers and cock drove her to heights she’d only imagined existed. For the barest of moments, she wondered if they’d have time for one more round before they had to leave.
“Aye, and when ye get that come hither look on your face”—Gwydion grinned at her—“’tis all I can do not to give Fionn a run for his money.”
“It’s nice to be wanted, but you can leave now.”
“You heard the lady,” Fionn said. “Give her a spot of privacy so she can dress.”
Gwydion slipped out the door, but not before Rune took advantage of it being open. The wolf took his leave, with Bella right behind him.
“How are you, mo croi? I dinna hurt you last night, did I?” Fionn laid a tender hand on her belly.
“No. Not at all.” She smiled crookedly, reached for him, and cradled his erection in her hands. “I don’t suppose…”
Fionn laughed. “Nay. Not that I wouldna love to, but the others are waiting. ’Tisn’t fair to try their patience beyond what’s reasonable.”
“I was afraid you’d say that. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. All I want to do is fuck you and then fuck you some more.” Aislinn moved to her side of the bed and got to her feet.
“It’s because we’re in love with each other, leannán. Toss me a damp cloth if ye would.”
She went into the bathroom and turned on the taps, not bothering to warm the water. Once she was done with an impromptu sponge bath, she rinsed her washcloth and chucked it at Fionn. He sat on the edge of the bed. The morning light glistened off his blond curls.
He caught the washcloth and then got to his feet. “Probably better if I have running water.” He pushed past her to the sink.
Aislinn rustled through Marta’s clothes. “What should I bring with me? No, let me rephrase that. What am I likely to find at your house? Will there be clothes there that might fit me?” She put on black sweatpants, a green knitted top, and the black jacket she’d found at the McCloud Fishing Lodge. Her worn boots came next.
He spoke from the bathroom over the sound of water cascading into the sink. “Not sure. Bring what ye can fit in your rucksack. Beyond that, there’s not much point. I’m thinking ye can do much as ye did here and find clothes in abandoned houses. Ye’ll be needing boots, too. Once upon a time, I could have had a pair made, but those days are long since gone.”
They worked in silence for a time. Aislinn didn’t understand why she felt so ambivalent about leaving the United States. It wasn’t as if they even still existed. I suppose it’s because it’s the only home I’ve ever had. Another, deeper truth emerged. Once I’m in the U.K, or what’s left of it, I’ll be totally dependent on Fionn until I learn my way around. At least here, I’m familiar with where to find what I need.
“I will take care of you, mo croi. Ye needn’t fear on that—”
“Damn it.” She straightened over her nearly full rucksack. “You’re in my head again.”
He looked sheepish. “Aye. Ye were silent for so long, I got curious.”
She let out an exasperated breath. “I wish you wouldn’t do that. Or at least if you do, don’t talk with me about it. It makes me feel like not even my thoughts are my own.”
“Are the two of you coming or not?” Dewi’s voice boomed in her head.
A corner of Fionn’s mouth turned down. “I could hear that from all the way over here without doing anything special. Yes, Dewi. We’re nearly ready.”
“It’s about time. For a while there, I was afraid you’d lose yourselves in rutting again.”
“Och aye, and dinna I hear you and Nidhogg trumpeting your lust in the middle of the night?”
“For the best of reasons.” Dewi sounded smug. “We are making new dragons.”
Fionn grinned and pulled on jeans, a sweatshirt, and a jacket. He knelt to put on socks and boots. “She’s got me on that one.” He patted Aislinn’s rump. “Ready?”
She stuffed a few more things into her already-full pack. “Guess so. Do you suppose there’s still time to eat something?”
“We’ll make time.”
Aislinn shouldered her pack and strode down the hall to the kitchen. “So how does the dragon mating thing go? They’re basically reptiles, so I’m guessing he fertilizes the eggs inside her.”
“Aye. And then she lays them and tends them. It takes a while. She has to have a certain number of fertilized eggs afore they leave her body. Once they’re laid, they take a year to hatch.” Fionn held the kitchen door open, took her pack, and set it in a corner.
“I canna believe it.” Bran rolled his eyes and shoved a bowl of hot cereal into her hands. “When the two of you aren’t fucking, you’re talking about it.”
“Ye’re just jealous.” Fionn spooned gloppy oatmeal into a bowl and doused it with honey. “She gets a bowl already made, and I am forced to fend for myself?”
Bran snorted. “Damn straight.”
“For a minute there,” Aislinn spoke around a mouthful of cereal, “you sounded nearly as modern-day as Fionn does sometimes.”
“Aye, lass.” Arawn came from the study, his arms full of Marta’s journals. “All of us lived long enough in modern times, we learned to blend in.”
“It was easier than constantly explaining why we had archaic accents.” Gwydion was right behind Arawn, similarly burdened. “I think we’ve everything we’ll need. It’s not as if we can’t come back here.”
“Assuming the house is still in place,” Arawn added.
Aislinn thought about the house she’d grown up in cracking into ruins and hastily finished her breakfast. The Lemurians were completely capable of destroying structures. Since they’d probably figured out Marta’s house held a gateway into Taltos, she supposed it wasn’t long for this world. I’m surprised it’s still here.
“Surprised what’s still here?” Bran quirked a brow.
“Would the lot of you stay out of my mind?” Aislinn slammed her fist down on the table. “It’s bad enough Fionn lives there.” She shook her head, not understanding why she felt so edgy and out of sorts. “Sorry, Bran. Didn’t mean to take your head off.”
“Apology accepted, but ye dinna answer my question.”
“I was wondering why the Lemurians hadn’t destroyed this house. Surely once Fionn rescued me, they found out about the gateway into Taltos.”
“Hmph.” Bran’s brows drew together. “Likely an oversight, except they wouldna have harmed it so long as the hybrids were here.”
“Good point.” Aislinn thought back to when the hybrids had disappeared and was shocked it had only been a few days. So much had happened, it seemed like much longer.
She shouldered her pack and trailed out the door after Fionn and the other Celts. Bella found her way to Fionn’s shoulder. Rune met everyone in the yard.
“Where were you?” Aislinn asked the wolf.
“Saying goodbye.” A poignancy reverberated through his words. Rune had grown up in this house. Maybe the wolf’s instincts told him he’d never see
it again.
She petted him. “Seems like both of us are sad.”
“Hurry.” Dewi’s voice was sharp. “I don’t like the feel of things. We need to be on our way.”
“I agree.” Nidhogg shuffled nearer to Dewi. “It will be good to return to our home.”
A flame leapt from Dewi’s open mouth and blasted skyward. “We would have left at dawn had it not been for this crew of lazybones.”
Fionn spread his arms. Aislinn came into them with Rune right next to her. Magic sizzled all around her. Portals opened in the air. The dragons disappeared.
“’Twill be an easy trip,” Fionn said. “Look into my mind. See our destination and hold it within your thoughts as well.”
“Go,” Rune snapped. “I agree with the dragons. Something ominous is nearly upon us. I think it’s Lemurians, but their scent is…odd.”
The air wavered. Suddenly, she knew what had set her teeth on edge. The wolf was right. Lemurians. She smelled them, but couldn’t see anything. “They’re coming. Hurry.” Aislinn threw her power into Fionn’s casting to speed them away.
Just before the yard dissolved around her, a loud crash rocked the ground. The house blew sky high, sending wood and plaster a hundred feet in the air. Aislinn battled nausea that twisted her stomach into a knot. The reason she couldn’t see the Lemurians was because they’d come through the Taltos gateway and into the basement. They must have used magic to mask their reptile stink, or she’d have known they were there much sooner. With a sinking feeling, she realized they’d never give up. She and Rune had killed three of them. The Old Ones wouldn’t rest until she was dead—or they were.
She clung to Fionn, heart hammering against her ribs. Rune’s mournful howl sounded all around her. It was hard to get her mind around what a narrow escape they’d had. They might have been able to fight their way out of a pack of Old Ones, but not without Dewi and Nidhogg to help. “I hope the others got away safely,” she said to Fionn.
