by Ashlyn Chase
She had a feeling Rory might need help ejecting his unwelcome visitors, but he’d never ask for it. Maybe she could round up some muscle at the paranormal club and bring him reinforcements.
He might be angry if his pride was hurt, but that’s all she could think of to do to help. So, tough noogies, Rory. Your paranormal family is coming to the party!
She reappeared in their apartment, which seemed deserted without him in it. Throwing open the door and charging up the stairs, she decided to stop at his sisters’ place first. Then she could take them across the hall and talk to everyone she could find at once.
* * *
Rory flicked on the lights in his cottage and stomped up the stairs to the two bedrooms. Chloe and Shannon shared the one at the back of the house, and his was in the front. He threw open the door to his room, and with only the light from the moon, he could see two figures in the bed and two more on the floor.
He threw back the covers on the bed, and two men about his size sat up quickly.
“What’s this?” one of them cried.
“That’s what I’d like to know,” Rory said.
The man closest to the bedside lamp reached for it, but Rory clapped his hands and turned it on. The two men squinted while their eyes adjusted to the light.
Rory didn’t recognize them.
“Who the hell is this, Conlan?” one of them asked.
Rory leaned back and crossed his arms. “Ah. You must be me Ulster cousins. Conlan and Aiden. It’s been so long, I hardly recognize you. I spoke to Eagan on the phone.”
“Rory?” asked the one referred to as Conlan.
“I am. Now tell me, what’s wrong with the B and B in Ballyhoo? That’s where I asked you to wait for me.”
The one who must have been Aiden snorted. “There’s been no room at the inn since news of the family castle got out. You’re lucky we’re here protectin’ it.”
Rory’s eyebrows shot up. “Protectin’ it, are you? It seems you’re doin’ a rather poor job of that, considerin’ there’s an army camped across the street from me property.”
Conlan shot out of bed. Rory couldn’t help noticing he was wearing boxers made of the Arish plaid.
“And you did so much better…leavin’ it completely exposed and unguarded. And where have you been all this time?”
Rory just remembered they weren’t alone. He glanced at the sleeping bags. Two terrified faces looked back at him, and it was only then that he noticed duct tape over their mouths.
“Who the feck are these two?”
“Reporters,” Conlan said as if the word tasted foul. “These bastards didn’t listen to the fact that they were on private property.”
“They keep sendin’ ’em two at a time, and we keep tyin’ ’em up,” Aiden supplied.
“Didn’t you see all the news trucks on the road?” Conlan asked.
Rory stepped over one of the reporters on his way to the window. There were half a dozen news trucks from various parts of the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Conlan crossed his arms and stared at the two on the floor. “There’s a few women in the other bedroom and more men in tents across the street outside.”
“Are you askin’ to get arrested?” Rory yelled. “This is the same as kidnappin’.”
The two men on the floor started nodding madly.
Conlan puffed up his chest. “You’ve no right to criticize how we handled things. Seein’ as you were no help a’tall.”
“’Twas no fault of ours.” Rory wished he could elaborate, but arguing would waste precious time.
“Then whose fault was it?” Aiden demanded.
Rory sighed. “It doesn’t matter right now.” He nodded toward the reporters on the floor. “How long have they been here?”
“A day at most. Thank goodness word spread slowly.”
Rory gasped. “These people probably need food, water, and a bathroom to relieve themselves.”
The two on the floor nodded vigorously.
“Now that you finally decided to join us, you can help with that,” Conlan said.
“I wish me sisters were here to cook and help with the lasses.”
No sooner had he said that than Amber, Chloe, and Shannon marched through the door.
“What the feck is going on?” Chloe shouted.
Rory blew out a breath of relief. “Ah, me darlin’s. Your timin’ couldn’t be better.” He hugged his sisters. “I’ll introduce you to our cousins later, but right now we have a problem to fix.”
Shannon gazed at the men on the floor. “So it seems. What can we do to help?”
Rory wanted to kiss her. There really wasn’t time for lengthy explanations. “Shannon, would you be so kind as to start cookin’ a big breakfast for our—um…guests? And Chloe, there are lasses in your bedroom. Can you untie them and let them use the toilet? No hogging the bathtub though. They can do that later when everyone is accounted for.”
“I don’t believe this…” Chloe muttered under her breath as she stomped off down the hall.
“What can I do?” Amber asked.
Rory grabbed her arm. “Come with me.” As he was leaving the bedroom, he glanced over his shoulder. “Untie them, and let them use the outhouse.”
“They’ll run,” Conlan said.
“And I’ll let ’em go if you don’t do as I say. Now me lady and I have somethin’ to discuss in private. Take them one at a time.”
His cousins didn’t look happy, but at least they moved toward the men on the floor, albeit slowly.
* * *
Amber was sure Rory was angry. But she had only brought his sisters, not the entire paranormal community like she’d wanted to. Still, she didn’t appreciate being manhandled. “You don’t have to drag me. I need to talk to you too.”
“Oh bejeezuz.” He dropped her arm and took her hand instead. “I’m sorry.”
At the bottom of the stairs he glanced left and right…probably looking for more tied-up bodies. There didn’t seem to be any, thank goodness.
“Let’s speak outside,” he said. As soon as he opened the door, reporters rushed up to their little cobblestone walk with microphones and cameras pointed at them, already calling out questions. Rory noticed they were careful not to step onto his private property. Perhaps he had something else to thank his cousins for.
“Are you the owners of the castle?”
“Why won’t you let people explore it? Is it unsafe?”
“Don’t you agree it belongs to the Irish government?”
Rory slammed the door. “Feck. Maybe me cousins had the right of it. Stay here. I’ll tell them to keep the captured reporters upstairs.” He dashed toward the stairs.
“Wait. I have an idea.”
He halted. “And I’ll listen to you. Just give me a moment.”
He all but flew up the stairs, taking two at a time. Amber smelled something wonderful and drifted toward the kitchen. Shannon was humming and whipping up something in a large bowl.
Amber peered over her shoulder. “What smells so good?”
“Ah, that would be bacon. I was lucky to find some in the fridge,” Shannon said, smiling. “And wait until you taste me biscuits… Best in Ballyhoo, they are.”
Amber’s mouth watered. When was the last time she’d eaten? With all the excitement, it must have been several hours since her breakfast with Rory.
Speaking of whom, the man himself appeared in the doorway. He filled the opening and even though he looked stressed, he was still the handsomest guy…dragon…whatever she’d ever seen.
“Ah, Shannon, luv. I can’t thank you enough for what you’re doin’.”
She grinned. “The way to forgiveness is to break bread.”
“I’m not sure we’re the ones who need forgiveness,” he groused. “Amber, you had an idea to tell me
about?”
She glanced at Shannon. “Didn’t you want to speak privately?”
“Mayhaps Shannon ought to hear this too. She keeps me from making decisions based on me anger sometimes.”
“Aw… Thank you, Brother. And you keep me from making decisions based on me sentimentality sometimes.”
“You mean, your two hearts,” Rory said.
Before Shannon had a chance to get everyone sidetracked, Amber interjected. “Does anyone want to hear my idea?”
“We’re listenin’.”
“Everyone at the paranormal club is ready to help,” she said. “I just found out that vampires can do something called mesmerism. Then they can tell people to do, forget, or believe anything they want them to.”
Rory nodded. “I’ve heard of this, but I thought it was a myth.”
“It isn’t,” Amber said. “Sly and Morgaine are willing to help any way they can.”
Rory’s eyes rounded. “You involved the managers?”
Shannon spoke over her shoulder. “Damn right she did, and you ought to be grateful. ’Tis a fine mess we have here. I can’t think of a better way to get out of it. Can you?”
“No.” He hung his head.
Amber wondered what he was thinking. Was his pride hurt that he had to ask for help—and from the two people he most wanted to impress? She hoped he’d realize they were already impressed and willing to stick their necks out for him.
At last he nodded. “’Tis a fine idea, Amber. Can you bring them straightaway?”
“I can bring them all. Just say the word.”
“All?”
“Everyone. The leprechauns, the shapeshifters, the witches, the wizard…”
“Whoa. Let’s not turn this into a circus—or more of one than it is already. Bring the ones who can mesmerize the reporters and stop the secret from leakin’ any further. And get those feckin’ leprechauns back too. I need them to hide the castle again. That way anyone who comes after will think it was all a hoax.”
“Um…about the leprechauns. Lucky, Fagan, and Clancy are willing to help, but Shamus said he won’t.” She didn’t add his final comment—that he wasn’t interested in helping thieves.
“Bollocks,” Rory said.
“Yeah. He’s really angry. He has to face some type of questioning—or whatever it is they do when a leprechaun is suspected of using their magic wrongly… The good news is that the others are willing to try the spell without him.”
“Good. Hopefully it will work. Now, you said everyone is just waitin’ on me word?”
Amber smiled. “Yup.”
He simply said, “Word,” and she popped back into the ether.
* * *
“Is he ready to accept our help?” Morgaine asked.
“Absolutely. He’d like all those who can mesmerize the reporters to come right away. Some major damage control is needed, since his cousins have the reporters bound and gagged.”
Morgaine gasped.
Sly grabbed Amber’s hand. “Take Kurt and me first. He can freeze time.”
“Well, not time exactly, but people. If you untie them and they run…”
“Got it,” Amber said, and she grabbed his hand too. A moment later they were in Rory’s living room. Shannon was looking in their direction, but Amber didn’t care at the moment. The dragons had their own secrets to keep.
“Where are they?” Kurt asked.
Rory spun around in the doorway. “Upstairs, out front, and in the tents.”
“Kurt can freeze people if anyone tries to run,” Amber said.
“Perfect. Why don’t you start with the reporters on our front walk? The others are tied up—for now.”
Kurt gave a quick nod and strode out the front door. The minute he stepped outside, reporters rushed toward him with their microphones raised. He extended his arms and they froze.
Amber followed him. “Cool! I didn’t know anyone could do that.”
Rory was right behind her. “Ah, you’re a very good wizard, Kurt. I haven’t seen the like since Merlin.”
Amber turned slowly and stared at him. “You knew Merlin?”
“A story for another time, luv. Now, are there any other friends in Boston who can mesmerize these idiots? I imagine it could take Sly all day.”
“Besides Morgaine, there’s my wife, Ruxandra,” Kurt said. “She was on her way to the club when I called her. She’s a vampire.”
“I’m on it,” Amber said and disappeared, only to appear a moment later in the club.
Materializing in front of other paranormals was disappointingly anticlimactic. She always expected that popping out of thin air would at least raise an eyebrow or two, but…nope. The female vampire strode right over to her.
Amber had never met Ruxandra, and she’d say the blond bombshell in a red dress with full, red lips was model beautiful…until she opened her mouth.
“It’s about fuckin’ time.”
“Uh. I’m sorry?”
“I thought you had a paranormal emergency.” Ruxandra crossed her arms under a full bosom. “I hope you’re not the one to respond if I’m in trouble.”
Morgaine touched her shoulder. “Amber knows what she’s doing, Ruxandra. Let’s just get there and see if we can help.” She took Amber’s hand.
Amber reluctantly reached out to Ruxandra, who gripped her hand almost painfully. She couldn’t drop them off fast enough.
When she got to the caretaker’s cottage, she explained to the Arish cousins that the two women had come from the neighborhood and were talented hypnotists. That way she wouldn’t expose strangers to more paranormals. She didn’t know these men—or dragons—or whatever…
The next transport involved the leprechauns. She could probably take all three of them because they were so small, but did she want to insult them by suggesting it? She had heard that they could be easily offended.
She landed in the paranormal club and saw three of them huddled in the corner, whispering furiously.
Should I interrupt?
“Ah! There she be,” said Lucky. He climbed onto Clancy’s shoulders. “We’re ready, lass. Can you take all three of us together?”
She smiled. “I can try,” she said humbly, realizing they had complete faith in her.
She strode over to them and took Lucky’s and Fagan’s hands, while Clancy held on to Lucky’s legs.
Reporters were beginning to come down the stairs, so she materialized in the kitchen where Chloe was guarding the door.
“Ah, Shannon,” Fagan said. “Your kitchen smells wonderful. What are you makin’?”
She whirled on them and frowned. “None of your business. We wouldn’t be in this mess if not for the lot of you.”
Lucky gasped. “That’s no way to speak to our king!”
“Whatever. Where’s the other one?”
They all hesitated until Clancy spoke up. “Uh, he stayed back in Boston. Said he liked it there.”
“I’ll bet.”
Amber cleared her throat. “I think the important thing is to get that castle hidden again.”
All of them agreed.
“Where’s Rory?” Amber asked, peeking out the kitchen window. When she looked back to where the leprechauns had been standing, she was shocked to see empty space. “Where did they go?”
Shannon snorted. “Don’t know and don’t care. As soon as they hide the castle, I hope to never see the little bastards again.”
Chloe poked her head in. “Rory’s outside with Kurt. Shannon, is the food almost ready? We have some hungry mouths to feed.”
“Almost. Get them seated in the dining room and set the table.”
“Can I help?” Amber asked.
“No, thank you. See if you can help Rory.” Shannon turned back to the stove to remove her lightly browned biscuits.
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Amber left the kitchen with her mouth watering.
* * *
Rory didn’t know whether to thank his cousins or kill them. They’d stopped gawkers from pillaging their ancestral home, but if it hadn’t been for his paranormal friends from Boston, he hated to think about what would have happened.
All the tents had been emptied of unwanted guests. The people had been magically cleaned up by the wizard while he had them frozen in place, then they’d been mesmerized by the vampires. They’d been told there was nothing to see, that the whole thing was a hoax. Then they were told to go inside the cottage for a hearty breakfast—and be grateful the owners were so nice. After that, they were to go home.
Now the leprechauns stood at the edge of the cliff, holding hands. Rory watched while they chanted. They’d said four would have been better, but three should do.
Rory hoped they were right.
He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see Amber grinning up at him. Every time he looked at that gorgeous smile, he wanted her.
He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. Nuzzling her hair, he whispered, “I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you too.” She tipped her face up, and he swooped in for a deep kiss.
Someone cleared his throat.
It was all Rory could do to tear himself away. At some point they needed to talk, but right now all he wanted to do was… Well, it didn’t involve talking. Before he looked to see who was intruding, he whispered in her ear. “Ah, darlin’. If only we were invisible. I’d take you in me arms and make sweet love to you right now.”
Kurt stood beside him, smirking. “Sorry to interrupt. I was wondering if you needed anything else from us, or if I can take my impatient bride home now.”
Rory considered asking him if an invisibility spell existed—and offering to pay him a million dollars if he could perform one that very second—but how would he tell the wizard when they were ready to become visible again? Then he remembered Amber’s gift. She’d transported him here in some kind of fog. No one saw them while they were in it.
Suddenly he couldn’t get rid of his helpers fast enough.
“Ah, we’re fine now. Please accept me humble thanks.”
Kurt clamped a hand on his shoulder. “We all look out for each other. You never know, I may need your help someday.”
