“Copper, this spread is for both you and Silver,” Mackenzie said. She took a deep breath before she began. “The first card—Queen of Swords. It means that you will be rational and logical in this situation.” She frowned. “It’s crossed by the Emperor reversed, which tells us that more powerful people or beings are in control of your and your sister’s destinies.” She moved on to the next one. “The third card is for strength and this means that you could triumph over the enemy and will fight on others’ behalf.”
Unlike how she’d appeared when she’d been white-knuckling the tarot deck, now Mackenzie’s voice held no hint of hesitation. “Next is the Moon reversed, meaning you both are dealing with insincere people and may find it hard to distinguish between fantasy and reality.” She touched another card. “Five of Pentacles reversed. You both need to work hard, but your faith and confidence will grow.”
Throughout Mackenzie’s tarot reading, Copper’s palms were sweating and her scalp itched. Everything she was hearing was confusing, frustrating, and not what she wanted to hear. She wanted to know exactly where Silver was and that they would rescue her, and now.
“Future events,” Mackenzie continued. “Your hard work may be well rewarded, bringing new friends. The seventh card is the Five of Cups reversed. This means an unhappy time could come to an end, but pain and struggle will have left their mark. The card also represents happiness coming back to you both in the shape of a friend or lover returning. New opportunities will allow you to make up your differences and restore a relationship.”
Copper blinked. What could that mean?
“Six of Swords reversed.” Mackenzie tapped the card. “Continuing difficulties are of a temporary nature. There are still battles to be fought; courage and strength are required now.” She moved on to the next card. “Nine of Wands. I see that your efforts may pay off, and problems may be overcome. However, there will be one last challenge and you’ll both need significant strength to overcome it.”
Mackenzie took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling with the movement. “And last, the tenth card—the Wheel of Fortune. You both are approaching moments in your lives when fate takes a hand in your affairs. If fate deems it, the wheel may turn in your favor and a new cycle may begin. Although the problem may be difficult to live through, when the dust settles, you will discover a whole new set of friends.”
Everyone at the table was quiet as they looked to one another. Copper was trying to digest everything she’d heard tonight, and was having difficulty wrapping it into a neat, understandable package she could use to take action. Zephyr buzzed his confusion in her ear, too.
So far she was hearing that she and Silver had battles to be fought, that their cause might be the same, but that they might not be fighting them together.
Did that mean they wouldn’t find Silver yet?
Finally, Sydney said, “It’s up to you now, Rhiannon.”
Sparks lit the fiery witch’s eyes. Rhiannon was sitting next to Copper and grasped her arm. She wasn’t surprised, as Rhiannon normally needed something to channel her energy through.
Spirit, the cat familiar, rose up in Rhiannon’s lap and rubbed his head against Rhiannon’s chest in a show of support and probably to lend his magic. Rhiannon closed her eyes. Her chest rose and fell as she took a deep breath. For a very long moment she was so quiet that Copper began to feel dazed and light-headed.
“I see Silver and she looks uninjured, just angry,” Rhiannon said slowly when she finally began to speak. “She’s in a room like an office, but she’s caged in one corner by Darkwolf’s magic shield. It looks like she’s checking to see if the guards are paying attention. She’s reaching into her pocket and slips out her cell phone . . .”
The ringing of the telephone cut through the air and everyone looked up in shock. Copper was the first out of her chair and dived for the kitchen phone. “Silver?”
“How’d you—never mind.” Silver’s voice was low and breathless. “Darkwolf is looking for the door and he wants to release Balor’s physical body. They think they can do it tomorrow!” Silver’s voice held fear and concern. “I tricked Darkwolf into mentioning his allies. They are the Dark Elves, the Drow.”
“I know.” Copper rushed to interrupt her sister. “Where are you?”
Silver hesitated. “I don’t know, but I think I’m safe for now. I—”
The connection went dead.
“No!” Copper shouted into the phone even as the dial tone rang in her ear. She slammed the phone down on the countertop and whirled to look at her friends. She rubbed her forehead with the heel of her palm. “It was Silver. She doesn’t know where she is, but she confirmed everything we’ve suspected.” She eyed her sister witches. “And she thinks the Balorites and Fomorii are going to be able to open the door tomorrow night with the Dark Elves.”
“The Dark Elves?” Cassia moved closer to Copper. “It would have taken them a while, but yes, they could have tunneled to some kind of cavern deep below the surface where a door to Underworld would be. They’ve tunneled deeper than they should have before—once they tunneled so deeply they released the earth giants. It would take much time to tunnel even deeper than that.”
“I know the Drow king who leads the Dark Elves who are working with Darkwolf.” Copper met the other witches’ gazes. “His name is Garran and he was trapped in Otherworld like I was, except belowground. Rather I thought he was trapped. Apparently, all this time he’s been able to travel between worlds while he left the rest of us to live in a prison.” She clenched her fists because her gut told her it was true. It made sense. Darkwolf needed the Drow to tunnel, and no doubt that’s what they’d been doing all this time. They certainly couldn’t have done it in the two days she’d been free. “I knew he could be an ass, but I never thought he’d . . . betray all the Fae trapped in that bubble.”
The sound of the front door to the shop opening, the warding bells tinkling, and the sounds of boot steps alerted the witches to the presence of others in the shop. Copper’s wand was out in an instant and all the witches were ready with their hands or whatever form of magic they used.
Tiernan burst through the door of the kitchen, followed by Hawk and a host of D’Danann warriors, until nine of them occupied the now very crowded kitchen, along with the seven witches. Fortunately, it was a large kitchen, but even so it was filled to the brim and the body heat made it stifling.
Most of the D’Danann wore black trench coats over their leathers, to hide their swords and daggers when among humans. Tiernan and Hawk had not put theirs on this evening.
“We searched the city and found nothing.” Hawk’s face was twisted with fury and agony at the same time. “There is no trace of my mate.”
Tiernan raked his blond hair from his face. “No sign, no stench of the creatures.”
Hawk looked to the witches. Copper said, “Silver managed to call us, but only briefly.” She explained what Silver had said.
Hawk looked to Copper, the fury on his face no less than before. “The Drow are in league with Darkwolf and the Fomorii. I will kill them.”
Copper tossed her braid over her shoulder. “Tiernan and I know the Drow king who’s behind this, and after I’m through with him you can do whatever you want with the bastard.”
Cassia began bringing big trays of food to the table and the other witches got up to help. Copper remembered from what Silver told her yesterday that the D’Danann were always hungry, even in a crisis. Tiernan had eaten so many apples in Otherworld that she’d worried their never-ending supply of them might just end. Thank goodness the Fae had been kind enough to leave more food than they normally did.
Copper couldn’t have touched a morsel of food if she tried, her stomach was so tied in knots. It was all too much. Anger at Darkwolf kidnapping Silver, all that had been said during the divinations, and fury at Garran for helping Darkwolf.
She stood away from the table with Hawk and Tiernan. Hawk had one hand braced against the wall while Copper lean
ed against it. Tiernan stood just to her right, making her feel caged.
Before the men even had a chance to ask, Copper started explaining all that they’d learned from each witch’s turn at divination. There were common themes—Silver would not be rescued yet, but she was safe for now; both Copper and Silver would be used in some way that would put them in danger; and Balor had been manipulating them all this time.
Tiernan rubbed his temples and Hawk shook his dark head. “I refuse to believe we will not rescue my mate before she is put into further jeopardy.”
“The future is never set.” Copper laid her hand on Hawk’s arm. “It’s still possible you can find her before she’s in danger.”
She took a deep sigh and looked to the clock above the stove. “It’s nearing four A.M. We all should get some rest so we can figure out what we need to do next.”
“I will not sleep.” Hawk rested his hand on his sword. “I will comb this city for my mate.”
Cassia took that moment to present a mug of beer to Hawk. “If you wish to continue your search, you may as well do it well fed and with your thirst quenched.”
Hawk took the mug and knocked back the entire contents of the glass.
But Copper knew he’d been had. Among the yeast and hops smell of the beer, she’d caught the scent of valerian root and a couple of other things that didn’t belong in beer. Yup, it was going to be nighty-night for one very large warrior.
Hawk frowned as he handed the mug back to Cassia who smiled. “That brew was fouler than normal,” he grumbled.
“That’s because I put valerian root into it, along with an Elvin sleeping powder of patchouli and poppies,” Cassia said calmly. Before turning away, she said, “Sleep well.”
“What—” Hawk started, but then began to shake his head as if trying to stay awake. He took a few staggering steps away from the wall.
“You and one of your friends better grab him.” Copper gave Tiernan a gentle shove toward Hawk. “He’s going down in a hurry.”
Twenty
She was in the tunnel again. It was cold, dank, and very dark, and she couldn’t stop shivering. Her wand grew warm in her hand, helping to ease some of the chill as she used her magic to light the wand and illuminate the way.
Her heart was pounding in her ears as she crept along the narrow passageway she’d been down before. She stumbled over loose rocks and dirt and almost dropped her wand.
She eased up to the corner where the red light crept, holding her breath, knowing that the cavern waited for her. When she could breathe again, she slipped around the corner and caught her breath.
The cavern was just as beautiful this time. Her golden wand light glistened off the crystal formations hanging from the ceiling and jutting up from the floor of the cavern.
But at the other side of the cavern was the bloody glow that squelched any admiration for the cavern. Something so evil shouldn’t be in such a place of beauty.
She stumbled down a rough-hewn trail to the floor of the cavern, knowing she had no choice but to go to the red light.
Her feet grew leaden as she walked across the cavern toward the great stone door. It was as if heavy weights had been tied to her legs. Her wand light dimmed so low that it was almost useless.
When she finally reached the door, she once again stood in the circle of runes, except this time there was no great eye. The crimson glow seeped around the door’s edges, creeping toward her like bony, bloody fingers.
Chills rolled over her at the evil emanating from behind that doorway and she stumbled backward. Whatever was behind that door was bad . . . very bad.
Her heart thrummed.
Her throat closed off. She needed a spell to counteract the black witchcraft that surrounded her, filled her with intense fear.
She tried to find the words. Only a rusty croak came out when she opened her mouth.
She tried again.
Nothing!
She couldn’t do it! She wouldn’t be able to keep the door closed. But she had to! Goddess, why wouldn’t the words come?
But they wouldn’t. This time she tried to move forward to face whatever was behind that door.
Shock jarred her as her feet sank into the stone to her ankles, like quicksand. Then the quicksand molded around her feet as if they were encased in concrete.
The pounding of her heart grew faster and faster as she fought for freedom, fought to save her own life in order to save her family, her friends, her city, her world.
She couldn’t let that door open!
Using her wand, she tried to cast a spell that would free her, but her mind remained blank. It was as if something blocked her, like a steel wall she couldn’t see through.
She went completely still.
And then it slammed into her with the force of a boulder careening down a mountaintop. She was a sacrifice. A sacrifice to the gods who had been waiting for millennia to be freed.
And to feed.
The cavern began shaking. Dirt and stones rained down on her. A rock struck her in the temple and she swayed from the force of it.
The red light brightened as the door scrubbed stone and began to open.
Silver screamed Copper’s name.
Copper’s eyes flew open to see only darkness. She tried to sit up, but a heavy weight pinned her down. She fought against the weight, fought to free herself. She banged her fists on the mass trapping her—
She was shoved flat on her back, her arms pinned above her head, the great weight suddenly on top of her, between her thighs.
“Little fire,” a familiar voice said. “It was a dream. You are safe, with me.”
Tiernan. It was Tiernan.
Relief rushed through her in one large sigh.
Copper was breathing hard as her eyes came back into focus and her nightmare bled away. She was in Tiernan’s room and had slept with him, while he had simply held her all night. They were both naked, but they had fallen asleep almost immediately. She wondered what time it was. The blinds were drawn tight, so she had no idea.
She was still beneath him as he released her arms. “Sorry,” she murmured. “The dream—it was worse this time.”
Tiernan brushed his lips over hers in a whisper of a kiss as he eased beside her. “I am here, little fire. Whatever it is, we will face it together.”
She cuddled closer to Tiernan, needing his warmth, his comfort. Goddess, how she needed him in so many ways. Ways that she couldn’t even begin to fathom.
He stroked her head and she relaxed in his arms. “Everything will be all right,” he said as he caressed her. “I am here for you.”
Yes, he made her feel as if all would work out. That they could do anything together.
Something gripped Copper’s belly so tightly she almost couldn’t breathe.
No, it wasn’t possible. No, no, no. Not possible.
Love.
She couldn’t have.
She had.
She’d fallen in love with Tiernan.
Oh, goddess. A man who might soon be married, and she was in love with him.
Copper pushed herself from his arms and swung her legs over the side, letting the covers drop away from her. She took a deep gulp of air as the sensation in her belly became more intense.
“Copper?” He moved behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder. “Are you all right?”
“I—I . . .” Copper swallowed. “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t be with you.”
She shoved his hand from her shoulder, stood, and moved away from the bed. He studied her with a puzzled expression and a look that tore her gut apart.
Hurt. He looked hurt.
Before she could embarrass herself by proclaiming her love, she grabbed her clothing from last night and dressed as quickly as she could. She avoided his gaze and turned her back on him.
“What do you mean, Copper?” he said softly as he came up behind her and pressed a kiss to the nape of her neck.
Copper bit her lower lip. She wouldn’t cr
y, dammit. She would not cry. This whole thing had been about sex from the start. She’d known it. She’d gone into it with her eyes wide open. She’d figured they’d have sex and go their merry ways.
She never considered the possibility she would fall in love with the man.
Copper ducked away from him and grabbed her socks and jogging shoes in one hand and reached for the bedroom doorknob with her other. She cast one tortured glance back at Tiernan. “I can’t be with you. I can’t have sex with you. It’s over.”
And with that she let herself out the door and hurried out of the apartment.
Tiernan felt as though he’d been punched in the gut. His heart and soul had an ache he couldn’t define.
He sat where she left him for a long time. They had enjoyed pleasures together. He could not imagine a woman he wanted more. But it was a physical need. Nothing beyond that.
Then why did her reaction tear him apart?
Tiernan’s logical mind churned over possibility after possibility. He analyzed his feelings for Copper. A word struck him so fast and hard that his heart clenched and he was rocked to his core.
Love.
He was in love with Copper.
Being over two thousand years old, Tiernan had never really believed in love, at least not for himself. That was usually a fanciful notion that two people occasionally held for one another. Lust was another thing. Sharing pleasures with others was common in Otherworld, and nothing more was expressed beyond satisfaction of slaked desires.
But he could not deny the pounding of his heart, the feelings welling up inside of him for Copper.
In the D’Danann hierarchy, none of the lords and ladies of the court joined for love. They wed to make their houses stronger, for prestige. His arranged joining with Airell was to make the Houses of Cathal and Torin two of the strongest among the D’Danann.
He had felt no emotion when he had agreed to join with her, he had simply acquiesced to his parents’ wishes. No emotion whatsoever had been involved.
Tiernan blew out a long breath. He had yet to come up with a solution that would satisfy all parties involved. His heart told him he could not marry Airell when she carried Urien’s babe. Yet how could he not without humiliating her? The consequences were too dire to consider.
Seduced by Magic Page 24
