by Judith Leger
He smiled and asked, “What’s wrong?”
She released a stuttering breath before whispering, “Your ear has a point on the tip.”
He chuckled and regretted doing so. “Of course it’s pointed. I am an elf. You’re the one who chooses not to believe me.”
“Are you sure it’s not a birth defect?”
He bit his lip to keep from laughing out loud. Birth defect. She was amazing. “Caitlyn, you’re wanting me to suffer, aren’t you?”
She stiffened, and he sensed the tension growing in her body. Her answer was precise and cool. “People don’t have pointed ears.”
“Not everyone is the same. Have you ever looked at your ears? Are you certain they aren’t pointed?”
A muscle in her jaw tightened. He had gotten to her. “They’re not. I’m normal, you aren’t.”
He smiled wider. “That’s what makes me special.”
“Shay. I’m trying to be serious. Why do you have pointed ears?” She traced a path over the edge of his ear. Heat, not from his shoulder, started to circulate through him.
“I don’t know. I was born that way. Now, let’s talk about you.”
“No, not tonight. You need to rest. I shouldn’t even be here, but I just needed to make sure you were all right.” She released a soft sigh. Her gaze met his and stayed. “I’m a reporter doing an interview, yet, I feel as though I’m in limbo. My focus is gone and...”
“And you don’t know which way to turn?” He prompted.
She glanced down. “Yes.”
“I suppose that’s my fault. I have a way of causing some people to lose their focus. Don’t worry, I’ll see you through this.” He swallowed, then whispered, “I swear on my mother’s heart.”
Her eyes widened. “Even though she hurt you, you still love her?”
“She was my mother, how can I do anything else?” he muttered. His pain caused him to say things he shouldn’t. She would catch him. It made the chance of losing her greater. But the need to make her trust him overrode his caution. The soft smile curving her lips made him relax.
“You’re a good man, Shay Evers. That, or you’re the biggest con artist around. Either way, I intend to discover all your secrets. Now, sleep, so you can heal. Rhys said the doctor wants you to have complete bed rest for a couple of days. I’ll come back in the morning.” She slid off the bed but lingered, gazing at him.
Drowsiness came over him. A dulled sense of excitement rushed through him. He sensed her powers working. Her desire for him to slumber projected to him and forced him to do as she wished. He smiled as he battled to keep his eyes open.
“I wish you would stay. Just a while longer.”
“Go to sleep,” she ordered.
The last thing he remembered was the satisfied expression on her face.
* * * *
Caitlyn remained by the bed and watched him nap for several minutes. His personality didn’t need the added attraction of his looks, but combined with it, he was devastatingly gorgeous. She had met many handsome men. Most acted like jerks, but Shay consisted of more than a pretty face.
If he covered his face with a brown paper bag, people would still love him. The beauty of his face only added a nice cover to the package. Sort of like a comfortable bed made with silk and lace. It was the comfort offered that made her want to lie down with him, not the spread and pillows. They just added to the picture.
She smiled and bent, brushing her lips against his brow. She inhaled and almost choked. This close to the poultice coating his right shoulder and side, she cringed at the odor struck her full force. Pivoting, she headed for the door with a smile.
In the hallway, she turned to go to her room. Blake stood in front of her. She jumped and gasped. She’d almost run into him.
“Hey, easy,” he said, grasping her upper arms.
“You scared the life out of me. What are you doing?” Caitlyn glared at him, swatting his hands away.
“I wanted to see how he’s doing.” He jerked his head toward the door to Shay’s room.
“He’s resting,” she said. “He let Grazelda put some nasty stuff on his shoulder. I’d love to be here if the doctor shows up again and smells it. It stinks.”
Blake chuckled. “Hey, have you called Kramer? I talked to him this morning, and he was fuming because he hadn’t heard from you.”
Her shoulders slumped. “I can imagine. I was about to call him. Listen, let me know if Shay has problems. I know you’ll be wandering around. I’ll be in my room.”
Blake nodded.
She grinned. “Wish me luck. I’m going to need it with Kramer.” With that, she left him and made her way to her room.
There wasn’t any need to put off contacting her boss. Her job balanced on this interview. She hoped Shay’s influence kept her in good standing with the station until after the interview was finished here.
Chapter 21
The library doors beckoned her to enter. With her laptop case slung over her shoulder, she gazed at the Celtic designs engraved on the doors. Everywhere in this castle, she found these patterns repeated on furniture, doors, even walls. What was it about Shay and these motifs? They seemed like an obsession.
She gripped the brass twig-shaped door handle and twisted. The solid wooden slab swung open on silent hinges. She bit her bottom lip. So far, she’d seen only three people working inside the castle: Grazelda, Fred and a younger man she’d seen but hadn’t met. Yet, the castle stayed so clean and in perfect condition. She hadn’t noticed dust or dirt anywhere, except for the leaves scattered across the floor that first day after Shay forgot to shut the door. How did three people manage to keep the place so clean? She never saw anyone working, yet her rooms were spotless each time she returned to them.
After leaving the pavilion this earlier today, she’d spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening in her room. While talking to Kramer, she’d developed a sudden awareness that things weren’t what they appeared. As she’d listened to him plotting what course to take with the interview, she’d gone to the bathroom for a drink of water. She’d spilled a little on the counter. Kramer, impatient, had ordered her to take a couple of notes. Leaving the puddle of water, she’d returned to the small writing desk set up for her on the far side of the room next to the door leading into the sitting room.
No one had entered while she’d worked there. Sometime later, when she hung up with Kramer, she went to wipe up the spill. Her heart had pounded when she saw that not only was the water gone, but the glass had been washed, dried and turned upside down in its original place.
If she believed in helpful phantoms, she would have run screaming, headed back to Los Angeles in a blink of an eye. If she believed in magic she would have done the same, but she didn’t. She had to find out what was going on.
She remembered Shay saying he’d had this castle refurbished. Her thoughts centered on secret passageways. After what happened in the bathroom, she’d searched for one, but didn’t find any latch leading into a hidden hallway.
She’d gone to the kitchen and found his entire household eating supper. During the meal, she’d discovered where everyone planned to spend the evening. The time seemed right for her to snoop. Odds were a blueprint existed, possibly somewhere in the library. At least, she hoped so. She would start searching here. If she didn’t find what she wanted, she would go to the nearest courthouse to find out about Shay’s home.
The room spread out before her. Two stories of wall-to-wall books faced her. She turned in a circle, trying to decide where to start her search. A mahogany desk positioned to face the room sat before three sets of French doors. White lace curtains poured down from rods over the doors to pool on the wood floor.
Curious, she strode across the room and touched the lace. The silken feel, the beauty and intricacy of the weave left her puzzled. Where had Shay found this type of lace? Although she was not familiar with cloth and materials, she knew intuitively this was not made by a manufacturer. Birds perched in tree
s abounding with deep green leaves and white flowers with golden centers in the design.
She stepped back and studied them. Once more, the pattern paralleled others in the castle. Tension built between her shoulder blades. She had to find out what made Shay decorate his home like this.
The need for this information pressed in on her. How she wished to see deep into his mind. Sure, he’d give her a pat answer for the interview but she wanted to go deeper, to the true reasons behind his need to surround himself with these types of patterns. With some insight into that side of him, maybe she’d be able to understand him better. It would be nice, as an extra bonus, to discover the truth behind those fantastical illusions.
She faced the desk. The deep tones of the wood relaxed her a bit. With her hand pressed to her right shoulder, she massaged the rigid muscle. Throbbing started behind her eyes.
The surface of the desk shone bright with wax. As she drew nearer, she noticed her reflection on the surface. Setting her laptop on the floor, she pulled the huge leather chair out, sat and leaned back. A smile formed on her lips. She brought her feet up and placed them on the clean desktop. Smudges appeared where the back of her heels pressed into the surface.
Placing her feet on the floor, she sat forward and stared, waiting for the smudges to disappear. After five minutes her eyes started to water. Nothing happened. She sighed. Well, so much for thinking there was a supernatural force at work.
Idly, she fiddled with a desk drawer. The drawer slid out. Oh, shoot, she hadn’t meant to open the thing. Unable to stop, she looked into the opening. A leather-bound book lay in the bottom. She glanced at the door, listening. Once sure she wouldn’t be disturbed, she lifted out the book.
Stained a deep burgundy, the leather covering the book rivaled the desktop’s gleam. A golden Celtic knot was centered on the front. Caitlyn remembered Shay telling her he read many old manuscripts. This was probably one of them.
Careful of the edges, she opened the book’s cover. The title page whirled and blurred a moment with foreign words. She blinked several times. Finally, she squinted at the letters and they came into focus. One more blink and she was able to see without a major struggle.
A book about the Tylwyth Teg? So this is where Shay got his ideas about elves and magic. Of course, he had researched and found this book, a mask to hide behind to help with his mysterious and magical image. How would people react if he announced his elfin origins on camera, during their interview? She chuckled. They’d think, like she had yesterday, he was either insane or on some sort of drug.
Lost in thought, she turned a page. The first chapter stared up at her. A dragon hovered menacingly above the section title. The dragon’s eyes were painted a flaming red and its gleaming teeth were like daggers. Wide jaws spread in the semblance of a grin. She wrinkled her brow.
Ignoring the toothy creature, she started to read, absorbing every word. When she became aware of her surroundings again, a nagging soreness pressed across her shoulders. She glanced around the room until her gaze landed on an ornate clock on the other side of the room. Midnight. She had lost track of time while she read.
Stifling a yawn, she mentally marked the page number and shut the book. Carefully, she laid it back inside the drawer. She got to her feet and stretched, working the kinks out of her stiffened limbs. Drowsy, she moved to the door to retire for the night.
* * * *
A thunder clap startled Shay awake. He lay quiet for several minutes, listening to the raging storm outside the stone walls of the castle. The light from the fireplace cast shadows in the corners, but he didn’t sense any danger.
Secure in his bed, warmth curled around him. He felt much better now than he had earlier. A smile twitched his lips. Grazelda’s frowning features came to mind as he remembered how she’d come to check on him and found he had managed to shower the disgusting plaster off his shoulder.
The pain of removing the smelly concoction had been worth it. Shifting in the clean sheets, he heard footsteps approach and stop at his door. Instantly tense, he waited. The door opened, and his night visitor moved nearer, into the dim light. At Caitlyn’s soft whisper calling his name, he wanted to shout with relief.
“I’m awake,” he responded.
“You shouldn’t be,” she said, sitting on the mattress next to him. “I was about to go to bed, but I started worrying that you might not have eaten. Have you?”
“Earlier. I’m not hungry now.”
“Are you sure? I can make you a sandwich. Would you like that?” She started to rise, but he brushed his fingers over her hand.
“No. I would like you to lie with me,” he said. By the slight widening of her eyes, he knew he’d surprised her. “You ran off earlier. Please, just for a little while.”
“It’s late. If I do, I might fall asleep. What will Grazelda say in the morning when she finds me in your bed?” White teeth flashed in a breathtaking smile. Every day, he noticed her beauty breaking past the plain physical surface. He knew now her dull outer coating was part of the curse, the projection of a lie.
“She’d whoop for joy and dance a jig. I’ve never invited a woman to join me here. Grazelda worries about that. Come, let’s give her something to liven her day. From the sound of the weather for tomorrow, she’ll be bothered with her old bones, so this might help take her mind off them.”
He cocked a brow. One important characteristic he’d observed about Caitlyn was her sincerity in wanting to help others.
“Sorry, won’t work. Next thing we’ll know, rumors will spread around that we’re lovers and we’re not,” she said as she shook her head.
She’d slipped away. Thinking fast, he spoke as she tensed to stand. “What if I need something during the night? It hurts to move. Aren’t you worried I might fall off the bed? I’m dying here, Caitlyn. Don’t you care?”
She laughed out loud.
He tried to look hurt, but she slid off the mattress and leaned over and kissed his forehead. Emerald eyes glinted in the firelight, and her skin glowed with a new tawny radiance that had been absent before her arrival in Wales.
“You’re not dying, and I’m not staying. Go to sleep, Shay. You’ll heal faster. I’ll come by in the morning.” She straightened and stepped away.
He wouldn’t change her mind. Her father’s stubbornness ran strong in her. “Goodnight, Caitlyn. Sleep tight and enjoy your dreams.”
She tilted her head a moment, her eyes narrowing. Then she smiled and murmured, “Good night.” Once the door closed behind her, he sighed and relaxed his muscles. He’d not realized how uptight he’d become until after she’d left.
Chapter 22
Several minutes passed as he patiently waited for her to reach her room and go to bed. Careful of his shoulder, he slid up and sat, putting all his weight on his uninjured side.
With the forces of nature whirling in a powerful vortex, the time was right for him to go to her. Twisting with care, he laid his palm flat on the wall behind the bed. He searched with his mind through the castle until he reached her room.
In the deep shadows across from her door, he sensed someone squatting, staring at her room. A chuckle escaped him, and Rhys’s eyes snapped open.
Their minds connected. The king used his forceful pitch to speak to Shay. “Go to sleep. I will keep watch this night. She is well protected.”
While Rhys spoke to him, Shay checked the guards the king had posted. Vines, thick and impenetrable, covered every window in Caitlyn’s room. Even the plants within the bower stood at attention, watching, ready to call to Rhys should an invader cross the barriers. In the gardens below, several warriors, hidden from human eyes by the weather and plants, watched.
Returning to where Rhys squatted in the shadows, he mentally spoke. “The storm is strong. I intend to go to her. This night, she will return home for the first time in twenty-four years. ’Twill make it easier on her when she arrives from this dimension.”
A lengthy silence followed his announcement. Du
ring the minutes that ticked by, connected to his liege, he experienced the myriad of emotions flowing through Rhys. He’d never fully realized how deeply the loss of his daughter had affected the other man.
Fear, joy and worry raced through him. At last, acceptance reached him. Rhys’s soft tone reassured Shay he wanted this to happen. “Are you strong enough? Your shoulder will not cause you problems, will it?”
“No. I’ll be fine. I ask one thing from you. I wish to go alone. Swear to me you will not watch or interfere.”
Again silence filled his head for a few moments. Shay felt Rhys weigh his request. Finally, he responded, “Very well. You saved her today, and I will grant you this one boon but if you make one move to seduce her, your punishment will be much worse than the last time. Watch her well, my muse. The first sign of stress, return her immediately. Your word on this.”
“You have it.” With his promise, Shay separated from Rhys. He removed his hand from the wall and relaxed on the mattress.
With slow deep breaths, he focused on Caitlyn. He sensed her sleeping in her room. Now was the time. Without considering his options too long, he leapt off the edge of reality and plunged into the world of her dreams.
* * * *
Caitlyn heard Shay calling her name. She brushed a hand over her head. Something tickled her cheek. Eyelids heavy with exhaustion, she forced them up. Sunbeams dotted with thousands of motes and small insects came into view. His face wobbled then came into focus. He knelt on the side of her bed, holding a fern leaf between his fingers.
“What are you doing here? You’re hurt,” she said. Battling the sluggishness pressing in on her, she sat up. Blinking several times, she wondered about how quickly the night passed.
“I’m unhurt here, in your dreams. Come. I would show you something special. Come,” he said. A lean hand stretched toward her, and she stared at his palm.
“I’m dreaming. But this isn’t like before.”
