by Laura Howard
“I was just thinking about how Aodhan and Deaghlan are faring,” he said.
“Oh man,” I said. “It must be a fiasco.”
“I don’t get Deaghlan. I know he’s supposed to be wicked powerful and everything, but he’s such a tool,” Ethan said.
Liam snickered. “I guess living for a millennium turned him that way. According to Aodhan, he was still admirable when he first met him, about four hundred years ago.”
“Hard to believe,” I said. “Can we head over to see what’s going on first thing tomorrow?”
“Absolutely,” Liam said. “Sitting here isn’t doing us any good.”
He stood and stretched. “I’ll be off to bed, then.”
Ethan sighed, rubbing a hand along his jaw. Once Liam was gone, he slid a look at me. “I wouldn’t mind hearing about those fantasies of yours now,” he said, waggling his eyebrows.
Laughing, I gave him a light shove. “I told you that’s not going to happen.”
He pushed off the couch, grabbing my hand. Before I could protest, he pulled me to my feet.
“We’ll see,” he said, ushering me toward our room. Our room?
Kicking the door shut, he clasped my cheeks. His hands were warm and smooth but they still sent a shiver through me. He stared down at me intently, and my breath caught.
He lowered his head, kissing me softly. I gasped at the sensations that rippled through me and his hands slid down to my hips, pulling me toward him. Without realizing it, we ended up at the foot of the bed. I pulled back a little and dragged in a breath.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, resting his forehead against mine.
I cleared my throat. “Nothing,” I said and tried to smile.
He moved his hands to my lower back and turned us so that when he sat down I was on his lap. “I think I know what this is about.”
“I’m serious, nothing’s wrong,” I said.
He gave me a skeptical look. “I can’t keep my hands off you, and I won’t apologize for that. But I have zero expectations, okay?”
I nodded, internally kicking myself for being so inexperienced.
Ethan brought his lips back to mine, and this time I didn’t hesitate. I brought my hands up to his shoulders and positioned myself so my knees were on either side of his hips. Our bodies melded together perfectly. I sucked in a breath when he slid his fingers under the hem of the gown and skimmed the backs of my knees.
“Can we take this off?” he asked, between kisses.
I froze and Ethan pulled back this time. “You can keep your underwear on. I just want to feel you.”
The way he said it caused my heart to jolt. I leaned back and let him pull the silky material up and over my head. He tossed it to the side, eyes never leaving mine. His hands slid up the backs of my thighs and I pulled his mouth back to mine. His hands came up to unbutton his shirt and I pushed them away so I could do them myself.
I felt his lips curve into a smile against mine, and in one motion, he flipped us so I was on my back and he hovered over me. I placed my hands on his chest to pull the shirt down over his shoulders. His skin felt as smooth and perfect as I’d always imagined it would. I whimpered, making me want to turn away, but I could tell Ethan liked it by the way his hands tightened on my hips.
His lips slid down my cheek to my neck and he trailed feather-light kisses down to my shoulder. “You are so incredibly beautiful,” he whispered into my neck.
I shivered and tried to regain normal, steady breaths.
“Do you know how many times I’ve imagined the way your body would feel against mine?” he said, easing off of me and lying on his side.
I tried to speak, but couldn’t.
He shook his head and draped his arm over my bare stomach. “You don’t have to say anything. I just wanted you to know.”
I licked my lips. “It’s…been the same for me,” I said softly.
He smiled down at me and kissed my temple. “You’re worth the wait.”
We talked some more, not about anything important or life-threatening. Just little things. Then he tucked me under the covers in just my bra and undies, kissing me again until I was dizzy.
When he pulled back, he smiled down at me and kissed my nose. “Get some rest,” he said.
I sighed and rolled onto my side. He chuckled and wrapped his arm around me, pulling me back against him. Before long I was lulled to sleep by the sound of his steady breathing.
While we were eating breakfast the next morning, we heard raised voices in the hallway. Saoirse stood and gestured to the guards standing by the door. They opened the double doors and two of Niamh’s guards, Niall and Bláithín, whom I’d met in Thunder Bay, pointed their weapons at Samantha and Ciarán.
Saoirse gave her most serene smile to the company, an enormously powerful gesture. Without a word, both of Niamh’s guards lowered their weapons and bowed their heads. Ciarán did the same.
I met Samantha’s eyes. What happened? I asked in my thoughts.
Her eyes widened. We were just coming in to have breakfast and these two freaked when they saw us. That’s all I know.
“Welcome, Niall and Bláithín. Is everything okay out here?” Saoirse said in her honey-smooth voice.
Niall sucked in a breath. “Ciarán was in Thunder Bay. He was one of the blood-drainers,” he said.
Ciarán slid a contemptuous glance at Niall. “That’s where you’re wrong, old friend. I didn’t harm a single human in Thunder Bay. I want no part of that.”
Saoirse’s calm expression didn’t falter as she walked toward them. “It’s the truth, Niall. I can confirm it.”
Niall tucked his shoulder-length chestnut hair behind one ear and continued to stare at Ciarán. “I apologize, my lady,” he said.
“No apology necessary,” she said. “You were just trying to protect us. Come, join us at the table.”
When they were all seated, Bláithín spoke. “We have come to ask for a favor on behalf of Aodhan and Niamh.”
Saoirse nodded, gesturing for her to continue.
Bláithín licked her lips and glanced quickly at Ciarán and Samantha. “Aodhan has put Aoife’s entire household to work. He has the healers restoring the trees and any of the wild creatures who were affected by the iron pollution. The others are removing the dead trees and planting new ones. He would like to ask if you could send any other healers to assist them.”
Saoirse beamed at this. “Of course. I will send my most gifted healers immediately.” She frowned for a second and looked at Liam. “Eithne is in the human realm?”
“Yes. She and Diarmuid are guarding the portal,” he said.
“No matter. I have others who are nearly as gifted.”
“Would you like us to go back and pass the news to Eithne?” Ciarán asked. Samantha whipped around to look at him.
“I thought you were coming with me?” she asked. “We’ll never make it back in time if we go through the portal.”
Liam cleared his throat. “Samantha, bringing Eithne back here is important. I’m sure you can go with Ciarán and still make it to the Stone of Destiny in time for Samhain, excuse me, Halloween.”
Samantha didn’t seem convinced. She pushed her hands into her hair and shook her head. “Whatever you need,” she muttered.
“Sam… ” Ciarán began, but when Samantha looked at him, her lips were so tightly compressed with exasperation that he didn’t finish.
The air in the room was thick with tension, and at exactly the same time, Liam and I pushed up from the table. I chuckled, easing the strained silence.
“If there’s nothing else, we should be going,” Liam said.
“What are your plans, Liam?” Bláithín asked, pushing her short, black hair back from her forehead.
Swallowing, Liam said, “We’re headed to see how things are with Aodhan, actually.”
“Oh, you’re in for a treat,” Niall said, leaning back in his chair. He laughed and twisted his lips into a wry smile.
Bláithín put a hand up to her mouth, trying to stifle her snicker.
Liam approached Saoirse at the head of the table. “Thank you for your insight, as always,” he said.
“As far as I can see, there is no reason your plan won’t work,” she said. “Please remember what I’ve asked of you.”
Liam inclined his head, but didn’t say anything. I gave Saoirse a smile and an awkward wave before saying goodbye to everyone at the table.
“We’ll be along soon,” Niall said, clapping Liam on the shoulder.
Liam nodded and we followed him out of the dining room. As we left, I turned to give Samantha a final wave, but she wouldn’t meet my gaze. I’ll see you in Ireland, I said in my mind and walked toward the door.
Liam was a wonderful storyteller. As we crossed through glens and over hills, he told us tales he heard as a child. Girls turned to geese and men with magical fish. We were soon captivated.
We didn’t speak of Aoife or the geis. Nobody said a word about the task ahead. I was glad, too. Knowing we must go up against Aoife was one thing, but dwelling on it was something else entirely.
Before long we came to the twisting bramble wall that had ensnared me and Aodhan the last time we followed this path. There were men and women cutting it down with axes and long knives that looked like some sort of swords.
In the center, a path wide enough for six people was cut through. The sickening smell of the dried up vines made me light-headed, but I kept my sleeve over my nose and was able to keep walking. I warned Ethan and Liam that the last time I’d walked through here, the odor seeping out of the vines made me dizzy and barely able to walk. Liam greeted the workers as we passed, but most just smiled sadly and looked away.
“The taint has reached more than the land,” Liam said once we’d made it to the other side of the thorny forest. “Aoife’s people have lost their spirit.”
I looked over my shoulder at them hacking and sawing. Their faces were lifeless and dull.
Beyond the briars, the land was as colorless as the people. Dry, brittle grass crunched under our feet as we walked. There were no flowers or leaves to speak of, only dead and fallen trees across the flat, parched land. More groups were cutting down the trees and removing the trunks.
As we got closer to the cliff that held the entrance to Aoife’s household, the ground grew sandier. The face of the cliff sat high above a rolling sea. To get to the entrance of the cave, we followed a steep, narrow path.
Liam went ahead without hesitation and I remembered this had once been his home. I hugged the cliff as we walked, not wanting to see the rocky shore below.
Inside the cave, fey lights dotted the path leading to the front doors. I could hear voices and movement below even though I couldn’t see anyone yet.
The round double doors were open and a group of women carrying trays of tiny plants walked through. They hurried past, keeping their heads down.
“Those were some of our healers,” Liam said, watching them hasten up the path.
“They’re replacing the trees that have been lost,” I said. “Do you remember what it was like here before it became polluted?”
“Oh, yes,” Liam said, running his fingers through his hair. “The whole seaside was covered with billowing grass and wildflowers. Clusters of trees dotted the landscape, it was breath taking.”
I wished I could have seen it as he described, rather than the wasteland I’d seen.
“How long has it been like this?” Ethan asked.
“Not very long,” Liam said as he opened another door that lead into a large gathering room. He glanced back at us. “A year or two in this world.”
The room was a flurry of activity. Deaghlan sat at one end in a large chair set up on a dais. A line of people stood waiting for their turn to speak with him. He looked like a true king, oddly enough, listening to what the people had to say. His face lacked the utter boredom and disdain it usually held. He looked genuinely concerned with what was going on.
Aodhan stood at the head of a large, round table. Four men stood around the table, watching as he pointed at a map. And by his side was Niamh.
I caught Liam’s eye and he looked just as surprised as me to see Aodhan and Niamh working together. Niamh’s head jerked up and she gave us a smile so small, it was just a slight twitch of her lips.
A girl approached the table carrying a tray of silver handled mugs. Niamh smiled at her and took two, handing one to Aodhan.
“What kind of alternate reality have we entered?” I asked Liam with wide eyes.
He didn’t say anything, just smirked as we walked toward the table. Aodhan looked up and gave us one of his rare grins.
“Good to see you, old friend,” he said, clapping Liam on the back.
“Things are going well here, I take it?” Liam asked, returning the gesture.
Niamh nodded and took a sip from her mug. “Quite well. Aodhan is keeping Father busy. I haven’t seen him this way since —” she faltered. “Not in a long time.”
“I can’t take the credit for that,” Aodhan said. “The people aren’t so afraid now they know something is being done to help them. Deaghlan has really stepped up. I wouldn’t believe it if I weren’t seeing it with my own eyes.”
“Me either,” I said, glancing back to where Deaghlan sat nodding at something a woman was saying to him.
“What did my mother have to say after I left?” Niamh asked.
“Well, you saw the vision of the Stone of Destiny?” I asked.
She nodded and ushered us into the corner of the room where we could have privacy. Aodhan angled his body toward me, paying attention.
“Just like Samantha told us, Aoife is planning a binding ceremony. It’ll be done on Halloween at the Stone of Destiny.”
“She’ll draw power from the stone,” Aodhan said quietly, nodding.
“Right,” I said. “Our plan is to go there tonight. We’ll get there just in time for the Fire Festival of Samhain.”
Aodhan rubbed his jaw. “How do you plan on stopping her?”
“Well,” I said drawing in my bottom lip. “Liam is going to approach her while Ethan and I sneak up from behind. Ethan’s going to use steel chains to hold her while I grab her necklace.”
Niamh nodded. “That sounds like a good plan. Just be sure to stay out of her sight before she begins.”
“That’s what I was thinking,” Aodhan said, nodding. “The whole plan could fall through if she sees you too soon.”
“Agreed,” I said.
“We saw lots getting done on our way here,” Liam said.
Niamh slid a hesitant glance at Aodhan. “Yes. It’s a work in progress, but at least things are moving forward.”
“What’s going to happen when the land is restored? Will Saoirse seal the portals?” I asked.
“Well,” Niamh said. “That’s difficult to say. From what she’s told us, I’m sure she’ll seal at least one or two of them.”
“I’d like to know how you brought on such a change in Deaghlan,” I said to Aodhan.
He shrugged, his hands going up to smooth his cropped hair. “It’s like I said, once he pulled his head out last night, people felt like they could come to him with things they’d been too afraid to speak to Aoife about. It’s been an interesting day, to say the least.”
“Mother knew what she was doing, sending Aodhan here,” Niamh said.
Aodhan chuckled. “If she’d asked Deaghlan to take care of this problem directly, the outcome would have been different. Saoirse is very subtle.”
I thought about that for a second. Aodhan was right. If Saoirse had asked Deaghlan, he would have avoided it. By asking Aodhan, it was like lighting a fire directly under Deaghlan. How that must have burned him.
“Ciarán and Samantha will be coming here at some point this evening,” Liam said. “Samantha wants to be there when we go to Tara.”
Niamh’s brow furrowed. She looked at Liam and I could tell they were having a telepathic conversation.
Ethan shifted from one foot to the other, but he nodded.
“I’ll be careful,” I said, laughing. I nudged Ethan in the side to be sure he realized Aodhan wasn’t trying to offend him. He gave me a lopsided grin and I knew he was fine.
Aoife’s portal was in her bedchamber. Niamh led us upstairs and past a series of closed doors until we reached the end of the hallway. She glanced at Liam quickly before opening the door. I wished I didn’t have to go in, it felt wrong to be in Aoife’s bedroom.
I took a breath and slowly walked in. The room was eerily quiet and I suppressed a shudder. A single fey light cast the room in a pale glow. Niamh flicked her wrist and dozens of the tiny lights came on around the room. It felt like a hotel room once it was lit up, everything in perfect order.
Niamh crossed the room to a crimson velvet curtain draped across the wall. She flicked her wrist and the curtains parted to reveal a magnificent mural painted on the stone. Whimsical swirls and flourishes came together to be a sort of map. Mountains, lakes and other landmarks were drawn in detail across the surface. In the center of the map was the artist’s rendition of the Bruidhean. And just above that was a handprint decorated with ancient markings like runes.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
Ethan and I nodded. “We are,” Liam said.
Niamh regarded the three of us and smiled. “To your safe return,” she whispered.
Liam held his palm flush against the handprint and a pure, concentrated white light enveloped the bedchamber. I threw my arm up to cover my eyes and stepped forward until the light dimmed.
When I reopened my eyes I saw crumbling stone walls surrounding us. A stone paved floor was covered in rubble and debris. This was Aoife’s home in Ireland?
Liam must have seen my surprise. “Welcome to Castle Tamhnach.”
“This is it?” I asked.
Liam blinked. “It’s glamoured. Look closer.”
Ethan came to my side, his forehead scrunched up with confusion. I tried to see past the glamour. Once I concentrated, the ruins melted away, leaving behind a room with a vaulted post and beam ceiling. The stone flooring was clear of the debris I thought I’d seen. In the center of the room was a dark pine table and benches with a lush oriental rug underneath. One small window near the ceiling allowed daylight to shine on an enormous stone fireplace, circa the Middle Ages,where a cooking pot and kettle were hung.
