“Weylyn,” she whispered breathlessly as all breath left her when he gazed into her eyes. “Oh, ‘tis wonderful to have you awake.” His brown eyes clouded as confusion entered their depths. “You are safe. Do you recall what happened? You are in Wolf’s Bane Field in the cave with Isla’s sisters,” she reminded him. When he didn’t answer, and continued to stare at her, she went on. “You were injured. Aedan brought you here. But ‘tis all right now, everything is better now that you are awake.”
He blinked again then closed his eyes tightly for a moment. “Everything is well,” she promised. Opening his eyes again, he looked at her. “I was so worried for you,” she admitted taking his hand up to her face. His curious gaze drifted over her face and he turned his hand in her grasp to caress her cheek, his thumb found her lips and ghosted across them. Eithne breathed in, reveling in the feelings he elicited from her. She closed her eyes and smiled.
After a moment, Weylyn finally spoke. “Who are you?”
A horrid pain grew in Eithne’s chest as she opened her eyes and looked down at Weylyn. Letting his words resonate in her ears, her breath was again stolen from her but this time from pain not pleasure. Looking away from him as tears stung her eyes, she took a deep breath, or as deep as she could with the pain, and gathered her wits.
Finally looking back at him she started shakily, “my name is Eithne.”
“E-na,” he breathed, pronouncing both syllables. “You are a druid?”
“Aye,” she answered. “I am one of Isla’s sisters. I was watching over you.”
“Why?” he asked.
“Because I… I wanted to,” she replied. “Aedan and I both watched over you.”
“Where is he?” Weylyn asked looking around the cave.
“He is resting but he will desire to ken you are awake. He has been worried over you. I will go wake him.”
“Nay,” Weylyn clutched her hand tightly. “Donnae… Donnae wake him.” She nodded softly and turned back to him. “What happened?” He asked slowly attempting to roll to his side to look at her, but flinched when he did.
“You must nae move,” she rushed to stop him but her vision blacked for a moment. Catching herself on the stone table he rested on, she felt his hands on her arms steading her. “Forgive me,” when the darkness abated, she gazed back into his brown eyes. “I stood far too quickly. I am better now. But you must nae move, you are still healing. Do you remember being injured?”
“Aye,” he answered. “Maelogan stabbed me and Aedan slid a knife into my hand for me to use against him. Last thing I recall, Aedan killed Maelogan.” He was not going to admit the very last thing he recalled was the completeness he felt when Aedan called him father for the first time.
“Aye,” Eithne agreed. “Aedan carried you into the cave and laid you on this stone.” Weary, she began the story of what happened over the past several days. When Weylyn did not speak for a time, she looked away and continued. “I am sorry,” she said.
Her fatigue caught up with her all at once and she pitched forward unable to hold herself upright. Weylyn caught her and held her to his chest. Too tired to enjoy the feeling of him so close to her, she gave in to her exhaustion and closed her eyes.
Chapter
Three
Slowly Eithne woke feeling far too warm. Opening her eyes, she saw a man’s chest before her, but before she could fear what she could not remember, she saw the angry red mark over his heart and realized Weylyn held her. He was still asleep but his arms wrapped around her and as she gently moved away from him, he moaned. Releasing her, he turned onto his back and sighed. Before she could touch him, a voice spoke near her.
“Did he wake?” Aedan asked. Eithne looked up at him and slid away from Weylyn.
“Late last night,” she replied.
“Why did you nae wake me?” Aedan demanded.
“He asked me to let you sleep,” she said.
“What did you say to him?” He questioned.
“Nothing… I—,” she began.
“Did you tell him?” he pressed.
“I did nae realize it would be a problem, Aedan,” Eithne stated. “He asked me to tell him, I will nae lie to him.”
“I needed to be the one to tell him,” Aedan snarled.
“’Tis all right, Aedan,” Isla stood and walked up beside him. “I am sure Eithne did nae mean any harm. Weylyn asked her and she told him, that is all.”
“It was nae her place,” Aedan growled. “I should have been the one. It was my choice.”
“Is everything all right?” Tristan called from the other side of the room, Alexina by his side.
“Eithne told my father everything,” Aedan’s angry voice echoed in the cave.
“He asked me and I was under nae impression it was to be a secret,” Eithne stood her ground.
“You should have let me tell him!”
“Aedan,” Weylyn’s voice startled them and Aedan looked down at his father. “’Tis all right. There is nae need to yell at Eithne.”
“But she should nae have told you,” Aedan crossed the room to stand by his father’s side. “I… I needed to be the one to tell you. I ken you will nae like what has happened and I wanted to explain my decision. I donnae want you to be angry.”
“You are right,” Weylyn answered. “I would much rather have died and been with my mate, but as that is nae possible now, I am with you. And that is nearly as wonderful as being with Brietta again. Aedan, I may no’ like what has happened but I understand why you did what you did. I bear nae ill will to any of you, especially no’ to my own flesh and blood.”
“You forgive me, then?” Aedan asked.
“Aye, I forgive you son. I may no’ like it, but I forgive you,” Weylyn offered his arm for Aedan to shake in a warrior’s greeting, but Aedan leaned down and embraced his father.
“’Tis glad I am, you are awake,” Aedan mumbled into his father’s shoulder.
“So am I, son,” he replied.
“And me,” Alexina stepped forward. Weylyn looked over at her and winked. Aedan pulled back and helped him stand. Once he had his balance, Weylyn looked over at his alpha.
“Tristan, may I embrace your wife?” Weylyn asked. Tristan grinned.
“Before me? Och, has she won your heart also?” Tristan teased.
“Aye, she and your daughter,” Weylyn replied.
“Well, I cannae argue with you there. I suppose I can allow it,” he answered. Alexina smiled gently and returned his embrace. Tristan stepped forward when Alexina pulled back. “I am so very glad you are awake, Weylyn. I feared greatly for you.”
“I am well, lad,” Weylyn replied embracing his student.
“I am sure you would enjoy some fresh air, Weylyn,” Isla smiled. “Then I will introduce you to my other two sisters who are preparing a meal for us.”
“And the wolf’s bane outside?” Weylyn asked. “Have we any moon flower?”
“You will nae need it,” Tristan replied. “It seems, now we are immortal, we are immune to the flower.”
“Indeed?” Weylyn asked. “Well, it will never be my favorite flower, I donnae care how sweet it is.” Weylyn took his son’s outstretched arm and leaned on him for support, but when they were at the entrance of the cave, he turned to Eithne. She waited for him to speak but he said nothing and allowed Aedan to help him up the steps.
***
“My father’s pack will nae stop and there is nae another path to elude them, no’ with Alexina’s human blood,” Tristan explained when they all sat together at the main table in another room of the cave.
“I never thought I would say this but damn my human blood,” Alexina said.
“My love,” Tristan’s shocked voice filled the charged air.
“’Tis true,” she replied. “If it were nae for that, we would all be safely away and the pack would be none the wiser. But because I was born weak and human I am the reason we cannae leave.”
“And our child,” Tristan stated. “Until Giorsa
l’s first phase she is human.”
Alexina huffed and looked away. “What good is being immortal if we are still bound to this earthly coil?”
“What happens if we are attacked by the wolves?” Weylyn asked. “Since we are immortal I ken we cannae die but what would happen?”
“As much as we need to speak of this, I believe it would be better if we wait. We must hunt. Our women need to eat something and the stew Labhaoise made is hearty but that was all the meat they have.” Aedan stood.
“We cannae go hunt,” Tristan said. “The pack is waiting for us and where would we go?”
“We could wait and one of us make a distraction while the others slip away,” Aedan answered.
“As clever as that is, and I respect your strategy,” Tristan began. “I cannae leave without first some answers.”
“I believe we should at least try,” Aedan stated.
“I said nay,” Tristan replied.
“Donnae try and assert your authority on me, Tristan,” Aedan said. “We are a pack, aye, but we are nae wolves anymore. Your Alpha blood means nothing now.”
Tristan growled at him from across the table. “Do you challenge me, whelp?” Tristan demanded.
“Nay, Tristan he does nae challenge you, he merely is stating his belief,” Weylyn replied then snapped his eyes to his son. “Aedan, Tristan is your alpha nae matter what we are now. As long as you can phase and his orders affect you, he is our leader. He is our king.”
“I answer to my own laws, Father,” Aedan said. “Now that I am immortal I donnae need someone telling me what to do. I never have and I never will.”
Tristan’s growl increased and his eyes flashed to yellow.
“What is wrong with you, lad?” Weylyn demanded. “You donnae question him. This is nae like you.”
“Nay, this is me, Father,” Aedan stood and pulled himself up to his full height, puffing out his chest. “’Tis Tristan who has let this go to his head.”
“You will nae question me,” Tristan’s menacing voice was low.
“I fought to free you from one tyrant, I will nae have you turn into one,” Aedan growled. Fire lit his eyes as Tristan faced him. Weylyn stood between the two, hands outstretched, stopping them both.
“Aedan, this is nae like you,” Isla called to her husband. “What is wrong?”
“Do you feel odd, Aedan?” Eithne asked.
“I feel fine,” Aedan spat. “And I will thank you no’ to interrupt a family discussion when you are nae family.”
“Aedan,” Weylyn barked a reprisal. “This is nae you, lad.”
“You are wrong, all of you,” Aedan shouted, but uncharacteristically, sweat poured from his face. His breathing increased and his eyes were glassy. “This is me.” His voice waivered and he pitched forward. Weylyn immediately caught him in his arms. “Stop it,” he sounded delirious, swiping at the air. “Donnae touch me. Stop it!”
“Eithne, quickly!” Isla cried. Eithne raced through the cave to grab her sisters through the portal to Skye. Soon all four druids loomed over Aedan as Labhaoise handed Isla a vial.
“I worried this would happen,” Geileis said.
“What is wrong with him?” Weylyn demanded.
“Aedan, listen to me,” Isla gripped her husband’s chin and forced him to look at her. “You must drink this.”
“Nay, stop it. I will nae. Ye cannae make me!” Aedan cried.
“Weylyn, help me,” Isla begged.
Weylyn braced his son against him, Tristan held him down, and Weylyn pried his mouth open. Aedan tried to bite down on Weylyn’s thumb but Weylyn held his other hand firmly around his son’s chin forcing his mouth to stay open. Isla poured the drink into his mouth. Aedan coughed and sputtered but managed to drink most of it.
“Dear gods, what are you trying to do?” Aedan demanded. “Kill me?”
“Aye,” Isla said.
“What?” Weylyn cried.
“He did nae finish the transition, Weylyn,” Eithne said from beside Geileis. “He woke before it was complete.”
“The transition is nae complete unless you die and come back to life,” Labhaoise explained. “He never died. He is strong indeed for I have only seen someone able to wake themselves out of the transition once before. But his body is rejecting the potion. He has to complete the transition or he will die.”
“What are you making him drink?” Alexina asked.
“’Tis the potion mixed with Mistletoe,” Isla explained.
“Mistletoe,” Weylyn breathed. “He is wolf kind. It will kill him.”
“Aye,” Isla replied looking up at Weylyn with fear in her eyes. “But he is dead for certs if I donnae do this.” Weylyn stared at his daughter by marriage. “Please,” she begged. “Let me save him.”
The desperation in her eyes made him nod and Isla forced more of the concoction down Aedan’s throat. He sputtered and coughed but slowly his eyes closed and his body went limp in Weylyn’s arms.
“What now?” Weylyn demanded.
“We wait,” Isla explained.
Chapter
Four
Isla stayed by her husband’s side for hours. His breathing was shallow but at least he was breathing. Weylyn walked up behind her and laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“I will sit with him,” he said softly. “You need to rest.”
“I cannae leave him,” she replied.
Bending down to be eye level with her, Weylyn turned her away from her husband’s sleeping form and looked deeply into her eyes.
“For the life of his pup growing inside you, you must rest,” he said. Her eyes grew wide as she heard his words and her hand went to her stomach. “Aye, I ken. But whether you have told him is no’ for me to say.”
“I did,” she answered. “I did nae ken until I was ill that day we journeyed here.”
“That is also when I realized it,” he said. “But you must rest.”
“You will stay with him?” she asked.
“I will nae leave him,” he swore. Nodding she stood, weaved for a moment and clutched Weylyn’s arms. Once she was steady again, she thanked him and left the room. Weylyn found a stool and pulled it over to Aedan’s bed. Taking his son’s hand, Weylyn began speaking in a low tone. “Aedan, lad, I ken you can hear me. I wanted to tell you, when you called me father it was the most fulfilling moment of my existence. I always wanted a son. I always wanted to be a father. I could nae imagine being a father to any other male. You are a tribute to your mother and to Gowan, but I cannae stop the pride I feel when I ken my blood flows through your veins. I love you son.” Sensing Eithne behind him, Weylyn did not turn. “Do you ken how long he will be like this?” he asked. Silently, she slid a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“’Tis in the gods’ hands now, Weylyn,” she replied. “I am so very sorry.”
Knowing his son was strong was not enough. “Is there anything we can do?” Weylyn begged.
She shook her head as her hand drifted into Weylyn’s hair of its own volition. When he tensed, she pulled back and lowered her hand.
“Are you hungry?” she asked.
“Nay,” he answered.
“Weylyn,” she pressed.
“I am fine, Eithne thank you,” he replied. He had not looked at her and she felt the loss keenly.
“I am sorry to have disturbed you,” she said. Hoping he would call her back, she turned. But when she entered the portal to Skye, he had yet to say anything.
Covering her face as she felt tears prick the back of her eyes, Eithne tried not to cry. If only she had anticipated this, if only she had been able to see Aedan’s transition was not complete. What good was her second sight if she could not help those who needed it the most?
“Sister,” she heard Geileis say. “What is the matter?” Eithne opened her eyes and saw her eldest sister carrying pots to be cleaned. Geileis set them down and wiped her hands on her dress.
“Nothing,” Eithne replied. “That is… nothing important. I
came to get food for the wolves.”
“Aye,” Geileis answered. “I have made more stew and it is nearly done, no meat I am afraid but the vegetables will do them good. But something else is on your mind, love.”
“Och Geileis,” Eithne cried. “What am I to do?”
“With what, child?” Geileis asked. Eithne was by no means a child at one hundred and twenty years old, but considering Geileis was born before the Roman Invasion, she gave no fuss to the name.
“I… och ‘tis beyond reprehensible,” she answered.
“What is?” Geileis asked. “You ken you can tell me anything, love.”
Eithne looked up at her sister and saw the genuine love and affection she had for her.
“I am having… thoughts of a man,” Eithne said. “And they are no’ reciprocated.”
“Thoughts?” Geileis questioned. “What sort of thoughts?”
Eithne looked down and wrung her hands. “Intimate ones,” she whispered.
“I see,” Geileis replied. “And this man does nae return them, you say? Is he otherwise spoken for?”
“Nay, no’ as far as I ken,” Eithne answered. “But he cannae look at me. He does nae look at me. But och when he touches my hand, or speaks gently to me… sister, I promise you, I have never felt this way before.”
“Ah, so you feel a rush of excitement whenever he is near?” Geileis asked.
“Please donnae think poorly of me,” Eithne said.
“Of course no’!” Geileis answered. “’Tis perfectly natural. I felt that whenever my Flynn was near.”
It was rare for Geileis to mention her human husband since he fell. Died heroically in battle against Roman legionnaires, or so the leader of the Druids had said. Eithne stared at her sister.
“You believe I could be feeling this way because the male is my mate?” she asked.
“Mate? A very interesting choice of words,” Geileis replied.
Midnight Sky (The Wolf's Bane Saga Book 3) Page 2
