by Helen Scott
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
The Banshee
A Siren Legacy Novella
Helen Scott
Contents
Copyright
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Acknowledgments
About the Author
The Banshee
A novella of The Siren Legacy Series
Copyright © 2017 by Helen Scott
Cover Design © Natasha Snow
All rights reserved.
This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author, except for the brief use of quotations in a book review.
This book is intended for adults only. The sexual activities represented in this book are a work of fiction intended for adults. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are used fictitiously by the author. Any resemblance to actual places, events, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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To all the Halloween lovers out there.
Chapter 1
Robin took her glasses off and gave them a good wipe. The code she’d been working on to run a simulation for her latest client wasn’t cooperating. She knew that she should just take a break, go for a walk, clear her head, and then the answer would fall in her lap, but she was too frustrated to do that. She tucked her foot under the opposite knee and resettled herself on the couch, tucking the blanket and cardigan closer around herself. She was laser-focused on her problem, so when she put her glasses back on and saw Hal standing there, her heart kicked in surprise within her chest.
Warmth spread through her as she took in the sight of the man she loved. His broad shoulders stretched the fabric of his black T-shirt, while his jeans were slung low on his hips. Reaching up, he pushed a lock of his sun-bleached brown hair out of his face. His T-shirt rode up slightly, displaying those tantalizing lines on his hips that disappeared into his jeans. Hal ran hot, so even in the chilly October weather, he was only ever in a T-shirt.
Her heart resumed beating normally, but she still couldn’t take her eyes off him, and he knew it. Reaching behind him, he pulled an envelope out of his back pocket. “I got you something.”
“You did?” Robin smiled. He was always getting her little things to make her life easier, and her heart melted each and every time. He came over and sat by her on the couch, removing her laptop from her hands and gently tugging her into a sideways hug. They settled back on the couch. “You already gave me the best birthday present I could ask for.”
“This was something else I meant to have for you, but it took longer than I thought to organize.” He shrugged. His bright green-blue eyes stared down at her, and she couldn’t help but feel like the luckiest girl in the world. “Open it.” A small smile played at the corners of his mouth as he handed her the envelope, giving her a nudge with his elbow.
She flipped the back of it open and pulled out a card. The front was decorated with a logo she’d seen all too frequently when she worked for Randall. It was a travel agency. Her heart started to gallop in her chest.
Opening the card, she saw a ticket to Ireland inside.
Her jaw dropped. “Ireland?” Robin whispered in awe of the gift.
Travel was both easy and difficult for the brothers. It had taken Robin a while to understand, but she finally got it, so she understood why plane tickets sat in her hand. Sure, they could just teleport to the Emerald Isle, but teleporting two people was a challenge, and two people with their luggage wasn’t feasible if the person doing the teleporting wanted to be conscious and not pass out for a few days.
“There’s more.” Hal grinned down at her, pleased with himself about the surprise, no doubt.
She pulled the airline ticket to one side, and under that was a card for an adorable little hotel and the information for the Samhain Fire Festival on Tlachtga, a hill in Ireland that her mother had told her tales about as a child. The fact that Hal remembered her talking about it was beyond touching. She’d only mentioned it once, but he’d listened and knew it meant something to her.
“We can also go to the Hill of Tara and the Hill of Slane, if you want. They are supposed to be amazing historical sites.”
Tears bubbled up inside her. Two or three escaped before she locked them down. Never. Not once in her life that she could remember had anyone paid such attention to her that they understood the desires that she dared not speak aloud. Learning about her heritage, reconnecting with the land that gave her life, not only to her but to the banshee that lay within, was something she’d yearned to do.
“This is amazing,” she whispered before shoving everything aside and throwing her arms around his neck. “Thank you.” She kissed him silly before the dots connected in her head. “But that’s in two days!”
A rumble of a laugh started in him and his giant arms as he pulled her into his lap. He was such a dichotomy. His arms were the perfect example—they could be bands of steel to those he was trying to hurt, but had never been anything but gentle and loving with her. She loved all sides of him; every piece of the man whose lap she now sat on was perfect to her.
“You need anything before we go? Now’s the time. Flight leaves tomorrow afternoon.”
“What do you wear to a fire festival?” She’d never been to a festival of any kind, much less one centered around Halloween and fire.
“Whatever you want.” He kissed the tip of her nose.
“I’ve got to get this fixed and pack!” Robin leaped out of his arms and grabbed the laptop, still smiling from the thoughtfulness of his gift, and plopped back down onto her spot on the couch. Hal pulled her feet onto his lap and began rubbing just the way she liked while her fingers flew over the keys.
Chapter 2
When they arrived at the hotel, Robin was speechless. The drive over had been magical. Everything was so green and yet punctuated by the muted browns and flaming oranges and reds of the trees in autumn. Farmland covered the area, and trees frequently lined the roads that Hal navigated with surprising ease. In some parts, the roads were narrow and left Robin feeling like they were moving down the center of a celery stalk, with walls or trees pressed closely on either side of them.
When they’d pulled up to the hotel, it had been just after lunch. With the fire festival being that night, they’d grabbed some food from the restaurant inside the hotel and gone up to their room to get ready. The room was bigger than she’d expected given the size of the hotel, but it was beautiful. Damask wallpaper highlighted the rich wood of the four-poster bed while creamy satin sheets lay rumpled underneath her as she let herself air-dry from her shower. She felt like happiness glowed from every pore.
Hal stepped out from the shower, and she watched as he wrapped a towel around his perfect behind. Biting her lip, she wanted to pull the towel off again and show him how tantalizing he was with droplets of water running down his
sun-kissed skin. She could have licked them off—he was that delectable.
“Don’t look at me like that or we won’t make it to the festival.” A slow grin spread over his face as he spoke.
Her blood warmed at the sight, knowing exactly what was on his mind. “I can’t help it. You look so damn good freshly showered. I just want to get you all dirty again.”
“Rin, come on. We came all this way and you’re going to miss it.”
“Fine, spoil sport.” Robin poked her tongue out at him and proceeded to get dressed. She’d been drying her hair while he was washing, having been the one who wanted to get the travel funk off first. It was cool outside, but she was sure there would be a lot of heat coming not only from the fire but the crowd as well, so she layered. First was an ankle-length black skirt. She’d purchased it with her first paycheck as a freelancer and had loved it since the moment she saw it. The fabric was crinkly and had lacy accents here and there. Then, there was a cranberry T-shirt, which was covered with a charcoal cardigan, along with thick socks that would go into sensible shoes. After all, they were going to be traipsing around on a hillside, and finally, she’d add a jacket when they left.
“Ready?” Hal’s voice startled her out of her thoughts.
“Almost,” Robin said as she went to the mirror to apply the slightest amount of makeup. She slid the ring Hal had given her on her finger. It was quirky, and she’d never seen anything like it, and it definitely wasn’t an engagement ring. The thick pewter tentacles wound around her middle finger, making her smile. It had been part of her birthday present since he knew she had a soft spot for steampunk and the Victorian era in general. “Ready,” she said.
“You look beautiful,” he said as he came over and kissed her. It was delicate and toe-curling and everything she’d ever dreamed a kiss could be, but that was true of most of his kisses, and she wasn’t complaining.
“You clean up pretty well yourself.” She grinned as she slipped her tan jacket over her shoulders, and her hands drifted over her wallet and phone as she debated shoving them into the pockets. She wouldn’t need either, and couldn’t even use her cell phone internationally, so she left them, instead taking along a pair of gloves, just in case.
As they descended, they saw the hotel manager putting out the fire that had been burning in the fireplace since they’d arrived. He paused and looked at them, his bushy eyebrows almost obscuring his eyes themselves while he rubbed the goatee that circled his mouth. “Ye goin’ to the bonfire?”
They nodded.
“I’ll see you both there, then. I’m in charge of bringing the new fire back to the hotel.” He grinned, seemingly pleased with the responsibility. “Have fun!”
They thanked him and headed out.
There was an energy in the air that buzzed against her skin, filling her with energy and anticipation. It was more than just the normal crisp fall air; this was something else, like the world was holding its breath, waiting to see what the coming night held. Walking to the meeting place, they passed restaurants, pharmacies, clothing stores, all of which had big glass windows that took up the majority of the front of the store. Most were neatly painted in blues and whites, with the occasional brown, but some were in disrepair. The paint was peeling and the windows smudgy with dirt. The main thoroughfare of the town made her want to explore each shop individually and see what kinds of treasures each one held.
Eventually, the road changed from being lined with shops and businesses into something a little more residential, and as they turned off and ventured into the park designated as the meeting place for the parade, Robin’s breath caught.
Hundreds upon hundreds of people milled about in the park, with what felt like more people arriving every second. The festival was much bigger than she’d expected. Some were dressed up in full Halloween costumes, some were in regular clothes, and others still wore robes or cloaks—some had hoods and others didn’t. The overall effect was a mishmash of people who were all happily doing their own thing but there to celebrate the holiday with everyone.
A friendly man walked around, handing out torches and lighters. When he offered them to Robin and Hal, they both accepted. She smiled warmly at the man as her excitement began to build. The faint light of the sun finally vanished, and Robin looked around in wonderment.
The lilting Irish accent that came over the bullhorn startled her out of her thoughts, making her jump and Hal grin at her reaction. “Welcome to all who have traveled from near and far to celebrate this holiday with us. A few items before we begin the march. We ask that you all stay on the road and not venture into people’s gardens. The path will take us past homes, none of which are your property. Also, please be careful if you choose to light your torches before you get to the field. Last year, there were no injuries or complaints about people damaging property or trespassing, and the event organizer wants to keep it that way. Now, without further ado, on to Tlachtga!”
The crowd cheered wildly as they began filing out of the field. A few lighters snicked around them, the sound reaching Robin’s ears as people lit their torches. The fire came to blazing life on some of their neighbors’ torches. The warm glow illuminated their faces, some of which were covered with hideous makeup, as though they were trying to disguise themselves. Panic whispered against her skin for a moment. Robin wanted to smack her head when she realized it was just part of their respective costumes. The air became rich with the scent of cinnamon and cloves, along with something else she couldn’t place.
As they made their way up the hill, she wrapped her hand tightly around Hal’s, leaning into him. “This is amazing.”
“I thought you’d like it.” His eyes seemed to dance with amusement in the golden light.
Something brushed against her, and a chill went down her spine, leaving a knot in her stomach and the strange sensation of death being close by. Her banshee scream wasn’t active, so no one present was going to die anytime soon, but the feeling that she always got before the scream most definitely was. As they made their way to the field next to Tlachtga, or the Hill of Ward, as it was now known, the feeling kept growing stronger. This was the first Samhain that she’d spent outside the walls of the Eclipse building in many years, and it suddenly seemed like a terrible idea.
Not that she wanted to go back to Randall, but more that maybe Halloween was a time she should stay inside. If the legends were true, and the veil between the living and the dead was at its thinnest, then she might start screaming for nothing simply because she could sense the dead around them.
Hal’s arm stiffened. She felt it in his grip on her hand.
“What’s wrong?” Robin asked quietly.
“There are more supernatural beings here than I thought there would be. It makes me uneasy.”
“Supernatural beings? Like what?” Her eyes darted around as though she could pick them out of a crowd like this where more than half the people were playing dress-up anyway.
“I’m not sure I should tell you. This is supposed to be a fun night, not one where you’re nervous.”
“I’m nervous anyway, silly.” She swatted at his arm. “I’m a banshee, out on All Hallows’ Eve, when death and spirits are supposed to be able to walk the land.”
“Shit. I didn’t even think about that.” Hal ran a hand through his long hair, pushing it all away from his face. “We don’t have to do this. We can turn around, if you want?”
“I don’t want.” She shook her head firmly. “What I do want is to enjoy this night with you as something special that only we share.”
Hal pulled his hand from hers and wrapped it around her shoulders. “As you wish. Just say the word, though, and we’ll leave.”
They followed the gathering up the road, leaves crunching underfoot from trees that had already shed them in preparation for winter. Once they got to the field, it was pitch black out. The only lights she could see were the torchbearers. Poles were scattered around the field, and people who had clearly done this before were
inserting their torches into the resting places provided. Hal and Robin followed suit, abandoning their torches on two nearby poles after lighting them. Some people were tossing the flame-covered sticks into the bonfire, and the crackling and popping of wood being heated sounded even over the low murmurs of the crowd. More of the cinnamon and clove scent filled the air, making her wish she had a cup of hot cocoa in her hands.
People cheered when the flames licked their way to the top of the bonfire. It was the biggest fire she’d ever seen in real life, and it made her skittish. She felt like a horse ready to bolt. Something was scraping along her nerves, and at some point, she knew she’d give in and they’d go back to the hotel, but for now, she stood her ground.
When her eyes flicked away from the flames, she saw a man walking purposefully toward her. A thick pelt of fur covered one shoulder, blending with his long black hair, though his chest was mostly bare. Bracers were around his wrists, and a thick belt around his waist led to a long piece of material that was being batted back and forth between his legs as he walked. No one seemed to be paying him any mind, but he was staring straight at her, and it was only at the last second that he moved to the side, passing behind her.
She felt him touch her shoulders, a cold fingertip tracing a line across her back as he moved away.
The cold seemed to spread, her layers doing nothing to keep it out as it crept over her shoulders and covered the rest of her body with its icy fingertips. “Hal?” Robin called out to him as his hand slipped from hers.
He didn’t respond.
