by CJ England
"Ahem. That is our grandfather you're talking about.” Danolas gave Brianna a speaking look, before breaking into a wide grin. “From what we read, when Daegal found out Cyric was a witch, he brought him into his home and made him his acolyte. We don't know if he ever told his son the truth."
"So, you guys are ... like ... related?” Benjamin asked.
"Aye,” Brianna said happily. “Kissing cousins, as you Yanks say."
"It tells us why the banshee wasn't affected by my magick.” Danolas rubbed his hand up and down Brianna's back. And why Labraic kept making all those comments about getting even with our family. He knew Brianna and I were of the same lineage."
"Damn.” Lucas’ pithy comment made them all grin.
"What I still can't get over is the fact that for centuries, Labraic's followers thought it was Brianna's family that needed killing.” Patrick stroked his mustache. “Even that stinking kelpie and its friends were wrong ... but right at the same time. It said they were supposed to go after the most powerful witch. We thought it meant Brianna since we'd heard she was the most powerful one in Ireland, but—"
"But Danolas is the one with the real power.” Brianna sighed. “He's stronger than I am, and now with the Sceptre, he's stronger still."
Danolas dropped a kiss on her pouting mouth. “Together, we are unbeatable, leannan ... and as you learn how to control your gift, our powers will be even more surprising."
"I have to say, when I heard that they had gone after the wrong witch, I was very surprised,” Gallegar said quietly. “But yet again, it shows they are not infallible. We can use that to our advantage."
"I agree.” Danolas nodded his head. “Because he'd been so weakened, Labraic was only able to go after my family just recently. My father in Africa, and then me, in this last month. If it hadn't been for the miscommunication between the demon and the changeling, that...” he paused and cleared his throat, “killed Jorad, I would have been taken out easily. I would never have looked for betrayal from within. One of the first things I must do when we get home is try and discover how it was done. How did a demon get within our shields so easily, and how did it kill Jorad?"
Brianna nuzzled his throat soothingly. “Sure, and I guess we know why I didn't get picked up from the airport. They wanted me exposed, so they could get at me."
"They did not expect you to bargain with a taxi driver and get yourself to The Keep so quickly.” Koran chuckled. “Fouled up their plans."
"And I suppose the false Jorad was responsible for shutting down the scrying pools and the messages going missing?” Kira ventured.
Danolas’ face saddened. “Yes. I also believe he had several messengers killed."
"Damn!” Benjamin's exclamation made them all jump. “Now it makes sense."
"What does?” Patrick asked.
Benjamin sat forward. “I'd tried to figure out how the demons knew where to find us. I mean, what were the chances they would just happen to appear on that lonely road from the airport? And how did they know where to find Brianna the one night she went down to the docks alone?"
"Or,” added Danolas, “how they knew where Cyric's trail was when we were very careful not to give away our position."
"He was there ... each time.” Lucas shook his head in disgust. “He knew the route to the airport, and he was there when Brianna tossed the plate at you and ran out. I remember, because he went to clean it up. Thought that was weird for an acolyte. But he heard when Patrick said she was headed for the docks."
"And he was there in the vision at Enniskillen Castle, and he could have easily passed that information on to the creatures who came after us.” Gallegar put his arm around Kira and shook his head grimly.
"'Tis a wonder we accomplished anything at all with that creature in our midst,” Brianna mused. “Thank the goddess it turned out as it did."
Koran leaned back and frowned. “But there is still one thing I do not understand."
"What is that, my brother?” Kira smiled at the golden-faced man.
"Why did Aebh send Brianna to us in the first place? Did she think Brianna was the one in danger? Or did she know it was Danolas all along? And either way, was she not worried about the Hell that would rain down upon us all?"
Kira started to giggle. She tried to stifle it, but it wound up bursting out of her and her laughter filled the room.
"Care to let us in on the joke?” Lucas growled.
Golden eyes met green and the vampire smiled and nodded. “Tell them, A Ghra..."
The Peacekeeper cleared her throat. “It is actually very funny. You see ... Aebh knew nothing of the Sceptre or the problems until Danolas scry-called her after the attack on the road."
Brianna frowned. “But I told her the tale just last spring."
"Oh, she knew of the legend, but the Sceptre of Power had nothing to do with why she sent Brianna to San Francisco."
"It didn't?” the young witch asked. “But she said I'd be safer."
Kira waved a slim hand. “Just an excuse."
"An excuse?” Danolas’ eyebrows went up and he frowned. With the new scars on his face the expression made him look like a very dangerous pirate. “Then why did she send Brianna to us?"
"She did not send her to us, my seer. She sent her to you."
Everyone looked confused. “What exactly are you saying, my Lady?” Danolas leaned forward and stared at Kira.
"Have you not figured it out, Danolas?” Kira's eyes twinkled. “Aebh was matchmaking."
Everyone went very still and then after a long pause, Lucas and Benjamin both burst into laughter. After a couple moments, Koran and Patrick joined them. Gallegar was chuckling softly and Kira's giggles were muted as she tried to stifle them behind her hand.
"Are you saying...” Brianna whispered in a strangled voice, “all the hiding and illusions and the giving me to his Society were just so Danolas and I could...” She couldn't finish.
"I am afraid so.” Kira grinned. “She told me she waited and waited for Danolas to come to Dunguaire Castle, but he kept making excuses, and then the war started. Aebh felt if...” she frowned, “Mohammad wouldn't climb the mountain; the mountain was covered in hilly moles.” She looked over at her mate. “I do not think that is right, Mo Chridhe ... What do mountains and hilly moles have to do with matchmaking?"
Gallegar swallowed a smile. “She meant since Danolas wouldn't come to Brianna, she sent Brianna to him."
Brianna's eyes fired up. “I can't believe she did that. I'll hide her staff and I'll put itching powder in her slippers. I'll spell all the fireplaces to flow backwards. I'll threaten the castle shades so they moan all night long and keep her awake. I'll—"
Danolas ended the dire threats by simply capturing her mouth with his own. After a brief struggle, she surrendered and her arms crept around his neck. A few moments later, he lifted his head and looked down at her with a loving smile.
"What you'll do, is go and thank her for introducing you to the man you would love. And then, the man you love will let Aebh know he feels the same way.” He kissed her again, this time more gently. “I am the luckiest man in the world and if she helped make me that way, I will only bless her, not curse her."
Blowing out a breath, Brianna gazed at Danolas. “Sure, and take all the fun out of it, why don't you?"
Lucas laughed. “Only you, Irish, would come up with such creative ways of payback.” He gave a mock shudder and lifted his glass. “A toast."
They all raised their drinks.
"To you Danolas, who learned just how ... healthy losing your temper can be. I wish you many more years of the same."
The Chosen all started laughing again. The wolfman turned to Brianna. “And to you, Irish. I thank the Power you kissed like my kid sister. We'd have killed each other by Christmas."
Kira started giggling so hard, Gallegar had to pull her into his lap so her drink wouldn't spill.
The wolfman looked around the circle. “And to all of us ... Our wagon wheel is ev
en stronger now. Brianna brings...” He paused, and then silver eyes met violet as he smiled. “She brings trust ... because without it there can be no love. And without love, we have nothing."
Brianna's eyes filled with tears as they all clinked their glasses together and then drank. She snuggled down into Danolas’ arms as the conversation went on around them. “So ‘tis trust I bring?” she asked him softly. “Is that what you see in me now?"
He smiled and pulled her close. “I do. Each and every time I look at you."
"Then, I'm a wondering, did trust bring love? Or the other way around?"
Danolas ran a finger over her lower lip. “Honestly ... I don't know. How I felt was just ... there. I didn't try to analyze it."
"Mayhaps, before, that was part of the problem,” she mused. “We were both trying so hard to label it, we forgot it was the feeling of the thing that matters most."
"What matters most is that I love you."
Her smile beckoned him. “And I love you."
He grinned. “And are you going to argue with me, and toss things at me and curse my kittens and pipe?"
Brianna nodded soberly, but her eyes danced. “Aye. Every day and twice on the Sabbath. ‘Tis hard work being a wife."
He laughed out loud and for the first time in his life, Danolas felt all the restrictions he'd put on himself fall away. He was free. Free to laugh and live and love. All because of Brianna. He cradled her pixie-like face in his hands and kissed her soft mouth.
"I don't care if we're in a cottage in a meadow, or a Keep high in the clouds, you are my soulmate, my treasure, and my love. I will have no other Lady in my life, but you."
Her eyes glistened with more tears. “And you will be my protector, my guide and my Lord. You've always been in my heart, and now I want to forever be in yours."
"You will,” he promised, as he held her even closer. The warmth of her body made passion come alive in his. “You own my heart and lay claim to my soul. And I will show you that truth each and every day for the rest of eternity."
"Every day?"
He nodded. “Every single day."
Brianna sent up a quick prayer of thanks to Aebh, the Power and even the fates who'd been good enough to tie both their lives together. She ran a hand down his chest and smiled. “Then I will have to return the favor, won't I?” She pressed her lips against the ragged scar on his cheek. “I love you, my Lord. Your handmaiden is ready and waiting to serve."
His mouth crushed down on hers and the room and its occupants disappeared in a whirl of passion and love. She gloried in the fact he loved her so much, he'd finally let go of all his fears and would kiss her that way in a room full of his brethren. As she felt him stand to carry her out of the room and back to their chamber, she knew finally, they were free to love and be loved the way they both deserved.
Suddenly, the words to Cyric's spell leapt into her mind. To find the treasure ... the heart will guide. Her eyes filled and overflowed, as she finally understood.
It wasn't the Sceptre that was the true treasure ... it was something of far greater importance. Something special only found by a few. The true treasure?
It was love.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CJ England credits her passion for writing to her second grade sweetheart, Steven, a blond haired cutie with dimples who dumped her for a girl who could swing on the monkey bars. She wrote her first story about love and loss after that tragic episode.
In her life she has modeled, competed in rodeo as a barrel racer and trick rider, taught preschool, performed as an actress and singer, served cocktails at Disneyworld, specialized in production work, and got carried away by Spiderman when she worked with him at Universal Studios.
She calls herself a gypsy, due to her curiosity and “itchy feet", and has spent time in fourteen countries and has visited forty two states in our own.
CJ is known on the Internet as an award winning, bestselling author who can bring sensuality and romance together in ways that require you keep a fire extinguisher and a box of Kleenex handy. Described as having, ‘innovative story lines', ‘a whiz at character development', and ‘quite simply a genius!’ ... CJ wants her books to spark the imaginations of her readers. So that they will begin to believe anything can happen if you ... Follow Your Dreams.
For your reading pleasure, we invite you to visit our web bookstore
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