I was sure my heart stopped beating all together; the fire between us blown out like a candle. He lifted his hands, gently tracing the parallel marks on either side of my spine. I winced, noting the sting of the fresh wounds. I wasn’t sure what hurt more; the physical pain from sliding down that brick wall, or the mental torment I’d faced from allowing Hailey too much control over my mind.
“What happened, love?” His voice was too gentle; his thumb brushing over my shoulder blades, studying the wounds on my back.
Shame burned raw in my chest. I turned my back away from his gaze and reached for the shirt that he’d tossed to the bed but he was quicker than me. His hand folded over the top of mine, and when I tried to pull out from underneath his grip, he only tightened his hold.
“Quinn, stop,” he said softly. I breathed in a ragged gulp of air and sat back on the mattress with him kneeling on the floor in front of me, resting his strong arms on either side of my thighs. “What happened?”
“It’s nothing,” I said in a small voice.
“That doesn’t look like nothing.” His amber eyes burned into mine.
“I wasn’t going to tell you.” I sighed. “Hailey cornered me in the bathroom after I met you in the hall today.” I paused, watching the way the tendon in his jaw bulged as he clamped his teeth. “She said some things. I let them get to me and I shouldn’t have. I just needed some air. I went out the back doors and leaned up against the wall and sort of slid down the brick. I didn’t realize I’d hurt myself.”
Wren’s tawny eyes hardened and a shadow passed over his features. “What did she say to you?” His voice was a low growl that sent the hair on the back of my neck standing at attention.
“Wren…”
“What did she say to you, Quinn?”
“She said that you were meant to be with your own kind… that you would get tired of being careful with me and when you did, she would be waiting.” There were a few other choice words she’d said that had stung, but he didn’t need to know every little sordid detail.
A rush of air left his nostrils as his jaw cocked to the side. He’d dropped his gaze, hands slipping away from the mattress until I reached out and cupped the back of his hand with my palm. “I shouldn’t have let her get to me. I know she was just trying to push my buttons.”
“She had no right to speak to you that way,” Wren said, gaze shifting back to my face.
“It doesn’t mean anything…”
“It does if she caused you any kind of turmoil.” Wren rocked back on his heels, moving his hand out from under mine only to cover my knee instead. “There is nothing in this life more important to me than you, do you understand that?” His eyes flickered between mine. There was so much force behind his gaze that I could only nod in response. “I’ll talk to her. I’ll make sure she knows not to come near you again.”
“Wren, I’m okay. I appreciate you looking out for me, but I can handle Hailey.” I forced myself to smile for his sake. “Besides, I honestly think that I was overly emotional because of this thing.” I picked up the amulet, turning it over in my hand. “Moonstone increases and magnifies emotional energy.”
Wren made a face. “Yeah, well, we already know how I feel about that.” He was glaring at the pendant as if the spark behind his eyes alone could destroy it; if only the solution were that simple.
I dropped the pendant back in place and rested my hands on my thighs. “I am curious though… Is what Hailey said true–about you having to be careful so you don’t hurt me?”
“That doesn’t matter,” he said, reaching out to stroke the length of my cheekbone with his knuckles.
“What would happen if you lost control?” I wondered aloud, swallowing hard before I lost my nerve. After all, this had been going in an entirely different direction before he’d found those scratches on my back, and I wanted nothing more than to get us back on track. I wanted him, and I wanted to be what he needed. I reached for the hem of his T-shirt, letting my fingers trail across his sides as I lifted the fabric away. His body was so perfect.
“I don’t know,” he grated out.
“I don’t want you to hold back with me,” I said. “I don’t want you to suppress anything that comes natural to you.”
“Quinn,” he breathed my name against my lips and the heat surged across my skin. I heard the warning in his voice but I didn’t care. I pulled his mouth to mine and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Stop, love,” he said against my lips. He reached up and unlocked my arms from their hold on his neck. “I hear the truck.”
I bolted upright and just like that, the magic of the spell was broken. I tucked myself beneath the quilt as I heard the garage door open.
“Quinn?” Dad called up the stairs.
I stayed silent and closed my eyes as Wren folded himself into the shadows, becoming one with the night creatures. I heard the steps creaking as Dad padded up the stairs and then paused in front of my bedroom door. He knocked softly, waited a beat, and then opened it just a small fraction to check on me. As the door closed and he moved on to his own room, I caught a faint, floral scent drifting through the air.
Josephine’s perfume.
Wren climbed in beside me then, pulling me against his chest. He pressed his lips in between my shoulder blades and traced the shape of the marks on either side of my spine with his thumb. I reached up and stroked the moonstone at my throat, letting the warmth of it soak through my fingers.
I wondered what would have happened if Dad hadn’t come in. Hailey’s words were circulating in a sort of mindless desperation–waking a hunger I didn’t know was there–a need to prove her wrong. I didn’t want Wren to be careful with me. I ached for his power–needed to feel the force of it crushing down on my soul. That was new, I thought as I clung to the moonstone pendant.
“You’re running out of time, Quinn.” Her voice was like a cosmic explosion, like something not of this world or even this realm. I knew it was a dream because the air was full of color–big, bright, shapeless nebulas that pulsed against a black, glittering background. I saw glimpses of her face in the stars and knew she was beautiful. Her hair was a rich auburn that glistened among the starlight like spun silk. Even her dark eyes appeared almost red in color. It was impossible for me to identify her approximate age; her skin was like smooth porcelain, timeless in its youth.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“You’ll know when you find me,” she replied in that honeyed, heavenly voice of hers.
“Are you the enchantress?”
“Seek the sun, when day takes up the false cloak of night. You need to hurry White One. You’re running out of time.”
“Your insistence of speaking in riddles won’t speed up the process,” I said with a sardonic edge and rolled my eyes. I mean, what was it with all of the cryptic messages anyway? Frustration welled in my chest. “We solved your puzzle–you just need to tell us where we’re supposed to find you. I suppose a map is too much to ask for?”
“Open the door Quinn!”
A great burst of power surged through the center of my chest and I sat up, clutching a hand to my heart as I gasped for air. The room was filled with the golden light of the early morning. It shimmered on the floorboards as wind rippled the curtains of my bedroom window. The cool air made me shiver and I frowned. I didn’t remember opening the window last night. I dropped my hand and it crinkled the piece of paper I hadn’t seen resting on the pillow beside me.
Good morning love,
You were sleeping so soundly that I didn’t want to wake you. I know you haven’t been able to get much rest as of late. I won’t be gone long. I’m just going to gather some things at the cabin and then I’ll pick you up before school.
> Your owl was still in the tree this morning; I think she’s keeping close watch over you. Niall used to say that the Creator assigned an animal spirit guide to his believers to help them on their life journey. He always felt he had an affinity for the sky creatures. Owls are intuitive and intellectual. I suppose I should be grateful to share the privilege of protecting you with such a being, but I still like to think I’m the only guardian you need.
Yours eternally,
Wren
I couldn’t help but smile. “Werewolves,” I breathed, shaking my head. I traced the word ‘eternally’ with the tip of my index finger before folding the note and placing it in the top drawer of my nightstand. I pushed to my feet and padded over to the window, sweeping the curtain aside. My owl was still nestled in the branches, tilting her head as she watched me.
“Good morning,” I told her. “You’ll have to excuse me, but unlike my werewolf boyfriend, my blood is not liquid fire.” I reached up and tugged the wooden frame down with a complaining screech. My barn owl seemed unfazed by the commotion and continued to watch me. I studied her a moment longer, entranced by her diamond-like eyes. I couldn’t get over how much they reminded me of the starlit night sky–and in turn, my dream came rushing back at full speed.
The walls began to hum with an impatient energy. In my dream, the enchantress wanted me to open the hidden door. There had been a sense of urgency in her velvet tone as she told me I was running out of time. My gut was hollow and a lump seemed to have lodged in my throat. The incentive to open the door had grown so much stronger–willing me to give in.
I pulled a tank top on over my bra and opened my bedroom door, peeking out into the hall. “Dad?” I called.
He didn’t answer. I glanced over my shoulder through the window and realized his truck was missing from the drive. Perhaps he’d gotten an early start to his morning–or maybe he had breakfast plans with Josephine. Either way I was alone now, and the energy in the walls was beckoning me forth.
I reached out, brushing the wall with my fingertips. A trail of blue sparks erupted beneath my touch. For once, I didn’t feel fear grinding through my bones. Instead, I felt a sense of power and strength and need radiating through my limbs. I traced the pentagram on the wall, watching the bright blue embers burn there before fizzling out and disappearing into nothing.
“Oscailte,” I commanded.
A brilliant display of blue flame crackled up the wall, sparking and sputtering until a white door emerged. Glowing golden bands twisted in spirals of Celtic knot-work against the frame and the Trinity symbol burned into the center. This is it, I thought. Every other path I’d taken had led me to a dead-end. It was up to me to stop the Darkness and protect Wren from the Thornwood pack. This was my last hope.
Yes, that’s it, White One, the energy seemed to encourage. You can save them all.
Breath tight in my lungs, I reached for the golden doorknob. The moment my fingertips made contact, the moonstone around my throat decided to awaken. The talisman retaliated, scorching my skin with the force of a red-hot iron. My vision went white at the edges, teeth grinding as I wrenched the moonstone away from my flesh.
An impression of the amulet had formed between the curves of my breasts. The skin was red, bubbling with small blisters. A thin line creased my brow. The amulet, I realized, was trying to protect itself. It couldn’t be destroyed by a spell written by the laws of nature, but the pendant must have feared whatever was behind that door.
The electric energy of the walls was still humming, building and beckoning. I lifted the chain over my head and held firmly to the thin antique threading as I twisted the doorknob and pushed.
At once, the humming stopped.
Shadow and light gave way to a spiral wooden staircase. I held my breath as I took that first tentative step; planks whining beneath my weight as I climbed up to the platform of the attic floor. The high ceiling sloped into wooden-paneled walls, and a large circular window let in a bright stream of light. Weird–I’d never noticed a window from the outside let alone known we even had an attic. It’s spelled, genius, of course you wouldn’t see it from the outside. Particles of dust drifted idly in the haze and filled my nose with the scent of something old–stagnant–like an archive of ancient newspapers.
I followed the light-stream to a small circular table that sat at the exact center of the room. It was a deep mahogany with ornate patterns that twisted the legs into the natural shape of tree roots. The table quite literally looked like it was growing out of the floorboards. In the middle of the table sat a leather-bound book, not entirely dissimilar to the grimoire of Blaire’s ancestors. This too, was a deep emerald green and covered by intricate bands of silver and gold knot-work. Visibly raised in dimension, a triquetra symbol rested between opposite facing crescent moons.
I was sure my heart was beating loud enough to hear as I traced the patterns on the cover. The ridges were smooth and cool to the touch. My mother had left this here for me, and now that I was seeing it with my own two eyes, a sensation of calm strength washed through my being. I turned the cover and caught a faint scent of vanilla musk in the air as my eyes scanned the neat, cursive handwriting that belonged to my mom.
Dearest Daughter,
I believe I have some long overdue explaining ahead of me. If you’re reading this now, it means that the prophecy of the Trinity has come to pass and your greatest powers have awoken. I know I should have told you what might become of your future, but I just wanted to keep you my little girl for as long as I could. If I know you like I believe I do, my choices in shielding you from the truth have hurt you deeply. Please understand that I would never intentionally cause you pain, but this was the only way I knew how to protect you. Speaking of the Darkness was dangerous. Whispers can travel to wicked ears, and I was afraid that the things I feared most could be willed into existence. Maybe it wasn’t the right decision, but it was the decision I made nonetheless.
Your father and I knew we wanted to raise a family together, and there was nothing in the world I wanted more than to be a mother. Shortly after we married, I found out that I was unable to conceive. I was heartbroken and devastated. When the Earth Mother came to me and told me she could help, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse. I knew from the beginning that there was a chance of the Trinity’s reunion, but it was a risk your father and I were willing to take. Carrying the heir of Luiseach Callaghan was a privilege of the highest honor. The Earth Mother had given me the greatest blessing of all, and also the greatest responsibility.
When I chose to have you, I knew that I would spend my life trying to keep you safe. Rionach the Dark was just one of many threats you’d have to face carrying the burden of the White Witch. There were other creatures that would seek to destroy you simply for the power that you could come to possess. On your tenth birthday, the Earth Mother appeared to me in a dream. She told me about a young werewolf who had seen us celebrating in the forest, and that he had forged a connection with you. I suppose I always knew that you would find one another, but a cold fear began to squeeze my heart. Somehow I knew that was the first clue that the Trinity would be called – why else would the Earth Mother come to me?
A couple of years passed nearly in peace. I kept a watchful eye on the forest, wondering if perhaps I would ever see this werewolf of yours. I wanted to meet him, knowing that if I could just see his face and read his heart that I would know you would always be protected. You see, I had just found out about my illness, and I knew my time on Earth was coming to an end. I thought that if I knew you were always being looked after that I could leave this world in peace. I never did get a chance to meet him, but I met another being instead.
They called her Winter Fengári. She goes by many names but what her true name is, I will not speak. All you need to know is that she’s a
lunar goddess with an affinity for animals and I trust her with your life. It was she who helped me spell the attic. We made it so that you wouldn’t find it until the exact time you were meant to. If Rionach’s amulet has come into your possession, you and the Trinity are no longer safe. Remaining in Silver Mountain is no longer an option. I wish that I could explain, but you’re going to have to take a leap of faith and trust me.
You need to find Winter and seek her refuge. Keep your eyes on the stars and trust your instincts. Let Orion show you the way. Please know that I believe in you. You have always been a strong, capable spirit and it has been my absolute privilege to watch you grow and turn into the beautiful young woman that you’ve become. You were my greatest achievement, Quinny, and it was an honor to be your mother. No matter what, I will always be with you.
So for now, I leave you with this book and the hope that it will help you find the answers you seek. Please remember that there must always be a balance between light and dark, for you cannot have one without the other. Take care, my daughter, and know that my love for you will never end. May we someday meet again.
Love, Mom
I fell to my knees as a wave of raw emotion ricocheted through my body. My fingertips tightened on the book’s cover as a flood of hot tears spilled from my eyes and ran over the curve of my cheeks. I allowed myself this moment of weakness, clutching the book that still smelled of my mother’s perfume against my heart.
Reading her words had awoken a sadness that had never really gone away. It stayed dormant, but the moment I saw her handwriting the familiar ache pulsed through my chest and clawed at my heart. I missed her so much–missed the way her nimble fingers would plait my hair in a perfect French braid. I missed her smile and the way her eyes would crinkle at the corners when she grinned. But mostly I missed her voice and the way she taught me about life with such love and kindness.
The Calling of the Trinity (Trinity Cycle Book 2) Page 12
