“I do okay, but I don’t have the kind of money my dad does. He’s made good investments over the years and has designed some important buildings that made him wealthy. I’ve made investments too, but to be honest, I like smaller homes and have no desire to own a house this big. Even if I can afford it. You okay with that?”
Callan seemed almost relieved. “Yeah. I mean, this place is cool and all, but it’d take me all week just to do my chores. And I kinda wanted to raise some horses one day, and after working with horses, I’d hate to come in and clean this place.”
Laif had laughed, ruffled Callan’s hair, and replied, “My mom had a bunch of kids to help clean, plus a maid that came over twice a week to help out too. But we didn’t move into this house until I was ten, and before we moved here, we lived in a much smaller home and it still took me all day to do my chores because I played too much. Not like my older sister Julz, who did her chores first thing and then had the rest of the day to do what she wanted.”
“You had to do chores too?” Callan looked awed by the fact that he’d had to work as a kid.
“Oh yeah. Even when we moved here. So, horses huh? You ever ridden before?”
Callan shook his head. “I was gonna ride this summer, but Mom got hurt so we came back early. But that’s okay. One day I will. And I’ll be the best horseman in the world. I’ve petted horses before, so I know they like me.”
“Honey?” Lydia said, touching Laif’s shoulder and bringing him back to the present.
“Yeah?” Laif looked up, wondering if he’d missed a question.
“You look to be in another world. You okay?”
Laif studied his soon-to-be family and smiled. “Yeah. I’m doing okay.”
“You’ve had a lot to swallow lately. Now, finding out Callan is the son of your cousin couldn’t be easy.”
His mom was worried, that was plain to see, but she was also hopeful that this boy and this woman would be hers. He knew the feeling well.
“It was a blow at first, but then I thought about what I was gaining, and, well, everything was fine. Better than fine. Because of Memphis, her father’s going to teach us their way of fighting. We will receive weapons, and I’m getting the most wonderful woman in the world and a great kid for a son. What could be better than that?”
Seemingly assured, Lydia patted his back and then went to the table. “Okay, everyone, it’s time for us to get busy. We have a couple of weddings to plan and not much time to plan them in.”
“We have a few extra weeks for Bryson and me,” Alannah said on a frustrated sigh. “One of my brothers can’t get here when we’d hoped, so we’re looking at the third Saturday of the month. Two weeks after Memphis and Laif get married.”
Poor Bry, Laif thought. Having to wait. He was glad all Memphis’s family, and his own, were here and accounted for.
Ian watched the family his little girl would be marrying into and couldn’t have been more pleased with her decision. They were warriors in the making, too bad they had lost so much of what had been taught to past generations. Well, he’d teach them. With the help of his beautiful daughter.
His attention became stuck on Shane Evans. This man had Guardian Blood, but he’d never been taught. He’d also never lived his life in a way that would have allowed him to see. As he tracked Shane’s gaze to one of the Craig girls, he figured that would soon change.
Ian wondered how strong Shane’s abilities would be once he cleaned up his act well enough to have his eyes opened. He would speak to the man in private. This was not something Shane should be told with an audience present. It had hurt Ian’s heart to have to share so much with Memphis and Laif with so many around, but that couldn’t have been helped. They’d all needed to know what was what where their new family was concerned.
And now, there was much more the Craigs needed to learn. Well, no time like the present to fill them all in. He cleared his throat as he stood, and of course, everyone turned in his direction.
“I think it’s time I answer some of your questions about the Guardianship and your roles in it.” Ian looked at Laif. “I’m sure, after witnessing how my daughter fights, you must have questions.”
Laif fidgeted slightly, his cheeks turning a light shade of crimson in his olive complexion. “Um. Yeah. I guess.”
Memphis jumped in, “I know ancient chants that pull the Oíche Scáthanna out of those who’ve been possessed. I can then fight them with the special weapons I have.”
She swallowed, bowed her head, and stared at her feet. “On occasion, someone invites the Oíche Scáthanna to take over or to co-occupy their bodies. When this happens—”
She broke off, rubbed her palms on her jean-clad thighs, and shot a glance at Laif. He took her hand, squeezed, and she looked up, meeting Regan Craig’s eyes. “I’ve had to kill a few people. They would have killed me or someone else if I hadn’t.”
She continued to stare at Mr. Craig as if willing him to understand.
Ian’s respect for the man grew as he came and knelt in front of Memphis. “It is never easy, the decisions we have to make in life. And when we have to take a life, it leaves a mark. I thank you for bearing so much to keep others safe.” Then he tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and smiled. “Beautiful, strong child. Thank you.”
Memphis practically fell into his arms, as a single tear trickled down her cheek.
Fisher—the quiet one of the Craigs—asked, Ian thought, to take the spotlight from Memphis for a moment, which Ian appreciated— “Why do our bodies take on Marks of the Guardians when we fight? Not that I mind the cool chimera tattoo on my back, but I’ve always wondered why, when we are taught to treat our bodies with great respect, that we are marked as we are.”
Ian liked the boy. Smiling, he answered, “That comes from me.”
Memphis was now sitting back in her seat, holding Laif’s hand, Callan playing with her long, fire-bright, hair. Now that she was calmer, so was Ian.
“After your population grew, I wanted a way for Guardians to know each other. At the time, only a few people wore such marks, and they were not the kind of marks I placed on Guardians. In your world today, those marks are more common, but there is still a difference if you know what to look for.”
“Why do they grow?” That was from Callan.
“Because, my child, I wanted the strongest to be recognized as such. The enchantment for your marks is in your blood, much as the incantation my dear sister Caoimhe used to keep the Guardians pure in order to fight.”
Fisher leaned forward. “I have another question. Why does Memphis and Alannah have scars when we heal without it leaving a mark?”
Ian’s gaze shot to Memphis. This was a time he would never forget. “When she was fifteen months old, her mother and I—”
He cleared his throat in embarrassment. He didn’t want to share with his daughter and grandson, better yet everyone else, that he’d been making love to his wife and hadn’t heard or felt the intrusion.
“We, um. Well, we weren’t watching her the way we should have been. But things had been quiet for weeks and we let our guards down. After we were finished being distracted, Memphis cried out in pain. A demon, who had had a body at one time, was in her room. He sliced her. I killed it, but Memphis almost died. It took powerful magicks to heal her. She slept in our room from then on out.”
Memphis took Ian’s hand, easing this burden. “I remembered some of it. Don’t feel bad for what happened. It’s easy to get distracted and we can’t watch our children every minute of every day.”
“Amen, to that,” Regan said.
“And I’m glad you didn’t try,” was Fisher’s input.
With the mood lightened, Memphis added to Ian’s story. “I have a few other scars than those. The swords I use kill immortal beings. A slip in battle will leave a mark.”
Callan laughed. “Or, if you are practicing and showing off for your son and you catch it at the wrong end, or if you are little and think you can maybe figh
t someone way bigger than you.” He sobered up, and his eyes became glassy. “I wish I had been there to stop Gary from hurting you.”
Memphis pulled him, though he was still seated, into her embrace. “He can never hurt me again.”
Poor Laif looked like he couldn’t decide whether to vomit or to do battle. The man needed to learn more control if he were to stand a chance dealing with Ian’s daughter.
After Alannah told her own story the questions kept coming. Ian answered all of them, except for those that were to be found out at a different time. When it was all said and done, he felt confident that this crew would be able to face what was ahead of them and come out victorious.
To Ian, that eased his soul a little. His baby girl would need the strength of the Craigs. She would need the strength of Laif and Callan. Ian was confident they would hold each other together well.
Chapter 23
Memphis wondered if Shane noticed how bad she was shaking. What if she threw up? Maybe she had a fever. Her hands felt clammy. She was actually going to do this. Get married. In a few minutes, she’d be a wife. A wife. It was insane.
Okay, maybe not insane. She’d never been married before, and wasn’t one definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results? Okay, so not insane, but crazy. She had a son, for heaven’s sake. She’d been a kid herself when she’d had him. A lifetime ago. Laif was going to expect her to have sex with him.
Tonight.
Yes, she was going to throw-up.
Of course, she’d wanted to have sex with him more times than she could count since she’d met him, but she’d always had an out. The whole, sex-keeps-you-from-fighting-the-bad-guys reason. Not to mention it was against God’s commandments if outside of marriage.
Now, she’d have no excuses. Tonight, she was going to have to make love to him, and she was scared half-to-death. She hadn’t been any good at it the other times. Jacob had told her so when he left her.
Granted, Laif didn’t have any actual experience, but he had kissed and made out with a lot of women, and he’d been good at all the stuff that came before. She was sure he’d be great at the during and after parts as well. She’d never even kissed another man until Laif. Though he seemed to like her kisses just fine. So maybe he’d like her in bed too. Man, she hoped so.
“Are you alright? You look like you’re about to bolt or barf.” Shane took her hands in his, smiling. “I can’t believe you’re getting married. I’d about decided we should get hitched and call it good. Not have to worry about all those men/women problems anymore.”
That made Memphis smile. “Yeah, that would have worked out great all around. We’d have killed each other, plus it would have been like kissing a sibling.”
“Ew, gross,” Shane said, shaking his head. “There would’ve been no kissing. Just the living in the same house and taking care of each other parts. Being already married would have scared off men for you and women for me.”
Memphis frowned. “You’ll find someone else. I know it.”
The look on Shane’s face confused her. He seemed, almost nervous. “I, um, maybe already have.”
Interested, Memphis smiled and asked, “Really? And who would this lucky woman be?”
He looked around, making sure no one could hear, then whispered, “Kambry. Laif’s sister.” He dropped her hands before rubbing his over his face and into his hair, mussing it up. “They’re going to kill me, aren’t they? If I talk to her?”
Memphis didn’t know what to say. It was one thing for Laif to accept Shane as her almost brother, but another to accept him as a man for his little sister. “Um. Not sure. But if you want to ask her out, she’s a grown woman and can make up her own mind. And Laif can just let the two of you work it out yourselves like we did. So, I say go for it.”
Shane’s shoulders relaxed. “Thanks. I don’t want to cause problems for you, but there was just something… I don’t know… almost sizzling around her. Like I couldn’t look away. Couldn’t walk away. It was everything I had to not just take her by the hand and lead her out of her parents’ house last week when we met. It’s been even harder to stay away from her since then.”
“Well, then ask her out and take it from there.” Memphis stopped for just a second, then had to ask, “This isn’t a rebound thing, is it?”
Shane shook his head. “I don’t know how to explain it, but it was like there has never been another woman but her. Of course, there have been, and that might be a big problem for her and her family for that matter. I can’t use the excuse of being a kid.
“Best I can say is that I wasn’t raised to think sex was only between a man and his wife. My parents both cheated on each other and then went on to marry a few more times. They had a lot of relationships in between as well. What am I thinking, there is no way she’s gonna want to have anything to do with me? Forget I even said anything.”
Yeah, that wouldn’t happen. If Shane wasn’t going to have the courage to ask her out, she’d put a buzz in Kambry’s ear herself. Laif had forgiven Memphis her mistakes, and if Kambry was the woman for Shane, then she’d forgive him too.
“You ready for this?” Shane asked.
She nodded, though the fears from earlier came back. She wouldn’t tell Shane something so personal that should just be between herself and Laif, but she did whisper, “I’m scared.”
He smiled knowingly before saying, “You were a kid. He loves you. You’ll be fine. If the passion between you is hot now, it will burn the hotel down tonight. Don’t worry. Just think of all you’re gaining, and then let everything else happen on its own. Everything will be just fine.”
He truly was her brother, she realized. Blood didn’t always make a family, but love did. “Thanks.” Memphis wrapped her arms around Shane and squeezed. “I love you. You know that, right?”
He nodded, wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, and said in a husky voice, “Let’s go get you married.”
With that, he took her hand, fitted it on his elbow, and nodded for the girl sitting at a harp in the front of Julz and Tiegan’s living room to begin the wedding march. This was it. Memphis was getting married.
Memphis was his. He was married. Laif had never been more excited—or more terrified—in his life. What a responsibility he had chosen to take on. A wife. A son. Soon other children. They both wanted more kids and he saw no sense in waiting too long for that, it’s not like they were kids starting out and had years to wait.
He was thirty years old and wanted to be young enough to play ball with his kids. Okay, that wasn’t a viable excuse, his father was a viral man in his early sixties and ran around like the Energizer Bunny. Laif would age well too, it was in his blood. It must be hormones and love that left him with the need to have more children soon. But not so soon that he and Memphis couldn’t spend a little alone time together first. Callan was old enough to have sleepovers.
“Smile,” the photographer said, snapping the millionth picture in the last twenty minutes. She now had Laif and Memphis on the stairs, as opposed to in front of the arch of flowers they’d been married under, or in front of Julz’s fireplace. They’d already taken the friends and family shots and the lucky ones who got to escape were dawdling around the living room and in the kitchen. A few had already moved to the backyard.
He hoped this was the last location change and that they could move the party to the backyard for the reception. Of course, he’d be happy to leave the party altogether so that he and Memphis could start the honeymoon.
Bryson—halfway across the room—swore, and when Laif looked at him, Bryson nodded toward the large picture window, which was partially covered with flowers.
In the middle of the street stood a man with a knife to a woman’s neck. The woman looked a lot like the teenage girl still playing the harp in the corner of the living room. There were at least a hundred Night Shadows hovering all around.
“No. Not now. Not tonight,” Laif said a little louder than
he would’ve liked.
Memphis, at Laif’s side, looked up at him with curiosity and love swimming in those cool green depths. Laif knew not to hide this from her, but he so didn’t want her upset today. Leaning over to whisper in her ear, so others wouldn’t hear, he said, “Look outside.”
She looked and gasped.
“Any chance you’ll stay in here and let us handle this?”
Shaking her head, she whispered a growl. “Not one.”
Laif nodded. “Didn’t think so.”
Bryson strolled casually to where their mom and dad stood, not drawing any attention to what was going on outside.
Within a minute, Lydia announced, “So if everyone would come with me to the backyard, we’re ready for the reception. Julz, honey, why don’t we have the photographer come take pictures outside? Before and after.” She smiled and discreetly nodded out the front picture window.
Joan took Callan and Kiley by the hand and leaned in, speaking quietly to Callan, he looked back at Memphis and nodded, then followed Joan and the moving crowd through the kitchen and out back. Regan, Born Elk, Alannah, Fisher, Bryson, and Ian all stayed behind. The men, everyone but Ian, removed leather pouches of sand from their tux pockets, Bryson handing a pouch to Alannah.
Even though they’d been learning to fight for the past week, none of them were good enough to have been given the special weapons used on the Oíche Scáthanna. Memphis surprised Laif by lifting her skirts and pulling a dagger off the garter around her thighs. Laif fought back a wave of arousal.
Not now, he thought.
“Alannah.” Bryson looked at her.
She shook her head. “Not on your life. Don’t even ask.”
“Yeah, okay,” he said, shoulders slumping just a bit in defeat. Laif understood how he felt. Even though he’d seen Memphis fight, he didn’t like the idea of her going out there, today of all days, and in her wedding dress no less, to fight off Satan’s lapdogs.
In The Dark Page 24
