Chapter 1

30 years later

The sky was dark and gloomy. No clouds, just gray, with swirling vapor wisps of fog over the loch. Ian McGregor sat atop the trunk of a lonely fallen oak, staring at the churning waves as the wind whipped his locks of black hair from its queue and across his stubbled chiseled face. Winds howled and whistled through the nearby pine branches, his ears numb from the cold early spring. He sat still and silent without feeling any of it.

Merlin was on his way, and that meant the peace he had known since his father and brother’s death, was at an end. For eight hundred years he had fought for peace. Fought for the ones who were wronged. Fought for the innocence of the humans of inner earth, and for those from his own outer earth. He was tired, but when Merlin called he could never refuse the wizard, who was also like a father to him. He wouldn’t refuse him now.

He was half fae, half vampire, but that is not what made his family so special. No, each of them had special and unique gifts that those of singular species did not possess. He chuckled. His family had always been unique.

At one time vampires couldn’t walk in the sun, now they all could. Thanks to the spirit witch Circe it was now possible. When she approached the vampires offering her gift so long ago, a kinship was born. Her offer didn’t come without payment. They were charged with protecting the witches that resided on inner earth in return for her working her magic.

Witches and vampires then became as thick as blood. It was a win, win situation for both sides. He shook his head at the complexity of her spell. How she mixed vampire blood with sunshine was beyond him. But then how could he question her abilities, when he, himself could tell a lie coming from a man’s mouth and know the truth at the same time. He learned long ago not to question others intangible gifts.

Each of his brothers and sisters, had their own. Together they were formidable. Also, thanks to Circe, they now only drank blood to stay young and healthy. Needing to only consume it every few days. They ate food like humans and they could enjoy the intricate flavors and textures of a variety of meals.

Ian gathered himself from his musings and stood, a strong gust grabbing his long coat, whipping it back. He turned toward his home and headed up the hill to meet Merlin.

Ian walked steadily up from the loch toward the castle. He was late. He could feel cold dread slip icily through his bones. “What does the old man have on his mind now?” Whatever it was it would not only involve him but his brothers as well.

Another mission he was sure of it. He knew that the long period of peace was too good to be true. His family was an old family, he himself eight-hundred years. His parents twice as old. His mother fae and his father vampire, like his father before him, born that way, he and his siblings as well. His father and twin brother dead. Both killed during their last mission.

He picked up his pace, quickly climbed the stairs onto the portico, and walked through the heavy double doors, just in time to see Merlin sit down at the long table with a tankard. He was alone. His mother must not have seen him arrive or she would have been sitting with him, laughing and talking.

“Merlin, you ol’ fool, now what brings you here?” he asked, slapping him on his back, as he passed him by, on his way to the side board.

“Well grab a seat, Ian, my boy. ’Tis good to see you.”

“You too, Merlin,” said Ian grabbing a tankard off the sideboard. He poured mead until it foamed over the top and sat down across from Merlin waiting for him to answer.

Merlin sighed, pulled his hand through his long white hair then down over his beard, looked at Ian across the table in the McGregor castle.

“Ian, Drakkor is poisoning the fae and vampire alike. His army is growing. He’s creating masses of beings there’s no precedent for. Flagitious creatures. You being half-fae and half-vampire, the oldest of all your brothers, with all the powers of both species, are why you are my first. But you are also my friend, my confidant, and my surrogate son.”

“Ahhh, Drakkor the dark demon, my least favorite arse. Please Merlin, you ken what you are aboot. Doona bait me, get tae the point.” Ian drained his cup of mead and slammed his cup to the twenty-foot, highly polished table, silver eyes blazing.

“If your mother saw that she’d have your hide.” Merlin laughed and became straight-faced and serious again. “Ian McGregor there will come a time when you will die in pure heart, you will become ethereal, you will understand all that has been taught you, you will gain your freedom from your past. You will understand.”

“Ole man enough with your riddles. You’ve promised this gift of ethereal, and I still doona understand it. Either shut your geggie, or tell me what this is really aboot?”

Merlin frowned. “If any other man spoke to me in such a way he’d be a toad by now. Fine. I have amassed a group, combining a triad of species who will be working together. This army which I have named The Myriad Army consists of the Ocrul, the Crimson Keepers, and…you are not going to like this…the Crixior. I want you to lead them. I need you to lead them in this unknown deadly battle against these new creatures.

“My baws tae you! For one I work alone or with my brothers, two you can forget it! I’d maybe work with the Ocrul, or the Crimson Keepers, but you have me damned if I’ll step foot in the same room with even one Crixior. Let alone a bunch of them damn demons. Or yet tae lead the damn bastards. They killed my father and my brother; you canna ask me tae do such a thing! I doona care what anybody says. Not even for the so called “good Crixior.” A demon, is a demon, and as far as I’m concerned, they’re all bad!”

“Not all. These few demons have proven themselves worthy beyond measure in our fight against evil. There are some, by some fluke, that have light in them. They have been pardoned by The Plelin Courts, the Ayriris light angels. In fact, by Junius himself, and allowed to fight against the faction of demons called the…”

“Yes, I ken,” interrupted Ian, “the Asurads. The bad arse demons. Still I doona want tae work with any Crixior. Good or bad. Besides you retired me. Now you want me tae lead fae, vampires, and demons all rolled into one? That’s a war in itself. The Ocrul fae, doona enjoy working with Crimson Keeper vampires. Crimson Keeper vampires, doona enjoy working with Ocrul fae, and you want tae throw demons in the mix? You’re plum crazy Merlin, they’ll all be dead by nightfall, the first day, and you want me tae lead them? You’re oot of your head!”

“Yes, Ian, I do. Drakkor’s armies are growing. He’s kidnapping fae and vampires, and somehow turning them into Asurads, or Kearals, as I call the new demon, and they don’t lose their fae or vampire powers when they are turned.”

“That’s nae possible, if they are turned Asurad they lose their fae and vampire powers. They just become Asurad, malevolent, all powers are gone, except the new ones they get as demon. Och my Goddesses! Their combined powers would make them almost impossible tae stop. Kearals? How can that be? Besides one has free will, they canna become demon unless they agree. Most fae and vampire wouldn’t do so.”

“Wrong and wrong. Drakkor is somehow taking them or tricking them. They do lose something, however, when turned.”

“What?”

“Their good hearts. They become completely evil. Without their knowledge or say so these men are losing their souls.” Merlin frowned and took a long, slow drink of mead.

“What?! Och! What have the angels tae say about it? Are the Ayriris Light Angels of the Plelin Courts involved and does the Akuphis Dark Angel’s Court ken?”

“The Ayriris know, the Akuphis are not talking about anything. But the Ayriris have no answers and are as confused as I am. Last I could find out was that Drakkor was collecting kings from various parts of the world. He was last seen in the valley of Mystic Mountain. Before you meet with your new group for training, I need you to leave this magical parallel earth plain, through the Lulara veil, to the human inner earth, and look for Drakkor there.

“Don’t interact yet. I know your history together, and your hatred for him killing your father and your twin. If you didn’t know him so well, and I didn’t need you so badly, I probably wouldn’t be putting you in this position, but you’re my best. I need you, the fae need you, the vampire’s need you, your mother, eight brothers, and four sisters need you.”

“Did I hear brothers?” Angus spoke up stomping into the gallery.

“That’d be me as weel!” yelled Cameron.

“He’s not going on a mission without us!” said Conall.

“Who’s going on a mission?” asked Moira. She swept in, lavender gown floating about her feet. “You retired my son, remember Merlin?”

Merlin stood, and instantly the huge three-story gallery felt small and confined. With a grumble, Merlin put up his hands, then tilted his head. “Greetings, Angus, Cameron, Conall, Dougal, Taryn, Finn, Connor, Lauren. Boys! So, good to see all of you again! And Moira, beautiful Moira, mother to my army.”

His mother smiled and leaned to kiss Merlin affectionately on his cheek. Leaning back her smile died. “Merlin, you retired my son and his brothers when Lachlan and Eoghan were killed in your last battle, by that black hearted leader of the Asurads, Drakkor, Remember? What brings you here?”

“Can’t I visit my extended family and share the love?” He winked with a wide grin.

“That would truly be wonderful if it were so, but I think that’s not the case,” said Moira. She smiled, the love she had for Merlin showing brightly on her face.

Turning from him she called for her maid. “Bradana, please bring mead for all now, and make sure cook adds the cream covered with the fennel seeds and sugar, and plums stewed in rose water to our feast this evening, along with stuffed capon. Add two more pheasant and sturgeon cooked in parsley and vinegar as weel. Those are your favorite dishes, right Merlin?”

“Ah you haven’t lost your touch my lady, or your memory I see.” Merlin gave a short bow and a grin broadened his old wrinkled face, placing a small kiss on her hand.

“Right away my lady,” replied the maid, hurrying toward the kitchens.

“Now Merlin, we shall sit, and you will tell us why you’re here, and this mission that my boys will be sent on. How have you been? You’ve been away quite a while.”

“I was down for a bit but am fine now.”

“Och my, I thought wizards never get tired? What happened?”

“You know me I forget to eat. That is, unless, I am at the McGregor Keep.” Merlin winked and grinned. Turning serious once again, Merlin looked about nervously. “Where are the sisters, Brenna, Fiona, Catriona, and Akira?”

“Not tae worry, they are in the solarium sewing new gowns, since the fabric merchant stopped two days past they have sequestered themselves there. We will be lucky tae see them before next week.”

In the few hours they had before dinner, they talked about how they were going to deal with the Drakkor situation. In between arguments from the boys, which was a daily occurrence, and one Ian’s mother would never let come to the dinner table, Ian let his brothers go at it. After all they were hot-headed McGregors, they needed their outlet.

However, Merlin saw it differently. “Stop! Now! This is serious.”

The place became dead silent. “I have amassed a new group called “The Myraid Army.” They consist of the Ocrul, Crimson Keepers, and Crixior. Ian here is going to be their leader.”

The boys all started shouting at once. “Not the damn Crixior! No way tae lead the black bastards! Bastard killed my father and…”

“Stop!” said Merlin, “and listen! Ian, we need stealth.” Merlin continued, “If you’re found, I don’t want them to know about your brother’s. I need surveillance and I need you to find out as much as you can. Even though I can see in their world, Drakkor is somehow blocking me from their planning and how he’s changing the Ocrul and Crimson Keepers, what the kings have to do with it, all things we need to know. We need to get a handle on it, before these people with their eclectic ideas, interfere with the ecliptic nature of things on a grandiose negative scale. Get me?”

“Weel that got my attention,” said Taryn, the ever logical one. “What the bullocks did you jest say? What the hell does that mean?”

“Sorry living in the future, past, and present all the time, sometimes, somethings, can get mixed up. Needless to say, we’re in some mighty big trouble,” mumbled Merlin. “Ian find out what you can about the king’s, why Drakkor wants them, but stay back, don’t let him discover you, if you can. I’ll watch what I can, work with the angels, and see what we can figure out.

“I can open a portal at any time if you need it, and I can send your brothers, but for now let’s just get information. Then we’ll plan for attack and do it right. After we get information, Ian will work with the Myraid Army. Oh, and King Arthur needs protection. I won’t have him in on this at all.

“It seems Drakkor is after kings, and it’s only a matter of time before he goes after Arthur and his army. If Arthur even thinks there’s a problem, he’ll head long into it, swords a blazing. We can’t have him captured. He has the largest army, he’s my king as well as yours, he must be protected at all cost. That is why I’m sending Connor, Finn, Angus, and Taryn to watch over him.”

“Why them?” asked Cameron. “The rest of us just supposed tae sit on our fingers and wait it all oot? Bullocks!”

“Angus is the meanest son off a…” Merlin looked at Moira and didn’t finish. She smiled. “He’s an ambitious fighter, smart and deadly. Taryn is level headed and logical, easily breaks up fights. Connor is a strategist, he could place and lead a dozen armies. And Finn, King Arthur loves Finn, he makes him laugh. Everyone needs some happiness in the middle of trouble.”

“Hey,” said Finn. “I’m an excellent soldier why I’ve—”

Merlin cut him off. “Yes, you are an excellent soldier. I remember the battle at Bundaberg and Chriss Hall, and I can go on about your skills, but you make King Arthur laugh. Make sure you do so, fight if you have to, but bring that boy his laughs.”

“Again!” said Cameron, “What exactly is our position in this?”

“You, Conall, Dougal, and Lauren with me. You’ll be working with the angels. Cameron, you remember everything you have ever read. I have grimoires I want you to look at and see if there is anything that is in them that could help us in our fight against the Kearals. I would like to try and save the fae and vampire that are being changed if we can, as many as we can. Any spell to reverse what is being done will be helpful. Conall, you see what’s there, that’s not there, even spirits. Dougal, a mage and my master in magic…self-explanatory. Lauren, you have premonitions, and dreams of future events. Very helpful.”

Angus cleared his throat. “Soldiers tae King Arthur, gifted tae you. I see.”

“Shite,” said Merlin. “Sorry Moira, lost myself again.” She tilted her head. “You’re all gifted!” Merlin finished. “Different powers to each brother.”

“Shall dinner be served now. my lady?” interrupted Bradana.

“Please now would be a fine time. Och, Bradana please have someone deliver meals tae the girls in the solarium. They’re busy sewing, and I think they’d like tae stay there. Thank you.”

Bradana bowed and skittered away.

Conversation changed drastically during dinner. No talk of missions, no arguing. Moira smiled at her boys and Merlin, but Ian noticed the faraway look that came in to her eyes and it made him feel uneasy. He knew that when one of their kind mated that if one died the other was quick to follow.

He didn’t understand it, but the way his mother explained it to him, once they found their mate their souls wove together, bound together tight. If one should die, it was inevitable the other was right behind. The longer they fought against it the more their mind would deteriorate.

He was proud of his mother and knew the sacrifice she made, forcing herself to remain alive for the love of her children. Somehow, she kept her mind. He didn’t know how, but figured it was pure stubbornness on her part, and her love for her family. She continued to take the blood that kept her young. But he was seeing the affects that staying alive was having on her.

He knew how difficult it was on her. Perhaps when or if he ever found his true mate, he would truly understand, but it had been eight hundred years, he wasn’t sure he ever would. Of late his mother had drifted in and out of another world and he had seen it get progressively worse since his father and brother had been killed. He only hoped she wouldn’t take the route that many took when they lost their mate. Perhaps he was selfish in that, he didn’t want to lose her too. Angus’s loud voice brought him abruptly back to the conversation at hand.

“Och, tae hear Finn tell the story you’d think he caught Nessie the Lochness! It was a turtle, not an ancient monster the size of the loch, and it bumped the boat, didn’t almost turn it over.” Angus shoved more worogild in his mouth laughing, then choking.

“Serves you right!” said Finn. He slapped his back and handed him his mead. “You weren’t there, you doona ken what happened.”

“Och,” said Taryn, “you were tuppin’ the blacksmiths daughter at the cottage. Remember? Cute lil’ thing too.”

“Taryn!” reprimanded Moira.

“Sorry Mither.”

He was quiet listening to his brothers. This was home with the banter and the laughter, but he once again glanced toward Moira as she leaned back and became distant again, until Merlin mentioned Lachlan’s name. Her eyes cleared, and she leaned forward to catch what was being said. Yes, he was definitely getting worried about her.

“And he shot another arrow into that worogild for the third time before it went down,” continued Merlin. “Biggest damn, sorry Moira, biggest worogild to have ever been caught, and many hunted that giant one. If memory serves me, that’s him hanging on that wall over there.” He pointed toward the wall with his knife, sweet potatoes dripping off.

Connor laughed, and said, “Hey remember the herd of worogilds that came crashing through at the Battle of Drummond Bay?”

“Those men who were hidin’ ready tae attack us?” Dougal laughed with a mouthful. “They were runnin’ oot and aboot like they’d been caught with their pants down. Easy victory that was.”

Talk and laughter remained throughout the meal and dessert. Finally, things quieted down and their thoughts were brought back to the mission. Ian glanced around the table, they were all looking at Merlin, waiting for him to speak.

“I guess I’ve explained our situation as best as I can,” said Merlin.

He saw Merlin look at each of them in turn, pride in his eyes. It was good they’d had time to heal over Lachlan and Eoghan’s death, he thought. He knew Merlin was going to bring them all out of retirement, and he sighed.

“It’s time,” said Merlin. “I’ve said my piece, so all prepare, and I’ll ready the portal.”

Ian watched as Merlin grabbed his mother’s hand and bent to kiss it. She smiled and it warmed his heart. Merlin seemed to always have that effect on his mother, he thought. He’d have to make sure Merlin spent more time at McGregor Keep.

“Moira, my dear,” said Merlin. He smiled at her, “you’ve outdone yourself. Dinner was excellent and company suburb. It would have been nice to see the girls, but under the circumstances, thank you for sending up their dinner and not mentioning I’m here. I’ll see them soon, I’m sure.”

Merlin leaned in and whispered. “If you hadn’t been married to Lachlan, still married to Lachlan, always be married to Lachlan, soul mates for eternity, I’d marry you myself.”

“Shush.” She blushed. “You’re like the brother I never had.”

Merlin smiled, eyes twinkling. “Never the less, my lady, oh, I’ll have some soldiers watch over you and your lovely daughters while your sons are away. You will always be well guarded. Now I must take my leave.”

“Thank you, Merlin. Protect my boys, and you, take care of yourself. We are family you ken,” she said, and Merlin smiled.