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Felicity hunkered down behind Niall. Fortunately, her top was hanging from the driftwood frame, and it blocked most of the view. The portal had been activated by someone on the other side—only a quarter of his face was visible from behind her shirt. She had no idea how long he’d been standing there or how much he’d seen. Nothing else had existed when she’d fallen to pieces in Niall’s arms, and neither of them had noticed the man calling out Niall’s name during one heck of a mind-blowing orgasm. He didn’t seem very pleased by this development. His brow crinkled into fine lines as Niall frowned at the man in the portal.
“I need to speak with you about an urgent matter,” the man on the other side of the portal barked. His voice was filled with fear.
“Sire, could ye give us a moment to get some clothes on?” Niall asked.
He was already pulling up his boxers and pants, which were bunched around his ankles.
“Aye, make it quick. Dea-fhortún agus tairiscint mé tú slán.”
The portal closed, and they were alone.
Niall grabbed his shirt from the floor.
“Who was that?” Felicity asked.
Niall sighed. “My father.”
Bloody hell! She was horrified to discover the first time she’d met his father was when she barely had a scrap of clothes on. Felicity scrambled across the foyer to where her jeans had landed.
“Oh, my god!” She sounded frantic. “He’s going to hate me. Absolutely hate me. And I didn’t plan on meeting your father, but this just...isn’t...isn’t how meeting someone’s parents is supposed to go.”
Niall laughed. “Are ye kidding me? My da’s probably overjoyed at the prospect of us mating, but I don’t think he noticed. I’ve never heard him sound so frightened...” He pulled his t-shirt over his head.
Felicity was holding her pants. Niall had kicked them so hard they’d landed by the front door. She wiggled into them. “You sound worried.”
He ran a hand through his shaggy hair. It was dishevelled from their wild foyer romp, and it made him look incredibly sexy. “I am.”
Niall grabbed her shirt, which was still hanging from the portal, and tossed it over to her.
She pulled it over her head. Once she was decent, he activated the portal. Felicity moved to his side and placed a hand on his arm.
“Beannachtaí mo chara... Fallon.”
His father reappeared in the portal. It struck her as odd how young he appeared, even though it shouldn’t. She knew the púca were immortal and aged slowly, but his father didn’t look like he could be older than thirty-five at best.
“Sire,” Niall said with a slight bow.
“No need for formalities. Is she your mate?” He nodded toward Felicity.
“Sire, we haven’t fully discussed the matter. But I thought you said this was urgent.”
“Aye, Maelíosa is missing. A guard at the tower saw her cross the veil yesterday, but she hasn’t returned.”
“Damn. I told her not to come. It’s not safe. She wanted to help me investigate the veil.” He paused. “And she wanted to meet Felicity.”
Fallon’s gaze flickered to her momentarily. “Take Tomas and search every inch of the island. Find her and bring her back immediately.”
Ah, so Tomas was a púca too. She’d thought so, but Fallon’s orders confirmed her suspicion.
“Yes, my Sire.”
Fallon spoke the words to close the portal, and its surface became a mirror. Niall appeared to be concentrating. She was about to break the silence after a few minutes had passed with Niall deep in thought, when the front door to the cottage was suddenly flung open. Tomas strode into the foyer, his expression nearly matching Niall’s. She realized Niall must have used telepathy to summon him from his date with Cyn. Púca were certainly fast, she mused.
“How long has she been gone?” Tomas asked.
“Maybe a day,” Niall said. “We need to find her.”
“I’ll start searching.” Tomas turned and rode off to look for Niall’s sister.
“I’m sorry, but I have to go,” Niall apologized. He cupped her chin and gave her a quick kiss. “Will you be all right walking back to Pier House on your own?”
“I’ll be fine. Go. Find your sister.”
* * *
WHEN FELICITY RETURNED to Pier House, the woman at the front desk stopped her. “Miss Forrest? I have something for you. Here,” she said, handing her an unmarked white envelope.
“What is it?”
“Dillon stopped in looking for you. He has a terrible looking gash on his head, poor dear. He asked that I give you this.”
Felicity nodded. “Thank you.”
She assumed the man was the worker from the construction site. She’d told him where she was staying and to drop by if he thought of anything. Felicity opened the envelope and read the note. A chill ran up the length of her spine.
Felicity,
Come to Dún Eochla tonight. I have physical evidence to prove your story about the púca is real. You’ll find me inside the ring fort.
Dillon
Dún Eochla wasn’t nearly as popular with the tourists as Dún Aonghasa, but it was closed at night anyway. Probably because the ring fort would be far too treacherous to explore once nightfall covered the island. She didn’t trust the man one bit, and she certainly didn’t plan on going alone unless she had no other choice.
Felicity slid the note back into the envelope and shoved it her purse. She took the stairs to the adjoining suite she shared with Cyn two at a time. She’d need better shoes if she were going to high-tail it back to the cottage to tell Niall about the note and go tromping around ruins. If he was still out looking for his sister, she’d have to decide whether to go without him.
She took out her hiking boots and pulled them on. She always packed them for paranormal investigations. You could never tell where a story might take you or what the terrain would be like once you got there. There was a knock at the door, and Cyn burst into the room, bubbling with an abundance of enthusiasm.
“I think things are really progressing with Tomas,” she said, excitedly. “Our date ended abruptly, but—”
“Cyn, I have to go. Can you tell me later?”
Cyn looked down at Felicity’s boots. “Where are you going?”
“There’s no time to explain. I’m really sorry, but I have to go.”
“All right. Be careful, okay?”
“Don’t worry.”
She hugged Cyn goodbye, holding onto her a little longer than necessary for a friendly squeeze. The uneasy feeling rippled in her stomach, but she pushed the sensation aside as she let go of Cyn and stepped back.
“I’ll see you later,” Felicity said.
“Good luck. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
She forced a smile. “That leaves a lot open.”
Cyn laughed as she closed the door to their suite.
Felicity left Pier House and set off for Niall’s cottage.
