Chapter Twelve

 

No one moved. No one said a word.

Dakota stared at the place where the remnants of the journal had vanished. Yanking her hand free from Leathan's, she sidled away from him. A horrible ache pinned the center of her stomach. Had she heard Devin correctly?

Seth cleared his throat. "Something tells me we are the three men Calum spoke of."

Leathan placed his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. "Warlocks," he whispered.

"Doesn't sound too good," Devin said, skin ashen. "Wizard I could've lived with."

Dakota was speechless. Warlocks? Devin, Seth and Leathan? It seemed such a far-fetched idea. They were evil? Her gaze slid to Leathan. He didn't look evil, none of them did. She couldn't help but feel horrible for them. What a devastating thing to learn about yourself! "At least you're not a vampire."

Biting her lip, she shook her head. Why had she said that to him? It had popped right out. When he angled his head and his bloodshot brown eyes focused on her, Dakota knew why she'd said it. Simple, he'd needed to hear it…from her.

For the first time since their encounter earlier, she wanted to pull him into her arms and sooth the worry from his face. Make all the fear and resolve she saw etched in his grim expression go away. But uneasiness kept hold. Though she knew he had been possessed when he attacked her, nothing could erase the image of the vampire's face melding with his, and then biting.

Leathan's tortured gaze fell to her neck. He looked away. "It's all starting to make sense now."

Andrea held his hand in both of hers. "Tell us what makes sense."

He looked at Devin. "Your gift, affiliation with the deaf, has been increasing since we came here. It was obvious when you could hear Dakota and we couldn't."

Leathan turned his attention to Seth. "You're the daredevil. Believe it or not, I think you were able to meld minds with Dakota and literally chase away her demon…or vampire."

"And me." Sitting back, he sighed. "I've always had a bit of psychic ability. Pretty sure since I arrived here, I've been hearing everyone's thoughts on occasion. And I think you've heard mine."

"Those abilities don't sound like dark magic," Andrea volunteered and offered a wobbly smile of encouragement.

"By the sounds of it, Calum's original gifts weren't dark either," Seth said.

"No, in fact, it sounded like he basically became a groupie, got suckered in by a cult," Devin said.

"So do you think those talismans were found and this vampire is one of the creatures sent by the curse?" Dakota said. "And if so, why am I the one so obviously haunted by this thing when I'm no relation to you?"

"Those are the million dollar questions," Leathan muttered under his breath. She didn't pull away when he reached for her hand and met her gaze. "But understand this. If indeed we’re warlocks, even if we aren't, we'll go down fighting to protect you."

"Aye," Devin agreed.

"Yep," Seth said.

Dakota nodded, grateful. How could these guys possibly be evil? She didn't believe it for a second.

"So, I guess I'm excluded from warlock-hood because I'm a woman," Andrea said. She shrugged and grinned when the men stared at her in astonishment. "Not that I'm complaining!"

"There's still a lot we need to understand," Leathan said. "Hopefully our ancestor will make himself known again soon. Andrea, have you had a chance to read any of the books Adlin left?"

"Halfway through the first. I’m kind of skim reading. Trying to focus on wherever I can find references to Adlin. Oh, as far as I can tell, Calum's in the belly in this story."

"In the belly?" Seth asked.

"Pregnant," Leathan provided. "He must be the baby not born."

"Right," Andrea said.

"To who?" Seth said.

"Think before you speak," Leathan responded harsher than intended. "To the parents of Calum, those whom Adlin did support."

Devin stretched his arms over his head, cracked his knuckles, and broke any potential tension. "Anyone hungry?"

"No!" They said in unison.

"All right, all right, believe it or not I'm wiped, think I'm going to catch some more shut eye, it's only two in the morn and we've done what we were told to do. Read that bloody journal."

"Yeah, a lot of good it did us," Seth said. "At least now we know we might be evil. I suppose that's one to sleep on."

Andrea nodded. "You two, back to bed. I'm going to make Dakota and me a cup of tea, and then we're heading up as well."

Dakota knew what Andrea was up to. Though she wasn't about to let her stay down here alone again with Leathan, she wanted to give them a chance to be alone and make amends.

After everyone had left neither she nor Leathan said anything at first. It was very hard to move beyond the memory of his large body holding her down as he drank her blood. As the struggle had slowly left her body and the world turned gray, then black, Dakota remembered waking up in Adlin's arms, surrounded by white light, by love. It had felt so very opposite of what Leathan had made her feel.

Then again before he turned vampire what they'd shared had almost felt like love. But really, it had only been lust, extreme, heart-pounding lust.

Leathan spoke at last, his head resting on the back of the settee, bleary eyes on her face. "I have never done anything I regretted so much in my life, Dakota, you have to know that. I'm truly sorry I hurt you."

"But you didn't," she said softly. "It did through you."

He tilted his head forward and contemplated her. "Does that make it any easier for you? Because it doesn't for me. Possessed vessel or not, my body hurt yours. My inner strength wasn't enough to stop it."

Riveted, she felt herself being drawn into his mesmerizing eyes. It was as though she could see clearly into his heart, as if he were allowing her to do so. Everything he spoke was truth.

"You see me clearly, don't you?" he whispered.

Dakota nodded. If this was dark magic, how holy was good magic? Fear should've rendered her speechless, but it didn't because, no matter what strange gifts─or black magic─Leathan may have inherited, this man was good.

"You know I want to kiss you but won't," he said.

She nodded.

"You know I want to hold you in my arms and make all your fears vanish, but won't."

She nodded.

"Please forgive me, Dakota."

"I already have."

"It's more than I deserve."

Dakota felt her eyes sting. "No, it's everything you deserve."

Andrea appeared at the entrance, two steaming cups in hand. "All right, tea time, then bedtime."

Standing, Dakota grabbed a throw blanket off the back of a chair and turned to Leathan. "Lie down, you need to rest."

Without having to be told twice, Leathan lay, head resting on the pillow. She spread the blanket over him. Leaning close to his ear she whispered, "Now you need to forgive yourself…for me."

His lips curled up a fraction, and he closed his eyes.

How she wanted to climb in next to him and wrap her arms around him, try to make the strain vanish from his body. But it was too much, too soon, and they both knew it.

This time, when she climbed the stairs after Andrea and they crawled into their beds with a hot cup of tea, it felt entirely different than the last time they'd done such. How could it not? Their lives had totally changed. In a few short days this house had remolded everyone's existence.

Taking a sip of tea, she cuddled under the blankets. "Thanks, this is wonderful."

"I figured we could use it." Andrea sighed.

Dakota couldn’t help but notice the strain around her eyes and mouth. "How are you?” She shook her head. “You seem so strong. Are you afraid?"

"I’m hanging in there. Of course I’m afraid." Andrea sipped her tea. "But more than that, I'm worried about my family."

Understandable. "They're great guys. I think if we all stick together, we'll make it."

"Really?" Andrea frowned. "How can you be so optimistic?"

"Because I need to be. Because it's time for you all to take a break from trying to help me maintain my sanity. You especially have tried to stay strong for everybody. Don't think I haven't noticed. You're everyone's rock. The way I have it figured if it weren't for you, this whole team would fall apart, as much as everyone thinks it’s Leathan who's the glue."

"Oh, he's definitely the glue." She grinned though her eyes watered. "But I'll take credit for making sure the glue sticks. Thank you, Dakota."

Dakota took another sip of tea and despite current circumstances, enjoyed the warmth of the handmade quilt covering her.

When Andrea spoke it was soft, curious. "You're falling in love with him."

Startled, she took a deep gulp of tea and didn't look at Andrea. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes you do."

Setting the remainder of her tea on the bedside table, she settled down and rested her head on the pillow, closing her eyes. "I'm wiped, hun. See you in the morning."

Andrea didn't say anything. Within moments the light snapped off. Falling in love with him? Dakota knew nothing of love. She didn't want to either. Love was always torn away. But when she closed her eyes, his face floated in her mind…those impressionable eyes, kissable lips.

Lips waiting, eager, beneath hers.

Leathan lay on the beach, hair tousled, windblown.

His tanned skin stood out against the white sand, his chiseled features were intent and intrigued by her. Dakota stood over him, one bare foot sinking into damp sand on either side of his thighs.

This felt familiar.

The ocean crashed behind her and wind blew.

Sinking down, she straddled him, pressed against his arousal. His hands encircled her waist, their heat comforting through the thin material of her clothing. She moved against him, writhing, wanting, and felt pain in her gums moments before she knew her incisors lengthened. A horrible, eager bloodlust filled her. Dakota tilted back her head and smiled.

Blue light filled his eyes. It stemmed out and surrounded them.

Bloodlust vanished; pain vanished, within his blue light.

Falling forward, she rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes. Peace surrounded. It pushed everything else away but the feeling of his body pressing against hers. His heartbeat soothed and lulled.

And she slept.

"I swear I didn't leave them like this."

Dakota cuddled beneath the blanket and ignored the intruding words.

"Well, they've been here since I got up, both of them immovable."

She pressed her face against her pillow and grumbled.

Until her pillow moved.

When she pried open her eyes, dim daylight blinded so she shut them.

"At long last, he awakes."

Dakota frowned at the sound of Seth's voice.

What was going on? Opening her eyes again, she struggled to gain her bearings. It didn't take long. Cuddled close and tight, she was wrapped up cozily next to Leathan on the couch, the blanket wrapped over them. He appeared as shocked as her when their eyes met.

His brows lowered. "I know a lot has been going on and I'm half out of my mind, but I'd bet my life you weren't here when I fell asleep."

Sitting up abruptly, she looked around, more than a little confused.

Andrea, Seth and Devin stood over them. She blinked. "How'd I get here?"

"I'd say you walked, lassie." Devin grinned.

"Sleep walked?"

"Yes, you must've," Andrea said. "Because you didn't fall asleep down here. In fact, I turned the light back on for a while and read. You were still in the bed next to mine when I shut it off."

Embarrassed, Dakota instantly looked to her clothing. Phew! She still wore sweatpants and a t-shirt, compliments of Andrea the night before. When she glanced at Leathan, he had his hands behind his head and a silly grin on his face.

"I knew I wanted you but definitely didn't bring you here."

A shiver of awareness made goose pimples rise on her skin. "Last I knew I dreamt of—" She stopped talking and shook her head. "Nevermind. I must have slept walked, so sorry."

"Don't be," he murmured. His sleepy eyes combined with the muscles straining in his arms and the trail of hair on his wide chest made him far too appealing first thing in the morning. The rock hard erection pressed against her side didn't help squelch her desire any either.

"I made breakfast," Devin cut in. "And you guys have to take a look outside. It's amazing, never seen anything like it!"

Dakota smiled. Leave it to Devin to have created the perfect New England morning, even though he was Irish. The guy had a gift. Hot coffee steamed from five mugs, fresh baked bread filled the room with the smell of cornmeal and sugar. Fried ham layered one platter, scrambled eggs another.

"Look!" Andrea urged and pulled Dakota up before turning her to look outside.

Wow!

Over twenty years living in Massachusetts, and she'd never seen what one morning in her very haunted house in New Hampshire now introduced.

Better yet, the storm, which still raged beyond.

"Do you see what we see?" Seth asked.

"Depends." Leathan peered out the window. "Snow caked about eight inches up the windowpane, drifts as high. The ocean swelled and covering half the road?"

"It's beautiful," she agreed in awe. The snow fell in heavy dancing spirals and the wind tossed the shore nearly at their door. Pale blue and deep pink dusted the waves and ignited the snow, making it appear as though they existed in a fairy tale snow globe.

Seth shook his head. "And to think, I already cleared the front window off once today. Of course, that was about four hours ago."

"What time is it?" she asked.

"According to the new grandfather clock in the foyer, about eleven AM," Andrea answered.

Dakota rubbed her eyes, sank down on the settee and yawned. "That late, already?"

"Yeah." Andrea handed her a cup of coffee. "You two slept in."

Ignoring the blush she felt covering her face, Dakota sipped the strong brew and groaned with satisfaction. "This is delicious."

"Thank you," Devin said. He divvied out the stack of plates that had been warming by the fire. "I figured we could all use a good meal this morning, as well as a wee bit of normalcy."

"I second that." Leathan drank his coffee.

Unable to help herself, she watched as his strong throat swallowed a gulp of coffee, how he sighed with pleasure when he removed the cup from his lips.

Andrea helped Devin load the plates. "We're still blessed with food and a good cook despite the fact this house has rolled back in time again."

This time, Leathan didn't bound off determined to review and analyze but wrapped the blanket over her shoulders. "We'll have to check it out after breakfast."

He really needed to cover all that bare skin.

But she just couldn't do it and welcomed the blanket he warmed her with. If he wasn't too chilly, she'd suffer through his upper nudity. Very distracting. With another sip of coffee she turned and glanced out the window again, making sure she got an eyeful of his abs on the way.

"Here." Devin whipped a wad of clothing at him. "Cover up, we're eating."

Oh shoot.

Leathan pulled the long sleeved shirt over his head, and smiled. "Thanks."

Dakota grabbed a piece of bread, sank her teeth into it and groaned. Amazing!

"She's doing it again," Devin said.

"Sure is," Seth agreed.

"Wish I was that bread," Leathan said.

"Me too," Devin agreed.

"Stop!" Andrea exclaimed.

Everyone laughed. It felt good and much needed.

All of this was. As they sat here, in this quaint, old fashioned living room, storm blustering and brooding beyond and within, escape felt much needed. How they managed, at every turn, to find some laughter and genuine connection, truly baffled Dakota.

"This is really fantastic, Devin," she said.

Andrea nodded. "It is."

Seth raised his hand in the air. "I'll take credit for the coffee, thank you."

They smiled, ate and enjoyed one another's company. For some reason, when you didn't know whether you would be dead or alive the next day, every single second counted. Friendship felt more like kinship. Dakota found herself needing each and every one of them. How was it she hadn't known them a week ago when it now felt as though she'd known them her whole life? Through every conversation, she already expected Andrea's consistent ability to ground and neutralize any discussion that became too intense. She counted on Devin to flirt shamelessly one second, and then move onto a joke about one thing or another. Seth would always expand the conversation, make it exciting, and introduce a new topic.

Leathan drew her in every time though.

He really was the glue. Dakota couldn't help but be enthralled. He laughed at Devin's jokes while simultaneously and very tactfully permitting and leveling his flirtatiousness with her. He promoted Seth's adventurism while reminding him that if one wanted his escapades to be less than disastrous, the undertaking should be well planned…with plenty of safety equipment.

It was with Andrea though, that she was truly able to appreciate who he was. If Dakota didn't know better, she would have thought them siblings. They shared a mutual respect and love that she couldn't help but admire. Andrea could get close to people. Leathan understood people. In their own way, they worked as a unit, steering the other two where they needed to go.

But you can do both.

She took a bite of egg and scoffed at her own thoughts. That'd be the day.

Why do you doubt it?

Why was she bothering herself with this?

Taking a sip of coffee she said, "Though I hate to ask what's next on the agenda, I will. What's next guys?"

Evasive.

Frowning, she scooped another mouthful of egg into her mouth. Guess her appetite had returned full throttle!

Leathan stood and looked down at her. "I need your help with something first."

Huh? She set down her fork and looked at the others. They shrugged and kept eating.

"Come on." Leathan headed down the hallway toward the kitchen.

Dakota followed. The minute she entered the kitchen he grabbed her hand and swung her away from the entrance. What the—?

Letting her fall against a wall, he came close and whispered. "Did you hear me in there?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Okay." He put a finger to her lips, eyes merry. "Promise you won't be afraid?"

With his finger covering her lips she had little choice but to nod.

I'm talking to you through my mind. Can you hear me?

She blinked rapidly. Why had she just thought that?

His eyebrows rose, brown eyes locked on hers. Dakota, it's me, Leathan, can you hear me?

Okay, there were lots of ways she could handle this but based on what she'd learned last night she knew for a fact Leathan wouldn't think her nuts for asking, "Did you just talk to me…telepathically?"

"Aye!" he said, eyes nearly popping out of his head. "So you did hear that?"

Based on the pure excitement on his face, fear was impossible to harness right now. "I think I did."

"What did you hear last?"

"Um…Dakota, it's me, Leathan, can you hear me?"

"Damn!"

"This is silly. You can't be serious," she said.

Totally serious. I'm talking to you telepathically.

Though overwhelmed by the concept, she said, "Prove it. Say something totally off the wall into my mind."

Dragons fly backward when they think lightning will burn their tail.

She burst out laughing. Still, she said, "All right. Random, silly thought…you just said dragons fly backward when they think lightning will burn their tail."

Grabbing her cheeks, he laughed. "I said just that."

"No."

"Aye!"

"Who says something like that?"

His thumbs ran over her cheeks. "It had to be horribly random."

"Oh, it was." She enjoyed the feel of his hands. "But to be sure, try again, I'm not convinced."

"You sure? This will be longer."

"I'm sure."

All right. Elves only have pointy ears because the first elf twittered through time and thought he'd found a magical log but it turned out to be a straw. When he struggled to pull free, his ears took a beating and stretched, never to be the same again, pointy for all generations.

Dakota burst out in a fresh round of laughter. When she at last had herself under control she asked, "A straw?"

Leathan nodded solemnly. "And a cocktail straw at that."

Covering her mouth, she giggled and shook her head. Devin was definitely not the only cousin with a sense of humor.

Eyes wonderfully merry, Leathan smiled. "So you heard me then?"

Under control at last, she nodded. "I did. How fantastic! You need to try with your cousins."

When she made to move, he stopped her, intense eyes pleading. "Not yet, please. Let them have breakfast. Allow them to have at least a few more minutes of normalcy."

Leaning back against the kitchen wall, reality closed in once again. They did deserve that, at the very least. She could ask him why he thought she hadn't deserved the same but as she gazed into his encompassing, warm eyes, she knew why.

And loved him for it.

"I'm glad you shared with me, Leathan. I'm glad you trusted me."

His eyes searched hers, looking for something. "Me too."

Dakota felt bashful under his appraisal. Leathan had never quite looked at her as he did now. It was as if they'd found their own private corner of the world. Set sex and lust aside, they liked each other. In fact, she liked him better than anyone she'd ever met. For the life of her, she couldn't figure out what that meant.

"Come." He grinned, took her hand and pulled her down the hallway into the living room.

What a whirlwind. Everything since she'd moved into this place to this very moment. What else was in store for them? Did she want to know?

When she rounded the corner and stepped into the living room…

She wished she hadn't.