| |
TEAGAN WOKE WITH A start. She opened her eyes to a vast expanse of darkness and choked back the sob forming in her throat. For one terrifying moment, Teagan thought she was still blind. Then, slowly her eyes began to adjust to the darkness, and they started to focus. Teagan breathed a sigh of relief when she was positive that she could see again. Stiffness had set into her joints and her muscles ached all over. Her hand twitched. Teagan tried to move it, but she realized with a start that something heavy and warm was lay atop of it. She focused her eyes on her hand and realized the pressure was coming from Aidan’s hand. Her eyes widened with surprise.
Aidan was there, sitting beside the bed, and Teagan realized he hadn’t left her side. He’d kept his promise and hadn’t left her alone all through the night. The realization made Teagan smile hesitantly.
“Teagan,” the sound of Aidan’s sleep husky voice made her heart flutter.
“What time is it? How long did I sleep?” Teagan asked him and he looked at his watch.
“It’s nine p.m., Tuesday night.” He told her.
“Tuesday!” Teagan exclaimed in amazement.
She moved to sit too quickly. Her swimming head couldn’t catch up with them motion, and she plopped back down against the fluffy pillows. She couldn’t believe that she’d slept so long, two whole days. What was she going to do? She leaned back momentarily against the comfort of the pillows and noticed that her nose felt funny and tingly. The strong lingering scent of sage distracted Teagan and the memories of the other day started to come rushing back to her. The little bits and pieces of what happened that she did remember, she didn’t like at all. Teagan ran her hand through her hair unconsciously and found a tangled mess.
Good thing the lights were out, Teagan thought, she’d die if Aidan saw her like this.
Teagan swallowed hard and made a funny face. Her mouth tasted like a possum had crawled in there and died.
“Can I have some water, please?” Teagan asked. Her voice was so hoarse that she barely recognized it.
Aidan left the chair beside the bed and the bathroom light flicked on. She squinted at the dim light that filled the room. The suddenness of the light hitting her eyes was painful and Teagan groaned softly. Aidan heard her.
“Sorry,” he said, and instantly reached to turn the light back off.
“No, don’t. Please leave it on.” She was tired of the darkness. Gradually the bathroom light dimmed to a bearable degree.
“Can you see then?” He asked as he walked back to the bed and handed her a cup of tap water.
The pain from the light was almost gone now, as her eyes readjusted naturally.
“Yes, I can see. Do you think you can help me up? I’m still a little woozy, but I could really use a shower.” Teagan asked him, embarrassed by her neediness.
“Sure. There you go, easy now.” Aidan coaxed Teagan along as if he were trying to sooth a child.
“Any word from Colin.” She was hopeful that he’d returned.
“He hasn’t been back yet.”
“Okay, no big deal.”
“There you go. Nice and easy now.” Aidan shuffled along the floor beside her.
Teagan would have laughed at his antics if she’d had the strength. With deliberate care, he helped her across the room to the bathroom. When he followed her inside, Teagan shook her head in silent protest and then told him she could manage the rest on her own.
“Okay.” His eyes locked with hers in a battle of wills. “But I’m staying right here, and the door’s not getting closed.” He said and proceeded to stand guard by the doorway.
“Aidan,” Teagan’s complaint came without much gusto.
He crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows at her. She knew the stance, and it meant he wasn’t going to budge.
“Fine,” Teagan said showing her annoyance, “then at least turn around. And don’t you dare peek.”
Aidan didn’t turn around fast enough to hide his wicked smile from her. Teagan’s eyebrows rose indignantly. She was still slightly uncomfortable with his nearness, not in general, just right now in so intimate a situation, so she climbed into the shower and took her clothes off once inside. She was grateful he hadn’t followed the current fashion trends too closely, saving her from taking a shower behind a see-thru shower curtain.
When the heat of the water hit her back it seemed to radiate through her, and she sighed with relief. The steam wafted up around Teagan, soothing her aching body. As Teagan scrubbed her tangled, sleep-matted hair, she thought about how Aidan hadn’t left her side. He’d kept his word. At such a crucial moment when Teagan had needed Colin so badly, Colin hadn’t been there for her, but Aidan had. Not having Colin with her had hurt, but Teagan also felt that she was to blame.
It wasn’t completely her fault. The powers that be didn’t seem to think Colin and Teagan belonged together, even though the blood contract between their fathers forced them into a kind of committed relationship. Maybe it was best that Colin had left. It will give them both time to forget. Teagan sighed.
Her jumbled thoughts eased back to her present situation. Sooner or later Teagan would have to tell the rest of the Guardians what she had seen in her vision. Perhaps all of them could help her figure out what was going on. But for the moment, Teagan was just going to enjoy her shower. She fully immersed her head under the steamy water and let it wash away all the negative energy that seemed to remain inside her mind. When Teagan unexpectedly shivered despite the heat, Aidan’s voice startled her.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine. I’ll be done in a minute.” Teagan answered him in an unsteady voice.
A few minutes later, as promised, Teagan turned off the water and wrapped herself up in a towel. She could feel him hovering, his concern written all over his face, so she told him she was starving and begged him for some coffee. She knew it was late in the night, but after just having slept for two days, the last thing she wanted was to go back to sleep. Aidan promised to call the other guardians and get them together as he left.
She took an unnecessarily long-time dressing and brushing the remaining tangles out of her long hair. When it was finally free of the tangles, she took a deep breath. She could already hear the men tramping around downstairs, and from the sound of it, Katie had just walked in the front door as well. She drew her shoulders up straight, squared her chin, and walked downstairs. Boy were they in for a surprise. While Teagan had been brushing her hair in front of the mirror, she’d noticed something shocking. Her eyes weren’t blue anymore. They were an iridescent silver color. At first, Teagan hadn’t believed it. She had blinked and rubbed her eyes, but they hadn’t changed back. Teagan thought her new eye color was kind of neat although she didn’t understand the meaning of it.
She walked down the steps thinking that the silver eyes made her look like some sort of freak of nature. Hell, she could be the new poster child for the weird and abnormal. She could claim a spot at Ripley’s Believe it or Not. Joking aside, she reached the bottom step and held her breath as Katie rushed over and grabbed her arm.
“Aidan made you coffee, and I brought bagels. I came as soon as he told me you were awake.” Katie said in her usual bubbly tone.
“Great, I’m starved. Um, Katie, I’m okay now so you don’t have to hold on to me so tightly. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Right, sorry. You just scared the feck out of us, that’s all.” Katie relaxed her death grip on Teagan’s arm.
Teagan sat down on one of the stools thinking how odd it was that no one had noticed her eyes yet. She casually lowered her head as she spoke.
“Aidan, do you remember what color my eyes were?” Teagan inquired nonchalantly.
“Yeah, they are light blue. Why?” He questioned distractedly.
“Not are, were,” Teagan corrected, and knowing she had his full attention, Teagan met his inquisitive gaze with her own.
The others gasped in shock, but Aidan remained speechless.
“Holy cow,” Katie said in amazement.
Teagan was staring at Aidan. His penetrating gaze seemed to burn into her, but he appeared incapable of forming a coherent sentence.
“Well that’s different,” Ian said as he scratched his head thoughtfully.
“You’re not wearing contacts, are you?” Katie asked hesitantly, as she took a bite of her bagel and dropped a blob of butter on the counter.
Obviously, Katie still didn’t believe in plates, but Aidan was too distracted to comment on her mess, and Teagan knew why. His focus was one hundred percent on her.
“No, not contacts,” Teagan said more calmly then she felt, after swallowing a bite of her own bagel.
“I noticed the change when I got out of the shower. Do you think it means anything significant?” The question was posed to everyone, but Teagan was still staring directly at Aidan when she asked it.
His penetrating gaze held hers for another full moment before he answered.
“I’m not sure,” was all Aidan said when he finally spoke.
Katie swiveled back and forth on her stool nervously, and the squeaking noise it made distracted everyone in the room. Aidan glanced at her, a terse look on his face, and she abruptly stopped.
Yep, they are just like brother and sister, the thought making Teagan laugh to herself.
“Well I asked for you all to come tonight so that I could share with you what happened the other day and see if anyone has any ideas.” Teagan said.
Teagan took a sip of her coffee, savoring its rich flavor, as she decided where to begin, and then she told the guardians and Katie everything that she remembered. Teagan shivered at the horrible memories of what had happened. Knowing it was only a vision, even though it had felt so real, helped her remain somewhat calm. She took another sip of her coffee to try to calm her jittery nerves and started talking, making sure not to leave any details out of her experience.
When she’d finished the retelling, there was no doubt in their minds that they were dealing with Cian. Teagan had described him to a tee. Still, something about it didn’t add up. Cian had once been Aoife’s lover. Why would he want to hurt her?
***
AS THE MORNING DAWNED, the guardians tied up some lose ends and prepared to leave with Katie. Everyone was standing around in the living room saying goodbye, when a knock sounded on the door. Teagan looked nervously at Aidan thinking it was too early for visitors. She held her breath as dread washed over her and Ian went to answer the door. Aidan, instinctively put himself between Teagan and the door, and Airic moved to stand by his side as Teagan chewed on her finger nail in apprehension. After a brief conversation that Teagan couldn’t make out, Ian opened the door wider and allowed a man entrance. He led the man over to the Aidan. Teagan couldn’t see the visitor because Aidan was still shielding her.
Protective much?
When Ian introduced the newcomer, his voice was somber.
“It’s Kylan. He says he came with a message for you from the queen.”
“Go ahead, speak your message,” Teagan heard Aidan say to the man named Kylan.
“The queen wishes you to know that the brotherhood’s mighty warrior Liam McKenna has been slain. Her personal guard found him this morning. She believes a rogue fae has intentionally committed this act, declaring war upon the brotherhood and therefore war against the Fae. She wishes you to know that she and the royal council had no part in this act, and this action must not be tolerated. She commands that you to prepare to defend yourselves and the Fae against this infringement. She fears a war may be brewing in Tir na nÓg and requests that your warriors be ready to answer her call to arms if the need arises. She believes Tir na nÓg is in trouble and the castle, Breena, has been breached. She has heeded your warring that a traitor may be present in Breena and has warriors posted throughout the palace. The royal council is in an uproar. She believed this information may help you in your recent endeavors, and hurry your decision to hand over the human girl you seem to be keeping from her.”
“This rogue fae, that the queen speaks of, is it Cian?” Aidan asked.
“She believes it is possible, but she also believes there is a traitor at court. Since Cian is not there, and has not been there for hundreds of years, she cannot be certain of his involvement.” Kylan answered smoothly.
“Wait a minute,” Teagan said stepping half-way out from behind Aidan, “Did he say McKenna? Liam McKenna?”
And that’s when she noticed him. Teagan’s eyes widened at her first real look at the sex god before her. Full Fae, he was gorgeous. Stunning was really the word for it. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. He face was strong and tan with glittering, gold-flecked eyes. His muscles practically bulged out of his tight shirt, and Teagan found herself sighing with pleasure.
The Fae’s hair was long and perfectly straight, so blonde it looked almost white like star dust. As if entranced, Teagan found it impossible to turn away from his beauty and she smiled with contentment. She seemed to have forgotten she was even speaking to him, let alone what she was going to say. Her brain had completely shut down. She was hot and her face felt flushed. Her gawking continued as her gaze followed the fine muscles of his chest down to his washboard abs, all highly visible through the tight material of his thin shirt, and lower still to his slim waistline.
Teagan’s gaze was about to slid lower when she heard Aidan bark a rough order at Kylan to release them; obviously he meant her and Katie, from his compulsion. Almost instantly Teagan’s stupor was broken, and logic returned to her brain. She shook her head, feeling confused as she tried to remember what she’d been about to say. Then, as she stepped out from behind Aidan into the Fae’s view, he dropped to his knees and bowed his head.
With his arms crossed over his chest Kylan addressed Teagan with utmost respect.
“Your Majesty Aoife, please forgive me I did not see or sense you. A thousand pardons.” Kylan said respectfully with his head still bowed.
Aidan and Teagan looked at each other with the same puzzled expression.
What the heck is he talking about? Teagan wondered. Teagan happened to glance across the kitchen and notice Katie. She was fanning herself with some napkins from the counter and her cheeks were flaming red. Teagan couldn’t help but wonder what in the world had gotten into her.
“Why do you address her as the princess?” Aidan said, sounding slightly perturbed. “Her name is Teagan McKenna. Will you get up and explain this?”
“Your Majesty,” Kylan looked to Teagan for the approval to rise.
“I’d like to know too.” Teagan said with a nod of her head. He was still kneeling before her and every muscle on his face was attuned to the words she spoke. “You can get up, you know,” Teagan told him.
He rose instantly at her bidding. His manner towards Teagan formal, almost rigid, but she could feel that he was sincere.
“Kylan, you said that the warrior killed was Liam McKenna?”
“I did Your Majesty.”
“He was my uncle,” Teagan said in explanation.
Although Teagan noticed Aidan watching her curiously, she continued without giving his look much thought.
“Liam McKenna was my father’s brother. I never knew him. I just knew of him..” It made Teagan sad to remember her father leaving her. “The man in my vision, he said he would make the deaths of the guardians count. Does this mean he’ll kill everyone close to me? What about my dad?”
“Why do you know of Aoife and Cian, Kylan?” Aidan asked.
“Aoife was the daughter of the queen. She was stolen from the court close to the time of The Great Purge. It is believed that Cian was involved.” Kylan confessed.
“Are you saying that when Cian was exiled from Tir na nÓg, he kidnapped the queen’s daughter?” This from Airic.
Kylan nodded.
“What happened to her?” Teagan asked.
“It is believed that Cian held the princess captive in the human realm, which he had been banished to, for a hundred years. The queen’s personal guard searched tirelessly and finally found them in Rathlin, a tiny island off Ireland’s northernmost coast. Cian fought viciously, for he had somehow retained his powers, and he defeated the queen’s guard. Although the royal guards fought fiercely and bravely, Cian left only one of them alive to bear witness. That lone guard claimed that in order to spite the queen Cian threw Aoife from the cliffs, and she was drowned.” Kylan’s face turned grim as he finished his explanation.
“That’s awful,” Katie whispered.
Teagan glanced over at her friend and noticed Katie was still dazed by Kylan’s stunning beauty.
“Except, it’s not the truth,” Teagan told them.
“I beg your pardon majesty?”
“If you think Aoife’s dead, why do you believe I’m her?” Teagan asked Kylan but it was Aidan who answered her.
“The Fae believe that their souls live on after they die in fae with great powers, such as the princess would’ve had. If killed in the human realm, they can reenter the world through a host. It’s like what you would term reincarnation. The difference in being a host is that there are two souls in one body, for a time. Kylan believes you may be Aoife’s host, which we already knew.”
“The bad news is that two souls can’t exist in one body, so the stronger soul survives and the weaker one becomes nothing but a faded memory,” Kylan told them, earning himself a disapproving look from Aidan.
“So, there’s no way two souls can live in one body?” Teagan felt uneasy.
“There’s never been a record of that happening, no.” Kylan answered Teagan with reservation.
“How can I compete with a Fae princess?” Teagan’s hand went to her throat as another thought occurred to her. “Kylan, what color were Aoife’s eyes?” He was the only one in the room who’d ever seen the princess’s eyes before.
“Why silver, of course, like yours Majesty. You bear a great resemblance to her.” He informed Teagan straightforwardly.
Teagan slumped down onto one of the stool, mumbling to herself. Aoife was already winning. She’d thought the Fae had been silenced by what had happened in the bathroom, but now she understood that Aoife had hidden herself again in an attempt to protect Teagan.
“This shit sucks. I don’t want to lose my soul. I like it.”
Teagan could feel everyone’s eyes on her, and Katie’s reassuring hand clasped her shoulder.
“To be chosen as the princess’s host is the greatest honor possible,” Kylan said.
“Yeah, not really making things better for me dude.” Teagan said crossly.
Teagan jumped up, startling everyone in the room.
“Aidan, I need a church. Any church will do. Can you take me to a church right now, please?” She couldn’t contain her agitation as she spoke.
“Teagan, I don’t think -” Aidan started to argue with Teagan, but she cut him off.
“Right now, I want to go. If you don’t take me, I’m going to go alone.” Teagan told him in a mater-of-fact tone that left no room for denial. She knew he wouldn’t let her cross the wards without his protection.
She headed for the door and glanced over her shoulder to see if he was coming. Teagan kept walking. Aidan caught up with her on the road outside of his house, and the two of them walked in silence for about two blocks. Teagan knew she was acting like a spoiled brat, and after he had been so good to her it was uncalled for, but she needed to talk to someone. Considering there was at least one fae out there trying to get her for her powers and another was trying to pretty much steal her soul, Teagan figured God would be her best bet.
She’d been raised as a Christian and although she wasn’t extremely religious, she did believe in what she had been taught as a child. Teagan tried to live right, and she helped others. She had morals, only cussed a little (the not so bad words), didn’t smoke and she didn’t overindulge in alcohol. Too often. All in all, Teagan was a pretty good person. She’d never had an easy life, but she’d never complained. That’s why she didn’t understand why all of this was happening to her. She didn’t know what to believe was right anymore. The Fae tales from her youth were truth? Magic was real, revealed to her in the form of a blood contract her missing father had summoned? Although nice people, all of these half-mortal guardians had special powers yet existed in the human realm and went about normal day to day activities?
“Teagan, you really shouldn’t think about -” Aidan started but stopped abruptly when Teagan turned on him, and her angry glowing eyes flashed dangerously.
“STAY OUT OF MY MIND,” she yelled furiously as her fists balled and she stomped her foot.
Aidan flew backwards, landing abruptly on his ass about three feet away from her. He stared at her in total disbelief. Teagan’s fist went to her mouth and her eyes widened with horror. She couldn’t believe what she had just done to him. This made twice now. Teagan covered her face with her hands, wanting to cry and scream and break something. Finally, the dam of welled up emotions broke, and Teagan stood in the middle of the street sobbing.
She felt Aidan pull her slowly into his arms, offering her comfort. He just held her gently and didn’t say anything, letting her sob. Eventually, her tears subsided, and she quieted. When she could think again, she tried to pull back from his embrace, but he kept her tightly locked in his huge arms.
“I’m sorry, Aidan. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. I have no idea why I just did that to you. Are you okay?” Teagan felt foolish and sorry for losing her temper.
“I’m fine,” he replied good-naturedly, “besides, it can never hurt to knock a man on his ass occasionally. It keeps his ego in check,” Aidan chuckled and rested his head on top of hers. It was comfortable and Teagan sighed.
“I will definitely reconsider pissing you off in the future.” He said, and this time he flat out laughed against Teagan’s hair.
“My guess is that we just discovered another one of your powers.” He said.
“Actually, Colin’s already been on the butt end of this one too. Do you think I can move stuff with my mind?” she asked.
“It sure felt like that to me,” he said laughing.
“Aidan, this isn’t a laughing matter. I’m having a mental breakdown, and I’m afraid I’m going to lose my soul. I’m afraid that Aoife will win, and you’re laughing at me.”
“I know, but we’ll figure everything out before that happens. I promise. Look at me.” He touched her face with his large hand and tipped her chin up, forcing her to look at him.
“Don’t try your magic on me.” She warned.
“I wouldn’t dream of it. Do you know why?” She didn’t answer. “Because, I love the strong dependent woman you are. You see this hard shell around yourself as something you’ve had to become, because people have called you names and haven’t believed in you. You see it as a flaw. It’s not a flaw, Teagan. It’s a beautiful reminder of what you’ve had to live with, a reminder that you’re alive because of that strength. Aoife choose you to honor her twin, because they both knew you had royal blood, and you had the strength to get through it.”
He was so close to her, just a breath away. She felt a tightening in her core, and nervous little butterflies in her belly. Teagan’s eyes moved to his lips. Full. Red. Totally kissable.
He didn’t deny her the pleasure. Aidan’s head swooped down, and he touched her lips with a featherlight kiss. It was soft and moving, and she wanted more. She pushed up on tiptoes to get a better reach, and suddenly, his arms were around her. One hand on her waist, pulled her into his hard body, the other he moved to curl into the hairs at the base of her neck. His claiming of her lips wasn’t like Colin’s. A thousand tiny stars exploded inside her body, lighting her soul on fire. It was as if his soul called to hers. She trembled with need, and wrapped her arms around his thick neck, her body melding perfectly to his.
“Hm hm, do you recken in front of a church is the place to be doing that?” Ian’s voice sounded behind her, and Aidan broke the kiss. Neither of them looked at the intruder. Her gaze locked on his, she knew Colin had been right. Aidan was who her soul had been waiting for.
“Right,” Aidan cleared his throat. “Do you still need the church?” He asked with a mischievous smile.
She couldn’t answer him so shook her head.
“Thanks Ian. We’re headed home now.”
“Yep, and I think I’m headed to the pub to get a pint or two of Gat. You two kids have fun now, you hear?”
Teagan could feel the flames lick her face.
Aidan place his hand on the small of her back, something that had become his habit of late, and led her back to the house.