There had been a time Gemma knew without a doubt that someone had been on the isle with her the night her family disappeared. Then, later, she began to question herself. So many told her that she had been a child and couldn’t possibly have grasped the entire situation as an adult would. Because, otherwise, she would be able to tell them what happened to her parents and brother.
That’s when she began to doubt what she remembered. That’s when she wondered if the figure had been a figment of her imagination.
Now, after being on the isle and standing at the dock, the memories had risen up like a tidal wave, swarming Gemma with the truth. She hadn’t been alone. She knew it for a certainty. It also helped tremendously that Cináed hadn’t hesitated in believing her.
“Did the entity say anything to you?” Cináed asked. “Did they make any kind of noise?”
She shook her head. “If they did, I didn’t hear it over the sound of the storm.”
“Did you see them do anything?”
“No. I wouldn’t have seen their silhouette if it hadn’t been for the lightning.”
“But they saw you.”
She swallowed, unable to hold back a shiver as she recalled how it felt to have the attention of such a...thing...on her. “Without a doubt. If I had surfaced from the water while it stood on the rocks, I wouldn’t be here talking to you.”
“Nay, I doona think you would.”
Gemma watched as Cináed’s gray eyes slid to the water, his forehead furrowed deep in thought for several minutes.
“What are you thinking?” she asked, unable to hold back her curiosity.
“I’m still mulling that over.”
“You know something you aren’t telling me.”
Cináed sighed and turned his head to her. There was a deep resolve in his gaze that warned her that he was keeping many things from her. Yet, for some reason she didn’t get the feeling that he was trying to take advantage or harm her.
Instead...she thought he might be protecting her.
“Tell me,” she urged.
He gave a single shake of his head. “I doona think it’s time.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that you are no’ ready.”
She looked at him, searching his face. “I came back here. It was the last place I want to be. I’m ready.”
Without thinking, she reached for his hand. She didn’t know why she had the inescapable urge to not only stand next to Cináed, but to have a hold of him, as well. She knew it didn’t make sense, and while she told herself to step back and release him—she couldn’t.
Cináed glanced down at their hands before his eyes returned to her face. His free hand rose and he slid his fingers along her neck and into her hair, gently holding her.
Her heart hammered in her chest. Not from fear, but from desire. There was no denying what it was. It rose swiftly, consuming her. And she welcomed it.
Embraced it.
As she sank into his eyes, she realized why she gravitated toward him. She felt safe with Cináed. The passion she felt, however, was another matter entirely. It was what recklessly propelled her to kiss him earlier.
And, oh, what a kiss.
Just a soft press of their lips together, but it had been glorious. She wanted more. It was all she could think about now as he held her against him. Their bodies were touching. She didn’t remember moving but that didn’t matter when she was drowning in the beautiful gray pools of his eyes.
Her lids slid shut when his head lowered toward her. A heartbeat later, his lips were on hers. She released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. And before she could grasp that he had kissed her, his mouth was moving over hers. With each touch of their lips, she was falling further and further under the desire that ruled her.
Then he let out a soft sigh and glided his tongue along her lips. She parted her mouth so their tongues could tangle and dance together.
Her heart leapt, her blood sizzled. And her body pulsed with a need she had never felt before.
The soft kiss quickly turned heated as their arms wrapped around each other. His hands traveled down her back before he palmed her butt. Then he pressed her against him and she felt the evidence of his arousal.
Excitement tore through her. The moment she moaned in response, Cináed deepened the kiss, taking her breath away. It all felt so good that she could have stood there for eternity and kissed him. Time was forgotten as she tumbled deeper into the passion that had them firmly in its grip.
It was the raindrop that pulled her to the present.
She ended the kiss and looked up. Dark clouds were moving toward them.
“Gemma, look at me,” Cináed said.
She had to force her eyes away from the sky.
He held her gaze a moment. “It’s going to be all right. I’m right here with you. It’s just a little rain.”
“I can’t stay here,” she told him.
Cináed took her hand and led her to the helicopter. He made sure she was secure before hurrying to his side and starting the blades while he buckled himself in.
She couldn’t seem to stop watching the way one fat drop at a time landed upon the front window. Thankfully, they were up in the air and flying away not long after. Cináed didn’t take them far.
Gemma recognized Skye even from the air. She had been on the isle a few times herself. There was a particular look about Skye that made it easy for her to pick out. The farther that Cináed took her from her isle, the more she relaxed.
They flew over Skye, and she took in the rugged beauty of the mountains and glens. She spotted a cottage sitting alone between a river and the base of a mountain. When she realized they were descending, she jerked her head to Cináed.
He just grinned at her.
Sure enough, he set the chopper down near the white-washed cottage. Gemma kept waiting for someone to come out and greet them, but no one stirred from within.
She climbed out of the helicopter and waited for Cináed. Then she asked, “Whose place is this?”
“It’s one of many properties Dreagan owns,” he explained.
Her brows shot up in her head. “Here? Why?”
“Why no’?” was his response.
When he took her hand and gave her a tug, she dug in her heels. Gemma shook her head when he looked at her. “That isn’t an explanation.”
Cináed blew out a breath. “The short answer is that we do have property all over the world. Some small cottages like this, others huge mansions like in Venice.”
“Italy?” she asked, then realized how stupid that was.
“Aye. We like to make sure that there is a place for us to stay when we travel.”
“You never stay in hotels?”
He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I wouldna say never. It does happen.”
“Why here on Skye? Why this place?”
“It’s beautiful, for one,” he said as he looked at the cottage.
When he didn’t continue, she quirked a brow in question. “And the second reason?”
“Dreagan has an interest in some of those here on Skye.”
Gemma frowned, noting that he had chosen his words carefully. “What do you mean?”
“I’m no’ sure you’re ready to hear this.”
“Please,” she urged.
Cináed rubbed his jaw as he turned his head away from her. He gazed at the river flowing past for a few moments. Then he returned his attention to her. “Skye is home to some of the most powerful Druids in the world.”
She waited for him to laugh or show some sign that he was joking. When he didn’t, she realized that he was very serious. “Druids? Like...Druids?”
A ghost of a grin played upon his lips. “Exactly like that.”
“So they’re like some cult or something?”
The smile vanished. “Nay. They have magic. Real magic. Maybe it would’ve been better if I brought you to them instead of trying to explain it.”
Her brain heard his words, but she was having a difficult time processing what he said.
Cináed sighed loudly. “I told you it was too soon for you to know.”
“It’s not,” she replied.
He gave her a dubious look. “I beg to differ.”
“You believe in magic?”
“I do.”
The way he said the words, without any hesitation or laughter, made her wonder if he spoke the truth. She hadn’t doubted Cináed since they’d agreed to work together, and she didn’t like that she was doing it now.
“I’m no’ lying,” he told her.
She shrugged, not knowing what else to do. “I’ve never seen magic.”
“I can show you.”
“You?” The word came out like a screech, which she instantly regretted.
Cináed chuckled. “Aye, me.”
“You have...magic?” Did she actually just ask that question?
It seemed so...odd. It certainly wasn’t something she’d ever imagined herself asking anyone.
“I do.”
“Show me.”
He pressed his lips together briefly, hesitating.
“Please.” Suddenly she really wanted to see Cináed do magic. “I want to see.”
“Gemma,” he began.
She quickly interrupted him. “I told you everything about that night. Something I’ve never shared with another soul. You know my secret. I’m now asking you to tell me yours.”
He jerked back slightly.
The action proved to her that Cináed did have a secret. And a whopper by his reaction. But she set that aside and continued talking. “You’re the one who brought up magic. If you can do it, then I want to see.”
“But you doona believe.”
“Prove me wrong,” she challenged.
He searched her eyes for a long moment. “It was a mistake to say anything to you.”
“Maybe, but the words have already been spoken. You can’t take them back. Do you believe that I can’t handle it?”
Cináed shook his head. “I doona believe your mind is open to such things yet.”
“I guess we’re about to find out, aren’t we?” She crossed her arms over her chest and waited.
He glanced away, shaking his head again, this time more to himself. “Doona say I didna warn you,” he cautioned.
Gemma didn’t reply, just waited.
Cináed took a deep breath and held out his hand. At first she didn’t see anything. Then she saw it—a pinpoint of green that grew into a seed that soon sprouted and a stem surged upward.
Her arms dropped to her sides when a bud formed. A second later, the petals opened to reveal a pale pink rose.
Before she realized it, Cináed held out the flower to her. Gemma took it without thinking. She winced when the pad of her finger touched a thorn. There was no doubt that she held a real rose, not some manipulation of light.
She looked from the flower to Cináed. “You can do magic.”