3

Conall tried not to look at Haley overlong. Each time he did, the need for her crept back into his system and made him shake. That tousled cap of red curls, the milky-pale skin, the freckles and pixie nose. He loved the way she looked. The combination of her features, a mishmash of so many elements, didn’t make her a great beauty, but it made her striking. She was tall for a human woman, probably the Fae in her blood. Long legs, high, tight ass and breasts that made his hands itch to touch and his mouth water to taste.

Not big—on the small side for his usual tastes. Barely a B cup but with nipples so sensitive he’d made her come just from licking and sucking on them.

“What’s that grin for? You’re making me nervous.” She looked at him quickly before putting her eyes back on the road. She’d insisted they drive to her grandmother’s home in Kerry. Totally unnecessary, he could have simply sifted them there in a matter of moments, but he’d indulged her. He knew she had a lot to process and wanted to give her some time.

“Thinking about your nipples and how I made you come without even touching your clit.”

She blushed prettily. “Oh. Well. That’s a new one for me. Can’t say anyone’s ever made me come that way.”

“Good. Are you well? Hungry? Thirsty?”

“I’d kill for a latte. Tea is fine and all, I grew up with it, but I miss my chai lattes in the morning. I don’t suppose there’re Starbucks at your house? Hill? Barrow?”

“No. But you don’t need one. You’ve got me. And it’s a Sithein. The inside, where we live is the Brugh. You’ll see. Here.” He reached toward her and handed her a steaming cup.

She sniffed it carefully and sighed. “Get out of here!” She took a sip and groaned in a way that made his jeans tight. “How’d you know what to make it taste like?”

“I’ve always been reborn here in Ireland, but I have traveled to other countries and there are coffeehouses in Dublin and the bigger cities. I’ve even been to Starbucks a time or two.”

“Why didn’t you try to get back home? I mean, even without telling them of the curse, they’d have known you were alive. And oh, come to think of it, do you always get reborn being all hot and stuff?”

He laughed. “Thank you, Irish witch. Yes, I’m born looking the same in general time and again but as you’ve seen, my appearance changed a bit once I got my magic back. As for the other, I’ve been unable to find the entrance to the hill without my magic. I’ve not known my way home until last night when my magic returned in full. The door wouldn’t have opened for me anyway. It would only recognize me when my tribal mark was alive.”

She took another sip before putting it in the cup holder. “So what did you do? As a Faerie I mean.”

“My father is a bond guard to the queen, Aoife. My mother is her sister and a teacher. I was a, am a law giver.”

“Aoife is your aunt? You’re a deity of justice? A warrior?”

“Yes, she’s my aunt, and I’m not a deity. That’s a human word with human understanding. I’m not a god, I’m just a Faerie and my job is almost like what human judges do. An interpreter of laws, not a warrior although my ego would be less bruised if you hadn’t asked with such disbelief in your voice.” His voice was dry and she snickered.

“Stop it. Jeez, the ego on you. You’re hotter than hot and I like brains on a man. You said you’re royalty?”

Mollified, he relaxed back into the seat. “Minor royalty but yes. A prince.”

“Oh, just a prince.” She snorted and he hid a smile.

“Why haven’t you been here in a while? You mentioned last night that you’d needed to visit but hadn’t.” He wanted to know her, wanted to understand her.

“I love my grandmother very much. Spent summers and the winter holidays here growing up. My grandmother was always different from my parents. I told you they’re scientists. She’s…well she’s magic. I suppose you know that given the wards at my flat.”

She was silent for some minutes and he let her be.

“I grew up with this dichotomy in my universe. Magic was real but my parents, my mother especially, were not behind that. Ration was king in my house. I grew up reading 26

Kant and the other masters of reason. History and language became my great loves despite this part of myself that’s a mystery. A part scares me although admittedly I’m curious about it.

“I came to see her six months ago and we got into an argument. She told me my parents had been hiding something from me and she wanted me to know. I’ve been in the middle my whole life and I resent it.”

“I can understand why you’d be uncomfortable,” he said.

Hitting the steering wheel with the heel of her hand, she let out an explosive sigh.

“It’s more than that. I think I knew even then she was telling the truth and I couldn’t face it. Facing it would have meant I had to confront that my parents had lied about something very important and I wasn’t ready so I let this be about my gran but it’s really about me.

And damn if I don’t really hate it when I have to be all self reflective and stuff.”

He grinned, admiring her ability to be honest about her motivations. “It looks good on you, Irish witch. I’m sure she’ll understand.”

“She’ll poke at me with it a bit and let it go. I have to brace myself for whatever it is.”

He realized that was probably what scared her most and resolved to be as supportive as he could through it. Whatever it was. So much on their plate. She amazed him that she hadn’t broken down with all the stuff she had to process.

“I have more questions for you, most notably about this crazy bitch who cursed you but we’re here. I’ll let my gran take over with the questioning,” she said as they turned down a long drive toward a whitewashed house at the end of the lane.

When Haley pulled the car to a stop, a wolfhound came to greet them. Haley bent, speaking softly to him, scratching behind his ears. “Hello, Elvis. Is my grandmother around?”

“She’s right here. And you didn’t tell me you’d mated with a Faerie.”

Startled, Conall looked up and saw a woman walking toward them, holding a basket filled with fresh laundry. She stopped, looking him up and down, thrust the basket at him and turned to Haley. “Sweetness, it’s about time you’ve come around to see me. Over your silly tantrum finally?”

“I’m sorry, Gran. I am. It was stupid to run out and I didn’t mean all that stuff I said about you trying to go around Mom and Dad.” Haley looked so small as her grandmother

pulled her into a hug. Longing hit Conall hard, he couldn’t wait to see his own mother again.

“Come in. I know you didn’t mean it.” She drew Haley toward the back steps and tossed a look back at Conall over her shoulder. “You too, handsome. There’s a long story to be told, I’d wager.”

Once inside, Haley’s grandmother turned on the water for tea and Haley helped, measuring out the leaves and placing biscuits on a pretty plate.

“Gran, this is Conall Shaunessey or rather macCormac. Conall, this is my grandmother, Maeve O’Brian.”

Conall bowed over her hand, kissing it. “It is my pleasure to meet Haley’s grandmother. She speaks very highly of you.”

“Of course she does. I’m her gran and she was raised right, even if her father is afraid of his heritage and her gifts. Now, come on through. I need to fold this and you need to tell me how a Daoine Sidhe came to be standing in my kitchen, mated to my granddaughter. While you’re at it, you can tell me why you stink of a curse.”

Haley was right about Maeve O’Brian. Formidable was a weak word for this woman.

He liked her, saw where Haley got her grit.

He followed Maeve into the front room and Haley brought up the rear with a tray carrying the tea and biscuits.

Haley helped her grandmother fold laundry while Conall told the basic story of the curse and how Haley had broken it and created their bond.

“Hmpf.” Maeve sat down and Haley poured her a cup of tea, placing it in front of her.

“I’m going to take your laundry up to your room. I don’t like you walking up and down the stairs with that basket.”

Maeve looked at Haley and rolled her eyes. With a flick of her wrist the basket disappeared. “I don’t carry it up and down the stairs. Now sit down. Conall is going to tell me how he plans to deal with the one who cursed him.”

A cold chill slid down his spine where it’d been building since Haley mentioned it in the car. How could he have neglected to think of that? Ninane, if she were still alive, would hear when he returned. Haley would be in danger until his tribe took her in as one of their own. Panic choked him for a moment but Maeve’s voice broke through and he suspected she’d put a bit of magic in it to calm him.

“I see you hadn’t thought of that.”

Haley looked between them, confused. “I brought it up in the car. But you’ll both have to explain carefully here. I feel like you’re speaking a foreign language.”

“The one who cursed him, if she’s still alive, will still want to harm him and because you’re his, you as well. Do I have the right of it?” Maeve looked to him with clear, green eyes.

He nodded with a sigh. “Mrs. O’Brian, if you don’t mind, what are you? I can sense your magic, see it’s Faerie in origin. What are you doing living out here instead of with your people?”

“Ah, that. Well, yes. My parents were Traveling Folk. My first husband was of my tribe. My mate. I loved him with my entire being. We had three thousand years together.

He was killed along with all my sons but one, Haley’s father. You see, a noble from below had taken a special shine to me and resented Bruch, that was my husband, and my family. He felt if he had them removed, I’d go to him. I killed him instead and ran. I settled here with my son, and I met a human, a mage of sorts and practitioner of the white arts. I felt as much love for him as I could, but it was a shadow of what I’d had. Cian, Haley’s dad, grew up and forgot his life under the hill. He wanted to, and I let him because it was less painful.

“But when Haley came, I remembered the joy of new life and I tried very hard to convince Cian and Mary to move back here, but he refused. He wanted his child to grow up with ration and reason, not having her believe in the unseen and lights in the meadow at midnight. I argued enough to get him to agree to let me have her every summer for a month and they did come at Yule every year. But we had an agreement that until she reached twenty-five, I couldn’t tell her about her origins.”

Haley’s eyes were wide as she stared at her grandmother. “Cian? ”

“He changed his name to Joseph when he went to university.” Maeve shrugged. “He was grown, I couldn’t stop him.”

“He’s aging. How can he be aging if you’re what? How old are you?” Haley pushed out of her chair and began to pace.

“I’m nearing five thousand human years old. Your father is round about three hundred but he’s aging like a human. But now he’s got a human lifespan and he’s about sixty human years old. I’m sorry, Haley. I wanted you to know all this as you grew up but I made a promise. A vow. And part of the vow was because your father gave up his immortality to confer it to you. He’s given you his power and his magic. Each year he

forgets more and more of what he was. In another decade, he won’t remember the shining folk who used to visit us when he was small.”

She blinked and swayed for a moment and Conall reached out to steady her, aching for her.

“Why? Why would he do that? He’s going to die and for what? Why did no one ask me if that’s what I wanted?”

“Darling girl, your father is very much like his own father, your grandfather.

Stubborn, strong, courageous. He had something that would protect you and he loves you more than anything. He rejected his identity a long time ago so he gave it to you, and when he did that, he gave you the most precious thing he had other than his love. And he loves your mother. She’s human. He didn’t want to live as she got old and died.”

“She has a hint of Fae but doesn’t feel full blooded. Why?” As much as he worried for Haley’s feelings, Conall had to admit he felt a lot better knowing she had the gifts of a full blooded Fae. She’d have his lifespan, the problems they faced would be a hell of lot less daunting now.

Maeve looked at her granddaughter. “I have to perform the last part of the spell.

That’s what I tried to speak with her about when she was here last and ran off. Conferring it all on her earlier would have been too much for her to bear, it might have broken her.

But she’s strong enough now. And without her full knowledge of what she was, she’d have been a target. Not knowing has protected her, just as a masking spell has dampened most of her power.”

Maeve stood and went to the highboy near the doorway. She pulled out a bottle and three glasses, pouring the whiskey into them. Handing one to Haley and then Conall, she stood in front of her granddaughter. “I love you. I wish I could have been a bigger part of your life. Your parents love you, they did what they thought was best, including your father. This royal Fae behind you loves you. I know you’re reeling from all this. A lesser woman would be weeping right about now. But you’re not a lesser woman. You’re of my line, an old and noble line of queens. You are Fae and nothing you do can change that.

It’s a gift. Your magic is a gift. The way you can intuit languages and symbols is a gift.

Embrace it and embrace who and what you are. And while you’re at it, embrace what your father has chosen for himself. Lady knows I don’t understand it, but I respect it.”

Haley drank the smoky amber liquid in three swallows and put the glass down before hugging her grandmother. “I don’t know what to think, Gran. This is all so much!

Yesterday morning I just wanted a jerk on my staff to obey international law and now 30

I’ve got a Faerie boyfriend and I’m one too? There’s a crazy Faerie who may still be alive and want to harm Conall still? My father gave up his life for me without asking and then hid it from me? I’m…” she shook her head, “…I’m stunned. What does all this mean? What the heck am I supposed to do?”

Conall snorted. Boyfriend. He was a hell of a lot more than that.

Maeve held Haley at arm’s length. “It means you have a complicated life all the sudden, Haley. You’ve grown up in one world but your life is about to change in a big way. You’ve done the human thing. You’ve had a life made of rules and theories and that’s been a huge comfort but there’s always been a part of you that knew there was more. And now you’ll see it with new eyes.

“Haley, you’re Fae and once I complete the spell, you’ll feel the true rush of your power. All you can do is be who you are. And that hasn’t changed. You’ll have new magic, more powerful magic, gifts you may not even suspect you had. A whole new part of your life is about to begin. So many wonderful and beautiful things are about to happen to you and I’m so excited for you. I know you’ll be apprehensive, this is all totally new and you’ll be off balance in Conall’s world. But it’ll be your world soon enough and you’ll be immortal. A lot, I know. But who you are in here,” she tapped Haley’s temple, “and in here,” she tapped Haley’s chest over her heart, “will be the same tomorrow.”

“I’ll help you through in whatever way I can, you know.” Conall wanted to go to her, to comfort her but he had to take solace in speaking from his place on the couch. Clearly Maeve needed to work things through with her granddaughter.

Haley turned to him, touched and still unsteady. “Thanks. I’m going need all the help I can get.”

“Shall I complete the spell? Are you ready for that?” Her gran was all business after that little speech. Who knew her grandmother understood her so well? She was scared, not just scared but freaked. Everything in her life had been set, governed by what she could see and prove and suddenly, um, not so much. But her grandmother also knew exactly how hard to push and the switch to a more dispassionate way of dealing with things was just what Haley needed right then. If she’d been really emotional, Haley might have lost it.

Haley sighed and dealt with it the best she could. No hiding from it, it was suddenly her life and nothing was going to change that. “Ready? How the heck do I know? But I trust you, Gran. Do your thing.”

Maeve nodded and looked over Haley’s shoulder at Conall. “And then you’re going to tell me what you’re planning to do about the shebitch who cursed you and how you’ll keep my girl safe.”

He definitely had some planning to do. The last thing he wanted was to put Haley in harm’s way. He’d go home and seek his family out and work with them to keep her safe.

If he was lucky, Ninane would already be dead or punished in some way.

“Sit, I’ll be right back.” Maeve gestured absently as she left the room.

Haley turned and saw Conall on the couch looking better than any man had a right to. The long hair really did it for her. He looked downright edible.

“What are you thinking, Irish witch?” He patted the couch next to him and she moved there, allowing him to snuggle her into his side.

“I’ll tell you later. Oh man, this week is going to turn my hair gray.”

“Haley, you’re going to be immortal and full-blooded Fae. This makes you safer and relieves me of the pain of watching you get old and die as I stay young. You can be at my side, in my bed, forever. That’s not something to make you gray, is it?”

She smiled. “I’ve known you for six months. I’ve had my share of fantasies about you, I certainly like you but this whole mystical soul mate thing? Kinda odd. And now the truth that my father gave up immortality and conferred it on me? And he’s forgetting who he was? I don’t know what to think.”

“After you meet my family, we’ll go away. Somewhere sunny and tropical. I’ll feed you grapes and rub suntan lotion on your breasts,” he murmured into her ear and her body tightened. God he was good at that.

“Okay, ready?” Her gran entered the room with a small box.

“Um, as I’ll ever be.”

“Roll that rug up, Conall, please.”

Conall got up and rolled the large area rug in the room, exposing a magical circle etched into the hardwood below. Haley had first learned rudimentary magic in that circle.

“Well, that’s handy then.” Conall nodded with approval.

“Indeed. The floors are oak for strength with rowan for protection.” Gran turned to Haley. “Take the box. Once inside the circle, open it and break the vial within. Don’t open the circle until I say.”

Haley took a deep breath and her gran handed her the box, which felt strangely heavy for such a small thing. Gran kissed her forehead and Conall her lips.

Centering herself and grounding her magic, Haley stepped into the circle and spoke the words to seal it behind her, felt the flare of the protection it gave her.

She unhooked the small catch on the lid and opened it. A heart-shaped vial lay inside, filled with what appeared to be pale green and blue smoke. Haley put the box on the floor and stood again, the glass heart warm in her hands.

“Here I go.” She snapped the heart in half and the colored smoke drifted out and began to swirl around her, closer and closer until it rested against her like a second skin when it suddenly inverted and she felt it just inside her body.

Nothing for long seconds until tremors began to build in her muscles and electric waves of power roiled through her, filling her until it felt like she’d burst. Her back arched and she fell to her knees as it rode her. She gnashed her teeth, trying to hold onto the scream that wanted to free itself and when it did, she knew she spoke a language she hadn’t known ten minutes prior.

When she opened her eyes, the world was beautiful. Her father had given this up for her and she swore to herself to never take for granted the gift he’d bestowed upon her.

The home she’d spent her summers in wasn’t just a comfortable place with tinges of magic, the magic here sang. Smudges of brilliant color painted the air and when she looked at Conall, she saw him as a prince. His aura shined bright blue and white and her heart beat in time with his. Never in her life had she been more sure of anything than she was right then. They were made for one another. It wasn’t metaphysical romance novel hype, it was simply magical and she was blessed to have it.

He stood anxiously at her gran’s side, holding her hand tight, worry clear on his face.

When Haley smiled and stood up shakily, he heaved a sigh of relief.

“Break the circle then, Haley, and step out. Embrace your life as you embark on a new path.” Her grandmother was so beautiful to Haley’s new vision, it nearly hurt to look at her.

Haley said the words to break the circle and stepped out. Invisible threads tied her to Conall and pulled her to him. She felt that acutely but not in a bad way. It was comforting, reassuring. But her need to touch him rode her until he took her hand and kissed her fingertips.

“Um, wow.”

Gran laughed and kissed both cheeks. “It worked, I see. Welcome. How do you feel?”

“Everything is so vivid, full of life and energy. Colors everywhere. I’ve only had this sort of experience when I used my inner sight. Never this sharp. Is this how you both see every day?”

“It’s a gift to see the true beauty of the universe is it not? And why we love nature and animals so much. Everything is alive with energy. That energy is sacred in some sense, even negative energy.” Gran looked to Conall. “I expect you’ll be taking her to your brugh?”

He nodded. “I’ll be wanting her to meet my family, be given the protection of my tribe. I’d like to extend my invitation to you as well.”

Gran shook her head. “Thank you, but no. My place isn’t with the shining folk just now. It’s here with my house and my animals. I do visit my tribe several times a year.

But Haley needs to be embraced by her new folk to learn and to be kept safe by their magic. I’ll be wanting to be kept apprised of the situation now so don’t go off without letting an old woman hear updates.”

“Are you sure, Gran? Aren’t you lonely for your family?”

“You’re sweet to worry. But I have my own path. My sister, your great-aunt, comes to visit monthly. Your great-grandmother is still with us and she’ll be wanting to finally meet you. You’ll have a place with them as well. But for now, take this step. You have all the time in the world now. Go on, I expect your man will be anxious to see his own again.”

“Can we leave the vehicle here?” Conall asked. They didn’t need to drive to the sithein.

“Of course. Before you go, Haley, I want you to have these.” Gran handed Haley a velvet pouch. Inside was a necklace and an armband decorated with horses. “They’re marks of rank. Wear them with pride.”

Conall’s eyes widened as he took them in and his gaze moved back to Gran.

“Madam, you didn’t say you were royalty as well.” He bowed.

Gran laughed, waving it away. “Ah well, you know how it is, Conall. Most of us are royalty in some way or other.”

“It’s more than that. You’re descended from Macha.”

Shock rang through Haley. “Wow, well no wonder I’ve always loved horses.”

“Riding is a handy skill. You’ve always had the touch with animals. She would be proud of you. Is I’m sure on whatever plane she exists on now. I haven’t seen her since I 34

was small. Will you allow me to dress you in something more appropriate to meet your new family?”

“Um, sure. I guess jeans aren’t really formal enough.”

Gran tutted and with a flick of a wrist, Haley was suddenly outfitted in a long gown of deepest green. Golden ribbon bound her waist and between her breasts, all with horses woven into it. The armband gleamed and the necklace hung warm against her chest.

“You look so beautiful.” Conall looked her up and down and kissed her nose. “Your gran isn’t saying but I’ll tell you her tribe is a very old and respected one. My family will be honored to have you among us. Ah, and your ears.” He reached out to trace the tip and she felt a tingle in her nipples as her clit throbbed.

She moved to a mirror and saw her hair had grown longer and her ears were now pointed. “Get out! I have elf ears! Gran, how come you don’t?”

Her gran laughed. “I do, darling. I wear a glamour when you’re here.” She tucked her hair back to show Haley.

“I am going to have a long talk with my parents. I can’t believe they kept me from my heritage all this time.” The more she thought about it, the more it hurt.

Gran shook her head and took Haley’s face between her palms. “Sweetie, you’ll have to let go of the anger. They did it out of a misguided need to protect you. And now your dad doesn’t even remember half of it. Embrace your future and let go of the mistakes in the past. No good can come of it.”

Haley took a deep breath and calmed down. “We’ll see.” But a part of her whispered that they kept it from her because they were ashamed of what she was. Would they feel differently about her now? She shook her head, her gran was right that there wasn’t any good in letting thoughts like that affect her. “Will you be all right here?”

Her gran laughed. “Darling, I’m a tough old woman. Go on with you. You’re going to be amazed by what you see.” She turned to Conall and kissed his cheeks. “Keep her well or you’ll have me to contend with.”

He grinned. “Of course, my lady.” Conall held his arm to Haley. “Shall we go then?”

“No time like the present.”

She took his arm and suddenly they stood in a field in front of a small hill. She felt the magic there very strongly, the thick currents swirling around her.

“Home,” he said quietly and approached the hillside. He spoke under his breath and she had no complaints when he stood wearing a kilt and a sleeveless shirt, the markings on his shoulder blazing deep blue as a door appeared in the grass.

She blinked several times at the appearance of the door, a plain wooden door with an antiqued handle.

“Here we are.” He paused, looking into her face. “Haley, before we go inside, do you feel it? The connection between us? Is it different now that you’re full Fae?”

She nodded. “Like ribbons of magic connect us. I can see you, I mean really see you.” Shrugging, she tried to describe it but there weren’t words accurate enough. But right then, it was just about the only thing she was totally sure of. “It’s right. I know that.

I know we’re meant to be and it feels like that’s all I need to know.”

Smiling, he bent and kissed her. “Yes, indeed. Well, come through then. See the world hidden to your eyes until now.”