by Casey Morgan
“First the dissipation spell, please,” Keira requested. She pulled the green orb out of her pocket and held it in front of her.
I stepped up, ready to help in any way I could. I ran my fingers through the movements for the dissipation spell. In Keira’s hand, the green orb started to shake and quiver. Then, the edges of it blurred. Finally, it disappeared with a popping sound.
Keira and I jumped a bit, but soon we both relaxed. I reached over took her hand and planted a kiss on her now empty palm.
“One down and four or five more to go,” I told her, and she grinned back at me.
We got back into the mini-van and I headed back to town. Once again, Seth and I were up front, while the others seemed to be fooling around with Keira in the back. I insisted on driving to be helpful, but it backfired on me. But, hopefully, I was getting some points for doing it.
Chapter 9
Keira
We headed to the closest the village to get poor Seth some Benadryl. I think it was called Mermaid’s Bay, or something like that. By that time, he was actually starting to feel a lot better and his eyes were no longer swelling shut.
The seaweed tour had been a lot of fun and I learned a lot, not just about the seaweed but about the guys. Watching them react during the activity was a good way of sizing them up. They definitely all seemed interested in me and determined to be with me. I guess I was trying to find the sweet spot in our dynamic, so I could be with them all.
At the Lucky Boat restaurant, which was a high-end Chinese food place that Ronan knew about, we grabbed some dinner and drinks. It was a nice old place filled with colorful characters. A few drunk, but merry, sailors sang while raising their drinks at the bar. Sprite farmers danced jigs overhead among the wooden rafters, and shared fortune cookies. And I think I may have spotted another leprechaun, but the four-foot tall man caught me looking. Frowning, he worked a spell of invisibility and disappeared.
The boys and I grabbed a round wooded table, relaxed and looked over the menus. Unsurprisingly, this restaurant had a lot of seafood dishes. I decided to get the grilled Kung Pao Shrimp.
“I hope you like Chinese food,” said Ronan. “I hear this is a good place.”
“I do, but I have a high bar,” I explained. “The Chinese food in the City is pretty great.”
“Ya mean Dublin?” asked Tavish, looking up at me from across the table.
“No, ye tit,” snapped Seth. “She means New York City. That’s what people from there call it.”
“Oh, piss off, Seth,” said Tavish. “Ye think ye know everythin’.”
“Lucky for ya, I do,” Seth retorted and then waved the waiter over.
We ordered food and also got drinks. They had Odell’s hard cider here and I just couldn’t give up the chance to have another. Our food and drinks came quickly, and we started eating immediately.
Ronan kept asking me how I liked everything. He was really attentive. The restaurant was really good, but there were a few things I didn’t like. I kept it to myself though. I couldn’t bear to disappoint Ronan. He was so earnest in everything he did.
“So, Keira,” said Connor, regarding me with his curious amber eyes. “Why did ya decide to come to Ireland alone? Most people wouldn’t go stag to a wedding overseas.”
“A bad relationship,” I confessed. “My ex, Manny, was just a dbag.”
“A what?” asked Ronan.
“It’s short for douchebag,” I explained. “He was just a jerk is what I’m trying to say. I had invested a lot in him. Too much in fact. Emotionally.”
“Did he cheat on you?” asked Connor.
“Yes, and he was verbally abusive, I guess you’d say. He’d call me stupid sometimes or make me feel stupid,” I explained. “I just hated feeling that way. Made me feel powerless. But with you guys…” I felt a blush come to my cheeks. “You guys make me feel powerful. What about you, Connor?”
“Ah, there’s nothing much to tell,” said Connor. “I’ve dated a bit. Had one sorta semi-serious girlfriend, but she cheated on me. I didn’t take too hard. College, ya know. Everyone screws around there.”
“Yeah, I miss those days,” laughed Seth.
Connor rolled his eyes. “This is the guy with the string of bad relationships,” he pointed out.
“Bad? How dare ye!” said Seth, in faux outrage then he laughed. “I just didn’t take my relationships very seriously. Why should I? They were meant to be fun. That’s all.”
“What about me?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Well, this may be a little different, I’ll admit,” he smiled coyly. “I don’t really know what’s going to happen, Keira. We don’t even know if you’re going back to America in a few days or which one of us you are really considering dating.”
I took a sip of my cider to keep from answering. I didn’t know what to say. I hadn’t truly answered those questions for myself yet. All I knew was that, right now, I wanted them all.
“You already heard my horror story,” said Tavish to fill the silence. “Not much more to tell than that.”
“I’ve never really had a serious relationship at all,” said Ronan. He blushed and looked a little embarrassed. “A few dates here and there, but that’s it. Never had anyone that I clicked with.”
I let out a breath that I was holding. “Well, this is good,” I said. “We’re getting all our baggage out in the open. I feel like I’m really getting to know you guys.”
“What else do ye want to know?” asked Connor, with a wink.
All the elves leaned in towards me. I felt my blush return. I wanted to know a lot about them all. First and foremost in my mind, I wanted to know how each of them would feel under the sheets. But it wasn’t time to bring that up yet.
“Um, great fear?” I asked. It was the first restaurant friendly topic that I could bring to mind. “Mine is spiders.”
“Being homeless,” said Seth quickly.
“Dying of a disease,” said Ronan.
“Snakes,” said Tavish.
“Probably bears,” said Connor.
I nodded. All of those fears seemed reasonable; nothing weird there.
“Okay, what would you do with a million dollars?” I asked, after taking another sip of my Odell’s. The apple flavor bubbled on my tongue. “You win the lottery and you could do anything.”
“Travel the world,” said Connor. His amber eyes looked out into the distance and I wondered what destination he was thinking of at that moment.
“Move to America,” said Seth.
“Open a restaurant,” said Tavish.
“I would also travel the world,” said Ronan.
Connor gave his brother a high-five and they grinned at each other momentarily.
“What would you do, Keira?” asked Connor.
“Honestly?” I said, wracking my brain. “I’m not sure. I’ve already traveled some. I don’t really want to start a business. I guess I’d just retire and keep traveling? It wouldn’t change my life much.”
The elves scoffed. They looked at each other and then back at me. Each one raised their dark eyebrows at me.
“It wouldn’t!” I insisted, laughing. “Except that I would quit my job as a writer. I’d go on vacation all the time. Maybe find a beach somewhere to sit on.”
“Okay, that sounds more like an answer,” agreed Seth, nodding. “I love a good beach.” He leaned forward over the table and looked me straight in the eye. “I’d love to see ya in a bikini.”
I grinned and took another sip of cider. The other brothers murmured their agreement with Seth’s comment.
“Oh, you would?” I cooed, leaning forward towards them a bit.
They all nodded, entranced by the little bit of cleavage I was showing them. I was starting to feel feisty and hot and bothered. Maybe the cider was going to my head.
“I can tell you all that I look great in a bikini. It would be worth your while to take me to a beach,” I suggested and looked at them through lowered lashes.
The elves’ eyes went wide at my bold statement and I giggled.
Seth grunted and leaned back in his chair putting his hands behind his head. “Oh, we are defiantly doing that.”
Tavish mirrored his brother’s movements and nodded. “Aye, we are,” he agreed. “Maybe we could find a nude beach.”
I giggled again. “Every beach is a nude beach when you are naked.” I gave them a wink.
Connor hissed through his teeth. “Damn, lass. Ya are too much!”
I wrinkled my nose at him and took another sip of my drink. “So, what’s the plan for tomorrow?” I asked, changing the subject to lessen the sexual tension. “Are you guys up for another adventure? Want to help me find the next orb?”
They all nodded. “I’m in this for the long haul,” Seth explained. “I want to make sure this curse on ye gets broken.”
I smiled. Having their help and companionship meant the world to me. “So, we just need to find a place to spend the night. I take it we are too far away to make it back to Hennessey House, right?”
“Right,” Connor confirmed. “We’d have to drive 120 kilometers back to Hennessy House. Half the night will be gone by the time we get back.”
“Is there a place we can stay near here?” I suggested.
“Sure,” Ronan confirmed. “We have reservations at the local bed and breakfast. I just booked us a suite on my phone.”
“Did I see you just do that?” asked Seth, looking over at him. “Are you planning this trip like a couple of hours ahead of everything we do?”
“Yeah,” said Ronan. “It’s the best way. Then we can change with the wind.”
Seth laughed and pointed at Ronan. “This guy,” he laughed. “Talk about flying by the seat of your pants.”
Ronan shrugged but didn’t look upset by his brother’s comment.
“What’s the suite look like?” asked Tavish, leaning forward to peek over Ronan’s shoulder.
“It’s a two-bedroom apartment,” explained Ronan. “Seems nice and it’s available immediately, which is convenient.”
“Bit cramped, but we’ll make it work,” said Seth, still sniffling.
“I could use a change of clothes though,” said Tavish. I nodded, I could too. I had left my luggage at the Hennessey House. “Didn’t we pass a department store on the way in?” Tavish asked.
“Aye,” said Ronan. “We could stop by after we finish our drinks. Pick up some supplies and such.”
“Sorry guys, I didn’t think this would turn into an overnight thing,” I admitted. “But hey, that’s part of the adventure, right? You never know where it’s going.”
“Yeah, my car is still parked in town at Luck’s Hollow,” said Seth, frowning.
“I could run ya back,” Ronan offered. “If you want to go home.”
“No-no,” assured Seth. “I’m on board. Tavish, ya have some cakes to bake, don’t ye?”
“I called my assistant,” he said. “She’s got me covered for the next few days. But I’m sure Connor has to work tomorrow.”
“Actually, I have a few days off coming to me after the wedding reception,” said Connor smiling.
“Good, then we’re all going,” I concluded. “It’ll be nice to see a store in Ireland.”
“It’s a bit different, lass,” said Connor. “In America, they have these huge stores with all the selection. I’ve seen it on YouTube. Here, ye might be disappointed.”
After dinner, we hopped back in the van. I sat between Seth and Connor this time. Ronan was still a bit frustrated that he had to drive, but that was his call. We drove over to a place called Shaws. It looked a bit like an old department store you’d see in the States like in the 80’s or 90’s. There was plenty of clothing options there, so I picked up a couple of pairs of jeans and a few warm woolen sweaters. Not the sexiest attire but still cute.
After, we headed to the inn and it was time to spend my first night alone with the elves. I was excited and anxious all at the same time.
Chapter 10
Keira
After getting everything we needed, we headed to the local inn and our two bedroom suite. One of the rooms had a single bed and the other had a bunk bed. The only other place to sleep was the couch and the floor.
I looked around and frowned. This really wasn’t ideal. After all the help from the boys today I didn’t want one of them to have to sleep on the floor, and I sure as hell didn’t want to sleep on the floor myself.
“All right lads,” said Ronan. “I claim a bed since I booked us the suite.”
Connor pointed to the room with the one bed and then looked at me with a sultry smile. “Ye can share it with me, if you like,” he said.
I frowned. It was a good offer but not exactly what I wanted. “That seems a bit unfair,” I said. “Why don’t I take that, and you boys take the bunk beds?”
“All right,” said Connor, relenting.
“Top bunk!” called Tavish. He ran into the room and climbed up onto the bunkbed like a little kid.
“Damn,” said Connor. He reluctantly followed his brother into the bedroom and claimed the bottom bunk.
Tavish reached down and smacked Connor on the back of the head. Connor grumbled and Tavish fell back onto his bed laughing.
“Just like old times,” he giggled. “We had a bed just like this when we were lads.”
Ronan looked at the single bed and the couch and sighed. “Seth, you’ve had a rough day,” he said. “Why don’t you take the couch?”
“Thanks, mate,” said Seth.
“Where are you going to sleep?” I asked Ronan.
“Eh, I can take the floor. Just give me a pillow,” said Ronan, with a shrug.
“No, that seems wrong,” I said. “Why don’t you share the single bed with me?”
The others made noise of rejection.
“Just to sleep,” I assured them. “Plus, Ronan had to drive all day and tomorrow.”
“But he gets to be alone with ya,” whined Connor. His slightly pointed elven ears turned a light shade of red. That seemed to be a trait of elves when they were annoyed. “Seems like he’s getting a leg up.”
“I swear I won’t bang him,” I promised. Then, I smiled. “Not tonight anyway.”
The elves took me at my word and started to relax. After making sure their beds were suitable for the night, we all sat around in the suite’s living room.
“Why don’t ya see where we are off to tomorrow, lass?” Tavish asked.
I nodded and felt around in my pocket for the magic keychain. I found the little sheep, stood up, and put my hands around it. Holding it in front of me, I pulled the magic from the air around me and asked the little cartoon ram where the next closest orb was.
The air hissed around me and suddenly I wasn’t in the inn anymore. I mean, my body was, but I was seeing a whole other location. To my eyes, I was hovering next to a rock face; some sort of cliff. I looked around. The cliff was part of a big hill, but it looked like some giant had come along and chopped it right in half, leaving two straight rock walls that faced each other from across a narrow valley. The landscape was kind of beautiful.
I blinked a few times. It was sunny in my vison. I wondered if that was part of the location spell the leprechaun had cast, to make sure I could always easily see what I was looking for. That was smart.
“What do ya see, lass?” Connor’s voice came to me, sounding slightly distant and mumbled.
I looked around again and tried to figure out how to describe what I was seeing. “I’m at a cliff. It’s almost vertical to the valley below. Across the valley is another vertical cliff. The orb is probably about two stories up the cliff in a bird’s nest.”
“Any of those birds around?” Tavish asked.
I looked and say that I was not alone. “Yes, they are black and white. They kind of look like a cross between a seagull and a penguin.”
“That’s a razorbill,” Tavish explained.
“I really don’t think that’s helpful,” Se
th said with a snarky tone.
I felt someone take my hand. “Come on out of the spell, lass,” Ronan said, squeezing my hand a bit. “I know where you are.”
I let the spell go and the living room of our suite popped back before my eyes. I blinked a bit. Going from a sunny day to a dark living room was quite an adjustment.
Ronan smiled at me. “Looks like we are off to Fairy’s Valley and the hills that surround it. I set us up a mountain climbing tour that should take us right by the orb.”
I dropped onto the couch and leaned into Seth. He picked up a lock of my hair and started playing with it.
“Mountain climbing?” I said a bit annoyed. “Is this curse trying to kill me on this adventure?”
“Yeah, Ronan,” said Connor, sticking his tongue out at his brother. “Stop trying to kill Keira.” He turned to me, scratching his chin. “I don’t think ye should let him sleep with ya. Too dangerous.”
“These aren’t my choices, laddie.” Ronan balled up his fists and glared at Connor. His ears started turning red. “I just know where we are supposed to go!”
“Oh, stop,” I said, waving my hands at the two of them.
“It’s not much of a mountain,” said Seth. He looked at each of his brothers. “If ya boys aren’t up for it, we can drop you off. Maybe stop on the way and get ya a wee sundress!” he laughed at his own joke.
“Look who’s talking,” joked Tavish. He was sitting on the couch at the other side of Seth and he poked his older brother in the side. “The boy that gets all choked up about seaweed. Ye doughy bastard. Ye never make it on the hike, much less the mountain.”
“Please,” dismissed Seth. “I’m in better shape than you. I do swim races. I train. You want to go? Push-ups?”
“Yer on,” said Tavish.
The two elves both jumped off the couch and got prepared to do a push up contest.
“Wait a minute,” said Connor. He got down on his hands and knees by Tavish.
“You’re not in this,” dismissed Seth.
“I am,” insisted Connor, raising up his legs till they were straight.