Book 1: Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World, Book 1

by Dianna Love

  “I wish to speak with you.” His deep brogue reminded her of a famous actor from Scotland.

  Was he serious? Did every powerful being think she was here just for them?

  Something snapped inside her.

  Maybe she’d been terrified one time too many today, but this man sneaking into her cottage had just pissed her off. “You want to talk to me? Really? It is customary to knock on someone’s door first then ask to have a conversation.” Her voice rose as she got to her feet. “Not break into my house.”

  “I did not wish to be seen enterin’ and put you in danger.”

  Did he really think she was going to give him points for that? “Who would see you when I live on top of a rise with no neighbors?”

  He shrugged. “’Tis best to be careful.”

  Anger pushed her to throw caution to the wind, or it could be due to the fact that he had yet to threaten her. Whatever the reason, she’d hit the limit of taking everything as it came and ordered again, “Get out of my house.”

  “I will leave once you answer my questions.”

  “No. Get out.”

  “No.” He crossed his arms.

  Well, hell. What could she do now? Threaten him with bodily harm? Hardly.

  She’d hidden the sword nearby, behind a bookcase between her and the front door. How much good would that weapon do her anyhow?

  It would probably just humiliate her if she tried, and failed, to withdraw the blade from its hiding place.

  She finally realized something. “How did you get in here? You’re too big to fit through any of my windows and no one has come through the door tonight except me.”

  “I will answer your questions once you answer mine. I may have entered without permission, but I have not threatened you and I am being reasonable.” His voice held a hint of humor, as if he found it ridiculous that she’d even argue with him.

  “Reasonable?” she muttered. What had happened to her life?

  Until Cavan walked into the ancestral research centre a week ago, she’d had a great life. Now Cavan intended to drag her away to hunt some ancient book of majik and this guy appeared inside her home with no possible way of normal entry.

  Annnd he expected her to answer his questions.

  She crossed her arms. “I’m tired. People are seriously getting’ on my nerves today, you included. So I’ll give you one minute to ask your blasted questions. I might answer them.”

  “We could sit down,” he suggested.

  Was he nuts? “No, we can’t. This is not a social visit. Talk.”

  “I saw ya speakin’ with a nonhuman earlier. Did he ask ya to hunt for a book?”

  “Cavan?” His name tumbled out before she could stop herself. “Why should I tell you anythin’?”

  “Because hidin’ anythin’ about that bein’ could be a deadly mistake.”

  Fear chilled her blood for the first time since this guy had shown up. If she gave this man anything, she’d surely bring Cavan’s wrath down on her.

  If she refused to share what Cavan hunted, she risked not surviving tonight. Cavan would go after Fenella and torture her to find a grimoire that sweet woman had no skills to locate.

  Chapter 21

  Daegan sized up this Luigsech woman, trying to pinpoint why his senses were yelling at him that she hid something important. He could feel an energy in the room, but not coming from her. Could she be a witch with something majikal close by to use against him?

  She might be shielding more than what she’d discussed with Cavan.

  “Threatenin’ to kill me is not the best way to be gainin’ information.” She spoke through clenched teeth.

  “I never said I would kill you,” he argued in a calm voice.

  “You said hidin’ anythin’ would be a deadly mistake. That’s a threat.” She frowned so hard fine lines cut into her forehead.

  “’Tis not.”

  “Liar.”

  He signed heavily. “For someone who works with history, I would expect ya to be better at listenin’. I said if ya hide anythin’ about that bein’ ya spoke to at the grocery it could be deadly. Think about it. That means you could be at risk from this Cavan. He hides his identity with a glamour. That should concern ya.”

  She seemed surprised then recovered. “He didn’t break into my home uninvited.”

  “I have already explained I intend ya no harm. I would not have come here if it were not of the utmost importance.”

  She tossed her hands up and dropped them back to her sides. “I can’t even believe I’m havin’ this conversation. Bottom line is that confidentiality is part of my business. If I were huntin’ somethin’ for you, would you want me to share your business with a stranger?”

  “Ya would be foolish to do so.” He stared her down, determined to intimidate her into giving him what he wanted without terrifying her. Sure, he’d teleported in without her permission, but she would never have allowed him inside otherwise.

  The longer his presence remained hidden, the better for both of them.

  “Oh, I see. I should protect your interests, if you were my client, which you will never be, by the way. But I would not be foolish to share what another client asks me to hunt. I get it.”

  Tart wench. Daegan pressed on. “So Cavan does have ya huntin’ somethin’?”

  She grabbed hair on each side of her head, pulling strands loose from the twisted up bob on top of her head. “Stop it. No more talkin’ about his project. What the hell do you want? Just tell me and get movin’.”

  At that moment, Tristan’s tight voice came into Daegan’s mind. Cavan is ...

  Daegan’s pulse pounded in his ears.

  He tried to lock onto where Tristan had been when he called to him and ... nothing came through. Daegan couldn’t find the pathway for teleporting. He called back, Tristan! Tell me where ya are!

  Still nothing.

  The woman had moved from the table toward the entrance. She stopped and took a step back from him, bumping into a waist-high bookcase. True fear surfaced in her face. “What’s wrong? Why do you look like you’re thinkin’ to murder someone?”

  Daegan no longer cared who he frightened. He pinned her with a furious glare. “Not only will I be stayin’ as long as I choose, but ya will start answerin’ questions and stop dancin’ around.”

  Whatever she saw in his face had her nodding. “Okay, just calm down.”

  “I do not need to calm down. I have people in danger and every second you waste they pay a higher price. Now what did Cavan want?”

  “To, uh, find an old book.”

  Daegan’s anger built. “What book?”

  She looked physically sick about answering, but finally said, “A grimoire. It’s called the Immortuos Grimoire.”

  This was no longer a series of coincidences, but connections. “As I understand, ya have a reputation for findin’ rare books and translatin’ the ancient languages. Ya will find the volumes for me and translate the text.”

  “Who are you people to come into my life and make all these demands?” she shouted at him, fear sliding through her angry words.

  “Do not confuse us. I have good reason to find this grimoire. Can you claim Cavan does?”

  She lifted her shoulders with a lost expression. “I have no idea. I haven’t even looked for that stupid grimoire yet. I have no idea if it even exists.”

  “It does, in three separate volumes. I want them.” She might have to hunt all three to find the one he needed. Now that he had her talking, he asked, “What else did Cavan want? Who was he?”

  She nibbled on her lip, clearly debating how much to share.

  Fear for Tristan pushed power into Daegan’s voice. “Tell me!”

  She flinched, then swiped a hand over her head and sounded resigned. “I have no idea who he is. Cavan originally came in days back askin’ about a family known as Treoirs. We gave him nothin’, because I had to leave town for a few days and just returned today. I haven’t had time to look into that.”<
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  For the first time, Daegan looked at this woman and wondered if she could actually be related to the Luigsech squires. “What do ya know of the Treoirs?”

  “Nothin’. I told you I haven’t had time to research it.”

  “Lie.” He might not have Storm’s gifted lie-detecting ability, but Daegan knew when someone tried to sidestep the truth.

  She stared openmouthed at him. Her eyes shot daggers at him. “Do not call me a liar. You have yet to even tell me who the hell you are.”

  Ignoring her outburst, he warned, “Tell me what you know about the Treoirs or I will take ya somewhere and keep you there until ya do.”

  Color washed from her face.

  He felt bad about that, but the longer his Beladors remained captured and now with Tristan silent, the less Daegan’s conscience dwelled on minor things.

  He hadn’t sensed any power from her and took a chance to share something he normally would not. “A Luigsech family was once squires to the Treoirs.”

  The minute he spoke, the truth showed in her eyes.

  She knew.

  Her gaze shot past him, not touching his face. “I’ve heard bits and pieces of the Treoir history. It’s hard to miss in my line of work.” When she did meet his eyes, she stood straighter and claimed, “In fact, that’s the family responsible for the red dragon torchin’ forests in innocent countries.”

  “That dragon is an imposter.”

  She arched an eyebrow challenging his words. “How do you know this?”

  He couldn’t believe the backbone of this one. “I did not come here to debate your lack of Treoir history knowledge. How much did you tell Cavan about the Treoirs?”

  “Nothin’. Nothin’. Nothin’. Don’t you dare call me a liar,” she snarled at him. “Cavan expected to meet with me to discuss the book he left at our centre. I tried to tell him I needed time to research the grimoire, but that didn’t fly. He has the patience of a gnat, just like you.”

  Daegan had to find Tristan. “My friend was followin’ Cavan and now he is missin’. Ya will help me find him.”

  “Oh, hell no. I didn’t cause any of your troubles, buster. You and Cavan need to leave me alone and work out your differences.” Her hands shook when she reached back to grip the bookcase for support.

  That was the moment her energy pushed through the room, banging against Daegan.

  She was definitely not human.

  Chapter 22

  Casidhe’s heart hammered wildly. Something had changed severely with this intruder. What did he mean about Cavan capturing his friend? The quick change in her intruder’s demeanor from pushy to furious had happened out of nowhere.

  That made no sense.

  He hadn’t produced a mobile phone.

  How could he know something about his friend’s situation right now?

  “You have lied yet again, Casidhe Luigsech,” her uninvited guest said in a quiet voice that sent chills racing up her spine.

  She had feared little since leaving the castle to live here and didn’t know how to handle that emotion. One minute the fear chewed at her confidence, and in the next, fury flashed through her at feeling panicked. “I’m getting’ damned tired of you and your scare tactics. How can you be callin’ me a liar yet again when I said nothin’ this time?”

  Instead of answering her question, he warned, “Ya should take heed of my words and start spoutin’ the truth. If anythin’ happens to my friend, I will hold ya, Cavan, and everyone who gets in my way at fault.” He’d been so relaxed before he brought up that his friend was in jeopardy.

  What had she done to make him think she had any part in that?

  He took a threatening step forward. “And I dare much when the lives of my people and others depend upon it. First ya will tell me how to locate Cavan. Then once I find my friend, ya will hold the grimoire volumes for me if ya find them in the meantime.”

  “I don’t even know who you are.” Her brain threatened to explode at this impossible situation. This guy’s brogue thickened as he became agitated. She had to get rid of him. “Cavan is at least payin’ me. You break into my house, threaten my life, and now want to force me to hunt a book for you without offerin’ a penny. Oh, and you think I do missin’ persons searches. Just because you say all that about Cavan doesn’t mean anythin’. You could be escaped from a mental institution for all I know. You haven’t even given me a name.”

  “My name does not matter. Locatin’ Cavan does. Tell me how to find him,” he repeated, pushing more fury into his words.

  “I don’t know. Both times, he just showed up at the centre, then he found me today. He’ll be at the centre in the mornin’. There. Now you know. Show up just before ten and you two have a talk. Keep me out of it.”

  Her tall, dark, and intimidating intruder vibrated with anger. His power pushed out across the room, pinning her back against the bookcase.

  Then his face took a turn from furious to decisive. “Very well. I will leave for now, but ya will never be out of my sight. Perhaps seein’ me leave will bring Cavan to your door.”

  “Oh crap, thanks so much. Not.”

  “Ya have no worry as long as ya do not cross me and give aid to Cavan. I will be close by.”

  His words hit her square in the chest. “Wait a damn minute. You’re usin’ me for bait?” Blood rushed from her head.

  He stepped up quickly and cupped her arms, shaking her. “Are ya sick?”

  She was so much worse than sick. She could not run from Cavan or this man, if this stranger told the truth, and he seemed to understand more than she did.

  Her energy swirled and raced through her. The sensation buzzed just under her skin then surfaced where his hands touched her. She shoved him away.

  He cursed. “Ya are no Luigsech.”

  “I am.” She straightened away from the bookcase.

  “No. They were human. Ya are not. Who are ya?”

  Gripping her fingers tight enough to be white, she’d done it again. She’d allowed her shield to drop.

  With nothing else at her fingertips for defense, she shouted at him. “You have no right to come here and accuse me of anythin’. I don’t even know you. I have no reason to believe what you say about Cavan and you sure as hell don’t know what you’re sayin’ about me. Get. Out.”

  Muscles bulged in his jaw. His eyes narrowed with fury. He took a step toward her. “Here is my deal. First I find my friend, then ya will find the grimoire volumes. That is when ya will no longer see me.”

  With the edge of the bookcase digging into her butt, she made a decision that might get her killed. She’d hidden the sword in the wide slot between the back of the case and the wall. Taking a last breath, she pleaded silently to not be denied, and reached back to grip the sword handle.

  This time, Lann an Cheartais slid smoothly from the sheath.

  Casidhe whispered her thanks. Power zinged through it as she raised the deadly blade quickly in front of her.

  His eyes widened with surprise. He inhaled deeply and stared at the sword in disbelief. “Where did ya get that?”

  “What made you think we were still chatting?” she gritted out, holding the sword with both hands. “I would not harm someone unarmed, but I have no doubt that you possess deadly supernatural weapons.”

  “You will explain that sword or—” He cocked his head quickly toward the door. “Are ya expectin’ someone?”

  What a poor attempt at trying to get her to look away. She muttered, “Unbelievable. Are you dense on top of everythin’ else?”

  “If Cavan approaches, ya will tell him nothin’ about the grimoire volumes or the Treoirs.”

  She waved the sword back and forth. “I do not take orders from you.”

  His voice deepened. “Some bein’ approaches. Are ya expectin’ Cavan tonight or not?”

  “Cavan, whoever. Right now, I’d welcome the grim reaper. He’d be better company.”

  His frustration erupted. “If ya do not know who comes, ya are in danger
.”

  “Says the man who broke into my home and threatened me,” she yelled at him.

  “Warnin’ ya ’tis not a threat,” he argued through a clenched jaw.

  “Breakin’ and enterin’ is,” she countered and walked across the room. She gripped her sword in one hand and grabbed the door latch with her other. She didn’t hear anyone outside.

  What if Fenella had decided to bring the baby goats by to show her? She hoped so. She had to get Fenella out of this area immediately. Send her to the castle.

  Herrick would have to trust Casidhe’s decision.

  If Casidhe did not show up to meet Cavan in the morning, he’d hurt Fenella.

  Lifting the sword, she warned her intruder, “Do not speak to anyone comin’ to see me and do not scare them or you will find out just what I’m capable of.” That sounded so much better than the truth.

  He shook his head and muttered something dark that even she couldn’t translate. He shifted his thick legs apart and ordered, “Open the door.”

  She pushed down on the handle release and yanked the door to her, glaring at him the entire time.

  He shouted, “Move!”

  She’d had it with this guy. “You know what—”

  A glowing creature rushed inside, howling and with claws out to kill.

  Chapter 23

  Daegan called up the Treoir sword he’d used to fight wars when he’d lived in this land free to fly as a dragon. He hacked at the glowing Imortik with sickle-shaped claws reaching for him. This thing would be impossible to kill unless it had taken over a human body or a being of less power than him.

  Daegan slashed across, intending to cut off the head, but the damn creature dove and gouged his leg.

  He knew better than to try to teleport this time.

  Daegan booted the center of its body, knocking the snarling thing away. The burn of venom streaked up his leg.

  The Imortik body struck the stunned Luigsech woman, knocking her off her feet. She fell backwards, crashing into a rocking chair. All of that hit the ground hard, but she held onto her sword still sizzling with energy.

  Pointing a finger at the Imortik as it tried to get up, Daegan roared as his telekinetic power would not work. He stepped over and ripped the Imortik off her and dropped it on the floor.