“I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed using it. I use all natural ingredients found right here in hills and from the waters of the cove. Some of the recipes I follow are old Celtic traditions handed down from generation to generation.”
“See there, Celeste? We’re descended from great Celtic warriors, you know? It’s nice that you’re using some of the old recipes. I always say natural is best,” Henry boomed, smiling at his wife. Celeste smiled back at him and Fiona could easily read the love found between them.
“I certainly hope you’ll share products from your line with me first,” Celeste said finally and Fiona grinned at her.
“You’ll have first access to anything I make,” she promised, finally feeling some of the tension leave her shoulders.
“How is it that you can go into the cove? Legend says it’s enchanted. None of us go there – not since Conan lost his life there.” Celeste raised an eyebrow at Fiona in question.
Fiona cupped the small porcelain teacup in her hand as she thought about how to answer without setting off the O’Briens’ suspicions again.
“I’m not really sure,” Fiona decided to give them the honest truth – or at least partial honesty. “I know one of my ancestors died there. And because of that, it seems as though I’m allowed in the cove. Perhaps because her blood was sacrificed there? I do know that I have a strong pull to the land above the cove. Every time I walk there, I dream of building a little cottage at the base of the hill, situated just so to catch all of the breezes and so that you can see the ocean from almost every angle.” Fiona realized they were looking at her with their eyebrows raised. “I’m sorry, I am. Sure and it’s just a small fantasy of mine, is all.”
She hoped the change of topic to the land above the cove would spur Celeste to move on to other topics, but the eagle-eyed woman honed in.
“Your ancestor died in the cove. How fascinating. I suppose that might make sense – you’ve already given a sacrifice therefore you’re allowed there. I have to admit, I’ve always been dreadfully terrified of the cove. I don’t hold with enchantments and such nonsense, now, you know,” Celeste said, and shook her head in disgust.
“I don’t think you have to understand it in order to respect it,” John pointed out.
“Of course not. I know better than to go there. The entire village does.” Celeste narrowed her eyes at Fiona. “But if I can get special creams and tonics made from ingredients found there, I suppose I won’t mind.”
Fiona wanted to roll her eyes at the dichotomy of it. So going to the cove and anything associated with the magick of the cove was bad – but healing and beautifying creams and tonics made from the cove were good.
“You’ll be the first in line for anything I make,” Fiona promised, deciding to bypass the hypocritical nature of Celeste’s comments.
“What do you suppose will happen to Father Patrick?” John asked, deftly steering the conversation in another direction.
“I, for one, am astounded that a man of the cloth would do such a thing,” Celeste said, horror lacing her features, though Fiona could read in her a level of excitement about the new gossip as well.
“He’s not a good person. Only focused on his gain and not caring who or what he hurts in the process,” Fiona said fiercely, taking a biscuit from the tin to munch on. The buttery flakiness of the biscuit complemented the tea nicely.
“I’m sorry you were the target of his wrath,” Henry said evenly. “Though I’m right proud of my boy for standing up for you. Now, it seems we have your future to be discussing.”
Fiona’s eyes widened and she coughed on the biscuit, suddenly dry in her throat.
John laughed and patted her lightly on the back, before turning to his parents.
“I know this comes as a bit of a surprise and that you haven’t had a chance to get to know Fiona very well. But, I know she is the partner that I want in life. I’ve known for a long time but she’s never quite noticed me before. The time is right. It feels right. Kind of like when you saw mum for the first time,” John said and Fiona’s heart clenched at his words, giddiness snaking through her as this man – who months before had just been someone she knew in passing – declared his love for her to his parents.
Surprisingly, Celeste’s eyes softened as she looked at her husband.
“I do remember when you first caught my attention. Who was this big hulking man who was suddenly bringing me clutches of posies at the bakery?”
Henry’s face reddened a bit, but he grinned at his wife.
“It was hard not to bring you flowers once I’d had a look at you. Plus, I had to beat back all the other suitors.”
“Oh stop,” Celeste laughed, dimpling up at her husband. Fiona was surprised to find herself beginning to like the woman. Maybe this would work out after all.
“We’ll need to plan a wedding,” John pointed out, and Fiona’s eyes bugged open.
A wedding! She’d completely overlooked that huge detail in the midst of all the chaos of the day.
Henry chortled at her expression. “Seems as though Fiona needs a little time to warm up to the idea of a wedding. Let’s give her a little breathing room, shall we?”
“I don’t want to get married in the church,” Fiona blurted, and then looked over at John to see what he would say.
“Sure and I can be understanding that after what happened this week. We don’t even know if we’ll have a new priest soon,” John said easily, and Fiona’s tension eased a bit.
“What were you thinking then, Fiona?” Celeste asked politely.
“I wasn’t – not really. I think maybe a simple handfasting, outside, would be lovely.”
“A handfasting?” Celeste raised an eyebrow but Fiona could see the wheels turning in her head. “You know, it would be fun to do something different. We’d be the talk of the town. We could have a lovely celebration instead of a stodgy wedding ceremony. It’d be great craic.”
“You hear that, Fiona? Mum thinks a non-traditional wedding could be fun. Maybe she isn’t such a prude after all,” John said, smiling at his mother to soften his words.
“I’ll have you know that I’ve been known to have some fun too, John O’Brien,” Celeste said, her nose in the air.
“Sure and Celeste used to dance me off my feet,” Henry said, laughing at her.
Fiona smiled at the lot of them, feeling a bit dazed by the turns her day had taken. Just this morning she’d been worried about being sentenced to death, and now here she was planning her wedding – having tea by the ocean with her in-laws.
It was amazing how a life could change in a matter of hours.
Chapter 29
After John’s father had taken himself back to the fields and Celeste had begun to outline ideas for a menu for their wedding, Fiona pulled John aside. She still had something important to discuss with him.
“Will you come with me? To the cove? While it’s still light? I’d like to show you something,” Fiona whispered into his ear in the hallway of his house.
“I’ll follow you anywhere, my love,” John said adoringly, and Fiona felt warmth wash through her as she lost herself in his eyes for a second.
She hoped he would still feel the same way after they went to the cove. Fiona grimaced a little, but knew she needed to press through – to show him everything she was. She could hide the truth a little for her in-laws, but she’d never live with herself if she had to hide herself from her husband.
They said their goodbyes to Celeste, claiming they were leaving for a private dinner, and waved to Mr. O’Brien as they climbed into John’s truck. Lir watched them go from behind the fence, his heart in his eyes.
“That silly lamb. I love him,” Fiona said, watching the animal race along the line of the fence after the truck as they pulled away and headed towards the cove.
“I think he should be invited to the wedding. Seeing as how he’s the reason you finally started talking to me. Well, yelling at me, that is.” John sliced a grin at her and Fiona laughed.
“I talked to you before then. We just didn’t see all that much of each other.”
“I waited for you to grow up a little and finally notice me.”
“Is that so? You’ve really waited for me?” Fiona just could not bring herself to believe it.
“Aye, I’ve known it was you for a long time. I just didn’t know when to make my move. Plus, I had some growing up to do myself.”
Fiona tilted her head at him. John was an old soul at that. There was no way a normal man of his age would be this focused and understanding of himself – and of what he wanted in this world. The understanding and the patience he demonstrated in waiting on Fiona made her fall just a little more in love with him. She wondered if that would continue to happen – if, each day, she’d discover something else that would make her love him a little bit more.
Her heart felt full to bursting as they jolted along the lane in his old truck, nearing her favorite place in the world. Fiona fell into silence, smoothing her hands over the red dress, wondering if the light would shine from the cove today.
Would John run when he saw the true magick of what she was?
Wordlessly, they got out of the truck, but John immediately rounded the front and captured Fiona’s hand with his own. They began to walk along the old stone wall that ran the length of the field in front of the cliffs, following their way to the cove.
Fiona looked over at her spot. Would it some day be hers?
John followed her gaze.
“You know, I think you may be right about a little cottage there,” John said, smiling down at her.
“It’s a lovely spot, it is,” Fiona agreed, feeling her throat catch at the thought that her dream could actually become a reality.
“What do you say, Ms. Fiona? Maybe I can convince my father to let us build a little cottage there? One where we could look out at this view every day, and maybe grow a family of our own?”
Fiona couldn’t control the tears that pricked her eyes. It was all so close – so shiny that she almost didn’t believe it could be a reality.
“It would be a dream come true,” Fiona said softly and gasped as John put his hands around her waist, picking her up to swing her in a circle before holding her close and letting her body slide down his. She looked up at him, delighted with him, delighted with how her world had changed so quickly.
“That’s all I want in this life, and the next – to make your dreams come true,” John said softly. Fiona considered his odd choice of words, but then thoughts left her mind as he slid his lips over hers in a kiss that both heated and soothed. Losing herself to his touch, Fiona forgot the world outside of them and slid into a space that felt like home.
“Now, take me into this infamous cove of yours,” John said when they had pulled apart, gasping a little.
“I’d be honored to,” Fiona said, tugging him forward to the top of the path. She slid her feet from her shoes, knowing that the small heels would be useless on the trail, and proceeded to walk barefoot down the path. She pulled John behind her, her hand trailing along the rock wall, as she looked for items to gather as her token gifts along the way. Finding a sparkly quartz rock, she pocketed it and scanned for some flowers.
“Gathering stuff for your tonics?” John asked from behind her.
Fiona paused mid-way down the cliff and looked back at him. She froze for a moment as his image seemed to blur out and fade, suddenly becoming translucent. It was as though he was there, then suddenly he was an ephemeral being – a wisp of a man. Her heart tightened in her throat as a certainty hit her, so strong it left her gasping for air as John stepped forward to wrap his arms around her.
“Hey now, what’s wrong? Are you feeling faint then? You look as though you’ve seen a ghost,” John said, running his hands down her arm and pressing his lips to her head.
Fiona stared blindly out at the cove, the trickles of rage beginning to work through her as she realized what the cove had been trying to tell her.
She’d get to have her happiness with John.
But much like anything in life, it would be fleeting. She would lose him to the veil one day.
Fiona couldn’t decide if it was a gift or a curse – to have her happiness dulled by the prospect of knowing she would lose this man someday. She wanted to know when, how, what would happen. Her eyes blurred as John held her, the waves of the cove placid as she watched, desperately waiting for a sign – something, anything – that never came.
And wasn’t that just a lesson in itself?
Perhaps it didn’t matter when she would lose him. Maybe that was the gift that the cove was giving her – to cherish each moment she had with him like it would be their last. So many people took their lives and the people in them for granted. If she had to lose John – or love him from outside the veil – she would do so wholly and completely then, never taking a moment of his time for granted.
“Let’s keep going. I think I just had a moment. An overwhelming day it was today,” Fiona said softly.
“It has been a day, hasn’t it? One for the record books, that’s for sure,” John said easily, nudging her a bit to continue following the path down the cove. Fiona plodded forward as they wound their way down the cliff, the dirt and sand of the path pressing into her bare feet, her mind numb as she absorbed what the cove had showed her.
Everything had an end. It was the circle of life, and the sooner she came to terms with it, the better a healer and woman she would be.
Fiona skidded to a stop at the bottom of the path, putting her arm out to stop John from walking any further.
“Wow, sure and I’ve died and gone to heaven,” John said, and Fiona froze at his choice of words. Turning, she tilted her head at him in question.
“This cove? It’s just…it’s breathtaking. From above it’s stunning, but when you are down here, you can really feel the impact of it. Those high cliff walls seem to sort of hug you – don’t they? Cupping you in your own private world. And this beach – it’s out of a fairytale, it is. I can feel it too – that press of power. I can see why you come here. And why others stay away,” John said, his face alight in awe as he looked around at the cove.
“Tis magickal, at that,” Fiona said, stepping forward and beginning to draw a circle in the sand with her toe.
“What’s that you’re doing now?” John asked, cocking his arms on his hips and looking at her in question.
“I’m drawing a circle. This is how I’m allowed down in the cove. I lied a bit to your parents. There is magick here. I’m magick too. And this circle and the ritual I’m about to perform are for your protection.” Fiona watched his face carefully.
John looked at Fiona steadily, simply waiting for her to proceed.
“So, if you’re okay with that then, I’ll be performing the ritual,” Fiona finished, feeling a bit awkward at his continued silence.
“Go on. I certainly would like you to protect me,” John said easily and Fiona felt herself stiffen. Were his words a foreshadowing of what was to come? Was she supposed to protect him from something in the future? Swallowing against the very real fear that seemed to clog her throat, Fiona nodded and ushered him to stand inside the circle.
“The purpose of this little ritual is to offer a protection of sorts when you enter the cove. You must sacrifice something or give a gift, to show you mean no harm here,” Fiona said.
“Sacrifice?”
“Well, give something of yours or something you find beautiful. Either way, just an offering of sorts. Energy is all about a give and take. Your intent should be pure and if it is, then you may enter here.”
John stiffened and a flush rose on his handsome face. He raked his hand through his thick hair and looked at her sheepishly.
“My thoughts aren’t exactly pure when it comes to you,” he admitted.
Now it was Fiona’s turn to blush, and she licked her lips, lust suddenly clouding her thoughts.
“Pure as in you aren’t here to try to take or abuse any o
f the magick found here. You won’t defile or litter this space. That you respect it,” Fiona said carefully.
“Ah, yes. Then in that particular case, my thoughts are pure.”
Fiona laughed at him. She couldn’t help it. Lust and laughter and light filled her and she turned to the water, holding John’s hand in one of hers. Pulling the quartz from her pocket, she held it high so that the sun caught the facets of the stone, causing it to explode into light.
“I offer this gift to the waters of the cove where the blood of my blood lies. We come here to celebrate joy and to share truths. No harm will be brought to the cove, nor is any intended.”
Fiona launched the quartz into the water and they watched it sparkle its way through the air before landing with a little plop! in the water.
“Now what?” John whispered from the side of his mouth.
“Now we’re free to go,” Fiona said playfully, and launched herself from the circle, running across the beach, the sand warm at her feet. The sun hung low – a glowing orange bulb, hovering above the misty spot where the sky and the ocean blended to one. Its rays pierced the opening of the cove, bathing the beach in its golden light, freeze-framing the moment for Fiona as she laughed her way across the sand, John racing after her.
He caught her in joy, picking her up once again to spin around in delight. As his lips settled upon hers, Fiona felt the press of magick against her skin, and then the low hum of enchantment ripple against their bodies. Pulling away from his lips, she stayed pressed close to him and simply turned her head so that her cheek rested against the chambray of his shirt, her face turned towards the water.
“John – look,” Fiona said softly, keeping her arms wrapped around his waist. She felt the moment he saw it – his entire body stiffened and he instinctively tightened his arms around Fiona to protect her. The reaction charmed her. There was something incredibly soothing about being held by someone who loved you and wanted to protect you.
“What’s happening? Did the ritual not work?” John breathed into her hair.
The Mystic Cove Series Boxed Set (Wild Irish Books 5-7) Page 33