by Mary Morgan
“Can’t I just curl up on the ground?”
He didn’t even answer. Instead, Liam pulled her against his body. “When you are feeling better and have rid yourself of this fever.”
She pouted. “What a nuisance. I have never suffered this gravely ever before.”
An owl hooted nearby, and she smiled. Closing her eyes, she tried to push the pain away within her head.
“Abela?”
“Yes?” she mumbled.
“You have hidden the Stone of Ages well?”
“Of course,” she whispered. “Only a Fae can detect its placement.”
“Wise, mo ghrá. Keep the cloak with you at all times.”
“I will guard it with my life.” Taking a deep sigh, Abela slipped into a blissful slumber.
****
Shards of pain continued to invade Abela’s body as she attempted to open her eyes. Sunlight danced along the ground, and she ached to slump down upon its soft coolness. It teased and tormented her.
“Let me go,” she pleaded.
“Shh…” whispered Liam against her cheek.
Once she'd welcomed his breath against her skin. Now it was like a burning poker. Lifting her hand, she attempted to swat at him.
“What’s wrong?” she asked in a hoarse voice.
“The men are arguing. It seems as if they are unable to contact the Fae. They have been trying all night and into the early morning.”
“Stupid humans.” She cupped a hand over her mouth to stifle the giggle. Why did she ever become fascinated with the human world?
“Can you turn around?” he asked.
“Every cell in my body is screaming.” However, Abela did as he requested. “By the Goddess,” she moaned.
Shifting around, Liam retrieved the flask. Lifting it to her lips, she tried to take in some of the cooling liquid. “Throat hurts.”
“You must stay hydrated. The fever has not abated.”
Abela looked up at him. Slowly she reached out and touched his cheek with her fingers. “Say a prayer to Mother Danu.”
He bent and kissed her nose. “She can still hear you, Abela.”
She shook her head solemnly. “The Goddess has forsaken me.”
“Never,” he affirmed. “But I will add my prayers to yours.”
Regardless of what Liam said, she knew in her heart Mother Danu had left her. Never once, had Abela heard her whispered words of comfort. Furthermore, she understood that her body was dying. Each hour a part of her life force faded away, vanishing into the land and leaving her weaker. In addition, she battled with the decision to keep this knowledge contained from Liam. She could not bear to burden the love of her life that without help, she would surely die in this world. She tried to fight the soothing call of the other side, but her body would not cooperate with her mind. The moment she lowered her shields, she thought Conn would somehow magically appear. Was he not searching for them? Had their father forbidden him from leaving the realm again?
She rubbed her temples. “So many questions.”
“What answers do you seek?” asked Liam quietly, reaching for her hand.
“For one, where is my brother?”
Liam shrugged. “I am as much in the dark as you are. In fact more so, since I have no knowledge as to the current affairs of our kingdom.”
Abela fought the urge to tell him everything. Perhaps she could share a small amount of knowledge to ease his mind. “Conn and your brother walked their own path—both were not easy ones either. Do not pass judgment on them when you see them.”
He looked at her suspiciously. “Care to elaborate?”
“Sorry, no.”
Liam’s laughter sounded bitter, and he remained silent.
Abela lowered her head and sighed.
“I love you, mo ghrá. Remember my words always. Heart to heart…”
She lifted her head, doing her best to hold back the tears. “Blood to blood, my body and soul is forever yours.”
He brought her hands to his lips. “Until my last breath.”
Shouting and curses erupted from Peter, and they both turned at the heated conversation with his men.
“Will this ever end?” she muttered.
Liam snorted in contempt and kept his voice low. “They’re furious over the absence of the Fae. Apparently they should have been here last evening. By my deductions, it sounds like more than one Fae. Something has gone wrong with Peter’s plans. Or he reckons the Fae have mistook the time of the meeting, which in my opinion is incorrect. The Fae’s timing is always impeccable. Peter suggests leaving to go to another rendezvous. One that the Fae suggested on another occasion.”
“Wonderful. I do not relish moving once again on foot,” she complained and tried stretching her legs out.
Peter pointed in their direction, and one of the men stormed forward. Liam immediately stood, taking a protective stance in front of Abela.
“Get out of my way,” snapped the man, shoving Liam off to the side. “I’m to bring the woman. Ye are to remain here.”
He grabbed a hold of her arm, and Abela winced. “I can stand,” she protested feebly.
Liam’s lip twisted in rage and attempted to block the man from leaving. “Where the princess goes, I follow. She is under my protection.”
“Get out of my way,” ordered the man, pulling her along with him.
“No!” roared Liam.
Peter barked out orders, and two other men charged toward Liam—swords extended.
“Stop,” demanded Abela, trying to reason with her captor. “I will go, but do not harm him.”
Liam continued to fight, until Peter charged forth and bashed him over the head with the hilt of his sword.
A chill of foreboding swept through Abela as she screamed Liam’s name, watching in stunned horror as he slumped to the ground. As she tried to yank free from the man, he tightened his grip. The pain radiated up her arm and into her neck. “Allow me to go to him. He’s injured.”
Peter marched toward her. “Silence!” Leveling his blade against her neck, he added, “If ye want him to live, ye will go willingly.”
Though her body trembled, Abela lifted her chin in determination despite her fear. I have never known hatred until this moment. “I will cause you no further trouble.” Though the words she spouted contained a lie.
“Good.” He motioned to her captor. “Take her away. We will move onward.”
The bile in her stomach threatened to heave onto the ground. Abela cast one more glance at Liam as Peter gave instructions for two of the men to bind Liam to a tree. Blood seeped down his face from the wound to his head, and she prayed he’d wake soon. How she yearned to see the spark of love in his eyes, if only for one last moment.
Blinking back the tears, she tried to focus on one single thought that Conn would find them. She had tried calling him, but was too weak to project her thoughts in search of her brother’s mind. Searching the trees, Abela sent out messages to the animal kingdom in an effort to alert her brother if he should venture upon Liam first.
Her body was heavy as she stumbled ahead, trying to stay focused and push away the pain in her heart and limbs. With each step leading her farther away from Liam, a piece of her soul splintered like shards of glass.
The men continued to argue over the course of direction, believing they should have remained at the original destination agreed upon by them and the Fae. Peter overrode their complaints, stating there was a secondary location in the event something went wrong. Listening with intent, Abela tried to hear any mention of a Fae name. However, their language was garbled and the accent too thick with most of the men. If only she could concentrate more.
Almost stumbling over a tree root, she quickly righted herself and tried to keep pace with the men. A breeze lifted the hair on the nape of her neck and she sighed. It was a blessed relief to her scorching body. Glancing upward, she longed for a cool rain shower to douse the heat within her.
Minutes turned into hours, and her body screamed to stop th
is ruthless procession across the land. When Peter held up his hand to halt, Abela almost cried out in relief. Making her way to a yew tree, she slumped down.
Her captor kicked her leg with his boot. “Get up.”
“I thought we were stopping,” she argued and placed her palms upon the ground.
“Nae.”
Clenching her jaw, Abela tried to draw energy from the land into her pain-wracked body. “I only require a few moments.”
The man didn’t respond. Instead, he yanked her to standing and pushed her forward.
Beads of sweat dotted her brow, and she wiped a hand across her forehead. Time was running out. Her body was failing. Yet she would fight until her last breath. Did not Liam call her a warrior? Now was the time to earn this badge of honor he had bestowed on her.
Glaring at the man, she stepped around him and walked onward.
Holding her palm up, she blew across the skin. I love you, Liam. Never forget, my love. Seek me out at the gates of Tir na Og. I shall wait for you.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Destiny is fickle. One moment the path shines brightly in front of you. And the next, it tosses you into an abyss of pain.”
~Chronicles of Liam MacGregor
Intense pain and screaming filled Liam’s head. He shook in an attempt to rid the demons tormenting his mind. They continued in their merciless torture. His fingers sought to withdraw his blade and slice the tongue from the man bellowing in his ear, but he was unable to retrieve the sword.
“Wake up, you bloody fool!” bellowed the man.
Liam recognized that voice and fought the urge within his mind to sink back into the chasm of darkness. Fighting the wave of pain, he blinked and tried to focus on his surroundings.
His realty came crashing back into his memories, and he let out a strangled cry, “Abela!”
“Where is she?” demanded Conn, towering over him.
Wiping the blood away from his eye, he responded, “Gone with Peter O’Malley of the Irish Travelers and his men. He seeks to take over O’Malley’s clan.”
“You bastard! You have dishonored the Brotherhood. I should save us all the trouble and kill you where you sit.”
Liam ignored Conn’s ranting, expecting far worse. He leaned to the side and took in the appearance of his brother, Rory, Taran, and Ronan. “I see only the strongest have been dispatched to assist the Fae Prince.”
Without warning, Conn leveled a fist to his jaw, and Liam’s head slammed against the bark of the tree. Lights danced before his eyes, and he shook his head in an effort to focus.
His brother stepped forward. Withdrawing his dirk, he sliced through the ropes and freed Liam.
As Rory helped him to stand, he pointed to the crystal cuffs. “By the Gods, how? Have the Fae council guards arrived?”
Liam lifted his joined hands. “There is a traitor within our kingdom.”
“You lie,” spat out Conn, grabbing his tunic. “Your dishonesty is unforgiveable.”
Arching a brow, Liam countered, “For what purpose? I just told you Peter O’Malley has Abela. He has done this with the help of someone within the Fae realm. Peter was the one who possessed the cuffs to bind both Abela and myself. So tell me, my prince, where would he obtain them?”
After releasing his hold, Conn took a step back, shock registering across his features. “Why would there be a division within the realm? This is madness!”
“Agreed,” stated Liam dryly. “Apparently, there are some Fae who are not happy with the recent changes within the kingdom and aligned themselves with Peter and his men. Yet, I suspect there are more humans involved. Peter only had ten men with him.” He shifted his stance and glanced at his brother. Wariness reflected in his eyes. “Since Abela refused to share any knowledge of what has transpired between you and Rory, I can only surmise that much has happened since my time in seclusion. Would any like to share the recent events of what has occurred?”
Rory pointed to Conn. “Should you give him the particulars?”
Conn blew out a frustrated breath and rubbed a hand over his face. He looked at Ronan. “Alert the king immediately. Place extra guards around all the royal households. When all is completed, return to us. Furthermore, do not inform the king we have found Liam. If he even hears a whisper that Abela’s been kidnapped by humans, he will ignite a war by entering this world.”
Ronan gave a curt nod and snapped his fingers. In a flash of colors, the warrior vanished.
“Regardless of the circumstances, I judge it wise not to discuss what has happened to Rory and me. Our lives have indeed changed. I can share that not only have I claimed the throne to the kingdom, but also I am now the leader of the Fenian Warriors.”
“I denoted the additional leader markings on your arms and the silver armbands that proclaim you the prince,” Liam interrupted. “Why the secrecy? Were you forced at your trial to accept the throne?”
Rory and Conn exchanged glances.
When silence lingered like a black cloud, Liam sighed and lifted his hands. “Would you care to remove these?”
Conn eyed him skeptically. “No. You are under arrest for breaking out of prison. In addition, your crimes are great for bringing the princess into the mortal world.”
He took a step near the prince. “We need to locate Abela.”
Fisting his hands on his hips, Conn’s eyes blazed silver. “And we shall, but not you. Furthermore, what gives you the right to call her thusly? She is a priestess of the temple, a princess, and my sister!”
“We waste valuable time arguing,” protested Liam. “Remove these cuffs!”
“Rory, remove your brother from my presence, or I will be forced to take a blade to his tongue.”
Liam refused to leave, and he gave Rory a warning look. “You will not be able to track her.” He risked his life by revealing what he was going to confess to Conn and the others. But the sands of time were slipping away.
The prince smirked. “I have thus far.”
“Only through the blood on the stones, and this is where it ends. I am your only hope now in tracking Abela,” divulged Liam.
Silence ensued all around them. Liam registered that each warrior was trying to unravel what he had professed. He took a hesitant step back. “You require my aid in searching for Abela. I am the only one who can hear the whisper of her blood. I will not return to the Fae realm without her.”
Conn slowly unsheathed his sword, the hiss of steel filling the air. “Your life is mine.”
“Remember your vow,” warned Rory and took a step toward the prince.
Liam showed no fear as he stared at Conn. “If you kill me, you will break the bond between Abela and me.”
“No! This is an outrage! You have violated her!” roared Conn and punched the air with his fist.
The blast of power sent Liam flying back. He landed against the ground with a thud. Rolling over onto his knees, he tried to take in air as his lungs constricted from the blow. Waves of pain pounded his body, and he dug his hands into the land for healing.
“Get up, you bastard! You spout lies.”
Standing on shaky limbs, Liam turned around. He did not fear Conn. No matter the man’s rage, he had to get Conn to contain his fury until after they rescued Abela. “You cannot deny it to yourself what you already know in your heart—”
“Silence! Not one more word!”
Ignoring Conn’s order, Liam continued, “We have spoken the binding vows. Abela is mine.”
Instead of a blast of power, Conn leveled his blade against his heart. “I should end your pathetic life. You are not worthy of her.”
Liam gave the man a weak smile. “On that we are in agreement. Nevertheless, I am in love with her,” he paused and then continued, “In truth, I have always loved Abela. But it was your words so long ago that sent her fleeing from me.”
Uncertainty clouded Conn’s features, and he lowered his sword. He rubbed a hand over his brow. “How did you escape?”
“Abel
a used the magic of the temple and entered my prison. From there, she was the one who kidnapped me and brought us both into the mortal world.”
“By the hounds! Why didn’t you object? Surely you understood the risk she faced by committing or executing this crime,” snapped Conn.
“At the time, she was garbed in material to shield her identity. I forced her to reveal herself once we were in the human world. She presented me with a proposition, and I accepted.”
Conn, Rory, and Taran gaped at him in astonishment.
“Abela can be extremely convincing,” professed Liam.
“But why would she do this for you and not for Conn?” asked Rory. “What possible meaning, unless…”
Liam nodded slowly. “She had no wish to see me die, since she has loved me for years, as well. Your destiny was on another path, and I assume she did not want to interfere. Whereas mine was ending in death.”
“Sweet Mother Danu. I am the fool,” muttered Conn, raking a hand through his hair. “I vaguely recall the time when she grew curious about the infamous MacGregor brothers. When she specifically wanted details pertaining about you—”
“You told her about my liaisons,” interrupted Liam.
“Yours and Rory’s exploits were legendary. It was my right as her brother,” Conn objected.
“Nevertheless, I had not visited the Pleasure Gardens in many moons while I was seeing Abela.”
Conn blew out a frustrated sigh.
Moving toward the prince, Liam held his hands outward. “I have no wish to stand here and debate the past with you. Not when time is diminishing for Abela. Regardless of how you feel about our relationship, we need to rescue her. She has grown weak with fever, and her magic is dwindling.”
“Because she is dying in the human world,” declared Conn.
Liam staggered back, the blow of Conn’s words akin to a hammer to his soul. “I thought her merely ill…adjusting to the human world.”
“Only the Fenian Warriors can travel within this realm. I have only just come upon this knowledge. We do not know how long she has either.”
“But what about the Fae who work with the humans?” Liam retorted. “Apparently you are incorrect and Abela is merely ill.”