by Tena Stetler
“She didn’t force me into anything,” Stefan said indignantly. “She wanted to teach me to step dance, and I agreed to try. I didn’t do too bad, and better than you, I’ll wager.” Stefan glanced back at Tim for support, who nodded in agreement as he added the last layer to a Guinness and slid the glass down the bar.
“You mean you did that…willingly?” Tristian laughed in amazement.
“Compromise…remember?” Stefan turned back to talk to Tim and followed his dark glare back to the dance floor. Kevin was trying to kiss Brandy. She was having none of it. Stefan was at her side in a blink of an eye. Calmly, Stefan removed Kevin’s hands from Brandy, giving him a little shove, slid his arm around her possessively, and started walking back to the bar.
Kevin grabbed Stefan’s shoulder and spun him around. Stefan let go of Brandy and caught Kevin’s fist midair, twisting his arm around behind his back. Kevin howled in pain, then began cursing. Stefan circled Kevin’s chest with his other arm, yanked his free arm, and wound it around his back also. Holding him there, Stefan hissed, “I think the lady is done dancing with you. I believe you’ve had a bit too much to drink. Do us both a favor; go home and sleep it off.”
“You bloody bastard. I’ll kill you.” Kevin cursed, trying to break free. “She’s me girl, and I’ll do with her what I want. What’s it to you?”
Drawing in a deep breath, Stefan faced away from the crowd, his fangs descending and claws poking through his fingertips as he tried to regain control. His head pounded with rage and jealously. All the emotions he’d held in check for so long spun out of control.
“Stefan…let me have him,” Tristian said tersely, shoving himself between the two men. “Stefan, you need some air…get out of here now!”
Stefan shoved Kevin toward Tristian, then turned, glancing at Brandy, her face white and contorted in fear as Stefan stalked toward the door.
Kevin broke free and grabbed Stefan’s arm, whirling him around. Kevin swung his arm up, his hand fisted. Stefan’s hand clamped around Kevin’s neck. Kevin’s fist glanced off Stefan’s jaw. Picking him up off his feet, Stefan shoved Kevin against the wall, his face beet red, eyes bulging out, and mouth open, gasping for air. Stefan heard Brandy scream, “Stefan, no…don’t. Please.”
Kevin’s eyes rounded as the pub lights bounced off Stefan’s fangs. Stefan reined in his anger and lowered Kevin to his feet. Stefan still held him by his throat as he loosened his grip. “Kevin,” Stefan said in a frighteningly calm voice. “Brandy is NOT your girl. She committed to me. I’m here to meet her family and celebrate.”
Stefan looked deep into Kevin’s eyes, controlling his will and memory, “Now, unless you do not value your life, I strongly suggest that you leave here immediately. Don’t come back till you’re sober. Then apologize to Tim and Mary for causing a scene and to Brandy for your behavior.” Releasing his hold on Kevin’s throat, Stefan pushed him down the wall. Kevin groaned as he hit the floor with a thud.
Tristian grabbed for his arm, but Stefan stepped neatly out of Tristian’s reach, calling over his shoulder, “I need some fresh air. Take care of things.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Legends and Lessons—A Secret to Tell
Once outside the pub, Stefan raced along the jagged cliffs until his anger subsided. The cool mist dampened his face and the fresh air cleared his head. Slowing to a walk, he followed the rocky trail down to the beach and sat on a rock, listening to the rhythm of the sea and watching the waves crash to the shore. The full moon shone across the sand, washing everything with a silvery sheen.
“Well now, that was quite a show you put on there, boyo. Not that the lad didn’t deserve it, but now he knows your secret. ’Tis a shame, it is.”
Disgusted, Stefan turned, glaring into the amused face of Tiarnan. “Kevin won’t remember anything except what I told him. Put a cork in it. I’m not in the mood.”
Tiarnan sat on a large rock at water’s edge, flicking stones into the ocean. “Ahh, a bit testy tonight, aren’t we?” Standing up, he walked toward Stefan. The amusement gone from his face, he said thoughtfully, “A temper can be a dangerous thing.”
“Yes, and according to the legends that Brandy tells, you’d know of such things.”
“Aye, that I would,” he said slowly, his face creased with deep sadness. “Temper is the reason my Erin no longer walks these cliffs and beaches with me during the day. As a young lass, there was nothing she enjoyed more than walking along the cliffs and beaches here in about, lifting her face to the warm sun.”
Stefan studied the man, great sorrow etched on Tiarnan’s face.
Sighing deeply, he continued. “She grew into womanhood, and we fell in love. Though she was a powerful witch and I a faerie of royalty. Her father found out about us and forbade her to see me again. My parents were none too happy either. They were wise enough to know if they tried to stop us, we’d only become more determined.”
He paused, his face creased and eyes clouded. “One night her father followed her as she snuck out to meet me. He was furious and forced her to choose either her world or mine. To his shock, she chose mine. We fled to the Sidhe below the hill of green. ’Tis then her father, in a fit of temper, cast the spell locking her in the Sidhe. She would never see the mortal world’s light of day until witches, faeries, and demons work together for the good of all. To his thinking, that would be an eternity.”
“That is why you are willing to help us.”
“Aye,” he said, sitting beside Stefan on the rock.
“How did the Book of Shadows come into your possession?” Thinking back to the tale that Brandy told, there wasn’t any mention of such a book.
Tiarnan smiled sadly. “Erin’s sister, Sorcha, learned of our midnight walks in the mortal world and met us one night with the Book. She hoped there was a reversal for the spell that her father had cast. We spent weeks reading the Book but found nothing. When last we went to return the Book, Sorcha told us that there was dissension in the coven because of her father’s actions against Erin. She felt the Book was safer in our possession.”
“What happened to Sorcha and the rest of Erin’s family? No one ever came back for the Book?”
“No. They scattered to the four winds. We’ve not heard from any of them in a very long time. Word came to us that Sorcha moved to America, where she married and bore a son they named Tristian. I’ve never been able to confirm that.”
Standing up, Stefan shoved his hands in his pockets and stared at Tiarnan. “You think Hannah’s husband is that Tristian?”
“No. More likely a son of that son.” Tiarnan turned his eyes to the sky and sighed. “Powerful family of witches, they are.”
Following his gaze, Stefan saw a beautiful gryphon, rainbow wings spread, circling in the starlit sky above them. She landed several lengths in front of them. Brandy’s body shimmered and blurred as she shifted to human form, her long blazing-red hair blowing in the cool, misty night air.
“I’ll leave you to Brandy. Have a care, Stefan. You mean the world to her but so does her family.” And with that, he was gone.
****
Brandy caught sight of the two just before Tiarnan disappeared. She rushed across the sandy beach. “Stefan, I was so worried. Yet here you sit conversing with faeries?”
“A faerie, and not by choice,” Stefan grumbled, letting his gaze linger over her beautiful body, still naked from transformation. Stepping to her, he slid his hands leisurely over her shoulders and down her arms. “Are you angry?” He pulled her close and took her mouth with his. She stiffened, putting her hand on his chest, and shoved hard.
“I should be angry, but I’m not. More worried. Kevin had that coming for a long time. I only wish you’d not been the one to give it to him.” She sighed, letting her hand slide down his chest to rest at his waist. “You’re well aware I can take care of myself. You needn’t have stepped in.”
He held her closer and laid his cheek on the top of her head. “I know, but I couldn’
t stand by and watch him treat you like that. Not going to happen.” He shook his head vehemently. “Kevin won’t remember a thing. I made sure of it.” He tilted his head, his expression one of inquiry. “Am I still welcome in the pub?”
“Of course.” She pulled away to peer into his face. “With the mixture of magic folk that frequents the pub, if a week goes by without an incident, Ma and Da are amazed.”
“Then I suggest that we get your clothes and rejoin the festivities, if they are still going on.”
“They are. In fact, Da asked me to go find you and bring you back. My clothes are at the house. We’ll stop on our way, and I’ll change.” She shivered in the cool evening breeze.
He shrugged out of his shirt and wrapped it around her shoulders. “Put this on before you catch a chill.”
She slipped her arms into the sleeves, shoved them up, and buttoned the shirt. “Thanks.”
They strolled back to the house, hand in hand. Brandy quickly changed into her dress. He slipped into another shirt and returned to the pub.
The heavy wooden door to the pub groaned as Stefan tugged it open. Friendly voices and cheerful music greeted them as if nothing had happened. Tim was behind the bar, smiling, and waved them to a pair of stools at the end of the bar next to Tristian and Hannah.
As they made their way to the bar, Stefan received hardy slaps on the back as Brandy got hugs by just about everyone in the place. There was no sign of Kevin O’Riley, which suited Brandy perfectly. Meandering up to the bar, she took a seat next to Hannah and joined the conversation.
Stefan took the stool beside Brandy and next to Tristian. Putting a hand on his shoulder, Stefan glanced between Hannah and him. “Everything okay?”
Brandy leaned in to hear snippets of the conversation, hoping things between her sister and brother-in-law were handled. She didn’t want anything to spoil their time in Ireland.
Tristian nodded. “Yeah, never better, actually. Maybe I was being a little overprotective.”
“Huh, ya think?” Stefan raised a brow as feigned shock spread over his face.
“Oh, very funny.” Tristian shoved at Stefan. “Seriously, Hannah made me realize that she can handle herself. I was so busy protecting her, I wasn’t enjoying what we have together. She wants to be an equal partner in our marriage. I’ll admit it’ll take some getting used to, but I can handle it.” He paused, then added, “Thanks for the advice.” He lifted his pint to Stefan. “Slainte.”
“Anytime. Women are a puzzle, but one I enjoy solving…most times,” Stefan said with a wink.
Tristian sidled closer and lowered his voice. “I heard from Bruce. Synn contacted him, but we can discuss that tomorrow. Tonight, we celebrate with our beautiful women.” Tristian raised his pint again, this time in a toast to Hannah and Brandy. “Slainte.” He put the mug to his lips and drank deeply.
“Slainte.” Stefan joined in the toast but sat his glass on the bar afterward. Brandy reached for it, taking a sip and setting it in front of her. Leaning over, he nuzzled her neck slowly, kissing her softly. Tim looked over uneasily at the contact but said nothing.
The celebration lasted until the wee hours of the morning. On the way home, they took a quick detour to hunt.
Chapter Twenty-Four
On a Need-to-Know Basis and Most Don’t Need to Know
Time spent with Brandy curled warmly beside him was quickly becoming Stefan’s favorite pastime. Rather than sleep, he reflected on recent events and their life together. He worked out the kinks life hurtled toward him in the comforting silence of the night as she slept.
At a soft knock at the door, Stefan slid out of bed without disturbing Brandy, put his robe on, and opened the door.
Tim stood shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other. “Stefan, can we talk?”
“Sure, let me put some clothes on, and I’ll meet you downstairs.”
Tim peered around Stefan, nodding toward Brandy, keeping his voice soft. “Try not to wake her.”
“No problem,” Stefan said in a reassuring voice. He knew this was going to be a difficult conversation. When he arrived downstairs, Tim was pacing in front of the warm, inviting fireplace. An open bottle of whisky and two glasses sat on the end table nearest the couch.
Stefan walked across the room, shoving his hands deep in his pockets, and sucked in a breath, letting it out slowly. He paused in front of Tim. “You wanted to talk to me?”
“Aye. Lad, we know you and Brandy have been together a while, committed, I hope.” Beads of sweat formed at his temples. “Are you…” He walked toward the table that held the whiskey, running his hand through his hair.
“Let me make it easy. Your suspicions are correct. I’m a vampire. Brandy wanted to tell you numerous times but didn’t feel the time was right. She wanted you to get to know me first. I’m not a danger to her, or any of you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Aye, in part, but…” Tim walked over, picked up the glass, and knocked back the whisky, hissing out a breath as the familiar burning sensation worked its way to warm his belly. Then he motioned to the other glass. “Join me?”
“I really don’t metabolize human food or drink very well. If forced I can, but would rather not.”
“Of course. I wasn’t thinking.” He trailed off while staring at his glass and turning it around in his hand, sloshing the amber liquid nervously.
“I don’t feed on human blood, if that’s what’s bothering you. I saw the way you looked at me in the pub tonight when I kissed Brandy’s neck. That’s when I knew you’d figured it out.” Watching his face, Stefan wondered what was going on behind those blue eyes clouded with worry.
Tim tensed when Stefan put his hand on his shoulder. “Brandy and I have had our problems, as I’m sure you are aware. But I never would have allowed her back in my life if I couldn’t control myself. In fact, it was Brandy that changed my way of life, showed me how to hunt and exist on animal blood.”
“Aye, she always was a bit on the wild side and preferred something different.”
Curious now, Stefan sat down on the couch, watching him. “If you knew your daughter that well, why are you surprised?”
Tim shook his head, and his eyes met Stefan’s. “I’m not. Not really. More concerned. I don’t know how to explain this to her mother or the rest of the family. Your incredible strength and speed when Kevin attacked you set everyone in the pub to talking. How do we explain that to them or him?”
“Don’t worry about Kevin. He’ll remember only what I told him before I released him. As far as the others in the pub, most have probably forgotten already or blamed it on the drink.”
“You could be right, but I saw Kevin’s face. He saw what I saw.” He paused, looking questioningly at Stefan.
“Let’s just say I’ve many talents, as your daughter does. Besides, Kevin had way too much to drink.” He paused, considering what to tell Mary. “As far as Mary is concerned, I don’t think she will be any more surprised than you. We’ll tell her the truth. Your concern, while understandable, isn’t necessary. Brandy and I hunt to keep my thirst under control.”
“Telling Mary the truth is best,” he agreed.
“Brandy can handle that tomorrow morning. The rest of your large family will be on a need-to-know basis and most won’t need to know.” Stefan stood up and glanced toward the bedroom.
Rubbing the back of his neck, Tim sighed. “Aye, you’d be right about that.”
“You’ve had a long night. Go on back to bed knowing that you and your family have nothing to fear from me,” Stefan said gently.
Tim nodded his head. “Aye, the rest can wait until morning. Tonight I needed to confirm my suspicions and get your measure as a man. I still like what I see. ’Tis just a little unnerving to have a vampire serious about me daughter.” With a half laugh, he shook his head. “We knew when she left Ireland that she wouldn’t commit to her own kind. She was looking for something else, and I guess she found him. No offense.”
> Smiling, Stefan nodded “None taken.” Returning to their bedroom, he took a quick hot shower. It might rouse Brandy, but she wouldn’t think much about it as that was their way of compensating for the differences in body temperatures, especially in bed. Then he could slide back into bed and not chill her as he drew her close.
Standing in the shower, eyes closed, the warm water cascading over his tense body, he heard the bathroom door creak open and then close quietly. The shower door slid open. Still, he kept his eyes closed. Her wonderful scent filled the room and warm gentle hands wrapped around him as her body all but slithered against him.
He enjoyed the arousing sensations rippling through his body as her gentle fingers played lightly over his chest muscles, and slid further down his body. Opening his eyes, he turned slowly, and drank in Brandy’s glistening wet naked body, letting his hands roam intimately over her.
She smiled seductively up at him. “Restless again tonight?” she murmured.
“That’s part of it, I guess,” he whispered against her soft neck pulsing with delicious…Then slowly trailing his tongue across her shoulders and down her chest, he tenderly licked the water droplets from her firm, round breasts.
She moaned softly and arched toward him.
Turning off the water, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to their bed. Outside, the rain was pinging on the window and the fireplace still glowed with the last embers of the fire started earlier in the evening.
Spilling her out onto the bed, she gasped, then giggled as she grabbed his hand, pulling him down beside her.
“Darling, I’m going to take you for a ride you’ll not soon forget.” She slowly slid one long, shapely, well-toned leg across his body and rose up over him.
He grinned wide in anticipation, folding his hands behind his head. “Then by all means, have your way with me.”
She leaned down, her breasts tantalizingly caressing his bare chest as her lips brushed lightly back and forth over his, lingering a little longer each time.
“You like that?” she whispered seductively.