by Tena Stetler
“Aye, that works as long as one of you remains here.”
“Brandy will be staying in Ireland while Bruce and I travel to find the last Book of Shadows and bring it here.”
“I am? Since when do you decide for me what I will and won’t do, Stefan Talltree?” Brandy fisted her hands on her hips and stared defiantly at him.
Reaching for her hand, he gently straightened out her fingers, intertwining them with his. “If your family’s participation in this is necessary, they will trust you more than any of the rest of us. If anything goes wrong here while I’m gone, I know you can handle it. Make sense?”
Her defiant stance relaxed, and her gaze softened. “I guess, but I think you’re just trying to get around me.”
“Darling, I’ve always been able to do that.” He grinned, giving her a wink.
“Tiarnan, you’ll keep an eye on Brandy while I’m away, won’t you?”
“That I will, lad. Aye, that I will.”
Stefan turned toward town. “We’re headed to the pub. Care to walk with…”
“Stefan, they’re gone.” Brandy said, touching his shoulder lightly. Only the mist crawled along the ground as Brandy and Stefan walked toward the pub in the lightly falling rain.
The pub’s wooden door groaned as he yanked it open. The wreath bounced against the plank as he held it for Brandy. Song and laughter flowed out into the night. Brandy smiled as she passed through the doorway, inhaling the yeasty scent of beer mixed with the aroma of Gavin’s salmon steaks and pan boxty. At a corner table beside the Christmas tree at the end of the bar, the family leaned back against their chairs, sipping pints. Dirty plates were stacked in the center of the table.
“You missed a grand dinner,” Tristian commented, stretching both arms into the air as they approached the table. “Gavin is quite the chef.”
Synn shoved through the kitchen doors, scooped up the dirty dishes off the table, and returned to the kitchen. Stefan glanced from Bruce to Angie, jerking his head toward the door as it swung shut behind Synn. “What’s up with her?”
“She volunteered to help serve and clean up. Not doing too bad, really,” Bruce said easily. “Though her limp is becoming more pronounced.”
“Did she?” Stefan walked to the kitchen and pushed open one door quietly. Brandy followed and peeked around his arm. Gavin had his arm around Synn. Her smiling face tilted up toward him, she listened intently.
“Gavin!” Brandy pushed under Stefan’s arm and stomped into the room. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Gavin straightened, dropping his arm to his side. A dinner plate slipped out of Synn’s hand and crashed to the floor. He turned toward Brandy and Stefan. “Ah, just showing Synn how to stack the dishes in the dishwasher.” He grinned sheepishly.
“Sure you were.” Brandy grabbed Synn by the arm, hauled her out of the kitchen over to the table, and shoved her against Bruce. Between clinched teeth she hissed, “Keep her away from my brother.”
Relaxing against the back of his chair, arms folded behind his head, Bruce tried to keep a grin from forming on his lips. “You might want to talk to your brother before you lay all the blame at Synn’s feet.” He nudged the demon toward a chair and motioned her to sit. She complied, glaring at Brandy. Bruce cuffed Synn upside the head and growled something in her ear. She averted her eyes to the floor, her mouth set in a thin line. Angie frowned at Bruce.
Stefan leaned against the wall, out of the way. Gavin swung through the double kitchen doors on the heels of his sister, wiping his hands on the towel tucked in his waistband.
He grabbed Brandy by the shoulder and spun her around. “Knock it off. I am a grown man and can do as I please. Don’t need you coming in here and making a bloody scene when Synn was just helping. Things were fine before you and Stefan arrived,” Gavin said, keeping his tone calm so as not to draw any more attention to the situation.
“That’s because no one else noticed the gleam in your eye when you first saw Synn. She’s a demon,” Brandy hissed quietly.
“He’s a vampire,” Gavin said, jerking his chin toward Stefan, then looking across the table at Tristian. “Do I need to list what you and Hannah have brought into our family?” Gavin reached out gently for Synn and tugged her out of the chair. With his hand at the small of her back, he guided her back to the kitchen, allowing for her slow, uneven gait. She glanced nervously back at the table. Bruce raised his eyebrow and shot a stern glance in warning to Gavin but allowed Synn to go with him.
Brandy glanced over to where her da was wiping the bar off with a lot more effort than was necessary. Then he roughly slid a glass under the tap to build a pint and shook his head.
Stefan took Brandy’s elbow and steered her toward the door. “Let’s take a walk.”
“No.” She tried to yank her arm free.
He tightened his grip and smiled, whispering, “Um, yes, you are, either willingly or I’ll sling you over my shoulder and walk out with you. Your choice.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me.”
She sent him a withering glance but hurried toward the door.
Once outside, they stopped. Brandy’s gaze still blazed as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Stefan turned to face her. “Think about this for a minute. What better way to make Synn feel a part of the group and get her to open up even more than Gavin befriending her? You said he has a taste for the different. Just like you and your sister. He can also keep an eye on her. Keep her busy while we discuss strategies and make decisions we don’t want her to know about.”
“I don’t care, Stefan. He’s my little brother. I don’t want him hurt. She’s a demon. What if he falls for her?”
“I’m a vampire. So what? Don’t look now, but he’s all grown up. He didn’t think much of your attitude a few minutes ago. I suspect in your long absence he’s sampled a wide variety of dishes, so to speak, without harm. You didn’t ask anyone’s permission to bring home a vampire, now, did you?”
“That’s different.”
He cocked his head, narrowing his eyes. “How?”
“It just is!” She turned and tried to flounce away.
“Oh, no you don’t. We’ll finish this here.” He reached out and caught her around the waist, pulling her to him. “While you were embarrassing your brother and Synn, I listened to the minds of the others. They all knew what was going on, weighed the pros and cons of Gavin’s interest in Synn, and decided to watch the situation without interference. Bruce is going to have a little chat with Gavin in private after we split up for the night. Apparently, Angie, Bruce, and Synn are staying with Gavin for a while until we get things settled.”
Her anger spent, she leaned against Stefan and sighed. “I don’t like it, but it does make sense.”
“Now, let’s go back to the pub and enjoy the rest of the evening. Tomorrow we’ll discuss the logistics of retrieving the Books located outside Ireland and decide how this is all going to go down.”
Inside the pub, now open for business, cheerful voices greeted Brandy and Stefan from a variety of tables around the room. Someone sat at the old piano playing Christmas carols while several patrons, including Tristian and Hannah, joined in the caroling. The aroma of bayberry, pine, gingerbread, and sugar biscuits mixed with the yeasty scent of ale.
“Since when do bars serve Christmas cookie…biscuits? Or what smells like them?” Stefan looked at Brandy, then glanced around. The answer to his question came as Gavin pushed through the doors to the kitchen, a huge platter of biscuits in each hand, followed by Synn, who had two more. They slid the platters onto the bar and cleared a table in the center of the room.
Brandy tossed her head back and laughed. “It’s a Shaughnessy tradition to serve our great-great-grandmother’s Christmas biscuits in the pub on Saturday nights during December. Only, I think Gavin has improved on the original recipe. The locals all clamor for them even on the nights they are not served. But if Gavin has time, he whips up a batc
h or two.”
“It’s quite a family you have,” Stefan said above the noise in the pub.
****
It was the wee hours of the morning when Brandy and Stefan finally returned to their room. Stefan pulled her into a warm shower with him. Afterward Brandy fell fast asleep, her face snuggled against his chest.
Thoughts of the impending trip, strategies and pitfalls it entailed, battered Stefan’s mind. With the morning’s hazy light, the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee, eggs, bacon, sausage, and hash browns wafted into the room. Brandy began to stir, her head on his chest and her body curled warm against him.
She sniffed. “Mmmm, someone is cooking breakfast.” Yawning wide, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hands, she murmured sleepily, “Smells wonderful.” Inhaling deeply, she released her breath with a sigh.
Stefan wrinkled his nose in distaste. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you missed such things.”
“Don’t be. Our life is just different, and I like it as well.” She gently patted his chest. “Let’s get up, and you can watch me eat.”
“Oh, you are so good to me!” He chuckled.
Stopping in the middle of pulling her new rose-colored sweater over her head, her voice muffled, she said, “You don’t like the smell of breakfast, do you?”
Stefan shook his head. “Not really. Some things still smell delicious but taste awful. Not the case with breakfast items.”
“Sorry. The mist appears light and will probably burn off quickly. You could go for a walk instead.” Her head popped out of the sweater. A smile played around her lips and lit up her eyes.
“That’s okay, I’ll suffer through it. Besides, I enjoy the company of your family.”
They hurried down the hallway and into the kitchen. “Good morning, everyone,” Stefan said, pulling out a chair for Brandy and slipping into the one beside her.
Bruce slid an insulated, sealed mug across the table to Stefan. It had a capped straw rising out of it. He winked, and his thoughts flowed through Stefan’s mind, Warmed to a balmy 98.6. Enjoy.
Stefan uncapped the straw, sucked in a breath, and replaced the cap. “Bruce, could I see you in the living room, please?”
Bruce scraped his chair back and stood lazily. “Sure. Is there a problem?” He followed Stefan nonchalantly.
Once in the other room, Stefan hissed, “What do you think you’re doing? I don’t drink that stuff anymore. You’ve got balls sitting that on the table in front of Brandy’s family, especially after your stunt yesterday.”
“That’s why it’s sealed. I don’t know firsthand, but by all reports, existing as you do, while very noble, weakens vampire abilities. If we are teaming up, I want your many talents at their peak. We’re guaranteed an encounter with your kind if I know Baltizar, and I do. You can bet they will have fed on humans.”
“Where’d you get it?”
“Out of Gavin’s freezer. His ex-girlfriend left a few pints of O positive behind. The date on them is still good.”
“Gavin?”
“Yep, that’s right,” he stated smugly, slowly shaking his head. “Staying with him has been an eye-opening experience even for me. Synn is going to have her hands full. If it’s female, he’s sampled it. If it’s extreme or exhilarating, he’s tried it. You get the picture.”
Holding up a hand, Stefan frowned. “All right, just stop. I get it.” He paced across the room, shoved his hands in his front jeans pockets, and pulled them back out. His mouth watered. “How do you know he’s not just embellishing his conquests to impress you?”
“Oh, come on. Do you think I let all of you come over here without checking on the family before you even set foot out of your house? He’s true to his tales.”
“Brandy doesn’t know this side of her brother. Do Tim and Mary know?”
“Probably not. Gavin is very discreet. He also has quite a file on you. Before Brandy, you were one vicious son of a bitch. Thanks for saving my mate.” He laughed and blew out a breath. “Odds of winning this war are going up by the minute. Now, don’t let the perfectly good drink, warmed to perfection, go to waste.”
Bouncing into the room, Brandy grinned. “Hey, enough male bonding. Your food is getting cold.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.” Bruce strolled back into the kitchen.
“Come on,” she tugged Stefan toward the doorway. “Whatever Gavin and Bruce fixed up for you is getting cold too.”
“It’s blood, human blood, O positive to be exact,” Stefan said flatly.
“What?” She gasped, her heart thundering in her chest. Her palms were sweaty as he took her hands in his. “Why?”
“Because your brother and Bruce think my lifestyle has weakened me and my ability to fight. They want me better prepared for battle. Especially Bruce since I’ll have his back in Australia.”
“Is that true?”
“Could be. I’ve never tested it and haven’t really noticed. My talents seem as strong as ever, but I’ve not tested them against other vampires in a while.”
“Will you have to now?”
“It’s possible, at least Bruce thinks so. There is no way to know what we’ll have to defeat in order to get our hands on the Book.”
“Where’d the blood come from?” she asked tentatively.
He snorted. “Your little brother had it in his freezer. Apparently, an ex-girlfriend of his left it there. The dates are still good, so it must have been a recent one.”
She turned ashen as the blood drained out of her face. Opening and closing her mouth a couple of times, she attempted to speak, but nothing came out. He waited, not sure what would be the best course of action under the circumstances.
The color returned slowly to her face. “I knew he was dating out of his species, but I didn’t have any idea how far.”
“There are lots of things you don’t know about Gavin. However, right now, the issue is drinking human blood. I know how you feel, and I am still fine with that.”
“No.” She shook her head slowly. “The circumstances have changed considerably. If it will make you stronger, no human lives lost, and legally obtained, I think you should drink it. You mean too much to me to risk sending you off in less than excellent condition. Though my parents may not feel the same.”
“They don’t have to know. Apparently, your parents didn’t know about Gavin’s girlfriend, or they are great actors. Gavin has the blood at his house, and we’ll just stop by there.”
“Okay, but what about now?”
“It’s handled.” Returning to the kitchen, Brandy and Stefan eased into their seats. Fresh, hot scrambled eggs, bacon, and a glass of orange juice sat in front of Brandy.
“Drink up, Stefan. It’ll set you right.” Bruce laughed, then added, “The vamp worries too much and upsets his system.” Bruce winked at Brandy. He scanned the others at the table. “Since Stefan doesn’t eat breakfast, Gavin whipped up a health drink for him. Probably wouldn’t compete with this delicious spread.”
“I’m sure we don’t want to know,” Mary added while she finished shoveling eggs onto everyone’s plates.
Stefan enjoyed his drink, listening to the others’ strategies and thoughts on departure schedules.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The Land Down Under Is Calling
Bruce and Stefan sat in first class, awaiting takeoff from Dublin’s airport. “It would have been faster to port to Australia,” Bruce mused, “rather than wasting nearly twenty-five hours on this plane if there are no delays.”
“I realize that you’re not used to using public transportation. But by the time your private jet would have arrived in Ireland, we would be well on our way to Australia.” Stefan leaned his seat back and stretched out his long legs, thankful for first class leg room.
“I said port. I’m not complaining about the airlines,” Bruce said flatly. “I’m accustomed to living a certain way. But that doesn’t mean I can’t adjust to whatever is necessary. Considering the options available to us, yo
u were right. This is the best.” He reached down and pulled out his laptop.
“I’m glad you agree. Porting would have gotten us there immediately, but risky?”
“Yes,” Bruce said absently, staring at his computer screen, tapping the keys. “We need to be at our physical peak for this mission. Porting between would subject us to weakness upon arrival, and possibly leave a trail through the portal for demons to follow, making us vulnerable to attack during that time. Not worth the risk.”
“You could port us both?” Stefan asked.
“Yes,” Bruce said, his eyes still trained on his computer screen as he typed. He stopped and looked over at Stefan. “Are you unable to use magic?”
“Not really sure. It’s been a very long time since I even tried.” Stefan leaned back against the sleek blue leather seat, resting his head against the seat and closing his eyes. “My talents lie elsewhere.”
Stefan knew Bruce didn’t like leaving Angie behind with Synn in Ireland any more than he did leaving Brandy. The women would remain with Brandy for a few days. Then Angie would travel with Tristian and Hannah stateside. Angie would stay in D.C. to check on the salon and bring Tobi and Owen up to speed. Tristian and Hannah would head to Maine to unearth Tristian’s family’s Book of Shadows. Meanwhile, Synn was in Gavin’s capable hands until all three Books of Shadows were on Irish soil. Angie would return to Ireland on the salon’s private jet, provided all went well and Tristian was able to retrieve the Book without complications.
Since Angie was a healer, it was best to have her centrally located, ready to port anywhere in the world in case of emergency.
Bruce looked up from his computer. “Stefan, you did book more than one flight and to different destinations under a variety of names just in case we are being watched?”
“Of course. Didn’t want to broadcast our intentions or whereabouts,” Stefan sniped. “I haven’t survived this long without being careful and covert.”
“Relax, Stefan. Just making sure all the bases are covered. I’m not happy about leaving Angie unprotected and on her own in this situation any more than you are Brandy. Let’s get our job done and get back to them. Okay?”