by Tena Stetler
Back on Irish soil, he sprinted off the plane. Suddenly, her pain exploded in his head as the scene played out, knocking him to his knees on the tarmac at the Cork Airport. Holding his head in his hands, Stefan rocked back and forth as Tristian and Angie rushed up to him. Stefan’s cell phone rang, lying in its hard plastic case on the asphalt where he’d dropped it.
“Stefan, what’s happening,” Angie cried, laying a hand on his arm while Tristian helped him to his feet. “I hope you don’t mind the intrusion,” Angie said, using her healing powers to delve into her patient’s mind to assist with the healing. “Oh no!” Her hand flew to her mouth as she sucked in her breath sharply at the scene in Stefan’s mind.
Tristian scooped up Stefan’s cell phone, noted the caller ID, and flipped it open. “Gavin, where are you?”
Quickly, Angie yanked the phone away from Tristian. “Gavin, Stefan has had mind contact with Brandy. She’s hurt badly, and the location looks to be near underground caves. Does this sound familiar?”
“Aye, it’s Aillwee Cave.”
Stefan grabbed his phone out of Angie’s hand. “Tell me the fastest route there.” He turned to Angie, grabbing her shoulders. “Port us both there right now.”
Angie bit her lip, glancing sideways at Tristian, who inclined his head slightly. “You know the dangers, especially now.” She tried to wrench out of Stefan’s grasp.
“I don’t care. Time’s running out for Brandy. Let’s go. Now! We’ll deal with whatever is waiting in the portal between. I’ve got to get to Brandy or die trying.”
“Take your hands off me, or we’ll not be going anywhere!”
Stefan loosened his grip, and she jerked free, narrowing her violet eyes at him. She opened her pack, and a large opal stone floated out, hovering between them. Reaching out, she held it in her hand, closing her eyes. The stone glowed bluish white between her fingers as Angie linked minds with Stefan, locking onto Brandy’s last location. Then they were gone. Bone chilling cold and darkness swirled around Stefan.
Unceremoniously, they were dumped onto the rocky ground above the entrance to Aillwee Cave near Ballyvaughan. Rolling quickly to his feet, he surveyed the surrounding territory. A low keening and flash of heat alerted them to the dragon overhead while Brandy’s weak voice in his mind directed him to a far corner of the currently uninhabited cave.
“I’ll deal with the dragon,” Angie said quickly as it bore down on them. “Find Brandy. Gavin and Tristian are almost here.” She disappeared as Stefan darted into the cave. His crumpled gryphon lay propped against the cold stone wall, her mangled wing drawn up against her side soaked in blood, the other wing wrapped protectively around her body, large eyes closed. The slight rise and fall of her chest told him she was still alive, but barely.
He searched her mind. Brandy, I’m here. Angie is right behind me. Just hold on. He glanced around frantically. Then, to his relief, Brandy opened her large emerald eyes and blinked slowly. Kneeling beside her, he caressed her face. She’d lost a lot of blood. The life-sustaining liquid running through his veins would save her only if he marked her as his own.
Waiting for the right time and place had been his excuse for not marking her as his own. Now it might be too late. She meant everything to him. This would have to be the right time and place, and he’d have to do it without her permission. What a cluster.
He wanted it to be her choice, but she had lost consciousness again. With no Angie in sight, he nuzzled into Brandy’s neck, inhaling her weak scent, closed his eyes, gripped her soft fur, and sank his fangs in, drawing deeply of what little blood she had left, then injecting the venom, marking her forever his and taking care not to turn her.
He raked a fang across his wrist, crimson liquid welled up from the wound. He tilted Brandy’s head back and opened her beak, dripping the liquid into her mouth and rubbing her throat to assist swallowing. Where the hell was Angie? Unsure whether or not Brandy had enough strength, he hoped there was enough time to allow this to work.
Stefan? Brandy’s voice whispered weakly in his mind.
Shh, my love, just listen. Please take from my wrist until I tell you to stop. Trust me. I’ll explain later.
Angie strutted into the cave, bloodied and battered. “You should see the dragon.” She grinned weakly at his quirked brow and questioning look. “What are you doing?” she squealed as the scene before her registered.
“Attempting to save her life while you apparently play with the dragon and whatever else is out there.”
“Get away. I’ll take over from here.”
“She hasn’t taken enough.” Stefan clung tightly to Brandy, though he was feeling a bit lightheaded.
“If she takes any more, I’ll need to heal you both and haven’t the strength to do that. Now, let her go and move aside,” Angie demanded, wedging herself between them.
Reluctantly, he eased back against the cool stone. Angie leaned over Brandy, eyes closed, hands resting palms down on the gryphon’s side and wing. A rose glow emanating from her palms sank deeply into Brandy’s body. After what seemed like an eternity, Angie leaned back on her heels, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and glanced over at him. “Your actions saved her life. Healing has begun, but she’ll need rest before we try to move her.” Angie cocked her head and listened. “Stay with her and rest. I’ll see if Tristian and Gavin have mopped up the mess I left. Brandy did major damage to the dragon.” Angie gave a low whistle. “Remind me never to piss off your gryphon.”
Stefan’s nostrils flared as sulfur and the metallic scent of blood wafted through the cave. “No, I’ll go. You stay with her.”
Angie snorted. “As if. You’re too weak and will cause them to lose focus protecting you. Stay here.”
No sooner had the order left Angie’s lips than a tawny gryphon loomed over Tristian at the entrance of the cavern. Dirty, bloody, and reeking of sulfur, Tristian grinned outrageously and then sobered, staring at Brandy. The gryphon moved to Brandy, nuzzling her cheek.
“Gavin, she’ll be fine, thanks to Stefan. Just needs some rest.” Angie patted the matted feathers at his shoulder. “How’d it go out there?” She glanced back at Tristian.
“One demon melted into the underground, but we annihilated the rest. Your spell on that monstrous green dragon and his injuries disoriented him enough. We took him out right after you left. It’ll take a few hours for the demons to increase their numbers enough for another attack.”
Angie pumped a fist in the air. “Good job, guys.”
“That’s two Books on Irish soil now, correct?” Tristian said wearily.
“Well, not quite yet, but soon. Bruce’s plane should be landing at the Cork airport shortly. Hannah is picking him up,” Angie said.
Stefan cleared his throat. “Actually, they’re all on Irish ground.” He patted his duster. A weak smile curved his lips. “Tiarnan, King of the Warrior Faeries, has the third one.”
“What?” Angie’s eyes flew open wide. Tristian’s mouth gaped as he jerked his head around to stare at Stefan.
He shrugged. “Yeah, it was entrusted to him and Erin long ago by your great-great-grandmother. I left it in their care while we searched for the others. For some reason, he didn’t want to deal with you.”
“Why?” Tristian tilted his head to the side, his brows furrowed and forehead creased in puzzlement.
“I really don’t know.” Stefan relayed the prior conversations with the faerie to the group.
Tristian shrugged. “I guess the important thing is that we have what we need.”
“We’ll all rendezvous on holy ground, cast the spell before the demons regroup, and we’re home free for a few thousand years.” Angie fisted her hands on her hips and winked at Tristian.
“What about the surviving dark demons when we seal the portals?” Stefan asked, shrugging out of his duster. He took off his burgundy shirt and wrapped it around an awake and naked Brandy.
“Bruce will convene the Council and work out a plan, then Tristian and
his teams will be very busy for a while with those who fail to comply,” Angie stated slowly.
Chapter Thirty-One
The Books of Shadows Reunited…Finally
Brandy awoke in her room. Recent events swirled through her head. A bad dream or…? She moved. A dull pain ached in her right side. She was stiff all over but no visible wounds. Raising her hand to her neck, she felt two marks just right of the base of her throat. She looked across the room. Stefan stood at the window watching the sea, his face drawn and dark-purple shadows under his eyes. He turned to her. A half smile played around his lips as he studied her solemnly.
“What’s wrong?” She patted the bed beside her. Come sit with me. Her sweet voice swam through his mind.
A slight breeze and impression of movement, then he was sitting next to her, brushing a stray strand of hair from her forehead. “You gave us quite a scare.”
“Sorry.” She reached for his hand. He twined his fingers in hers and brushed a kiss across her forehead, wishing fervently he didn’t have to tell her like this. She’d already touched her fingers over the marks at her neck. She knew.
“Brandy, they’ll be coming to get us soon for the ceremony, but I need to explain something first. Nothing matters more to me than you. I love you.”
“I know,” she said quietly. “I love you too.”
“Stop interrupting. This is hard enough. When I found you, I did something that should have been your choice, but you were unable to…” He ran his hands through his hair and cursed under his breath.
“Stefan, I know you marked me as yours to save my life. What I want to know is, would you have done it if I’d not been dying?”
“That choice should have been yours, to belong to me for eternity or not. I took it away from you.”
“Stefan, my choice was made long before you took it away. I committed to you before our terrible fight and believed that you would eventually do the same. The only thing that matters is that you learned to trust and love enough to mark me.”
“You took one hell of a chance.”
“Not really. You were just the last one to see it,” she murmured, smiling, and wrapped her arms around him. “Now tell me, is there any truth to the legend of the Vampire’s Kiss?”
“I guess we’ll just have to test it out, if you’re willing.” He quirked a brow and grinned. “How’d you know about that?”
She winked and said, “A faerie told me.”
“Figures.” He raised an eyebrow and grinned.
“Did Angie and Tristian review the Books? Do we know what spells to use and how we fit into this?”
“Yes.” He gave her a handwritten page. “You are to speak these words first to start the process. The other two couples will join in with additional incantations. According to Tiarnan, the cooperation between all of us on the quest for the Books satisfied the requirements that man and magickind work together. If the legends are true and we follow the instructions in the Books of Shadows, we should be able to seal the portals and set the world right.
****
The mist floated in through the open window, crawling across the room to settle in the old rocking chair.
“It’s time,” Stefan said, watching the mist transform into a man in a multicolored sweater and jeans sitting comfortably in the chair, booted foot resting on his knee.
“Is that the only outfit you own?” Stefan asked. His lips twitched as he tried to hide a grin.
With a raised brow, Tiarnan stared at him for a beat. “Good evening to you, Stefan. ’Tis something you’ll never know.” He turned his attention to Brandy. Good to see you looking so well, Brandy.”
“Nice to see you again, Tiarnan.” Brandy grinned as Stefan narrowed his eyes at the faerie.
“Erin has the Book and is waiting on the grounds of Mary’s Castle for you two. I’ve come to escort you.” A slight smile played around his lips. “Tomorrow’s sunrise will be the first Erin and I have been able to share over the cliffs in centuries. She always loved the feel of the warm sun on her skin,” he mused.
****
Lightning streaked across the night sky. Thunder rumbled, shaking the ground underfoot, yet the full moon shone down on the druid altars inside the grounds of Mary’s Castle, County Cork, Ireland, where the couples gathered.
Stefan stepped forward with his arm supporting Brandy as she began weaving her spell. Bruce stood beside Angelique, Hannah by Tristian, as they joined her, each murmuring different incantations. The three Books of Shadows lay open on hallowed ground, glowing as they turned a soft, rich liquid gold, flowing into each other, forming one. The wind howled around the stone formations and whipped around the couples as dark clouds formed, floating across the full moon. Darkness enveloped the land. Only the golden glow of the Books remained. Then it was silent. When the storm clouds parted, the moon shone blood-red with a muted ring of rainbow colors encircling it. The chanting ceased, and the Books slowly separated, returning to their ancient leather-bound form.
“The deed is done,” declared Tiarnan, “The world is safe. The gates of Hell are bound tightly, the portals destroyed, the fabric of time strengthened, so there is no possibility of escape…for now.
Stefan quirked a brow and turned toward Tiarnan. “For now?” He inquired incredulously.
“Yes, for now. The remainder of the legend has yet to come full circle. We cannot control the behavior of man, so there will always be a need to patrol magickind.” Tiarnan glanced in Stefan’s direction but spoke to all three couples. “The progeny of your unions will have the required blood lineage and the power to seal the portals and gates of Hell forever.”
“Oh, is that all.” Smiling, Stefan took Brandy’s warm face in his hands, covering it with soft kisses. “I believe it’s time for that large, lavish Irish wedding you’ve always dreamed of,” he whispered, letting his hands slide down her body, grasping the small of her back, bringing her to him. She cuddled against him, wrapping her arms around his waist, resting her face on his chest. Stefan laid his cheek on the top of her head and sighed, loving the feel of her against him. I’ll never take this for granted. “We’ll let the rest take care of itself.”
The others nodded in agreement. Each couple picked up their Book of Shadows and watched Erin and Tiarnan walk hand in hand toward the cliffs to greet the sunrise together for the first time in centuries. Tiarnan paused, looking over his shoulder to Stefan. “Oh, by the way, the legend of the Vampire’s Kiss is true among fated mates. Brandy is able to bear your children.”
A stunned silence met the statement.
Bruce cleared his throat as his lips twitched. “Well, it’s about time we get back to D.C. to oversee the reconstruction of The Wycked Hair and return to my other duties. Can’t leave everything to Owen and Tobi.”
Angie nodded and hugged Brandy. “Please let us know when you set a date for the wedding. We wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Of course. I believe it will be sooner than later. Everyone will be notified in plenty of time to make travel arrangements,” Brandy said, smiling up at Stefan, who nodded. “I hate to bring this up, but what about Synn?”
“She’s paid her debt and proved her loyalty. Synn earned her freedom and has chosen to remain in Ireland,” Bruce said.
“But Gavin…I don’t want…” Brandy sputtered.
“Gavin is a grown man. If she’s what he wants, it’s not your place to stand in their way. After all, you’ll be married to a vampire.” Stefan chuckled, enveloping her in his arms.
Tristian reached his arm around Hannah’s waist, tugging her close. “It’s time we departed for home too. I’m sure assignments are piling up as we speak.” He cut his gaze to Bruce.
“Oh, no, not getting off that easy. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and the family is planning a huge celebration,” Brandy and Hannah chirped together. “Ma and Da would be pleased if you could delay your departures until the day after Christmas,” Hannah continued.
“Then there is the wedding to pla
n, and”—Brandy smiled thoughtfully—“I guess that could be done after we get home.”
Hannah waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. “Oh, Ma will have all the plans set. All you have to do is pick a date. Valentine’s Day is a thought,” she suggested slyly.
“It would give me enough time to work out another vacation with the boss. If I still have a job,” Brandy mused.
“Same here,” Stefan grimaced.
“It’s settled. Valentine’s Day it is, and you’re all invited, so mark your calendars,” Brandy sang out.
Murmurs of agreement and promises to return for the wedding passed through the couples as Brandy smiled brightly. “Erin and Tiarnan, you are expected to attend the Christmas Party and our wedding.” The ocean breeze carried her words toward the couple.
On the cliffs, the warrior faerie turned and waved together with Erin in acknowledgement.
As the couples meandered away, a small, dark shadow slowly eased out of the ground, seemingly out of sight, watching them intently, then slithered away.
If you enjoyed
A VAMPIRE’S UNLIKELY ALLIANCE,
following is a preview of Tena Stetler’s next book.
An Angel’s Unintentional Entanglement
by
Tena Stetler
Demon’s Witch Series, Book 4
Chapter One
Intervention
Screams of terror accompanied by mournful howls pierced the crisp night air as Caden Silverwind settled into his chair in front of the crackling campfire. Shadows from the flames danced across the dark tree trunks, curling and twisting in mesmerizing shapes. Caden had heard it all before, but tonight the usual ceremonial chants ended with menacing growls, then sudden eerie silence, rather than the quiet winding down of previous nights.
Maybe he should investigate the unearthly sounds that echoed against the canyon walls. But he just couldn’t. The last battle with dark demons had nearly destroyed his body and shattered his soul. Once shimmering marble-gray wings now hung charcoal black with his muscles barely able to bring them forth from his back to brush the air without severe pain and fatigue.