by Jana LaPelle
Lachlan, on the other hand, is grunting, and his little features are twisted in concentration as he rocks back and forth. His determination is written all over his tiny little face. Smiling, I encourage him, “Come to mama, Lachlan. Come, my little Elf-Man, breakfast awaits.”
My son’s concentration is a tangible thing, and I watch in disbelief as he takes several trembling advances in my direction, Bán nudges him from behind, and Lachlan takes another movement in my direction. All the while he’s babbling, “Nah, nah, nah, nah… mmm…aah…mmm… aah…ma… ma…ma… ma…”
My head snaps up to look at Alaric, “Did he just say, mama?” I demand, breathlessly, my heart singing.
Alaric squeezes my hand and nods, his smile accentuating his dimples as they dig deep into his cheeks, “Yes, mo grá, I do believe we heard it right. That little man right there is definitely a mama’s boy.” He chuckles as we watch our son lose his tenuous balance.
I swoop down on Lachlan and pull him into my arms. “You did it! My little Elf-Man, you did it!” I smother his face with kisses, and I’m rewarded with shrieking laughter and giggling before he grabs hold of my hair and latches on in a fierce determination. Alaric has scooped up Lillie, and I know that my world is complete. I motion for Alaric to follow me. He has Lillie in his arms, and Cara and Bán are nipping at his heels. The sight is something to behold, and I’m so thankful for this moment before things go to hell in a handbasket later tonight.
Chapter 23
(Ashlinn)
Our day together passed quickly. Before I know it, dusk is upon us. Since this morning, my mate has become aloof, and I don’t like it. Not one little bit. He is withdrawing from me, I can feel it. He is preparing for the worst. After last night, I’m hoping that the twins will sleep through the night tonight but if not there is enough of my milk to last for several days and they are in good hands, not that I think we’re going to need that much time. I fully anticipate that once things get started this evening, we will be back here before dawn. Millie and Maith are to look after them and once again Nym and Khatar will stand guard. In the nursery, we put them down together and tuck them in for the night, but there is a divide, a barrier between us, that I’m not used to.
Once we make our way into our outer chambers to gear up, I turn to Alaric and demand, “What is going on with you? You are making me uneasy!”
“It’s nothing to worry about Ashlinn. I’m just putting things in order mentally for tonight. I’m not certain what exactly we are going to face, so that has me on edge. You know I love you and the twins, right? With my entire heart and soul,” he leans in to kiss me, and I pull back, not allowing the contact.
“I will ask again, Alaric, what are you preparing for?”
“Tonight will be difficult at best, it will not be easy for you to help usher so many souls at one time. I’m preparing to help you in your time of indecision. I will be there for you always. Come Ashlinn, we have work to do.”
“No, no, no… You are pulling away from me. Don’t you dare do that! Do you hear me? You are not allowed to do that!”
“Ash, I’m simply clearing my head before we set off tonight.”
“I don’t believe you,” I snap and watch as he grimaces at the sting of my words, “So help me Alaric, you had better not be preparing to sacrifice yourself for me because I will never forgive you if that is what this is all about.” I swing toward my kindred and level him with a glare, as I continue to strap on weapons for our upcoming evening.
He pauses to watch me and his lips twitch as I stash a couple of four-point throwing stars, before becoming deadly serious, “Ash, I have no intention of sacrificing myself tonight so you can get that right out of your head. But know this. I will do my duty to you as my kindred and as your guardian. Nothing and no one will stand in my way. You have a duty to perform, and I will be there for you and I will have your back while you make sure your charges are taken care of. Ashlinn, tonight is not about you and me, it’s about all those souls that will need us, all of us.”
“Don’t you think I know that? But I won’t lose you tonight. I won’t.” I inhale sharply and turn away. My breathing becomes ragged before demanding, “Promise me Alaric that we walk away from this confrontation together.”
“You know I can’t do that. You know that I will never make a promise to you that I cannot keep and that is a promise that I may not be able to keep tonight, but I will promise you this, no matter what happens this evening, we have each other and our link to one another and I will always latch onto our link, on to you, mo grá, always. Do you promise to do the same?”
His words are a punch to the gut, and I swallow hard before nodding and whispering, “Always.”
In two determined strides, he is across the room, and his mouth crashes down on my own. The kiss is desperate, raw, and bruising. I welcome his crushing assault and cling to his powerful frame. He pulls away, both of us breathing hard and he lays his forehead against mine before kissing the tip of my nose. His calloused hands frame my face, and I glance up through my lashes to his brilliant blue eyes, his gaze penetrating me to my very core. Gently, he tips my face up and lays his lips against mine reverently, before he says, “When everything is said and done. When this war is over, we will walk away together. Whatever comes in the middle we will survive, we are stronger together, but we are also a force to be reckoned with on our own. Don’t you ever forget that Ashlinn.”
Swallowing hard, I put my worry and concern for the events that have yet to play out aside and nod, “I won’t forget it Alaric, and I’m holding you to that. I want my happily ever after, damn it.”
The smile that lightens his serious features is a thing of beauty. Chuckling, he dips me backward and kisses me fiercely, “That’s my girl. Come, mo grá, we are running late we need to get downstairs to meet up with everyone else.”
He rights me, and I grab his hand, halting his progress and pulling him back to face me, “I love you Elf-Man and those wild, beautiful children you have gifted me with. Now, let’s do this, together.”
Smiling, his signature dimpled smile he grabs my hand, and we trace to the courtyard, but not before he grabs his weapon, The Sword of Light. Our team is assembled, and we are greeted with a disgruntled Declan. His approach is full of hostility, and I sigh as I watch the overprotective Neanderthal stalk toward us. I get it. He doesn’t want Lexie going. Well too damn bad, I need her there tonight, it’s just a gut feeling, but I have learned to follow my instincts. I suck in a breath before he can start in on either of us, “Declan,” I sigh and shake my head, “She is needed, and you are needed to make sure that nothing happens to her. I know that you don’t want her in harm’s way, but we need her there.”
“No, you don’t. Nemus or Morgwais can help in this endeavor.”
“Well, Morgwais has mysteriously disappeared. No one has any clue as to where she is, including Tarron. It’s very unlike her but that being said we would still need Alexia. Declan, has it escaped your attention that she is the Mother Druid? She has a duty just as I do.”
“I will not have her in the line of fire.” His dark eyes bore into mine insistently.
“Nor will I! We are in complete agreement on that note. Declan, her life comes before mine. I will never knowingly put her at risk. I love her like a sister, hell she is the only sister that I have ever known. That’s where you come in. Protect her while she and her druids do what they must. As soon as we are in, Jasmine and Cam will trace both of you back here to Sammy.”
Declan inclines his head, and with a heavy sigh he runs his hands over the top of his hair, he says, “I just want to keep her safe, Ash. I know she has a duty. Hell so do I, a duty to you and Alaric. I know that she is stronger than I give her credit for, but for the life of me I sometimes still see her as she was when I first laid eyes on her. She looked like a beautiful broken doll, my beautiful broken doll. Forgive me Ashlinn, this mission has me on edge.”
I’m in total agreement, mumbling, “Don’t I k
now it.” A little more loudly, I say, “Declan, there is nothing to forgive. You know the plan, you are to stay with Lexie and as soon as she is no longer needed she comes straight back here.”
I look over to see that Alaric is assembling everyone together and Declan nods and walks that way. Looking around I see Jasmine and Lexie are huddled together and I make my way over to them, “Are you all ready? Any word on Morgwais?”
Lexie looks over at me, her expression grim, “I don’t like that no one seems to know where she has gone off to. Her coven said she left a note saying not to worry that she would be back soon and to let us know that she was okay. Her behavior has been odd ever since The Morrígan dropped in for her uninvited visit that night. We have scarcely seen her since then, and that’s been… what? Months ago?”
Jasmine pipes in, “Actually, it’s been months for us but not that long ago for those that haven’t been realm hopping. I think you’re right though, something happened that night. I mean she disappeared and couldn’t be found for days afterward only to disappear again. Did you notice that the last time we saw her, it looked like she was growing younger, not older?”
“Yeah, I think I even made a comment about how much younger she looked.” I look around to see if Alaric and everyone else is ready to go and get a nod from him, “Come on, we can talk about this later, it’s time to go.”
Those of us that can trace and have been to Lugh’s terrace grab a partner and trace and then go back for others that are essential to our quest this evening. This takes a couple of trips before we have everyone we need and we are greeted by Lugh and Dagda.
“Are you sure you don’t want to join us this evening?” I ask Lugh.
“No little Keeper. I must not interfere, not yet anyhow. This is your quest. I trust you and your guard to bring him back tonight if that is even possible. If not, do what you must for those poor lost souls, and then we can concentrate on Lainn’s very own lost soul at a later date. Come, everyone, in order for the Guardians of the Realm to shift to their dragon form they are going to need more space, let’s make our way to my courtyard. It’s getting late, and I estimate that it will take about forty-five minutes to an hour by air to get to the Isle of Tears in The Sea of Hope. You will need to head due west, it should not be a problem for you to find as long as you get there prior to the eclipse. There is not a cloud in the sky tonight.”
Turning, I take in the breathtaking view of the full moon from our high vantage point, I see her reflection off the pink lake below and the distant sea and say to no one in particular, “It’s a beautiful night.”
“That it is, come mo grá.”
We make our way through the familiar halls until we get to the courtyard and we stand back to allow the dragon shifters in our squad access to the courtyard to shift. Before we climb aboard, Dagda, from the entrance to Lugh’s fortress addresses us all, “Άdh mór, good luck! I wish you all well. Know this! The gods and goddesses will be forced to make a stand. Those that will stand with you will take up their arms and join you in the war to save us all, but not before the final battle. Stay the course my friends, my family. Until then you are on your own, but it won’t be long now. I pray to our creator that all will go as it should this evening. Fare thee well.”
Alaric nods behind me and responds, “Fare thee well, Uncle, until we meet again.”
“May the wind be ever at your back,” Dagda declares with resigned look and nods. For the first time since meeting him, he looks tired.
With that, we mount our brethren at arms in their dragon form, and we’re off. Dray’s muscles bunch beneath us, and we are launched like a rocket into the night sky. Within moments we have put Lugh’s fortress behind us, and we are heading westward. The moon, in all her glory, hangs heavy in the night sky her beautiful glow reflects off the tranquil seas below us. The world from this perspective is the embodiment of the calm before the storm, and I soak her up. Her appearance grounds me, for now. I know that will all change very soon. I dread the moment that she will turn a blood red, for I know that will signify ill intent for my cause. I wish with all my might that things will turn out as I want them to, but that would be way too easy.
The isle is within range and as our dragon shifters circle about the island in question we are able to make out the ruins and my sense of foreboding has intensified. The island is larger than I thought it would be. There is a wooded area not far from the ruins, a perfect place for our enemy to hide or for us to ambush The Morrígan. We circle the ruins a few more times with no signs of The Morrigan or her followers. Alaric motions for us to sit down in a clearing on the other side of the trees giving us shelter. The eclipse has already begun, and as the shadow begins to creep across the moon, an eerie light begins to replace her silvery glow.
Dray and his companions shift after we dismount and he strides toward us. “Alaric, I did not see any trace of a living soul on this rock. Are you sure that tonight is the night? There is no one here.” His Scottish brogue is thick and hangs heavy in the night.
Alaric and I both answer at once, “Yes, it happens tonight.”
“I feel it too, Ash. Now that we are here, we need to get to the ruins before the moon is totally eclipsed. She has had a lot longer to plan for this evening. Hell, she has probably been here before and only needs to trace here with those that she needs.” Alaric’s face is grim at the realization.
“Why didn’t we think of that sooner? Guardians, Jasmine, trace back to get the rest of Lexie’s druids we need to get on with it.” I bark out the order, and they wink out of sight one moment and the next they are back with the rest of our group. The light around us has subtly begun to change, and a shiver races through me. They have arrived. I feel a wave of power rippling through the air. Lexie and Nemus jerk their heads in my direction, and I nod as flames erupt from my fingertips and wash over the skin of my hands and forearms. “They’re here. We’re too late to stop them. We have to get to the ruins.” Without a moment’s hesitation, I shift to my panther form and race through the dimly lit woods. I can hear my companions calling for me to wait but I push forward. My feline muscles bunching as I strain to run faster than I have ever run in this form.
As I break free from the trees, I see them, and I can hear the witches as they chant. They have already begun their ritual and are evoking protective wards, wards that will keep everyone out. As that realization snaps into place I can hear Alaric racing after me, and through our link, he is urging me to wait for him, but instinct is urging me to get to the ruins before the wards go up. I race forward, my paws kicking up dirt and pebbles in my wake, “Alaric, the wards are about to go up, I’m sorry, but I need to be inside the perimeter before that happens. Now I know why I’m alone in the shadows of the crypt. Forgive me Elf-Man.” About that time I feel an electromagnet charge in the air, and a shimmering effect begins to form around the ruins. I prepare to leap the rest of the way, my hind legs propel me through the air the last twenty feet as the wards shimmer and take hold, and my fur stands on end as I land on the other side of the barrier, my tail twitching in a nervous agitation. Alaric has shifted back and is now standing on the other side of the wards, his hands pressed firmly against the invisible barrier. His words are muffled, and my attention is torn between him and The Morrígan and her entourage. I know that I cannot stop them alone, there are too many of them, and I’m cut off from everyone else.
From the shadows of the ruins, I watch as the moon becomes fully eclipsed. Her once beautiful silvery-white surface is now stained a brilliant crimson, an omen of what is to come. I shift my gaze toward my nemesis and watch as they are bathed in the red light of the moon and to my amazement, I watch as a place in the ground has opened, allowing entrance to an underground chamber. I look back at Alaric and put my finger up to my lips, indicating for him to be quiet as I continue to lurk in the shadows.
Through our link, Alaric begins lecturing me, “Ash, you are not to go in alone, you are to wait for me.” He moves so that he too is hidden
in the shadows of the crumbling buildings that surround us, “Mo grá, I can’t protect you if you go in without me. Everyone else will be here in a matter of moments. I will have the druids work on bringing the wards down. You just have to give them time to work.” He pleads.
I walk over to the barrier that has been erected between us and place my hand against his but only feel a cold pulsating power between us keeping us apart. “I have to go in alone. You know that. I have no idea how long the opening will remain.” I peer around the rubble that shields me from my enemy’s view and before she descends into the chamber below she glances my way, a knowing smile on her face. I swallow thickly, “I think she knows I’m here. Have Lexie get to work on the wards. I’ll make my way down to Cú Chulainn’s crypt. Join me as soon as you can with…” I’m cut off when I see my companions break free of the woods and race in our direction. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I see The Morrígan, and her sisters appear with a number of their Fomorian warriors. She’s creating a distraction for everyone else. I try to trace to the other side of the barrier, but each time I’m thrown backward unable to escape my confines. In a matter of moments, the twisted sisters have assembled a small battalion of warriors all in their berserker form accompanied by several large trolls. Large enough to throw boulders, they are huge misshapen creatures with tree trunks for legs, massive torsos, horns that lay back over the tops of their heads, and grayish, leathery looking skin. Just seeing them strikes fear in my heart. I begin frantically pounding on the barrier, wanting nothing more than to get out from underneath the protective dome, but I’m trapped. A trap of my own making, I put myself here. My frustration is off the charts.
The she-demon that has haunted my life for so long now throws her head back and laughs. Her evil cackle echoes around the confines of my prison. She stands in front of her army and draws her sword and to my horror she commands, “It is time, my warriors! Protect your queen this night! Attack all those who stand in our way!” She glances my way, a wicked gleam in her eye and a twisted smile on her face before she traces away, her cloak billowing in the wind before it blinks out of existence. All the while, I pound on the wards, desperate to get through to help my friends and family.