Temple of Indra's Lies (Time-Traveling Bibliophile Book 3)

by Rachael Stapleton

  “I’m sorry, Leslie, but you know he wasn’t well,” I whispered.

  “What do you mean?”

  “He kidnapped you.”

  “He did?”

  “You didn’t see who kidnapped you?”

  “No,” she replied.

  She had the worst luck with men.

  Leslie brought a hand to her mouth and I patted her back. My stomach suddenly rolled and I knew I was going to be sick. I handed her off to Cullen and walked away just in time. Ó Cléirigh would be pissed if I contaminated the crime scene.

  “That’s the second time you puked this week.” Leslie laughed awkwardly at me through the tears, which would have been highly inappropriate to anyone else under the circumstances but was actually a normal occurrence for us. Neither one of us was comfortable crying in front of others and we often attempted to lighten heavy moods.

  “You’re keeping track, huh?”

  “I think you’re getting soft on me.”

  Cullen was on the phone to the Inspector when Sam suddenly opened his eyes.

  “She shot me,” Sam whispered in a barely audible voice.

  “Who shot you?” I turned back to Cullen and shouted, “He’s speaking,” then I dropped to my knees so I was at Sam’s side and lowered my voice. “What are you talking about, Sam? Did someone do this to you?”

  “The witch. She’s mad because I made a bollix of this whole thing.”

  “What whole thing, Sam? Was she in India with us? Did she set up that fake idol in the temple?”

  “No, I paid Mani to do it.”

  “And you paid those kids to push Rav Kumar into the street?”

  “Mani did, yes.”

  “Did he break into our room and go through our suitcases?”

  “It was me.”

  “Why would you do that? You wanted the sapphire?”

  “No. She wanted the sapphire back.”

  “Who?”

  “The witch.”

  Cullen gave me a wide eyed look and then wound his finger in a circular motion at the side of his head, indicating Sam’s loss of wits.

  “Why did you kill them all after? Why did you kill Saraswati?”

  “She caught me breaking into your room. I had to kill Mani and his sister—they’d seen my face.”

  Tears surfaced in Sam’s eyes and I felt the guilt once again. All of this over the sapphire. That cursed jewel had ruined so many lives.

  “Why does this witch, Alexandra, want the sapphire so badly?”

  “I told ye before—she wants to go home. Ye were supposed to open the portal. Ye were supposed to think Cullen had gone back in time. She said you would have no choice but to use the magic and go after Cullen but I lost my temper and I was gonna kill him so she left ye that picture so ye’d find him and then she took Leslie ‘cause I threatened to tell her everything. She’ll curse ye…to be sure…just like before.”

  I looked at Leslie and she shrugged her shoulders. She didn’t seem to know of any witch.

  “He’s lost a lot of blood, Aeval. He doesn’t know what he’s sayin’. He probably has multiple personalities and one of them is a witch named Alexandra.”

  “Ye’ll see…Not over.” Sam stuttered. “She doesn’t care about ye but she wants the baby.”

  I twisted my head to look up at Leslie.

  “Don’t look at me,” she whispered. “You know Liam’s baby is long gone.”

  I sighed with relief and Sam took his final breath.

  Chapter Seventy-Four

  All I Want For Christmas

  Christmas Day 2015,

  I looked around the castle’s magnificent library where our wedding reception was currently in progress. It was warmly lit, with purple and gold spotlights set throughout the room to give the large space an intimate feel. Surrounded by two tiers of stately cast-iron columns, decorative railings, and of course books, there couldn’t have been a more perfect setting for Cullen and I—the bibliophile and the castle architect.

  A silver ice bucket with a protruding champagne bottle was placed on the table in front of us for one last toast. It was almost midnight but everyone still looked lovely, all raring to go, decked out in their best party wear. Even Móraí looked happy for us, making me feel downright guilty for all the nasty thoughts I’d harbored over the last year.

  As for me, I was tired but I was constantly being primped so no one would know. Thankfully my glam squad kept me the picture of sexy sophistication, fixing my pin curls, straightening my 1920s-styled veil, and of course re-applying my mascara and red lipstick every time I threw up, which according to Leslie had been three times this evening. Why was she always counting?

  For some odd reason my nerves were at an all-time high. Perhaps it was only Sam’s words that were still bothering me. Cullen had reminded me several times since Sam’s death that it was all over. That Leslie’s baby was long gone and that there was no Liam’s child, and yet I couldn’t shake the nauseated feeling that there was more to come. Not to mention, there were so many pieces of the puzzle I didn’t understand—like why he used Cullen’s phone to make me think Cullen had been forced back in time. It was obvious that he’d planted Cullen’s cell phone and that he was trying to trick me into traveling back in time, but why? What would he have gained from that?

  “I propose a toast,” Leslie said, raising her glass. Her hair, which had been piled high on her head, had come loose from dancing and flowed around her shoulders, onto her low-cut silk gown. The marks on her wrists from her kidnapping had all but faded. “To Mr. and Mrs. O’Kelley. You have proven time and time again that nothing and no one in this life—or any other—will keep you apart. May that always be the case.”

  “Hear! Hear!” they all said, and drank champagne.

  Cullen, handsome as ever in his white tux, clinked his glass to mine. My glass was filled with sparkling water, since the champagne wasn’t sitting right.

  I smiled at him and wandered out of the ballroom into the hall.

  No one would understand Leslie’s comment the way we did, but it was true. Cullen and I were soulmates and we’d finally made it to the altar.

  “How ye holdin’ up, Aeval?” Cullen asked, following me and placing his hands on the bare skin of my back.

  “Surprisingly well,” I answered, considering the nausea I’d experienced earlier.

  “Have I told ye lately how lovely ye look?”

  “Not for at least three minutes,” I said, with a grin.

  “Well, I’m sorry to gush, but I’ve not seen ye look so fancy before.”

  I looked down at my vintage lace gown. The seamstress had done a great job taking it in; it was almost too snug at the waist now.

  “I love this dress, too, but in all honesty I’m looking forward to taking it off and of course I’m looking forward to being alone with you.”

  Well semi-alone. Leslie was staying with us for the holidays. She’d tried to object, but after everything that had happened we decided we preferred to be altogether for the holidays even if it was our honeymoon. After all we had the rest of our lives to be alone.

  “Removing that dress can most definitely be arranged.” Cullen smiled a devilish grin and then pressed me against the wall, kissing my neck as he groped to slip his hand beneath the material of my gown.

  “It won’t due to get caught making love in the hall outside the castle’s washroom, you know.”

  “Awe, but heavy petting is allowed right?”

  I grinned at the ludicrous idea of being caught right now.

  “Do ye think ye can keep from being too loud? Can ye do that, Aeval?”

  He pulled away from my neck, swallowing his own groan. My legs parted and he slipped his hand underneath my dress, biting on his lip to keep quiet as his hands roamed.

  “Sophia.” He leaned in, his breathing shallow and shaky as he whispered in my ear. “I’m serious. I need to be close to ye. Come on, no one is watchin’.”

  I said nothing, only pressing my own lips
hard against his. I nodded in understanding, leaning back against the wall as he stroked me.

  It didn’t take long for me to quiver beneath his hand. As I did so, I crossed my legs to push him away, leaning in to speak as I did so.

  “I can’t take any more. Not unless you want me to cry out and draw a crowd.”

  He moved me backward into a room across the hall. “The only thing I like more than ye in this dress is ye out of it. Ye know, I’ve never had ye on a desk.”

  I laughed and moved to lock the door, kicking off my shoes in the process. Cullen spun me toward him, crushing my back into the doorknob the moment I latched it. I cried out in pain as I reached behind to touch my most-assuredly bruised ribs. He apologized half-heartedly before scooting me over so that my back pressed flat against the door.

  “Hey, slow down, mister.”

  “I can’t, don’t ye see what ye’ve done to me? I haven’a waited so long in all my life. Besides, yer my wife now and I mean to keep it that way. Make this thing legal before anyone else shows up to steal ye.”

  I almost laughed at the desperation in his voice, but as I looked at his face, I sort of believed him. My gaze moved downward, and I gasped at the bulge in his pants.

  I reached for him and undid his pants as quickly as I could. Every movement I made against him caused him to groan. When I finally managed to pull his pants downward, he gasped in relief and lifted me off the ground. My arms went around him, my legs wrapping around his waist as he carried me to the nearest resting place—a desk at the far end of the room. It sat empty, no more than a decorative piece in front of a window. He sat me down on it as he plunged deep inside me, groaning as he leaned forward so far that his forehead lay against the wall.

  He moved roughly, each thrust making my heart beat faster. I clawed his back as I clenched around him, my body responding in ecstasy the same moment he found release. He kissed the sweat on my brow.

  “Thank ye for obligin’ me, Aeval. I’m sorry this was to be our first time as man and wife.”

  I laughed, my chest rising and falling in such quick succession I felt like I’d just run a great distance. “I’m not. That was exciting. We’re about to become an old married couple. That’s probably the most exciting thing we’ll do all year.”

  He grinned in a way that just one corner of his mouth pulled up. He’d never looked more attractive to me.

  “I sure hope so.”

  “Can we go home now? I’m ready to curl up in your arms and sleep for days.”

  “Ah, but we can’t go home yet,” he said smoothly. “There is still one more thing to see.”

  I gave him a confused look. We’d already danced, drank, cut the cake and tossed the bouquet. What else could possibly be left?

  “Not here.” He said, as if reading my mind. “We just have one last stop to make before we go home, okay?” He hesitated. “It’s a surprise so don’t be after the details.”

  “A surprise?” I said. “I think the booze has gone to your head. You’ve already given me my wedding present.”

  “Just one more,” he whispered. “We’ll call it a Christmas present, but we’ll need Leslie, too.”

  “A fairytale ending, to be sure.”

  Chapter Seventy-Five

  Booked For a Cozy Christmas Adventure

  Ten minutes later I’d hugged several guest’s good-bye and been shuffled into the limo with Cullen, Leslie, and Da. It was almost one in the morning and despite the party happening inside, the castle grounds were silent. I was sure the rest of Ireland was curled up in bed after a long day of Christmas carols, presents and eggnog. Once again I found myself blindfolded, being led out of the limo and into the cold.

  “Really Cullen, couldn’t you have just placed the present under the tree like a normal person? The last time you did this it didn’t turn out so well.” I said it with a cheeky grin and felt his warm lips on mine. My heart pitter-pattered.

  Of course I didn’t mean it. I loved it when Cullen spoiled me. Really, who didn’t love being spoiled? Although, given my state of well-being, I would have preferred the surprise had waited ‘til morning.

  “Keep them closed.” Cullen instructed as he guided me out of the limo. My heels echoed as I walked and I knew we were now on pavement.

  “Can I take this blindfold off now?”

  “Are ye losing yer sense of adventure, Sophia?” Cullen teased.

  “Come to think of it—I might just be.”

  “Well, ye’re going to hate boarding this plane then,”

  “What?” I said, stopping at once and pulling my blindfold off in one fast swoop. No way was I going on another trip already.

  We were at the corner of Wicklow and William Street South. The street was dark and quiet. “You brought us to Storybook Café, but they’re closed.”

  “Hey! I said no peekin’,” Cullen chided gently.

  “You haven’t rented a room in town, have you, because I really just want to wake up next to you in our very own bed.”

  Cullen shook his head as he laughed. “Don’t ye recognize where you are, Aeval?” He took me squarely by the shoulders and turned me to the left.

  I squealed. “Leslie! Look!”

  “Surprise,” She squealed back at me.

  The storefront looked homey and charming –almost as if it had been pulled from a painting of Victorian London. Perfect and picturesque with the glow of soft light spilling from the gas lamp out front. The door had been painted a lovely shade of red and above the brass knocker was an oversized white bow.

  Cullen smiled. “This place has never looked better, don’t ye agree?” he asked as he unlocked the door.

  “Is it ours, then?” I whispered.

  Cullen laughed which I took to mean yes. Either that, or this was a really cruel joke.

  Inside was just as lovely. Cullen had ordered the bookshelves that Leslie and I had talked about as well as the formal red velvet drapes I’d envisioned.

  “Just look at this place,” I repeated, wandering the room. “How did you ever pull this off?”

  “I had some help.” Cullen smiled at Leslie and Da.

  “Good grief! Is that my Great-grandmother’s clock?” I asked.

  “I knew ye missed it so I had it shipped over.”

  “I can’t believe you did this,” I said, throwing my arms around his neck. He squeezed me back. “But how, Cullen? This place was sold—Leslie and I saw the sign in the window when you were missing.”

  “Well, I hope ye’ll forgive me for being presumptuous but I bought it the day we saw it. I knew ye wanted it so I made the call while we were there. That’s who I was talking to at the Café.”

  “You sneaky bugger. I thought you said it was a business call.”

  “Well, it was…in a way. The landlord wouldn’t budge on the rent so I made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.”

  “You didn’t have him murdered, did you?”

  Cullen gave a mock-scowl. “That’s between me and Jimmy Itchy-Finger.”

  We all laughed.

  “I meant to surprise ye earlier, but of course our world was turned upside down the followin’ day.”

  “That’s why you and Leslie were together? You weren’t having an affair—you were surprising me with this store. Sam must have seen you or found the photo and sent it to me.” I turned to Leslie. “Why didn’t you just tell me?”

  “I tried,” she said.

  I started to cry and we all grew silent for a moment, then Leslie twirled and laughed. “Well, I’m too happy to think about the past right now.”

  “Me too,” I agreed, laughing and wiping away the tears.

  “I can already picture the books filling the shelves, and a cappuccino machine would be so good here, don’t you think, Sophia?”

  “Definitely,” I said, and smiled.

  “What will you call it?” Da asked.

  Leslie looked at me and pointed to the ink stain on the floor. “What if we name it, The Mysterious Ink Spot.”
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br />   “Good thinking, but since we’re specializing in mysteries and adventure, what about Mysterious Adventures in Ink?”

  Epilogue

  Careful What You Witch For

  “Thanks for meeting me again, Madam.”

  “Of course. You said it was urgent. What was it you needed to see me about?”

  “In the Cupcake Shoppe, you said my lifeline splits off once again. It troubled you. What were you going to tell me that day?”

  Sandra tapped the cards three times and then held them out. “Shuffle.”

  I did as she asked and handed them back.

  She laid them before me.

  “What is it?” I asked.

  “It’s just as I suspected,” Sandra said gravely, making me nervous, though I wasn’t quite sure why I should be.

  She tilted her ear again as if listening to something and then she took my palm and studied it in her own.

  “What is it, Sandra? It’s not over, is it?” I said, taking a deep breath.

  “It is. If you let it be,” Sandra said, sidestepping.

  “What does that mean? Just tell me what you see.”

  Sandra flipped the tarot cards back over and pointed to the card with the naked child seated upon a white horse.

  “You’re pregnant.”

  “Oh my God!” I jumped to my feet, squealing with delight. “This will be the start of a new chapter. Cullen’s going to be so happy. No wonder I’ve been feeling sick.” My face fell as I looked down at Sandra’s somber demeanor, “why are you so upset? This isn’t bad news.”

  “You must abort.”

  I stared hard. “Why?”

  “Because you don’t want to go into the past again and if you have this baby then that is your destiny.”

  My eyes fell upon the final card, the Devil.

  “The girl you carry is destined to be very powerful—too powerful— and bad will come of it.” Sandra shrugged. “Your palm is not telling me more. However, my spirit guide has warned me: On her sixteenth birthday she will obtain your book, and catastrophic events will lead to the death of a loved one.”