Shadow of the Mark

by Leigh Fallon

  “Come on, guys. You’re not going to let those idiots ruin our evening, are you?”

  “Eh, Chloe, my appetite seems to have disappeared. Maybe we should just go home,” Jennifer said.

  Áine remained silent, her startled eyes locked on Chloe.

  “Are you okay to drive, Caitlin?” I asked.

  She attempted to laugh. “Am I ever?”

  I mustered a smile. “Then I think we should all go home. It’s been a long day.”

  Caitlin opened the car doors, and we all climbed in. Nobody spoke until we got into Kinsale. We dropped Chloe off first, then Jennifer, and then we went to the DeRíses’.

  Caitlin turned off the engine and looked at Áine and me. “Jesus Christ, guys, what the hell was that? There is no way that girl learned those moves in self-defense class.”

  “I agree,” Áine said. “You’re sure you’re okay to drive home on your own?”

  “I’ll be fine. Just remind me never to surprise Chloe in the future.”

  When we got inside, Adam and Fionn came into the hallway to greet us. “Are you guys all right?” Adam asked, taking in my dirty jeans. “What happened?”

  “We had a . . . weird night. It turns out Chloe has a gift for martial arts,” I said.

  “Someone tried to steal Meg’s bag, and Chloe turned on some sort of ninja mode,” Áine added.

  I nodded. “Honestly, it was amazing. She was lethal. She could have taken him out if she wanted. Then afterward, she just brushed herself off and suggested we continue on to dinner.”

  Adam wrinkled up his forehead. “Huh. It appears I have a big thank-you to say to Chloe.”

  Fionn nodded thoughtfully. “I’ve been fishing around since you mentioned her, Adam, and she checks out. Schools, dates, addresses. All the paperwork suggests she’s completely legit. But we can never be too careful. I’ll keep looking to see if I can dig anything up.” For some reason, that felt like a letdown after all the excitement. I guess I had expected something else to happen. Fionn headed back to his office, and Áine went to order dinner, leaving Adam and me on our own.

  “What is it with you and trouble?” he said, lowering his face to mine. My body ached to stay in his arms, but I forced myself to pull away.

  “Oh, come on, Meg, just a little kiss,” he begged. “I miss you.”

  “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “You’re not hurting me. Besides, you’ve figured out how to give my energy back. Please?”

  My brain screamed no, but I couldn’t resist. I tilted my head up, and he bent down to kiss me. I put my hands on either side of his face and tried to reflect back the energy as I felt it flow through me, but I wasn’t fast enough. Adam staggered away, breaking contact. I steadied him and continued pushing the energy back to him until he straightened up.

  “You see. We’re getting better.” He smiled. “I’m still standing.”

  “Barely,” I whispered.

  Eight

  SHOCKER

  At school the next week, the attempted mugging was all but forgotten, though Darren and Killian were so impressed, they followed Chloe around like lovesick puppies. They weren’t the only ones with a crush. Rían showed up every day at lunch and spent the whole time flirting with Chloe. By Wednesday, he had secured himself a movie date with her.

  I had my own date to go on—dinner with my dad.

  I couldn’t help wondering whether he was going to tell me Petra was moving in with us. It seemed quick, but why else would he feel like we needed to talk?

  Randel kept me company on my walk to the small Italian bistro where Dad was meeting me. As I approached the restaurant, I noticed Chloe on the other side of the road. She waved at me and crossed over.

  “What are you doing in this neck of the woods?” Chloe asked.

  “Meeting my dad for dinner. He needs to talk.”

  Her eyebrows pulled together. “What about?”

  “I’m not sure. I think his girlfriend might be moving in with us,” I said, then kicked myself for bringing it up. I was supposed to be suspicious of Chloe, but she just kept sucking me in.

  She crossed her arms, leaning back on the old stone wall behind her. “Wow. Big changes, then.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Petra Van Meulder, right?”

  “Uh, yeah.” Had I mentioned Petra to Chloe before?

  Her eyes flickered up and down the road. “You like her?”

  I shrugged. “I guess. She seems pretty nice.”

  “Has she any other family?” she asked intently.

  What was with the twenty-questions routine? Chloe must have realized she was starting to irritate me, because she laughed and put her hand on my arm.

  “Would you listen to me? I’m so nosy. Anyway, I better go. I’ve got my hot date tonight. See you tomorrow!” And she walked up the road at a blindingly fast pace.

  I shook my head. Hot date indeed.

  “Hi, Meg.”

  I swung around. “Dad! Sorry, I was in another world. Come on, I’m starving.”

  After we were seated, Dad ordered a glass of wine and held it out to me. “To our future,” he said, draining it in one gulp. Then he fell silent and started playing with his napkin, twisting it over and over again.

  “Come on, Dad, the suspense is killing me. Spill it.”

  Dad stuck his finger under his collar and tugged at it. “I’ve been putting this off for a while now, so I’ll just come right out and say it.” He met my eyes.

  “Go for it, Dad.”

  He took a deep breath. “I’m going to ask Petra to marry me.”

  I gasped. “You want to get married?”

  “I realize that it might come as a bit of a shock to you, Meg—”

  “You can say that again.”

  “I really like her. Megan . . . I love her.”

  I struggled to form words to express how I felt. “I know, but there’s no rush.” I looked up at him. “Is there?”

  He sighed and looked down at the table. The waiter came over and delivered our first course with a flourish. As soon as he was gone, I leaned forward, waiting for my answer.

  He glanced at me sheepishly. “No. Well . . . there was, but not anymore.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We had a bit of a scare.”

  “She was pregnant?”

  Dad nodded. “She’d only just found out when she miscarried.”

  “Oh . . .”

  “She’s fine,” he said, brushing it off. “It was very early on, and, well . . . I think both of us are beyond all that. But it made me realize that I want our future to include her.”

  “But marriage? It’s only been six months.”

  “I love her, Meg. I haven’t felt like this about anyone since your mom. And I’m not getting any younger.”

  “Dad, if I told you I was going to marry Adam, what would you say?”

  He shook his head. “That’s different. You’re so young.”

  “But you’re using your age as a reason. Look, Dad, I’d be all for it eventually, but just give it some time. Please?”

  He hesitated, then picked up his glass. “When did you become the sensible one in this relationship?”

  I sighed in relief. “Well, women are the voice of reason.”

  His mouth curled into a sad smile. “Your mother used to say that.”

  “Where do you think I got it from?” I took another sip of my water and crunched on an ice cube.

  “So you’re okay with me asking her, if I give it more time?” he said, leaning back in his seat.

  I nodded.

  “How much time?”

  “I don’t know. Time. Spend more weekends together, go on a vacation, have her move in. That’s actually what I thought you were going to talk about tonight.”

  Dad squirmed. “I didn’t know if you’d approve.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Oh, Dad, please.”

  “Okay, then. I think having Petra move in would be wonderful. I’m so happy you
’re able to handle this all, Megan. I don’t know what I’d do without such a mature, smart, sensible daughter.”

  I forced a grin and sighed inwardly with relief—disastrous situation averted . . . for now, anyway.

  After dinner, Dad went to Petra’s house, and Adam met me outside the restaurant. We walked through the winding Kinsale streets, listening to the sounds of clinking glasses and laughter coming from the pubs and restaurants. The flow of energy between us when holding hands was comfortable, enjoyable even. Most importantly, it was manageable, so we could indulge in the contact.

  Adam squeezed my fingers lightly, sending hot tingles up my arm. “So did your dad fess up?”

  “He did.” I gazed up at the starry sky and sighed. “Seriously, I don’t understand you guys.”

  He stopped and pulled on my arm. “As if girls make perfect sense?”

  I smiled. “Don’t take it personally.”

  Adam opened his mouth to retort, but then his eyes narrowed and he pointed to the pier just in front of us. On the old stone wall that snaked its way along the water, there was a couple in an embrace. They were so molded into each other, it was hard to make out where one body started and one ended.

  “Wow,” I mouthed, turning away.

  “Look again,” Adam said.

  The moon had crept out from behind the clouds and was now bathing the couple in a soft light. The girl was leaning back with her chin in the air and her eyes closed. The guy was supporting her while kissing her neck, moving down toward her chest.

  I gasped. It was Chloe and Rían! I guess they never made it to the movie. I could feel Adam’s disapproval. He turned on his heel and stalked off in the opposite direction.

  “Adam, wait!” I sped up to catch him. “They’re just kissing.”

  “I don’t trust her.”

  I sighed in exasperation. “At least have some faith in Rían’s judgment.”

  “You saw them. He’s no longer thinking with his brain.” Adam started walking again.

  “He deserves a chance to be happy,” I insisted, tugging on his sleeve. “If you listened to everyone who said I was wrong for you, we’d never have gotten together. What makes this so different?”

  Adam stopped and turned back to me, looking defeated. “Why should it be so easy for them? It doesn’t seem fair. I want what they have.”

  “I want that too,” I whispered.

  “We might never have it,” he said sadly.

  “I refuse to believe that.”

  He nodded and lowered his lips to mine for a gentle kiss, stopping before the power became more than a tingle on our lips.

  Nine

  COMPLICATIONS

  Fancy a morning cuppa?”

  I rubbed my eyes, forcing them to focus on Petra in her uniform of jeans, an Aran sweater, and Barbour Wellington boots. “You look like you could do with one,” she said. Petra sat down at the head of the table and pushed a mug toward me. I hesitated, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. Her tall, lean figure looked alien in Dad’s usual spot.

  “I won’t bite, you know. Is everything all right with you?” she asked.

  “Fine.”

  “And how about that boyfriend of yours, Adam?”

  What business was it of hers how he was? “What?”

  She dropped her head to the side and gave me what she obviously thought was an understanding smile, but it never reached her eyes. I’d always thought they were a pretty shade of gray, but today they reminded me of ten-day-old roadside snow. “You just seem a little stressed.”

  I shook my head in annoyance. I hoped Petra wasn’t going to start getting all stepmom-like, because I was too old to play that game. “I’m fine. We’re both fine.” I sighed and shuffled over to her. Petra was a no-nonsense woman. There could only be one reason why she was here this morning offering me tea and asking about my boyfriend. The sooner I sat down and heard her out, the faster I’d be able to leave.

  “Your dad and I had a chat last night.”

  Just as I thought. “Oh yeah?”

  “He mentioned that he told you about the miscarriage.”

  A little relieved, I looked up. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

  “Ara, you know, these things happen.” Her hand fluttered to a strand of hair and smoothed it behind her ear. “I had a child once, but . . . well, it was a long time ago.”

  Enveloped in silence, I counted the ticks of the clock while I searched for the right thing to say.

  Luckily, Petra continued. “Your father and I have spoken about moving our relationship forward before, you know.” I cringed. “Caleb mentioned you thought things might be moving too fast.”

  I squirmed in the chair. “Petra, I really don’t feel comfortable talking about this. Where’s Dad, anyway?”

  “He’s upstairs. He wanted to give us a chance to chat.”

  Thanks a lot, Dad.

  “If you don’t want to discuss it, it’s fine. We won’t. I just want you to know that I love your dad. I didn’t expect to, but I do, and I’m here to stay.”

  Whoa. Did Petra just go all territorial on me? Thankfully, Dad walked into the room at that moment, saving me from more awkward conversation. He tussled my hair and planted a kiss on Petra’s cheek. “How are my two favorite girls?”

  “Marvelous, aren’t we, Megan?” Petra said, still not breaking eye contact with me.

  “Yeah, great,” I mumbled. “I better get going.”

  “Yes, we don’t want you late for school,” Petra said. “I’m making dinner here tonight—spaghetti, your dad’s favorite. So make sure you’re back from the DeRíses’ on time.”

  I tried not to let my irritation show as I walked to the front door.

  Dad followed me out. “Thanks for last night, Meg. You were completely right about not rushing things, and Petra loves the idea of us all getting to know each other better. This is going to be great.”

  “Sure it will, Dad.” It seemed I’d just witnessed my advice exploding in my face. Score one for Petra.

  Chloe was all smiles that morning in school, and I could guess why.

  “Well,” I asked, nudging her, “how were the movies last night?”

  She flushed a little. “Good. We had fun.”

  Sure you did.

  Caitlin came down the hall, beaming from ear to ear. “Chloe, I hear you were getting hot and dirty down at the pier last night.”

  Chloe’s eyes opened wide. “Oh shit, that’s just wonderful.”

  I half laughed. “It’s a small town, Chloe.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “You knew too?”

  “Adam and I might have stumbled across you guys last night.”

  Chloe narrowed her eyes. “Then why ask me about the movie?”

  “I was giving you a chance to come clean, which you totally failed at, by the way.”

  Caitlin looked confused. “What’s the problem?”

  “I’m guessing it was supposed to be a secret tryst,” I said.

  Caitlin put her hand to her mouth, trying to smother her laugh. “If you want to get off with someone, don’t do it on the pier. And what on earth do you want to hide it for? Rían is a ride.”

  Chloe fixed her eyes on me. “I know how it must have looked, but not that much happened, honestly.”

  “Hey, you don’t have to explain yourself to me. It’s none of my business.”

  “It’s just . . . I don’t know how long I’m staying, and if . . . my . . . my dad finds out . . . well, he’ll kill me.” She shook her head. “Rían and I were going to keep this secret.”

  I couldn’t bring myself to feel too sorry for her. “Well, you should have picked a more discreet location if that’s the case.”

  Caitlin crossed her arms. “I still don’t know what all the fuss is about. So you kissed a gorgeous guy in public. I’d take your place in a heartbeat.”

  The strain on Chloe’s face eased a little. “He is gorgeous, isn’t he?” She sighed and then giggled. “Oh my god
, I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

  “Doing what?” I asked.

  “Going out with a . . .” She stopped and cleared her throat. “With a DeRís.”

  “Oh, so you’re going out now?” I asked.

  “I think we are.”

  I smiled and laughed but was struck with a twinge of jealousy. I suddenly understood how Adam felt last night. It seemed too easy for them.

  That twinge grew into an uncomfortable, curdled mass in the pit of my stomach at the end of the day. Rían, who obviously did not share Chloe’s thoughts on secrecy, stood outside the school gates waiting for her. As soon as she passed through, he swooped in and gave her a kiss that left onlookers blushing. I was horrified to find myself brimming with resentment . . . and something else.

  Adam curled his arms around my waist and put his chin on my shoulder. He sighed into my ear. “Watching only makes it harder.”

  I nodded and leaned into him. I knew he was referring to our limited physical relationship and our growing desire for more. What he didn’t know was that at that very minute, all my body craved was Rían.

  Through March, we kept up our steady elemental practice. We all got stronger and more precise. I now had air manipulation nearly perfected, and moving stuff was child’s play. The same went for Adam and Rían, though after each session, they were drained, while I felt invigorated. I could sense my element growing more and more powerful.

  Áine was the only exception. Her element wasn’t growing at the same rate as the rest of us. If anything, she was getting weaker.

  Today’s session was grueling. The guys had already finished up and gone in to shower, but Áine wanted to practice some more. “What is wrong with me?” she asked, dropping to the ground in exhaustion. “I feel like my power is seeping away, and what’s left is trapped in here.” She poked herself in the chest. Her fingers inched closer to mine, stopping when our fingertips touched. Randel fluttered to the grass beside us and jumped onto Áine’s knee. “I’ve been trying to stop my overdependence on my power so I can defend myself in the presence of the amulet, but the more I try to separate myself from the element, the weaker I feel. I can see you guys growing, but I feel left behind.” She petted Randel’s head absentmindedly with one finger. He hopped onto her shoulder and snuggled into her neck. “If it comes to another showdown with the Knox, I don’t want to be the weak link.”