by Lynn Crain
“Then why don’t you explain to me just why Lacey got hurt in the first place.” Cuinn glared at Ronan .
“Because I slipped and fell. Ronan told me to run but the ice was heavy in the alley. I lost my footing. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be here. No one attacked me. As it was, he had to expose himself to those men to get me away. I have a vague recollection of him picking me up and then I draw a blank as I must have passed out.”
“That’s because you were. I had to call Giselle to come down. It wasn’t easy for her to leave the safety of the penthouse.”
“It wasn’t as bad as the moment you told me she was hurt, I knew it was for her.” Giselle sniffed a little, tears forming. “I didn’t want her to go in the first place.”
“Why did you go out?” Cuinn eyed her critically.
“I’d like to know myself.” Ronan crossed his arms and stared at her until she became uncomfortable.
“I thought it would be my last moment of freedom.”
“Woman, that could have been your last moment of life!” Ronan growled.
“No, it wouldn’t have been. “ She leveled a stare at him.
“Do tell us why?” Ronan crossed his arms.
She blinked rapidly. “I remember what my powers are.”
“And what would those be?”
She smiled. “You really want to know? There’s more than one.”
Cuinn shook his head. “I think just one would do for now.”
Lacey swallowed hard. This might be more difficult than she thought it would be. She lifted her hand, palm up. “Watch the center of my palm.” All three peered intently at her hand. A small orange flicker started and then began to grow.
“My god, she’s a human elemental.” Ronan stared in wonder. “She’ll have to go back to Scotland and be trained. It’s been hundreds of years since the world has seen the likes of you.”
She shook her head. “No, that isn’t my task. I have to go back to the North Pole, I know it.”
“But you have to be trained,” Ronan insisted.
She frowned. “You don’t get it. I am trained. That woman gave me all this knowledge but there is one caveat. I can only use it in defense of elves and my immediate family. I’m meant to be protecting the North Pole loinnir. Don’t ask me how I know, I just do.”
“Lacey,” Cuinn took her hand in his. “You will need to go to Scotland and talk to the council.”
She stared at him. “I’m not sure what I could tell them. I don’t even know how I can do this myself. It just is. You ancestor made it all come back to me.”
“Like many things elven,” Ronan stated casually. “What are the other powers? Or do you know them all.”
She frowned and looked at Giselle who looked on in wonder. “I think I can do glamours. I’m not sure.” She sighed. “I understand both of your concerns but I can only use these gifts for defense. I’m not like you who have magic at their beck and call. I have to feel the danger and then act upon it.”
“So you think the North Pole will be in danger?” Giselle asked quietly.
“Never while I’m there. I can’t guarantee about when I’m not. I have to get back.”
“That’s what we’ve determined.” They all turned to the newest occupant of the room.
“Aingeal.”
“Lacey.”
“Why are you here?”
“The council told me you had been to the elders.”
“How did they know?” she questioned.
Aingeal laughed and shook her head. “There is so much more for you to learn. But I do agree your talent is for protection only.”
“How did they know?”Lacey asked again, more firm this time.
“It’s a thin veil that separates us from the great beyond. The elven council has communicated between the two realms for as long as they can remember. Like they said, we are given a choice as to when we leave this realm.”
“I vaguely remember something of that nature stated when I was there but it still doesn’t explain how you know.”
Aingeal frowned. “I sensed something different about you. You’re not elven but you are very special. I even commented on it to Fearghus, and I think this is why you had such problems with the amnesia spell. You can’t put that type of spell on someone who is an elemental, elven or human. It doesn’t take.”
Lacey sat up straight. “Hey, you’re right. I finally remember everything about your wedding, even Eggther and our dance.” She turned to Cuinn. “Well, it was really more like a shuffle but I didn’t care. Promise me you’ll take a dance lesson or two before we get married? We can even do them together.”
Aingeal laughed. “Shuffle? I don’t think I’d even say it was that good. Cuinn was a horrible dancer as a kid.”
“Hey, that’s hardly fair,” Cuinn stated in his own defense as he looked at Lacey. “So, you remember everything? The times we met in college?”
She nodded. “I do remember.”
“That’s wonderful.” He smiled.
“I think we need to give you two some alone time, don’t you?” Aingeal grinned. “I know Fearghus and I would want some.”
Lacey returned the gesture. “I would agree but I have a few more questions which need answering, first.”
“Alright, shoot.”
“If you don’t need us, I think I should get Giselle home. She had just arrived home from the hospital when Lacey fell. She hasn’t had time to recover herself.” Ronan moved to reach for Giselle.
“Giselle, is that true?”
“You didn’t leave and I couldn’t leave you. After all, it’s all my fault we’re in this mess in the first place.”
“No, cousin, it isn’t. You happened to be the easiest target right now. They could have just as easily tried to kidnap your parents.”
“But they’re in Europe.”
Ronan turned to Aingeal. “She’s right. Since Europe is the ancient realm of the elves, we’re more protected there. The Paines are always watched when they travel in our realm.”
“I thought of that myself. You know what it means then, don’t you?”
“There are more human elementals out there.”
Aingeal nodded. “I wonder if they are as hidden as Lacey was.”
“Elementals haven’t been around since the before the Egyptians, you know. Not just hundreds of years as Ronan said but thousands. There were a few in the dark ages but no real records on them like in Egypt.” Aingeal stated, a smug look on her face. “Wow. We’ve found the first human elemental in recent elven history.”
“What?” Lacey looked at them, surprised. “Why?”
Ronan glanced at her. “Because an elemental has to be more human than elf. Most of the original elementals were completely human. But the art was lost except for a small enclave of elves who somehow managed to breed it back into the human population. I just didn’t realize it was that far back in history.”
“Geez, I’m a science experiment.” Lacey frowned and crossed her arms.
“Honey I’m not sure what you are.”
“Great. I’m an anomaly, but that still doesn’t implicate Giselle in any of this.” She looked at her friend. “So quit worrying about how you could have prevented it. You are who you are, and don’t you ever change. After all, who’s going to be my rich girlfriend if you’re not around?”
Giselle took both her hands, holding them tight. “I hate to tell you, the elves are richer than my family.”
“What?”
Giselle glanced at her cousins. “She had to know sometime. You’ll never have to work a day in your life unless you want to, that is.”
Lacey scowled at Cuinn. “She’s telling the truth, isn’t she?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“I don’t understand the human preoccupation with money,” Ronan said quietly.
“There are a lot of reasons, but they are hard to explain when you’ve always had some.” She sighed and stretched a little. “I’ve got to get out of this bed. Ronan, you
are going to take care of Giselle, right? I don’t have anything to worry about there?”
“Correct. She’ll be in my care until this whole thing is over.”
“Good. You two will come to the wedding. I won’t take no for an answer.”
“Yes, we’ll come. Say goodbye for now, Giselle.”
“Alright.” She gave Lacey a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’ll see you soon. You’ll still have to come and get your clothes from the penthouse.”
“I’ll do that before I leave, promise.” She watched as they left and returned her attention to the two remaining occupants. “I’m glad she’ll be safe. Ronan seems a confident man.”
“I agree. Now what are your other questions so you two can be alone.”
“The woman who made me remember… who is she? And why did they say I was the second one?”
“Well, I imagine it was a grandmother a few generations removed. Angie met her so you might want to compare notes with her.”
“So Angie was the first.”
“Yes, but for a totally different reason. She was dying and her parents brought her there to allow her a choice.”
“But her parents were human.”
“Yes, they were, but they had special privileges within the elven community. She chose to come back.”
Lacey nodded. “Okay, I remember her telling the reasons a human came to the hall and that was one of them.”
“Do you know who the other elementals are?” Aingeal asked.
She concentrated hard. “No, I don’t think so. I do know I’m not the last of the line. I believe our children’s children will be of the same line.”
“Amazing.” Aingeal shook her head. “Can you see this clearly? Or is it a more vague imagining?”
“Not really. It’s more of a feeling. I don’t think things will be resolved in our time.”
“I hate to leave this for our children.”
Lacey shook her head. “Not our call. I think this was decided long ago.”
“Why do you say that?”
“There’s some kind of prophecy, isn’t there Aingeal?”
The woman looked positively stunned. “How do you know?”
“Just a feeling.”
“No one remembers it. The council was surprised when I found it. But yes, there is a prophecy and the cycle apparently started with my parents.”
“And it will end with those who come after us.”
“I believe you are right.” Aingeal swallowed hard. “I had barely told the council about this at all. Apparently it was lost in antiquity and now found again.”
She nodded. “Many items which were lost will be found.”
“Well, can you two tell me what we’re supposed to do?” Cuinn interrupted, looking from Lacey to Aingeal.
“Nothing, except live our lives to the fullest. While this group will be a thorn in our side, they will not be the end of us. They will only spur us on to do even better.”
“Do you even know what this group is called? I’d like to be able to refer to it as something other than the group.” Lacey leaned back in her bed waiting for an answer.
“Aonaich de dhe sealgi or League of Hunters. At least that’s what we think they call themselves.”
“Any other ideas on who they are, how they’re financed?”
“Absolutely nothing. The prophecy is deliberately vague about them. They could be a disgruntled group of elves for all we know.”
“Let’s hope not. Then it would definitely be a battle of wills and skill. Right now, the only advantage they have is surprise. We’ll need to know more about them.”
Aingeal nodded. “We’re ahead of you there. The council had started to put together a unit to protect people from them. Ronan was the first one recruited. He won’t be the last.”
“Agreed.”
“Can we have that alone time now?” Cuinn questioned. “I want to talk to Lacey.”
“Uh, sure. I’ll be here to help get you home. We’ve managed to put some more speed on the sleigh. You’ll be surprised.”
“Thank you, Aingeal. I appreciate you being here but I’m sure you need to get back to your own family now.”
“You’re welcome. We’re heading the same direction. Mom always wants us in the North Pole for Christmas. I just wish our house was ready.” She slipped out the door.
Lacey smiled at Cuinn. “Okay, we’re alone.”
He breathed in deeply and clasped her hand. “Promise me you’ll never do anything that foolish again.”
She pursed her lips. “I can’t do that.”
“What?”
“I mean. I’m human and not infallible. I didn’t think there would be a problem. And as Ronan told you, it was my own clumsiness which did me in.”
“Will you at least be more careful?”
“Yes. Besides, now I can defend myself and whoever is near me.” She smiled at him broadly. “Surely that wasn’t all you wanted?”
“No, there’s one more thing.”
“What it is?”
He leaned in closer to her. “Lacey Sinclair, will you marry me?” He slipped an ancient ring on her finger. “This has been in my father’s family for generations. He says you deserve it more than anyone.”
Holding her hand up to see the ring, she noted is was a fire opal surrounded by rubies and diamonds. She kissed him lightly on the lips. “I love you, Cuinn Locklin, and there’s no place I’d rather be than next to you.”
Epilogue
“At least they gave Eggther a month,” Eggther lamented his latest lot in life. But now he had someone who could share it with him, and Edana had been the perfect helpmate in this endeavor. In fact, it had all come together quite easily.
“Eggther, I think it was wonderful!” Lacey leaned down and kissed the small elf’s cheek. “Thank you very much. I shall cherish this memory always.”
“There are still a few more things you need to do, aren’t there? You aren’t leaving already?”
“You’re quite right,” Cuinn said. “We have the bouquet and the garter and then of course, there’s the first dance.”
“All those items are important,” Edana stated softly. “Is there anything we can help you with?”
“How about announcing our first dance? That would be perfect.” Lacey took Cuinn’s hand in hers and waited for the announcement. . She smiled as the man she loved twirled her about the dance floor, happy they took lessons together. While the first dance was a waltz, the second one was more up close and personal.
“You know I love you.”
“I would hope so. I wouldn’t want you marrying me for any other reason.”
She eyed him. “So, where’s our honeymoon going to be?”
“That’s for me to know and you to find out. Have a little patience. We’ll be gone soon enough.”
* * * *
Merna was bored stiff. True, she loved her brother, but this wedding had taken her away from her first year of college. And while, Maddox really wasn’t impressed, the world outside held some appeal for her. True, she had spent most of her free time at the Inuit village, but Fairbanks had a charm of its own.
“I wish you’d quit moping around. It’s downright depressing.”
Never in all her eighteen years had her brother frustrated her more than now. “I wish you’d give it up. I’m allowed to be a little depressed.”
Maddox sat down beside her. “I don’t get it. We’ve only been there for three months and home every weekend. I don’t see what the pull to the human realm is for you.”
She eyed him caustically. Only her twin would say something along those lines. “I didn’t say it was the human realm which drew me in, just civilization in general.”
“I still don’t get it.”
“She can go shopping every day. Now, would you leave your sister alone and come with me? It’s time for you to try and catch the garter.” Bevan stood and watched his youngest two.
“Do I have to?”
“Look, son, the
re aren’t that many eligible bachelors out there. I figure you have a pretty good chance, and since Merna didn’t even want to try for the bouquet, you have to try for the garter.”
“Geez, thanks sis.” Maddox rolled his eyes.
She smiled brightly. “You’re welcome, brother.” Merna laughed when he made a face at her as he went to stand with the other men. She frowned as she saw someone she didn’t recognize amongst their midst. Did someone bring a guest and not ask Santa?
The man looked incredibly strong and handsome as he tried to get behind the rest of the men. His hair was dark like hers but where her eyes were blue, his were dark brown. Her heart beat a little faster as she took in the whole of his physique. For the first time ever, she wanted to look at a man, get a really good look, including a glimpse of his crotch. Thank god, she had learned from Aingeal’s mistakes and had never done anything she could regret.
Still, the man looked a little suspicious and out of place. She’d ask him to dance and maybe that would allow her time to figure out what it was about him, which drew her to him. Smiling at other guests along the way, she slowly went toward the newcomer, surprised he didn’t retreat as many men did.
“Hi, I’ve never seen you here before.”
“That’s correct, you haven’t.” His voice was a rich timbre and slid over her like warm rain.
“Would you like to dance?”
“Most certainly.”
* * * *
Trevor Haines couldn’t believe his luck. These elf people really were stupid when it came right down to it. He had managed to attach himself to a party of guests as they left Boston, and that so called bodyguard, Ronan, hadn’t been any the wiser.
But to have the most beautiful woman in the room ask him to dance? Now that was the biggest coupe of all, and with his Indian heritage, he could say that. Taking her in his arms, he willed his body to behave as they twirled amongst the other dancers. He would have to make his move very soon.
“What’s your name?”
Her voice wasn’t high pitched like other women but low and seductive. Maybe if he played his cards right, he’d get some. “Trevor Haines, ma’am.”