I'll kill him myself.
“What about the shadow-fire?” she whispered.
He took a steadying breath and said, “I can help you learn to control it, with help from Dane and Blair. It's basically a mix of both of our powers.”
At least he's accepting I need them both.
“Okay. We should get back downstairs,” she sighed as she stepped away and left the room.
The whole family were sitting together in the lounge when Dane arrived at exactly nine o'clock.
“Dane!” Taran exclaimed, shaking his hand. “We've been hoping to see you, we must thank you for returning Charlotte to us.”
“That's why I'm here, Taran. There were, developments,” he said, gravely.
The atmosphere changed. Everyone stopped talking and looked to Dane and Taran. Callan joined them and placed a hand on Dane's shoulder. “Dad, it isn't good,” he muttered.
“No,” Taran said, looking troubled. “I can see that. What do you know, Dane?”
Dane cleared his throat and looked to Charlotte. Alayna shifted to the back of the room. “Well. He's stronger than we first thought, he's going to be hard to take down now. We know what he was looking for. He didn't get it this time, but he's probably looking for another source.”
Taran frowned, looking from Dane to Callan.
“He was after shadow-fire,” Callan clarified.
“Why on earth would he kidnap and torture our little Charlotte for something like that?” he asked, incredulous.
Charlotte shrank, looking down at her hands as Callan and Dane moved protectively to either side of her. All eyes were on her. Caoimhe seemed to work it out first and her hand covered her mouth. Dagda stood and glared at her, his hulking form suddenly more terrifying to her than it had ever been.
“Look I didn't…” she spluttered. Callan pushed her behind him.
Oh shit.
“Dagda sit down,” Alayna snapped.
“She didn't know she had it,” Dane explained, holding Dagda in his steely gaze. “It wasn't until he shattered her mind she found it for herself. She hid it from him.”
“She hid it, held onto it while he killed her. She isn't the threat, Dagda. She almost died to keep it safe. She needs our help, our protection, and our trust,” Callan said. “Please, Dad,” he said, turning to Taran. We'll be married in two weeks, we'll either live here or relocate to keep her safe.”
“You stay here,” Taran said tightly. Then, softening, he stepped towards her. “Charlotte, may I see?”
She hesitated before opening her hand. Caoimhe appeared beside her, and said, “It's beautiful. May I?”
The tiny flame danced to her open palm. Captivated, she watched the blaze dance along her fingertips.
“Ma!” Dagda hissed from the far side of the room.
“Enough Dagda. It isn't a threat here among us,” she said, firmly. “If Charlotte wished us any harm she wouldn't have come back to us like this. We're a family and we have to trust each other.” She looked directly at Charlotte and said, “We'll do whatever we can.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, sagging with relief.
Taran cleared his throat and Caoimhe passed the flame back.
“Callan and I can train her. She already has very good control,” Dane assured them. “Dagda, we'll need your help too.”
Dagda blanched. “What can I do?”
“We need to actively track that bastard down before he does any more damage. I have a few shadow wielding friends willing to come and work with us to find him.”
Well, Dane's been busy.
Callan had relaxed slightly, now everyone was more calm. “My only request is that we wait until after the wedding to meet with the council. She needs the protection of the title.”
What? Protection from what title?
“Of course, Well…” Taran cleared his throat again. “You'll need a safe place to train, training must be intensive. Dane, I'll have a suite prepared for you at the palace. I assume your father can spare you?”
“Yes. Thank you, but, I have a house in Oxfordshire, I do not need rooms in the palace.” He bowed slightly and flicked his eyes to the back of the room.
“Charlotte, have you anything to say? We are making these arrangements with no regard for your wishes,” Taran asked her kindly.
She extinguished the flame and said, “No, well just that I'm sorry I brought all of this down on you.”
Surprisingly, Dagda spoke first. “None of this is your fault, Charlotte. We'll keep you safe, we'll track him down and we'll put a stop to it all.”
“I'm sorry, now that we have ascertained that we must help Charlotte, I really must go. I have a few visits to make since I will be leaving my duties for the foreseeable,” Dane said.
“Of course, thank you, Dane,” Taran said with a curt nod.
He bowed his head to Taran, winked at Charlotte, and left.
“I have a lot to plan. I'll have to go too. Thank you for dinner,” Dagda kissed her cheek, surprising her, and left by the front door.
When everyone else had gone, she collapsed onto the sofa. “That went better than I was expecting.”
Callan sat beside her quietly.
“Are you okay?” she asked. “What you just did…”
“I'm fine,” he said with a sigh. “I mean it. We stay together.”
Leaning her head on his chest she allowed herself to relax.
He's risking everything.
Washed and changed, she checked her phone. One new message. Leaving it unread she climbed into bed.
Callan joined her a short while later. Shuffling back into him, she lifted her head for his arm to fit beneath. “Thank you,” she whispered into the darkness.
“What for?” he asked softly.
“You chose me over your entire family.”
“I may have made a huge mistake this morning, but when I asked you to marry me I meant every word. Only you.” Gently, he kissed her shoulder.
“I'm sorry I got so angry,” she sighed, turning to face him. “I shouldn't have… Can we put it behind us?”
She recognised the familiar tug in her gut as he kissed her.
It was just a stupid argument. He didn't mean it.
“What do we do now?” she asked between kisses.
“Well, right now I'm going to apologize to you properly.” Trailing his tongue down her throat, his hand crept up her thigh. “I love you,” he murmured.
We're getting married.
Everything else can wait for now.
Chapter 30
Fresh petals lay in a wide circle on the lawn of the private garden, their light scent filling the air. In the centre stood a stone with a flat top. It had been decorated with a posy of pink and red roses, an ornate burning candle, a goblet of water and a bowl of smouldering incense. Hand in hand, they walked to the stone and faced one another.
Callan's eyes shone as he took her in.
The Druid Priestess approached, gave a few words of greeting to them and their guests and began the ceremony.
Without speaking she took a long length of red ribbon and gently bound their hands. Taking another length of gold ribbon, she gestured to their friends and relatives to do the same. One by one they took their turn, joining them.
“Now you are bound one to the other with a tie, not easy to break.
Your marriage will be strong,
Your love will last,
In this life and beyond.”
Everyone took their places around the outside the circle and the Priestess continued.
Do you, Callan, take Charlotte to be your wife,
To be her constant friend,
Her partner in life, and her true love?
To love her without reservation,
Honour and respect her,
Protect her from harm,
Comfort her in times of distress,
and to grow with her in mind and spirit?
“I do,” he said clearly.
Do you, Charl
otte, take Callan to be your husband,
To be his constant friend,
His partner in life, and his true love?
To love him without reservation,
Honour and respect him,
Protect him from harm,
Comfort him in times of distress,
and to grow with him in mind and spirit?
“I do,” charlotte responded, so quietly that only Callan and the Priestess could hear.
They then spoke together.
“I take you, my heart
At the rising of the moon
And the setting of the stars.
To love and to honour
Through all that may come.
Through all our lives together
In all our lives,
May we be reborn.
That we may meet and know
And love again,
And remember”
Carefully, the priestess removed the entwined ribbons from their hands and Dagda presented their rings.
Callan slipped the plain, golden band onto her finger and she met his gaze. His eyes sparkled as he smiled at her. His wife.
Her hands shook slightly as she gently pushed his ring into place and gave a nervous laugh.
His finger lifted her chin and he placed a heartbreakingly tender kiss on her lips. “I love you.”
The Priestess announced, in a clear, high voice, “By the power vested in me, before the spirits and the elements, I do declare to all assembled here that you are husband and wife.”
* * *
About the Author
Carrie is a budding fantasy romance author. She can usually be found reading fantasy novels, watching fantasy TV and playing fantasy games online when her children have finally gone to bed.
Her lifelong love of all things fairy and folklore are her inspiration. Being a romantic at heart, she's combined the two for her first book series, Riftkeepers.
She lives on the edge of the Lake District in the north west of England with her husband and two children.
Dear reader,
Thank you for taking time to read Prime. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends or posting a short review. Word of mouth is an author’s best friend and much appreciated.
Riftkeepers: Prime Page 23