Worthy of Magic (The Ancient Magic Series Book 4)

by Stephany Wallace

  He narrowed his eyes at me and crossed his arms. I crossed mine too and looked at him daringly. I could understand his point, and I knew this wasn't a typical situation, but it still irked me when a man told me what to do. Then something occurred to me.

  “Will Seima and the other girls be there too?”

  He thought about it. "Maybe, but I don't believe they will. Ronan said it would be just the guys."

  “But there is a possibility?”

  He nodded, and I sighed defeated. Well, that changed things. Swimsuits didn’t even exist in the Iron Age. If the girls had to be all covered up, I didn't want to be prancing in my fancy bathing suit and make them feel bad or something. I mean, I would be self-conscious if it was the other way around. No girl wanted to feel like the odd one out in a group, and nice girls looked out for each other. I guess I could change, except that still left me with a problem.

  “I don’t have anything else I can wear, Chewie,” I said earnestly. Now I was bummed. “Can I still go?”

  He pulled me into his arms and kissed my forehead. “Of course you can go. Do you have anything you can wear over that?”

  I looked up at him while I thought about it. Glee suddenly filled me remembering I had packed a cover up. Walking to the bed, I rummaged through the suitcase and pulled it out, immediately slipping it on. It was a white dress, with crochet details on the bust, waist, and the hem of the skirt, which reached my ankles. The detail also adorned the bell-bottom sleeves. It was seventies inspired, and a tad see-through since it was a beach dress and the cotton was really thin. You could see the shadow of pink through the fabric, but it was all I had. I looked at him expectantly, and he nodded smiling.

  “Much better. Let’s go.”

  He turned slipping his feet into a pair of canvas shoes and putting on a t-shirt. I put on my leather sandals and held his hand tightly as he began to pull me behind him.

  * * *

  We walked through the jungle on our way to the three-mouthed waterfall. Art still held my hand as he guided me through the trees. My gaze jumped from one unbelievable color to the next. Everything around us was so beautiful. The flowers, the trees, the vegetation. I was mesmerized. I had always been a city kind of girl. Hell, I had never even been camping, but I couldn't deny how enchanting this place was. I had complained when we stepped out of the hut because Art refused to open a portal, and I wasn't exactly fond of the idea of walking in my flip-flops among the insects and worms sliming about in the jungle, but I understood now why he hadn't done it. The way there was breathtaking.

  "Will Bri be there?" I asked, hopeful, looking up at him.

  He shook his head. “I’m sorry. She’s not ready yet.”

  I nodded, knowing exactly what he meant. I wished I could see her, but she had been secluded with Cyn since we arrived here. Losing her grandfather that way had destroyed her. He had been everything to her. Bri’s only family and frankly, Neil was an incredibly sweet man. The few times I had been to their home, he had been nothing but welcoming, and he had always made me feel as though I was his family too. Very similar to the way I felt here.

  I stopped for a moment to take my feet out of the sandals, forcing Art to stop too. I hadn't known we would walk this much, and the leather straps were kind of burning my skin. I rubbed my foot against the back of my leg trying to find relief. It itched. Art kneeled on the ground and placed my foot on his thigh, taking a look at it.

  "The skin is reddened from the friction, but you don't have any blisters." He let go and looked up at me. "I'm sorry. I should have known you wouldn't be used to walking this much."

  I shrugged. "It's ok. This is worth the walk. It's stunning everywhere I look." Art took my sandals leaving me barefoot, and stood in front of me. I balled my feet watching the ground. I was not that brave. "I'm not walking barefoot, Chewie. Who knows what creepy crawlies are around, just waiting to hop on my feet.”

  He chuckled and turned around, bending down. “Jump on my back.”

  "Oh!"

  Before he could change his mind, I held his shoulders and jumped. His hands instantly caught my legs, and settled under my knees, holding me firmly. I wrapped my arms around his neck making sure I didn't end up strangling the poor man.

  “Are you comfy there?”

  “Yes. Thanks, Chewie.” I kissed his cheek and heard him chuckle.

  I rested my head on his shoulder, admiring our surroundings as we continued.

  * * *

  Art's steps finally slowed until he stopped walking. I opened my eyes again. I had been fighting sleep for the last thirty minutes.

  “We are here, Bòidheach.”

  I smiled at the endearment and gasped as my eyes finally took in the sight. Two small mountains stood magnificently in front of us. A river ran through the middle of them and split into three large waterfalls that formed a semicircle and converged at the bottom into a large pool of water. My gaze followed the rushing water as its path narrowed, transforming into a river once again, flowing away from us. The tones of bright green, red, pink and purple from the grass and flowers all around us took my breath away. Art began to descend the small mound we stood on, and my eyes widened all over again but for a very different reason.

  A group of about twenty-five of the finest freaking men I had ever seen stood just ahead of us. They chatted and laughed as they waited for us, I assumed. I looked at the pool again and realized there was around ten more already swimming in the water. The closer we got, the wider my eyes became. Had I died and gone to heaven? Abercrombie and Fitch, heaven? Seriously, these guys seemed like they had all been picked from their catalog, or from a fitness magazine. YUM, didn’t even cut it.

  Art's arms suddenly let go of me, and I squealed falling backwards. Strong arms caught me, except they weren't Art's. I instinctually wrapped my arms around a new neck, to make sure my ass didn't unceremoniously hit the floor. Art winked, standing in front of me, and just as I was going to complain about being passed around like a hot potato, my eyes met with the man's that was currently holding me. Well, hello there.

  “Hi,” he said, in a deep but warm voice.

  My gaze roamed his face as he carefully watched me. He was an older man, at least older than Art and the others. He looked around forty-five years old. I unconsciously smiled. He had the kindest eyes I had ever seen. It wasn't the color that made them special. Although, the sea-foam green with a yellow ring inside it wasn't exactly the most common combination I had come across. No, it was the sincerity in the emotion behind them. I had no idea who he was, but I felt as though he was someone who I could trust blindly. The thought made me smile. He almost looked like he could have been Bri's Dad. His hair was red, a very similar tone to hers, his skin light and dusted with freckles along his nose and cheeks just like hers, although lightly tanned from the sun. He smiled, and I felt like asking him for a hug. He had a genuinely endearing smile. Everything about him screamed “honest to God, good man,” in every sense. You'd think I'd feel weirded out by the fact that he was still holding me in his arms, but I really didn’t.

  "Hi,” he said again, and I chuckled.

  “Hi. My name is Amelia, but you can call me Lia.”

  The skin at the sides of his eyes crinkled as his smile widened. He looked even hotter. “Nice to finally meet you, Lia. My name is Ronan.” He looked at Art. “You were not lying, my friend. She is Ion-mholaidh.” I frowned, wondering what it meant. “You must have great esteem for me to entrust me with her care this way."

  "I trust you with my life, brother" Art answered, winking at me.

  "You mean dropping me in your arms as though I am a sack of potatoes?" They both laughed. “What does that mean? Ionmmo…” I stopped trying to say it before I made a fool of myself. I couldn’t repeat the word.

  “Ion-mholaidh?” Ronan asked. I nodded.

  “Adorable.”

  Another man's voice answered, and I looked over Ronan's shoulder to see a younger man saunter towards us. Holy hot tamales on a warm
summer day, he was smoldering hot. Not that Ronan wasn't smoking hot but he had an older, experienced flair, while this guy seemed more like a mix between the boy next door, and the bad boy with a motorcycle that every sixteen-year-old girl wanted to ride, I mean date. He wasn't as tall as Ronan but was built just like him. He was shirtless already, and his muscles almost made me drool. His hair was short and light blond; he had soft brown eyes, with plump lips and a sexy birthmark on his cheek. He stood beside Ronan who finally set me down on the grass.

  "Who is this vision in white?" The man asked, as his lips turned up into a crooked grin, that could have melted a more impressionable girl.

  I returned the smile as Art held my hand in his again.

  Ronan turned to face the man beside him. "Eghan, I want you to meet Lia, Briana's friend. She is currently staying with Art." Eghan's eyes filled with recognition and a full smile formed on his lips, but I didn't remember seeing him before. "Lia," Ronan continued. "I want you to meet Eghan, my husband."

  My eyes widened. “Your husband? You guys are together, like together-together, and in love?”

  Eghan laughed at my question. “Yes, we are.”

  “Eeek. I have gays!!”

  I said, clapping excitedly and jumping up and down. Eghan squealed too and began jumping with me. We laughed and hugged, while Art and Ronan looked at us amused. Eghan was my new girlfriend. I could immediately tell Ronan and him were the manly and quiet type of gay, but I loved that Eghan was sharing my enthusiasm anyway. It made him even more special. He was happy that I was excited to meet them, and he didn’t mind following my craziness, which I loved.

  "She is adorable," Eghan told Art and Ronan, agreeing with them.

  Art chuckled and I looked at him as he stepped closer, kissing my forehead. “She absolutely is.”

  I squealed as I was picked up once again, and the guys laughed. I turned to find that this time my captor was Eghan. He winked at me and I chuckled, wrapping my arms around his neck.

  "Come with me. I wish to introduce you to some of the other guys." I nodded, although I wasn't sure he had asked for my permission. His gaze shifted to Art's "I shall bring her back later. I hope you will not miss her too much."

  Art chuckled, and I looked back at him as Eghan took me away from them.

  * * *

  By the time the fifteenth introduction was done, I was in the arms of a big and brawny man named Jarvis. He looked scary with his bulging muscles, his long brown braided hair, full beard, and a scar that cut across his left eye, but he had a kind smile that said he was a gentle giant.

  "It has been a true pleasure to meet you, wee one," Jarvis said, in a strong accent, kissed my cheek and placed me back on Eghan's arms.

  I patted my cheeks, embarrassed. I had never been the blushing type, if anything, I was usually the one making other's blush, but there was something about being passed around by hot men that kind of did the trick. My cheeks felt like they were burning up, and I was certain my feet had not touched the ground in at least the past thirty minutes.

  “Is it time for me yet?”

  A man’s voice said from behind me. Eghan turned me so I could see who it was, and dear God I was not prepared for that. My eyes unapologetically roamed the length of his magnificent body, and I suddenly felt lightheaded.

  His caramel tanned skin glistened as he stepped out of the water and walked towards us. His short brown hair was tousled from the swim, and dripped with water. Each drop ran down his body, creating sensual trails over his tattoos. He wore the same pants that Art and the others had on, rolled up to his knees but his were soaking wet and plastered to his body. A small gasp escaped me, when I realize the linen had become translucent and I could see the outline of him at the crotch area. Damn. My eyes flew to his, as he smirked and stopped in front of us. Eghan finally put me down, but I accidentally stepped on a rock and stumbled forward. He caught me in his arms before I could taste the dirt, and trapped me against his chest. Our bodies were completely flushed together.

  "Well, I had planned on carrying you as the others did, but I presume this way is more enjoyable for me." I looked up at him, and light honey eyes looked back. They twinkled with humor. "Hello, my name is…" A hand suddenly pushed his face back cutting up his words.

  "Cathair." Art finished, pulling me towards him and effectively breaking the hold his friend had on me. "And he doesn't need to hold you so close to introduce himself."

  Cathair laughed, stepping closer again. “I thought it was weird you were not around her.” He and Art shared a manly hug, patting each other’s backs. “Why have you been hiding her, brother? I wanted to meet her since the moment she stepped into the village."

  "Yeah, I know. That is exactly why I hid her." They laughed, and I chuckled enjoying their banter. Art's gaze fell on me, and he smiled. "This is Cathair, one of my closest friends."

  “I beg your pardon?” Cathair asked in mock offense. “I thought I was your best friend. What on earth happened?”

  "Yeah, well. You used Lia as your personal towel. That's what happened." I frowned and looked down. I was drenched while Cathair's chest was all good and dry. "Keep it up, and I'll move you down to ‘acquaintance.’ I'm sure Eghan would make a perfect ‘new best friend.'" I chuckled.

  “I was being a gentleman.” Cathair said in his defense. “She was falling, and I caught her with my chest.” He barely finished the sentence before everyone started laughing around us.

  "Well, she doesn't need you to rescue her, that is what I'm here for." Art retorted with a glint in his eyes. These two were definitely enjoying themselves.

  "Why do we not ask her which of us she prefers to be rescued by? It is her decision not yours, brother." Cathair gave me an expectant look, and my eyes widened.

  “Oh, no. Don’t look at me. I don’t speak pissing contest.”

  Laughter erupted around us. Art wrapped his arm around my waist, and kissed my temple.

  "Do not pay them much attention, or they will believe themselves more important than they are. It is useless."

  I turned in the direction of the voice, and saw Seima walking towards us. She wore a long white linen dress similar to my cover up but much simpler. Still, somehow she managed to look gorgeous. She smiled at me.

  "They do this sort of thing all the time. During our last gathering, they fought for over an our about who brought me mead. You must do as I do, and ignore them."

  I chuckled and hugged her. "I wasn't paying much attention. Don't worry."

  “I am glad to see you here, Amelia. I was planning on visiting Art’s hut to check on you, and learn how you were doing.”

  "I'm well, thank you," I said, disregarding her concern. "Do you want to go swim with me? I need girl's time." She nodded enthusiastically, and I held her arm guiding her towards the waterfalls. "Oh wait!" I said, remembering I had forgotten something extremely important. I reached for Ronan and Eghan's hands, pulling them behind me. "I need my gays."

  ART

  * * *

  I sat on the rock at the edge of the second waterfall, Cathair and Ronan at my side while my gaze followed Lia's every movement. Her body rested on Eghan's arms. Her long brown hair floated around her as his arms swayed her back and forth on the water. Small waves rolled along her form as her body disrupted the otherwise still surface and droplets fell on her skin. Her lips stretched into a peaceful smile, and I was glad to see her like this. Especially after the disturbing night she had.

  "I advise you to be mindful of Ronan's husband, Art. I think he is planning to kidnap Amelia from you." Ronan and I laughed at Cathair's words. He just shrugged and chuckled. "I speak the truth."

  "Indeed he does," Ronan answered with a huge smile. "He is smitten by her. In all honesty so am I. I can not place any blame on him."

  I chuckled again. “I knew he would be. I told Lia he would love her the second he saw her.”

  Ronan nodded. "And I am certain we are not the only ones." His gaze traveled to my left, and he arched
his brow.

  I grunted, plunging my hand in the water and pulling Cathair’s arm before he swam towards Lia. “And where exactly are you going?”

  He grinned. “I just want to swim. Am I allowed?”

  I narrowed my eyes at him, and his grin widened. I grunted again. "I swear Cathair…"

  "All right, all right. No need to get antsy." I let go of his arm, and he looked at me with a calculative look. "Is she yours? Have you bedded her already?"

  I shut my eyes. “You know, sometimes I want to smash my fist against your mouth so hard.”

  He laughed. "Ahh, the sign of true friendship." I chuckled looking at him again. "Are you interested in her? If you are, I shall stay away."

  I shook my head as my eyes searched for Lia once again. She was smiling wide as she climbed Eghan’s back and jumped into the water. I liked seeing her that way. My heart warmed with her laughter.

  “But she didn’t exactly come here to have sex with you Cathair.”

  He scoffed. “No need to make it sound nasty, brother. I am in search of someone to love, not someone to lay. I want a family. You know that better than anyone."

  I sighed, and my gaze returned to him. "Lia is not ready. She went through a lot and is still trying to find a way to cope with what happened. What they did to her…" I couldn't even finish the thought. My chest constricted remembering her cries. I shook my head taking a settling breath. "This is not the time, Cathair. Perhaps somewhere down the line, she might be ready. Today is not that day."

  “I understand,” he said looking at me sternly, all humor gone. “I shall be nothing but a gentleman. I promise.”

  I narrowed my eyes at Cathair, and he grinned once again. I repressed a chuckle.

  “I find that hard to believe,” Ronan answered earning a splash of water.

  I looked straight into Cathair's eyes. "Just promise me you'll give her time. I need your word that if you decide to make a move, you'll talk to me about it first. I'm responsible for her now."