Forever Love (Circle of Ghadan Book 1)

by Kimberly Cummons

  Keegan’s voice was hoarse, and not from the smoke that had recently damaged his throat. “Cassie luv, I wouldn’t suggest lookin’ at me like that.”

  Oops, he’d read her expression. How embarrassing.

  “Down, Celt, we don’t have time for that. But, damn, if I had a woman look at me like that, I’m not sure I’d let anything stop me from taking her up on her promise.”

  Both of them saw it? She felt the red spread up her neck, embarrassment making her turn away from Keegan and clear her throat. “Thank you for bringing it back to me.”

  “You’re more than welcome, a mhuirnín. I’m glad I saw it glinting in the lights before they went out.”

  Cass looked back at Keegan and smiled. He was very dangerous and she was very much in danger of losing her heart to him. Something that would be bad indeed. They both had an eternity to live. No man would want to spend forever with her, and she’d never be able to see him go to anyone else. It would be best if she just remembered that. A little harmless flirtation with a handsome Irishman and then when it was all over, she’d be on her way to try to pull together what was left of her life and move on. For eternity. Cripes she didn’t know if she could live for an eternity. Maybe the doctor they were scheduled to see tomorrow would know how to change her back.

  Nilos stood, catching her attention. “Derian got me a room at the Bed and Breakfast in town, and I still need to check in and call the boss. Then I’ll give Jasmine a call and have her meet me at the B&B so we can head over to Cass’ store nice and early tomorrow. Hopefully, I’ll be able to book a flight tonight.”

  Cass shook her head. These guys spent money like water, and it probably was to them. Nilos’ clothes and the watch she’d caught a glimpse of all cost more than her store earned in a year.

  Keegan stood as well and held out his hand. When Nilos took it and they shook, Keegan said, “Thank you. The more we know the better off we’ll be. I do suspect a Daughter is somehow involved, but I don’t know why. Certainly, she had to know that tampering with Cassie’s manager is against Circle rules.”

  Nilos nodded as Cass rose and she and Keegan followed him to the door. “Mon ami, how much time have you spent with Daughters over the centuries?”

  Keegan raised an eyebrow and looked confused by the question. “Not a lot, why would I? I’ve always had one assigned as an assistant, and I’ve made friends with a few of them, but that’s all.”

  Nilos chuckled. “‘Course not. Keegan, you’ve spent so much of your life trying to avoid relationships, I’m glad to see one finally punch you in the face. Mebbe this time, you won’t be able to walk away.”

  Cass felt her face grow hot as Keegan said, “Sod off, and what do relationships have to do with Daughters?”

  “‘Cause unlike you, I’ve spent some rather intimate time with a few, and I’ve discovered some feel cheated.”

  “Cheated? I don’t understand.”

  “Of course you don’t, you’re immortal.” Nilos shook his head. “A few of the Daughters I’ve had sex with over the years feel their paranormal abilities are a poor substitute to being immortal.”

  “But they live a longer than average lifespan, some as much as a hundred and twenty years, and they don’t age that much either.”

  Nilos snorted. “And you think they’re happy with that when they see you living two thousand years, or Derian who’s older than dirt? No, mon ami, they wanna be immortal. I can see one being happy to help our Aeterni if she has even a slight chance at immortality if they succeed.”

  Keegan nodded his head. “Yes, I can see where that could be the case. I just never think of the Daughters as wantin’ more than they have. None of my assistants ever have.”

  Nilos raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

  Keegan looked startled. “Why do you ask?”

  Nilos smiled a wicked smile full of knowledge. “Do you remember Audrey?”

  “Of course I do, she was Bartholomew Dewhurst’s daughter. Born in 1870 something if I’m not mistaken. She was my assistant for decades because Dewhurst didn’t need both of her abilities, I did.”

  “Mais yeah, and she was a hot little piece as well.”

  “Is there anyone you won’t screw? Hell, Nilos, Dewhurst would’ve had your head if he knew you’d been with her.”

  “Well, he didn’t know, did he? And she did just fine marrying some Count or other. Anyway, she desperately wanted to be immortal. Despite the fact she remained beautiful and looking a good twenty to thirty years younger than her one hundred fifteen when she died, she wanted more. I think she would have done anything, including sell her soul to the devil if possible, to get it.”

  “I never knew.”

  “Of course you didn’t. You never get close enough to listen.”

  “So you think there’s a Daughter out there willing to help this Aeterni if it means she might gain immortality?”

  “Hell yes. If what we suspect is true, it’ll give us a place to start searching. Daughters with the ability to manipulate minds are rare, at least at this point in time. I know a century ago there were at least sixty of them, but I believe Derian was complaining because we only have twenty now. Not enough to go around when you have to have one available at all times.”

  “So, twenty Daughters, grand. Is there a way to check if any were in the area recently? Besides Jasmine, that is.”

  “I’m not ruling Jasmine out, but don’t you keep track of that stuff?” Nilos asked.

  Keegan shook his head. “No, I keep track of Aeterni, not Daughters. I’m not sure anyone does, they just know they have to be available by phone when needed. That means they have to have their cells on. Have Derian check their phone records, hopefully one of them made a call from Indiana.”

  Nilos frowned. “Okay, so I’ll gather up Jasmine, check out Cass’ store and talk to the Greek who thinks he’s a god. Lucky me.”

  “He’s your boss, you’re with him all the time.”

  “Yeah and how would you like to trade places with me?”

  Keegan smiled, his eyes twinkling with amusement, his dimples creasing his cheeks. “Not on your bloody life.”

  “Exactly.”

  Nilos surprised Cass when he bent over and kissed her cheek. “Goodbye, chère. Good luck with Doc Blood.”

  “Thank you, Nilos, and good luck to you with Derian.”

  Keegan opened the door. “Take care, Nilos, let me know what you find out as soon as you get finished with the bookstore. I’ll have my phone with me on the plane.”

  “Will do.”

  As the door closed behind him, Keegan turned to Cass and took her in his arms.

  “Are you all right?” she asked. He’d healed sure, there wasn’t even any red left, but he’d been burnt. Even knowing the immortality thing, she just couldn’t wrap her head around the fact he was okay after coming so close to being burnt alive.

  “I’m fine, darlin’, not even a little singed anymore.” He bent down and kissed her forehead. “I do need a shower and a change of clothes. I’m not sure if I’ll ever get the smell of burnt wood out of my skin.”

  She wrinkled her nose, he did smell like a fire pit. Cass watched him walk toward the bedroom, his stride as sure and primal as always. Would she ever get used to this world she’d woken up in just yesterday? Her stomach growled, and she realized they hadn’t eaten since dinner the night before. She decided to see what Keegan had around to eat and headed toward the kitchen.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Keegan tossed his clothes in a pile to be thrown in the garbage. What had Cassie thought as she’d watched his burns heal and disappear? He’d caught her more than once staring at his hands and burnt face. She saw firsthand, more effectively than the thumb-cut demonstration and his poorly thought out stabbing, exactly what they were.

  Stepping into the shower, he quickly washed away the last of his ordeal. There was nothing left of the injuries that would have left a mortal hospitalized for weeks on end, if not dead. As he towel dried his
hair, he walked into the bedroom, grabbed a pair of boxer briefs, an old pair of jeans and a black long-sleeved t-shirt out of his dresser and pulled them on.

  Barefoot, he went in search of Cass. Between the sounds and smells coming from the kitchen, he gathered she was cooking. Calling himself an ass, he realized they hadn’t eaten since the night before. He needed to consider someone else for a change. It’d been too many years since he had to think of anyone else, and even then, he hadn’t been particularly good at it. That’d been his wife’s specialty, taking care of the people and everything else in their lives.

  As much as he’d loved Angelina, it was Susan who’d made sure she had everything she’d needed, had made sure she was fed at regular intervals. He’d loved his daughter more than he’d ever loved anyone, had spent time with her, bandaged her cuts and scrapes when necessary, but he’d never really been much of a father. He wasn’t used to taking care of anyone besides himself. Not then, not now.

  For thousands of years he’d cared only about his wants and needs. He’d learned young not to trust. At the age of seven, he’d gone from a life of pampered luxury, to being beaten and starved literally overnight. Kicked out by his own mother. He’d felt lucky when he could find a corner of the stable to sleep in rather than the mud outside. He’d learned quickly there was only one person who’d ever take care of him. Himself.

  Susan had tried to make him believe he could trust her, but that’d been little more than fifty years ago. By then it was too late, he was too old to change. Eventually she’d grown tired of the continuous battle. It’d become clear she was going to leave, most likely after Angelina had finished college.

  As a result, his self-protection instincts had taken over and he’d found excuses to spend more and more time at the hospital where he was head of surgery because it was the safe thing to do. If he distanced himself from her, then he’d hurt less when she left him. Or that’s what he’d told himself during the long night shifts he began volunteering for.

  She’d never had a chance to leave him. His constant working had eventually killed both his wife and his daughter. Not directly, but it was his fault and no one else’s that she’d been where she was when the drunk had driven down the wrong side of the highway and crashed into them.

  If only he hadn’t come off a thirty-six hour shift and felt too tired to drive home. No, he wouldn’t go down that road, it was destructive and served no purpose to anyone. He’d lived more than long enough to know bloody well second-guessing decisions didn’t do any good and wouldn’t change a damned thing.

  “Son of a beach!”

  Cassie’s curse brought him back to the present. Picking up his pace, he entered the kitchen to see her at the stove. Like it or not, he had another responsibility. The only good thing this time was that he doubted he’d have to watch her die.

  “What’s the matter, pet?”

  She looked up, pushing her hand though the wavy mass of brown bangs, shoving them off her forehead. She was dressed in her own clothes, jeans that sagged from her too thin waist and a blue sweater that was too baggy.

  “I got the bread a bit browner than I wanted.”

  Stepping behind her, he leaned forward and looked over her shoulder. Knowing he shouldn’t touch her, he resisted putting his arms around her waist. Putting his hands behind his back, he asked, “Grilled cheese?” She smelled like lilacs. He took a deep breath, holding on to the scent of spring and warm Cassie that filled him.

  “I’m sorry, I’m not much of a cook, but I can make a pretty decent grilled cheese. Or, at least, I usually can.”

  She was right, the bread was bordering on black. It hadn’t crossed the line yet, but it was getting close. Smiling, he kissed the tip of her ear.

  Biting back a curse, he quickly turned away. He had to keep his distance or taking care of her would end in disaster. “Not to worry, the browner they are the more flavor they have.” His voice was gravely and he cleared his throat. Damn.

  Cass laughed, the sound crept past his defenses. “Well that’s polite, at least.”

  Determined to keep their relationship uncomplicated, or as uncomplicated as possible, he said, “I aim to please, darlin’. Do you need plates?”

  She moved the pan off the burner. “Yes.”

  “Used to an electric stove?” he asked turning back to her holding out one of the plates he’d pulled from the cupboard.

  She looked at him with surprise as she scooped a sandwich out of the pan onto the plate. “Yes, how did you know?”

  He held out the other one. “’Cause you moved the pan. Since electric stays hot, it’s never safe to leave your pan on the hot burner. With a gas stove it’s not that important.”

  She took the plate he handed her and walked to the bar where she’d already placed a couple of cups of coffee. “If you’d like something else to drink…”

  “No, this is perfect, thank you.”

  “I wasn’t sure, but somehow I didn’t think you wanted wine, and you don’t have much in your refrigerator.”

  “I’ve been away for a couple of weeks and haven’t had a chance to restock anything. Besides, coffee’s my one true addiction,” he said with a smile. Taking in the look of apprehension in her emerald eyes, he recognized what could easily become another addiction, even stronger than coffee. Shaking off the thought, he took a bite of the crispy bread.

  “I really am sorry, I’m not used to your stove. I know with mine just what low, medium or high means, the flame threw me.”

  “’Tis fine, luv, no worries. It tastes good. You’ve never had anything but an electric stove, then?” He knew better than to be surprised, he’d run across this same thing time and time again over the years.

  “No, my grandmother used to talk about cooking on a gas stove, but she preferred electric.”

  Keegan shook his head. “I’ve never been able to get used to cooking with electric, guess sometimes I’m an old dog who just can’t learn new tricks.”

  She nodded but her brow creased. He’d been trying to keep things light. She’d been in a bad situation for a long time, she needed some downtime or she was going to explode.

  “What’s the matter, Cassie? You can’t even take time out to enjoy a very brown tastin’ sandwich?”

  She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “While you were gone it suddenly hit me just what I’ve become.”

  “Ah, and you’re still not sure you want to live forever, then?”

  “No, I’m not.”

  Christ, he wished he could help, but this was one situation where nothing he’d learned in two thousand years could provide either an answer or comfort. “I’m sorry, luv, I wish I could say I can take it all away, but I can’t. We just have to go on the way we are.”

  “I know, I think I’m starting to understand that. But how do you do it? I mean I realized if I live as long as you have already it’ll be well into the 4400’s. Jesus-jenny, that doesn’t even sound real.”

  This was important to her, so he chose to deal with it in a serious manner. He would have liked to lighten the mood with some quip or other, but he wouldn’t. “Truth to tell, if someone had told me when I was thirty I’d live to see the 21st Century, whatever that was, I would’ve told them they were a can of piss and let it go at that. But here I am, living in an age of computers, cell phones and satellite imagery. Not only do I know the world is round, I’ve seen it in pictures taken from outer space.”

  He took a bite of his sandwich, enjoying the burst of flavors before continuing. “When I was but a babe, still bein’ taught by tutors, even their great knowledge knew nothing of the world beyond tradition and belief in the gods, spirits and the sidhe. It was a very innocent time, even though no one thought so. Until very recently, the 18th Century at the earliest, there was a limited understanding of what this world has to offer. Oh there were inventions, to be sure. Galileo opened the skies to us, and other greats throughout the centuries revealed more through science and theory, but the true start was the
Industrial Revolution.”

  He smiled as he finished his sandwich and took a drink of coffee. Cassie had finished long ago and was facing him, elbow on the counter, leaning on her fist, listening to what he had to say. He remembered she’d said she was an historian, which explained her intrigued expression.

  “Where we are now is bloody brilliant. Granted, there’s still much bad, too many wars waged in the name of one god or another. Too many people killin’ for the sake of killin’. Too much of the past forgotten and never learned from. In the meantime, there’re such wonders.”

  He reached over and pushed a wavy strand of her soft brown hair behind her ear, stroking her cheek along the way. “You, Cassie luv, you’re so much better off than I was. You at least have grown up in a time when wonders occur every day.”

  She nodded but didn’t try to dislodge the hand that he’d moved to the back of her neck under the heavy fall of waves. He slowly stroked her silky skin, hoping to release some of the tension he felt there. Unfortunately, his hand on her was having the opposite effect on him. The tension was building, his need to take her back to bed and continue what Derian had interrupted earlier growing in him. He would ignore his desire, he had to. There was too much at stake. But it didn’t mean he couldn’t touch her. Damn he was going to lose this battle with himself, but it would be later, much later when they had time to explore each other properly.

  For now, a little taste wouldn’t hurt anything. Removing his hand, he swiveled his stool, and scooted toward her so his knees rested on either side of hers. “Just think what you’ve seen in your lifetime. During the 90’s we went from mobile phones being something that was tethered to the car with an antenna sticking out the window to something you held, but still had an antenna. Then along came the smart phone which blew all previous versions away. That one piece of technology has changed, improving so much in just a couple of decades. You’ve seen it, lived with it, adapted to it as easily as you get up every mornin’, and you’ll continue to do so as the decades and then the centuries pass.”