Riftkeepers: Reckoning

by Carrie Whitethorne

  Callan cleared his throat as he lowered Zander. “We’ll be having some time off, Blair. Would you mind covering me on the portal while we’re busy?”

  Blair glanced to Charlotte, clearly thinking time off was a good idea given her appearance. “Of course. Is Dagda aware?”

  “He is. It’s on his insistence. We’ll see you when we get back. Ready?” He turned to Charlotte and the children.

  “Where are we going?” Zander asked excitedly.

  “It’s a surprise for Mummy. We’ll go home first and have an early lunch.”

  Charlotte’s eyes narrowed. “You know I don’t like surprises.”

  “Have fun,” Blair said with a lopsided smile and flashing his brows before leaving.

  Callan shrugged and offered his hand. “Well, I do. Humour me.”

  A light lunch was already prepared when they arrived home. The children ate quickly and ran upstairs to change.

  “Where are we going, Callan?”

  He turned on the dishwasher, ignoring her, and left the room. She stayed where she was, glowering after him.

  We can’t take time off from anything now! It’s all going pear-shaped. We should be training; spending time together. There’s a war coming. Who knows what’s going to happen. The kids need to get back to normal; back to school. What was the point in warding the place if they aren’t going back?

  I hate it when he does this.

  “Are you coming, or are you going to sit there scowling all afternoon?”

  Callan was leaning casually against the door frame, a smile playing on his lips. Her features softened as she looked at him, looking more relaxed now than he had in days. The deep-set lines of worry had left his brow, his eyes now shone with mirth as he teased her.

  Sighing, she slid from the high stool. “Okay, fine. Let’s go and do whatever it is you have planned and to hell with everything else.”

  “Trust me, it’s a good surprise,” he said, leaning down to kiss her. “I’ve just dropped the kids off. We can join them as soon as you’re ready.”

  Dropped them off? Where?

  “I’m ready,” she said, rolling her eyes.

  “Stop rolling those at me and close them,” he said, just before he tugged her away to their unknown destination.

  The first thing she felt was warmth. Glorious, sun-kissed warmth.

  Okay, so we’re back in Avalon.

  She shifted her feet slightly, her trainers sinking into dry sand.

  Avalon has beaches.

  The children were laughing some distance away, splashing water.

  Is that Dagda?

  “Can I open them now?”

  “Yes. Happy Birthday.” His eyes held hers briefly, bright and smiling, then he turned her around. “Dane said you mentioned the Bahamas.”

  The white, sandy beach led down to a perfect, clear blue sea; the bright, blue sky above stretching away to meet the sea on the horizon. The palm-edged beach was deserted, save for them, Dagda, and the children playing in the water.

  Her hand pressed to her chest, she began to laugh. “Callan, this is…wow. Thank you!”

  He turned her again, facing her away from the sea, towards a low, thatched building.

  “Ferne’s inside. Your bag is in our room. I’ll see you out here when you’re suitably dressed.”

  She turned back to him to see he was removing his clothing, already wearing shorts beneath. Admiring him as he walked towards the water, she smirked and took in the view beyond.

  Okay, I like this surprise.

  “Lottie!” Ferne called from the little house. “You’ll cook in those! Come and get changed!”

  Charlotte kicked off her trainers and tugged at her socks. Walking barefoot in the warm sand, she approached the house and called, “Who planned this?”

  Ferne handed her a shocking pink drink and said, “Callan. We’re here for a few days, then we’ll leave you to it. Dagda brought me here two days ago, out of the way. No idea what he thinks is going to happen to me. No one knows I’m on Arran. Can’t complain though.” She smirked, sipping her own cocktail, and sauntered away towards a closed door. Pushing it open, she said, “This is your room. I packed for you. You didn’t own any swimwear, so I picked you some up. And flip flops. Well, to be honest, you didn’t have anything suitable, so I bought the lot. I’ll be down there.”

  “Thanks, Fe.” Putting her glass down on the counter by the door, she made her way into the bedroom.

  Please, no bikinis. I can’t handle that.

  The room was bright and airy; the doors that formed the entire outside wall thrown open to allow the ocean breezes to blow in. The palms outside rustle; the shade they provided keeping the room cool. A four-poster bed dominated the centre of the room; the fabric adorning the frame she assumed doubled as a mosquito net at night. Ferne had bought her a new bag to go with her new clothes. Charlotte clicked her tongue, recognising the emblem on the leather as she unzipped it.

  With a sigh of relief, she pulled out a tank top and high shorts swim set and made her way into the bathroom to change.

  Hope the kids have told him they can’t swim. And it’s a good job I shaved my legs this morning!

  A proper holiday though! On a deserted island! This, Charlotte, is something to smile about. Cheer up, he deserves to see you smile. He makes so much effort.

  Fourteen

  It had taken Enya and Zander just three hours to learn to swim. They hadn’t left the water since they’d arrived, keeping Callan and Dagda busy with various tricks and games. Charlotte and Ferne lounged on sunbeds a short distance from the water’s edge.

  “Who owns this place?” Charlotte asked as she lay in the sun, eyes closed.

  “You,” she said and laughed, turning onto her front. “I’ve been here getting the place ready. Well. I say that, but there’s been a steady stream of people from the palace in and out placing wards and making sure the kitchen and bar are stocked. I’ve been out here offering the occasional ‘thank you’ as they’ve left.”

  “What?” she asked, sitting up. “Callan’s just bought this place because I had a moan about how wet it was while I crawled around that grotty little spriggan hole?”

  “Pretty much,” Ferne said, reaching down for her glass. “It’s not like you ask for much, is it? He has to take his cues from wherever he can.”

  “I don’t need anything,” Charlotte laughed. “How’re you settling in? Are you okay?”

  “Yeah. Bit lonely with you lot running off every five minutes, but Dagda takes me where I want to go and collects me when I’m ready. Had a day in London to get your bits last week. I stayed here while you were in Bulgaria.” Lowering her voice, she said, “Don’t suppose I should be complaining, but he’s so busy all the time. I miss him.”

  Charlotte closed her eyes, the sadness in Ferne’s words causing her chest to tighten. “Fe, it’ll settle down when we’ve got things under control. They’ll be back to having nothing to do but look at that portal and throw meat to the dragons. Until then…well, do what you do best.”

  Laughing uncomfortably, she said, “What? Spend his money? I’m actually not as okay with that as I thought I’d be.”

  Charlotte’s brows rose in surprise. “Well that’s a first. You coming for a swim?”

  Ferne frowned, “My hair...”

  “You’re on a desert island with your bestie and a man who worships you, and you’re bothered about your hair? You’re such a bimbo, Fe! Come on!”

  After spending the rest of the afternoon in the sea and playing on the beach with the children, they changed for dinner. Dagda caught and cooked fresh fish on an open fire while Ferne prepared a salad and couscous. The children ate pizza and fell asleep in the lounge shortly afterward.

  Sitting on the beach, close to the house, she settled her head against Callan’s shoulder. “Thank you, Callan. This is perfect.”

  He kissed the side of her head, but didn’t reply as he watched the moon’s reflection on the calm sea.
<
br />   “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. Just enjoying being here with you.”

  He got up from the sand, pulling her with him. With a glance to the house he asked, “Walk?”

  The still warm breeze sighed through the palms lining the beach as they passed. The sand was cool between her toes as she walked.

  This is perfect. Everything about this place is perfect.

  They walked for a while, listening to the gentle lapping of the waves. Breaking the silence, she said, “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  He slowed, raising her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingertips. “I’m thinking,” he said huskily, “that I love you. That I’m lucky to have found you, and I want to stay here with you forever.”

  Her eyes welled. “I love you.” Her voice was no more than a whisper.

  He leaned down and brushed a kiss on her mouth, his soft lips only just contacting hers. “We could, you know.”

  She frowned. “What? Stay here?”

  “If you wanted to. It’s got everything we could possibly need.”

  Reaching up, she stroked his face. “We can’t, Callan. We have a job to do. I want to. Nothing would make me happier than hiding ourselves away, but there’s so much…”

  “Responsibility.” He sighed, turning and gazing out to the horizon.

  She dropped his hand and sat, tucking her knees beneath her chin to watch the waves. “Since you’ve bought the whole island, we can come back whenever we like. Balance it out.”

  “She told you?”

  “Ferne can’t hold her own water. She’ll tell me everything, every time.”

  He shook his head, sitting beside her. “Your party? This? No. Ferne is an expert liar,” he said and laughed.

  She opened her mouth then closed it again, realising that Ferne was not the ally she’d hoped for. “That’s great. Now I have you all conspiring against me.”

  Rolling his eyes, he said, “We love you, Charlotte. We want you to be happy, that’s all.”

  Turning to him, kneeling in the sand, she took his face in both hands. Holding his gaze, she said, “I am happy, Callan. I have you. You were all that was missing. You’re all I need.”

  Reaching for her, he swallowed hard.

  Sensing the repressed emotion, she pressed into him, her lips crushing against his while shifting to sit astride him.

  He pulled back slightly, tugging her dress over her head, and resumed the kiss, his tongue searching for hers.

  Her hips ground into him and he laughed against her mouth. Growling with frustration, she moved back, giving herself room to tug his shorts down.

  Brows raised, he tensed as her hands glowed violet.

  “Calm down,” she mocked, hanging what was left of his shorts on the tip of a finger. “We can both destroy clothing.”

  He watched her, his eyes hard and intense, as she wet her lips and dipped her head, taking him into her mouth. “Chh—” he hissed as she flicked her tongue over him. “Charlotte…”

  One hand at his base, she slowly lowered her head, closing her warm, soft lips around him. The sound that came from deep in her throat made him twitch as she brought her head slowly back up, the gentle stroke of her hand following her tongue.

  Her eyes flicked up, meeting his and she smiled. Lips slightly parted, he watched and waited, burying a hand in her hair. Repeating the motion, kissing, licking, and stroking her way, each tiny movement of her tongue coaxed small twitches of pleasure from him.

  His hand tightened in her hair and she stopped, running her tongue over his sensitive tip. “Don’t you dare,” she breathed, pushing herself away. “Not yet.”

  He gave her an innocent look as she settled over him, taking him into her body. Sighing at the sensation of him filling her, fusing them together, she kissed him. As he shuddered, she pushed him back and began to move. His eyes didn’t leave hers, her hips rolling in a steady rhythm, until she came to a rapid climax. She didn’t stop moving, her internal muscles working against him, drawing him closer.

  He tensed and she halted, a playful smile on her lips. His eyes narrowed as he considered her, then widened as she left him and resumed with her mouth. She tasted herself, running her tongue along the solid, slick length of him and let out a small moan. Her movements were less controlled, her own lust taking over as she felt his orgasm build. His hand tightly gripping her hair, he poured into her mouth, and she took him; every twitch, every small thrust, until he stilled.

  Her eyes met his and he watched her throat move. With a half-smile, she wet her lips and cocked her head. Her pulled her close, turning her around to face back towards the sea, arms around her waist. Kissing her neck, he murmured, “What was that for?”

  She chuckled, resting her head back into the hollow of his shoulder, and smiled. “You.”

  “Wait, I’ll be back,” he said, kissing her shoulder.

  Alone, she shook the sand from her dress and slipped it back on.

  I love the bones of that man.

  Does he know? Does he really know what he means to me? He can’t possibly. I don’t know how to say it.

  His warm chest pressed into her back as he sat behind her, legs wrapping around beneath her own. He handed her a glass and she took a sip through the straw he’d thought to add, the cool, sweet liquid washing the taste of him from her mouth. She frowned and set the glass down in the sand.

  “You found some shorts?”

  “Yeah. I don’t think they noticed.”

  His arms wrapped around her, his soft breath tickling her ear; he held her in the moonlight.

  “Callan, I…”

  “What’s wrong, Mo Ghaol?” he murmured into her neck.

  His fingers, entwined in hers, twitched as he felt her gentle caress along the barrier of his mind. He relaxed, resuming a trail of kisses along her shoulder.

  She pushed, connecting her mind with his and he sighed at the contact. His arms tightened around her as she showed him, told him the only way she could, what he was to her; what he meant. Every emotion. Every feeling: the good and the bad. Every night she’d spent without him; every night she’d spent with him, she pushed towards him.

  “I know,” he choked. “Of course I know.”

  “I…I wasn’t sure,” she whispered.

  He lifted her, turning her to face him. His eyes glistened as he said, “I knew when I left you. I made a mistake. I hurt you. I’ll never leave you again, Charlotte. Never. I can’t be without you.”

  “I don’t know what’s ahead of us, Callan, but I do believe in fate. We were meant to be together. I believe that. Maybe we just had to know how to be apart first.”

  He smiled, a single tear escaping and running down his cheek. She kissed it away. “I love you, Callan.”

  Dagda and Callan had taken the children to explore the island so they could sunbathe in peace. Unused to doing absolutely nothing, Charlotte was becoming restless.

  “Fe. What do you think we can do about our mortality?”

  Ferne sat up, frowning. “What sort of question is that?”

  “Well, they live practically forever. We have, what? Eighty years? Half of those we’ll be looking like a right pair of cougars.”

  Ferne giggled. “Shit, I hadn’t thought about it. Isn’t there some sort of elixir of eternal youth we can drink or something?”

  “You watch too many films,” she said, laughing. “I know there are vampires. They’re immortal. Callan joked about visiting one once, to have me…turned.”

  Ferne made a sour face. “Ew…”

  “Yeah,” Charlotte agreed with a shudder. “I don’t fancy a diet of blood bags either.”

  “Now who watches too many films?” Ferne mocked. “There must be some way of extending our lives. And keeping our looks!”

  “I don’t even know how to broach the subject with him again. Callan’s so protective all the time.”

  “I’ll ask Dagda straight out. He’ll tell me if it can’t be done. I mean, look at the kids. They m
ust have some sort of genetically gifted long life being demi-Fae.”

  “Being what?”

  “Demi-Fae. Like demigod. Half…” Ferne said, looking a bit self-conscious.

  “Didn’t know you knew all these big words,” Charlotte laughed, sipping a glass of water. “They must have. I mean, they don’t look seven, do they? They’d pass for five! I hadn’t thought about that either!” Suddenly horrified, she gasped, “What if they still look sixteen when I’m ninety? Will they have to call me Nana in public?”

  Ferne frowned and picked up her phone.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Looking for legends on the fountain of youth,” she said absently.

  “They’re probably old myths.”

  We’re human. We’re born to die. May as well accept it.

  “What are old myths?” Dagda asked.

  Charlotte jumped and growled, “Dagda! Will you two stop creeping around?”

  “I’m looking for the fountain of youth,” Ferne said, waving her phone at him. “You know, so we don’t have to look like a pair of dirty old women with their hotties pushing their wheelchairs in fifty years’ time.”

  Dagda frowned. “It’s a myth. Isn’t it, Cal?”

  “Yeah,” Callan said slowly, eyeing Charlotte.

  “We’ve already discounted becoming vampires,” Ferne said brightly. “I’m not that big on red meat.”

  “What’s brought this on?” Dagda asked gruffly.

  “Something Charlotte mentioned,” Ferne said, not looking up from her phone. “There has to be something!”

  “There isn’t. I’ve already looked,” he said as he turned and strode into the house.

  “Shit. That’s him in a mood…” Ferne said, trailing after him.

  Callan adjusted her sun lounger and sat down. “Come on; tell me.”

  Charlotte shrugged. “I just mentioned it in passing and she went off researching the fountain of eternal youth.”

  “You don’t just mention your own mortality in passing, Charlotte,” he said with a humourless laugh. “I’m trying to find time to research it. I hadn’t forgotten how you feel about it.”