by Sasha Parker
Once inside, the sisters and grandmother greeted Ronan and Brendan as well, giving them hugs of welcome. They had waited dinner for them so everyone went into the dining room and settled at the table. Kira's sisters didn't wait long before they began to fire questions at her.
"Did you find anything else out since we talked to you?" Sheela asked.
Kira shook her head. "No, that's it. Kai is still trying to trace the residual magick he found. He says it's from an old family. He recognizes it but cannot name it."
"Damn. We need to figure this out," Erin said.
"Maybe we are going about this the wrong way," Calli said, shocking them all.
"What do you mean, Cal?" Ari asked.
Calli's brow wrinkled up as if she was in concentration. "Well, I know this sounds silly, but I was watching one of those soap shows the other day." When Sheela snorted, she added, "Hey, it was just on and I was bored."
"Uh-huh, I hear ya. Bored." Sheela giggled.
Calli rolled her eyes. "Anyway, there was this woman who had an enemy and she said she could find him by finding who had a grudge against her." She looked around at her sisters. "Maybe it's someone who has a grudge against our family. Someone who feels they were wronged somewhere along the familial line."
Everyone was quiet, ingesting what Calli said when Ari spoke, "That is a really good idea, Calli. We should look at that angle as well. Maybe there is reference to it in our Book of Knowledge."
"I can start looking through it in the morning," Erin told them.
"I can help you," Sheela volunteered.
Ari nodded. "Good. Then that's settled.”
Kira looked at her grandmother. "The disc is still locked away safe?"
Her grandmother smiled. "It is safe."
Kira sighed with relief. "That's good. That is one of the things he will need if he wants our powers."
"We will all protect it," Ari told her and her sisters nodded.
Kira looked around the table at her family and smiled. She was so blessed, more than just in magick, she was blessed with love, the true love of a family. Some of them were blood family, some of them not, but they were all family. She felt Ronan and Brendan place a hand on her thighs and covered them with her own. She blinked away the happy tears as she smiled at them, listening to the conversation turn to the everyday happenings around the castle.
Dinner continued with her sisters filling her in on all the goings on in the village and at the castle. Ari told her of her wonderful honeymoon, leaving out the more intimate details, thank the goddess. Erin was teased about setting a date but said they were going to wait a while, find their footing first with all that was going on. Sheela and Calli filled her in on their Wiccan work, promising to show her the spells they had found that worked well.
After dinner, plans were made to begin practicing more difficult spells to conquer their enemy. Calli and their grandmother were the first to excuse themselves to go to bed and Kira glanced at Erin, asking the silent question. Erin shook her head, answering it. No one had found the answer to Calli's blackouts and headaches. Kira knew that it must be magical if the doctors had seen nothing. She would speak to her grandmother about this in private and hopefully come up with a plan.
As everyone else said goodnight, Ronan and Brendan took her hands and led her out into the back garden. As she looked around the garden, she felt such happiness at being home and yet a twinge of sadness, missing the friends she had made at the Council. She looked up and saw the moon was full, shining down, illuminating the garden, setting a romantic mood.
The men led her over to her favorite bench and sat her down. They sat beside her, one of each side and no words were spoken as they all just looked around. There were lightening bugs flitting all around the beautiful blooms, while there was a light breeze that had set the flowers to dancing. Kira got up and walked over to one of the large sections of flowers and couldn't help herself, she plunged her fingers into the ground, feeling the land welcome her home. She closed her eyes and told the earth how much she had missed it.
When she opened her eyes, Ronan and Brendan were watching her with love shining in their eyes. As she stood, so did they, and then she was shocked when they kneeled before her and each took one of her hands.
"Kira, from the first moment we saw you, we knew you were ours. Ours to love and cherish for all time," Ronan said in a gravelly voice.
"Your magick resides in the earth, so we knew that no matter where life takes us together, you will always be our home," Brendan added.
Her breath hitched as she listened to their words of love and saw it coming from their eyes as they looked at her. They squeezed her hands as they continued.
"We love you, Kira, with every breath we take and we want you to be with us forever," Brendan told her as his eyes misted with emotion.
"Kira Kirkpatrick, will you marry us?" Ronan said as he held up a small box and presented it to her.
Tears were streaming down her face as she looked down at her future. She loved those two men with all her heart and vowed to show it to them every day. "Yes, I will marry you," she whispered as they stood and surrounded her with their arms. Each Guardian took a turn kissing her deeply and showing her without words how much they loved her.
Ronan opened the box and she gasped at the ring inside. It was a beautiful freshwater pearl, surrounded by rubies. It was a stunning ring, Kira could only stare as Ronan took the ring and place it on her finger. It fit her perfectly as he leaned over and placed a kiss on her hand. As Ronan stood tall beside her, she saw the happiness reflected in his eyes and his love. She reached up and kissed him, then said, "I love you, Ronan."
"I love you too, dearling," Ronan answered, running his knuckles over her cheek.
She then turned to Brendan who also kissed her hand and then stood to face her. "That was our mother's ring and her mother's before her. Donald was kind enough to send it to us," Brendan said. "It suits you well."
"Thank you for the honor. I will always cherish it," Kira said, feeling the lump grow larger in her throat. "I love you, Brendan." She kissed him, pouring her love into that kiss, showing Brendan how much he meant to her.
Brendan's eye glowed with pride and love as he said, "I love you, my sweet."
The men took her hands and led her back into the castle. As they walked, Kira thanked the gods and goddesses for her good fortune in finding these two wonderful men. At one time in her life, she wondered if she would ever be happy, find love, and settle into a life worth living. She had been all around the world, seen many different places and it had taken her coming home to find her peace. Not only had she found two Guardians who protected her body, but they now had her heart, as she had theirs. With the evil one threatening her family, she knew one thing for sure. The two men by her side would always be there, showing her their love as she would show them hers. They would fight together for that future and she vowed there and then that they would win, no matter what.
Epilogue
He turned from the window where he stood watching the waves crash upon the shore as the door opened. He saw that Thomas brought a tray of food for him.
"Thank you, Thomas. Any news?" he asked.
"Yes, sir. He has retrieved your items with no problem and everyone believes the story you told," Thomas informed him.
"Good. Any other news, what of Una?" he said as he sat down to look at the food that had been brought. He indicated for Thomas to sit as well.
Thomas sat across from him and said, "Una is regaining her strength. They have stopped all visitors coming to Council until the threat has been reassessed."
"I see," he sighed.
"How are you feeling, sir?" Thomas inquired with concern.
"I will regain my strength, Thomas. I am not out for the count," he said. "I just need to change tactics. I will have to go back to my plan A and use my guests."
Thomas nodded his head. "Do we need to move them again?"
"Not just yet, let's wait," he ordered.
"I have some calls to make and some meetings to set up first. We must put the bait where they can see it. They must work it out first."
"They are receiving new Guardians this week and the uncle goes to join them as well," Thomas told him.
He shook his head. "I figured as much. It is getting more difficult to get to them, this needs to end. I will send my bait and we shall see. They had to suffer a little first," he said vehemently.
"Yes, sir," Thomas said.
"Let me know when my visitor arrives. I may lay down after lunch," he said in dismissal.
Thomas stood and said, "Of course, sir, as you wish." The man let himself out of the room as he finished eating the lunch. He then stood and went to lay down on his bed. The battle had taken more out of him than he thought, the little witch had dealt some good blows, he had to admire her. However, in the end he would win this.
He grinned as he lay his head on the pillow thinking of his surprise for them. He knew those witches would do anything for what he had. That was something he was counting on, but first he wanted to poke some of the old wounds and wind them up. Then they would see just how powerful he really was.
*****
Kira came bursting out of the front doors of the castle in the glen and flung herself into Donald's arms with a cry of welcome. "I am so happy to see you! How are you?" she babbled.
Donald swung her up and spun her around in a circle, laughing as he did. "Ach, it's great to see ya, lass."
As he set her on her feet, his nephews stepped up to give him a man hug and a slap on the back. "How are ye, lads?" he asked.
"We are good, Uncle, and you?" Ronan said with a laugh.
"Good," Donald said as he turned to indicate two men who were as tall as he was behind him. "Brought you some help."
"We could sure use it. These women are a handful," Brendan said as he winced when Kira smacked his arm.
Donald let out a booming laugh as he gestured for the two new Guardians to come forward. "Ronan and Brendan LeStrange, my nephews and Guardians of the Blessed Five, meet Cruz and Rafael Castillo, your new Guardians." The men all exchanged handshakes and Donald added, "And this beauty is Kira Kirkpatrick, one of the Blessed Five."
Both of the new Guardians bowed to her with their fists over their hearts as was tradition of the Guardians and she smiled her welcome. She would have shook their hands or hugged them even, but her men had suddenly crowded her, showing their possessiveness and she decided to indulge them. She saw that Donald had also seen what had occurred and she rolled her eyes at him. Just as he let out another booming laugh, the main doors behind them opened again only to spit out her sisters, Erin and Sheela as well as Erin's fiancés, Myles and Aedan.
Kira knew her grandmother and Calli would be out there if they hadn't gone into town for supplies. Ari and her men were probably sleeping in as they were still in their honeymoon stage. Kira turned and gestured to the new Guardians.
"Gentlemen, these are two of my sisters, Erin and Sheela. Also, this is Myles and Aedan O'Conner, Guardians as well as Erin's fiancés," Kira said as she introduced the new Guardians as she linked her arm through Donald's. "This is Donald LeStrange, Ronan and Brendan's uncle, and these two gentlemen are the new Guardians, Cruz and Rafael Castillo."
Once again there was a round of handshaking from the men and bowing to the women. Cruz and Rafael exchanged surprised looks and then smiled. Cruz stepped up to Sheela and took her hand in his. Everyone heard Sheela gasp as he raised her hand to his lips, kissing it slowly and thoroughly, saying in a heavily Spanish accent, "Mucho gusto, senorita. It is a pleasure to finally meet you."
Rafael stepped up to her as well and took her other hand. "An honor, querida."
Sheela, who had turned slightly pale, said, "Oh shit."
When Erin and Kira looked at their sister and saw her face, it clicked. They burst out laughing and Kira said mockingly, "Oh this one I get to tell Ari!"
"Not if I get there first!" Erin yelled as both sisters made a dash toward the castle front doors.
Sheela who was trying to disengage her hands from the Castillo brothers, who seemed to refuse to let it go, glared at the two men. "Now see what you did!"
Books by Sasha Parker
The Blessed Five Series
Adrianna’s Storm
Book One
Erin’s Awakening
Book Two
Kira’s Reckoning
Book Three
Book Four – Coming Soon
I would love to hear from you!
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sasha.parker.9212?fref=ts
Excerpt from Awakened by a Dream
The Hidden Pack
By Gracie Meadows
The fog had returned, except this time at the end she would reappear as she did so many nights—the woman in lights. Each time she showed she had some weird tidbit to share about what Becky needed to do for her upcoming task. So many times she tried to bring her men into the dream, but the woman never would allow it. If only she could just understand, Becky needed her men. The woman in lights was the only way she could describe her. So many unanswered questions, but time and time again she was left to the point of annoyance. However, tonight something was off, different from her normal pattern. Her feet moved her forward in the same recurring pattern, except this time instead of the pond—it was a cave. The trees covered the entrance some, but not enough for her not to see it. Understanding the danger that came with dreamwalking now, she treaded carefully. As she entered the cavern the lights started to bend around a certain tunnel. The walls seem stable enough she didn’t fear a cave in and the color was breathtaking. A brilliant blue and green cascaded off, reminding her of being under the ocean. The comforting feeling suddenly surrounded her as she got closer to another opening. This time when she stepped through, the light illuminated her, creating a shadow behind her as the spray of water hit her face. She had somehow walked into another world. A waterfall cascaded down the side of a cliff as wild flowers bloomed, filling her senses with the fragrance. She was in awe at the sight before her. As she contemplated touching the water, the woman in lights reappeared once more.
“Rebecca, I am so glad you came to me. The time is getting closer and you need to gather those whom you trust to go on your journey. Your mates may come, but they will not be enough to protect you. Trust them to help you through this, and put trust in those who are feline. However, you must heed this warning, child, the evil still lurks close to you. So tell no one of this quest, and remain silent. When the time comes to leave, look for the valley of the unknown for only you may enter. Once inside you will be able to speak from the heart to open all magic that has been locked away. Wake, child, your mates are getting impatient and are waiting for you." With those once again cryptic words, she left in a glow of lights. Turning around, Becky walked down the same path she entered from as everything went white.
Blinking her eyes open, Becky looked around only to see her mates staring down at her with concern etched on their face.
“You okay, sweetheart? You weren’t crying or screaming, but you were, umm…more wiggly than normal," Nik said as he caressed her cheek.
“Wiggly huh, you’re being nice because you just want to play before work. You’re not the one she hit in the gut with her elbow," Dmitri countered as he rubbed his extremely flat abs as if he was in pain.
Laughing she said, “Sorry, guys. It wasn’t crazy or anything, I mean I did see her again, but it was a different location. Like a secret world, and it was so beautiful. I wonder if she is prepping me for the journey to come. Which reminds me, isn't today when you guys have those new people coming in to go with us. You said these were people you met before, but are they trustworthy and willing to do this?"
He knew what she was hinting at. Becky had made it clear that too many people have been put in danger since their secret had gotten out.
“Baby, you need to tell us exactly what she said, word f
or word. Maybe we missed something. She said you have to do this, but there is no way in hell you are going alone, so don’t suggest that again. We love you too damn much just to let you walk all willy-nilly to god knows where without us to protect you." He was dead set on making sure she was protected from anything and everything. He was trying to be serious, but she burst out laughing at him.
“Willy-nilly, damn you have been talking to the girls too much. You’re starting to sound like Cece," she giggled. “But it seems like this is an argument I’m not going to win with anyone. Everyone has sided with you two. Okay, so now that we are all awake, I say we shower and head into town and grab some muffins. I would kill for a pumpkin chocolate chip muffin. We keep oversleeping and I never get any anymore. So if you two want to make me happy I say we get a move on." With those words, she tried to jump out of bed, but only managed to get halfway down before she was tumbled on her back as Dmitri took her mouth in a heated kiss, effectively melting her brain cells.
Excerpt from Hades
Gods of Old Book Two
By Edlyn Reynolds
Hades could not believe his eyes, even with the evidence before him. Ares was smiling gently at the human female and she was grinning up at him. The looks on their faces supported Apollo's claims. The God of War was in love. He'd found his consort.
Signaling to his nephew he walked back out into the sunshine outside the temple. “You spoke true, Apollo. Ares has indeed found his consort.”
Shocked and confused eyes met his. “His consort?”