Nora Roberts's Circle Trilogy

by Nora Roberts

  “No, it doesn’t, and they won’t.” He looked up from her fingers, into her eyes. And his were like gold steel. “Because we’ll fight to the last man. To the last drop.”

  “So why—”

  “Let me ask you a question, one none of us have voiced as yet. Have all the vampires from your world come here to follow Lilith?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “Then when this battle’s won, the fight goes on. You’ll have to hunt, as you’ve always hunted. Here, if some survive, they’ll be an army always to fight them. The people of Geall know what they are, as the people of your world don’t.”

  “Yes.” So he did understand. “I wish—I’m sorry. Going back, it’s not a choice for me. If it were…But it’s not.”

  “No, it can’t be a choice for you. But it can be for me. So I’ll be going back with you, to fight beside you.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “A stór. Did you think I’d let you get away from me?”

  “You can’t leave here.”

  “Why? It’s Moira who will rule, and my father will advise her as need be. There’s my brother and my sister’s husband to work the land, and tend the horses.”

  She thought of his mother, his sister, brother. Of his father, and the look on Riddock’s face when he’d embraced Larkin after his return. “You can’t leave your family.”

  “It’s hard, yes, to leave loved ones. It should be hard, I think, and should only be done when it needs to be done. It isn’t, could never be, the way it was when your father left you, Blair.”

  “The result’s the same.”

  “It’s not, no. Not when the leaving is with love, all around. And it’s true enough that a man often moves away from his parents. It’s the way of things, a natural order.”

  “They move to the next town, or across the country. Not to another world.”

  “Trying to talk me out of it’s a waste of breath. My mind’s been made up to it for a while now. Moira knows it, though we haven’t spoken of it right out. As does my mother.”

  He looked straight into her eyes. “Do you think I would fight, risk everything, then step aside from the one that matters most in this world, in any world to me? I’d give my life for this if that’s what’s needed. But if I live, you’ll belong to me. And that’s the end of it.”

  “The end of it?”

  “I’m thinking, as you have no close family at home, we could be married here. We can do the whole business again in your Chicago if you like.”

  “Married? I didn’t say I would marry you. Anybody.”

  “Of course you’ll marry me, don’t be foolish.” He gave her a friendly pat on her good knee. “You love me. And I love you,” he said before she could speak. “I nearly told you that first night we were together. But a man shouldn’t say such words when he’s inside a woman, I think. How would she know, for certain, he was speaking with his heart and not, well, not with his…”

  “Oh boy.”

  “I thought to tell you at other times, but told myself it should wait. I realize I nearly waited too long. You asked what I said to you, inside after you woke. I’ll tell you now. So look at me when I do.”

  He laid his fingers on her cheeks. “I said you’re my breath, and my pulse, my heart, my voice. I said, I’ll love you even when all of them stop. I’ll love you, and only you, until all the worlds are ended. So you’ll marry me, Blair. And I’ll go where you go, and fight beside you. We’ll live together, and love together, and make a family.”

  “I have to…I have to stand up a minute.” She got to her feet, shaky now, and walked to the fountain. Just to breathe, she thought, to let the cool spray of water wash her face.

  “No one’s ever loved me like this. I don’t know, not for certain, that anyone’s ever loved me at all until you. No one’s ever offered me what you’re offering me.” She turned back to him. “I’d be a fool to push it away. I’m not a fool. I thought I loved someone once, but that was so pale compared to what I feel for you. I thought I’d have to be strong enough to leave you behind. I didn’t know you could be strong enough to come with me. I should have.”

  She came back to him, offering her hand when he rose. “I’d marry you anywhere. I’d be so proud to marry you.”

  He kissed her hands, then drew her gently into his arms to meet her lips.

  “Get a good grip, will you?” she murmured. “I’m a demon hunter. I’m not fragile.”

  He laughed, and swung her right off her feet.

  “Have a care with her! Have you lost your mind?”

  As Moira sprinted toward them, Larkin only grinned, and spun Blair again. “A bit. We’re betrothed.”

  “Oh.” Moira stopped, her hands fluttering up to her heart. “Oh, well, that’s wonderful. Blessings on you both. I’m so pleased for you.”

  She stepped up, kissed Blair’s cheek, then Larkin’s. “We need a celebration. I’ll go back, tell the others. Cian had a notion…but it can wait.”

  “What notion?” Blair demanded.

  “A way…how did he put it? To thumb our noses at Lilith. But—”

  “I’m for that.” Blair patted Larkin’s arm. “Why don’t you go in. I’ll be right behind you. I just want a second with Moira.”

  “All right. But don’t stay on your feet too long.”

  “Listen to him, after he’s tossing you around in the air. I do wish you happy, Blair.”

  “I want you to know I’m going to try, every day of my life, to make him happy. I want you to know that.”

  “You do make him happy.” Moira angled her head. “We’re friends, aren’t we, you and I?”

  “You, Glenna, Hoyt, Cian. Best friends I ever had in my life.”

  “I feel the same, so I’m going to be honest with you. It will hurt when he goes. It will hurt my heart, and when he’s out of sight I’ll weep until my heart’s dry of tears. Then I’ll be light, and I’ll be happy. Because I know he’ll have what he needs, what he wants, what he deserves.”

  “If there’s a way we can come back, to spend some time, to visit, you, his family, we’ll find it.”

  “That’s a nice thought to hold on to. And I will. Come now. He’s right, you should be off your feet.”

  “I think I feel better than I ever have in my life.”

  “That’s love for you, but still, you’ll need your strength for what Cian has in mind.”

  It was nose-thumbing, Blair thought. And chest-beating. And it was perfect.

  “Are you sure you’re up for this?” Glenna asked her.

  “I am so up for this. It’s so in-your-face.” Blair grinned at Cian. “Good thinking.”

  He looked up at the sky, watched the stars wink to life. “Good clear night for it. It’s not what you’d call battle strategy, but—”

  “Damn straight it is. Demoralizing the enemy is always good strategy.” Blair turned the swords she held. “So I’m set?” she asked Glenna.

  “You’re set.”

  “Okay, handsome. Make like a dragon.”

  “In a moment. First, I have something for you, and I want to give it to you here, in front of our circle. One of the symbols of Geall is the dragon. One of our symbols as well, you and I. So I want you to wear this, for our betrothal.”

  He drew out a ring of bright gold shaped like a dragon.

  “Glenna drew a picture of it when I told her what I’d like. And the goldsmith used it to make the ring.”

  “It’s perfect,” she murmured when he slipped it on her finger.

  “And to seal it.” He framed her face, kissed her warmly. And shot her a grin when he eased back. “Now let’s go thumb our noses at this bitch.”

  He flashed into the dragon. Leaping onto his back, Blair lifted both swords high.

  “They rose into the sky,” the old man said. “Across the moon and stars and the dark behind them. And over the world of Geall, those swords flashed flame for all to see. With them, the demon hunter carved these words into that sky.

>   “Bright blessings on Geall and all humankind. We,” she wrote in fire, “are the future.”

  The old man lifted the wine that sat beside him. “It was said that the queen of the vampires stood below, cursing, shaking her fists as those words shone bright as the sun.”

  He sipped the wine, held up a hand when the children spread around him protested that couldn’t be the end of the tale.

  “Oh, there’s more to tell. More indeed. But not tonight. Go on now, for I was told there’d be gingercakes in the kitchen for a treat before bedtime. I’ve a fondness for gingercake.”

  When he was alone, and the room quiet again, he sipped his wine. He nodded off with the fire warming his bones, and his mind drifting to the last of the story.

  To the time of knowing.

  Glossary of Irish Words,

  Characters and Places

  a chroi (ah-REE), Gaelic term of endearment meaning “my heart,” “my heart’s beloved,” “my darling”

  a ghrá (ah-GHRA), Gaelic term of endearment meaning “my love,” “dear”

  a stór (ah-STOR), Gaelic term of endearment meaning “my darling”

  Aideen (Ae-DEEN), Moira’s young cousin

  Alice McKenna, descendant of Cian and Hoyt Mac Cionaoith

  An Clar (Ahn-CLAR), modern-day County Clare

  Ballycloon (ba-LU-klun)

  Beal (Bale), name Blair uses when acting as bait

  bi istigh (vee-ISHtee), Gaelic term meaning “come in”

  Blair Nola Bridgitt Murphy, one of the circle of six, the “warrior” a demon hunter, a descendant of Nola Mac Cionaoith (Cian and Hoyt’s younger sister)

  braes (BRO-sh), underdrawers or trousers, worn by the people of Geall

  Breda (BREE-da), mother of family with overturned wagon

  Bridget’s Well, cemetery in County Clare, named after St. Bridget

  Burren, the, a karst limestone region in County Clare, which features caves and underground streams

  cailleach dearg (CAH-lic JAR-eg), witch with red hair, epithet for Glenna

  cara (karu), Gaelic for “friend, relative”

  Ceara, one of the village women

  Cian (KEY-an) Mac Cionaoith/McKenna, Hoyt’s twin brother, a vampire, Lord of Oiche, one of the circle of six, “the one who is lost”

  Cillard, place in County Clare

  Cirio, Lilith’s human lover

  ciunas (CYOON-as), Gaelic for “silence” the battle takes place in the Valley of Ciunas—the Valley of Silence

  claddaugh, the Celtic symbol of love, friendship, loyalty

  Cliffs of Mohr (also Moher), the name given to the ruin of forts in the South of Ireland, on a cliff near Hag’s Head, “Moher O’Ruan”

  Conn, Larkin’s childhood puppy

  Dance of the Gods, the Dance, the place in which the circle of six passes through from the real world to the fantasy world of Geall

  Dara (DARE-a), in modern day County Kildare

  Davey, Lilith, the Vampire Queen’s “son,” a child vampire

  Deirdre (DAIR-dhra) Riddock, Larkin’s mother

  Dervil (DAR-vel), one of the village women

  Dunglas, place in Geall

  Eire (AIR-reh), Gaelic for “Ireland”

  Eogan (O-en), Ceara’s husband

  Eoin (OAN), Hoyt’s brother-in-law

  Eternity, the name of Cian’s nightclub, located in New York City

  Faerie Falls, imaginary place in Geall

  fàilte à Geall (FALL-che ah GY-al), Gaelic for “Welcome to Geall”

  Fearghus (FARE-gus), Hoyt’s brother-in-law

  Gaillimh (GALL-yuv), modern-day Galway, the capital of the west of Ireland

  gaiscioch dorcha (GA-shuk DOR-ka), dark warrior or dark hero, epithet for Blair

  Geall (GY-al), in Gaelic means “promise” the city from which Moira and Larkin come; the city which Moira will someday rule

  Glenna Ward, one of the circle of six, the “witch” lives in modern-day New York City

  Hoyt Mac Cionaoith/McKenna (mac KHEE-nee), one of the circle of six, the “sorcerer”

  Isleen (Is-LEEN), a servant at Castle Geall

  Jarl (Yarl), Lilith’s sire, the vampire who turned her into a vampire

  Jeremy Hilton, Blair Murphy’s ex-fiance

  King, the name of Cian’s best friend, whom Cian befriended when King was a child; the manager of Eternity

  Knockarague (KNOCKA-rig), town in Geall; home of Larlin’s mother

  Larkin Riddock, one of the circle of six, the “shifter of shapes,” a cousin of Moira, Queen of Geall

  Lilith, the Vampire Queen, aka Queen of the Demons; leader of the war against humankind; Cian’s sire, the vampire who turned Cian from human to vampire

  Lora, a vampire; Lilith’s lover

  Lucius, Lora’s male vampire lover

  Mac Dara, surname; part of one of Larkin’s titles

  Malvin, villager, soldier in Geallian army

  Mam, term for mother

  Manhattan, city in New York; where both Cian McKenna and Glenna Ward live

  mathair (maahir), Gaelic word for “mother”

  Michael Thomas McKenna, descendant of Cian and Hoyt Mac Cionaoith

  Mick Murphy, Blair Murphy’s younger brother

  Midir (mee-DEER), vampire wizard to Lilith, Queen of the Vampires

  miurnin (also sp. miurneach [mornukh]), Gaelic for “sweetheart,” term of endearment

  Mo chroi (mo-kree), Gaelic term meaning “my heart,” “my sweetheart,” “my darling” (see a chroi)

  Moira (MWA-ra), one of the circle of six, the “scholar” a princess, future queen of Geall

  Morrigan (Mo-ree-ghan), Goddess of the Battle

  Niall (Nile), a warrior in the Geallian army

  Nola Mac Cionaoith, Hoyt and Cian’s youngest sister

  o Dubhuir (o DOVE-er), surname Blair uses when acting as bait

  ogham (ä-gem) (also spelled ogam), fifth/sixth century Irish alphabet

  oiche (EE-heh), Gaelic for “night”

  Oran (O-ren), Riddock’s youngest son, Larkin’s younger brother

  Phelan (FA-len), Larkin’s brother-in-law

  Prince Riddock, Larkin’s father, acting king of Geall, Moira’s maternal uncle

  Region of Chiarrai (kee-U-ree), modern-day Kerry, situated in the extreme southwest of Ireland, sometimes referred to as “the Kingdom”

  Samhain (SAM-en), summer’s end (Celtic festival); the battle takes place on the Feast of Samhain, the feast celebrating the end of summer

  Sean (Shawn) Murphy, Blair Murphy’s father, a vampire hunter

  Shop Street, cultural center of Galway

  Sinann (shih-NAWN), Larkin’s sister

  sláinte (slawn-che), Gaelic term for “cheers!”

  slán agat (shlahn u-gut), Gaelic for “good-bye,” which is said to person staying

  slán leat (shlahn ly-aht), Gaelic for “good-bye,” which is said to the person leaving

  Tuatha de Danaan (TOO-aha dai DON-nan), Welsh gods

  Tynan (Ti-nin), guard at Castle Geall

  Vlad, Cian’s stallion

  Number-one New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts presents the electrifying conclusion to her powerful new trilogy. Worlds have collided and centuries have elapsed as six people have brought their unique powers, their courage and their hearts to a battle that could drown humanity in darkness…

  Her face, so pale when she’d removed her cloak, had bloomed when her hand had taken the sword. Her eyes, so heavy, so somber, had gone as brilliant as the blade. And had simply sliced through him, keen as a sword, when they’d met his…

  In the kingdom of Geall, the scholarly Moira has taken up the sword of her people. Now, as queen, she must prepare her subjects for the greatest battle they will ever fight—against an enemy more vicious than any they have seen. For Lilith, the most powerful vampire in the world, has followed the circle of six through time to Geall.

  Moira also has a personal score to settle. Vampires kille
d her mother—and now, she is ready to exact her revenge. But there is one vampire to whom she would trust her soul…

  Cian was changed by Lilith centuries ago. But now, he stands with the circle. Without hesitation, he will kill others of his kind—and has earned the respect of sorcerer, witch, warrior and shape-shifter. But he wants more than respect from Moira—even though his desire for her makes him vulnerable. For how can a man with an eternity to live love a woman whose life is sure to end—if not by Lilith’s hand, then by the curse of time?

  “[Roberts] is one of the best writers in the romance world.”

  —The Best Reviews

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  Nora Roberts & J. D. Robb

  REMEMBER WHEN

  Nora Roberts

  HOT ICE

  SACRED SINS

  BRAZEN VIRTUE

  SWEET REVENGE

  PUBLIC SECRETS

  GENUINE LIES

  CARNAL INNOCENCE

  DIVINE EVIL

  HONEST ILLUSIONS

  PRIVATE SCANDALS

  HIDDEN RICHES

  TRUE BETRAYALS

  MONTANA SKY

  SANCTUARY

  HOMEPORT

  THE REEF

  RIVER’S END

  CAROLINA MOON

  THE VILLA

  MIDNIGHT BAYOU

  THREE FATES

  BIRTHRIGHT

  NORTHERN LIGHTS

  BLUE SMOKE

  ANGELS FALL

  Series

  Circle Trilogy

  MORRIGAN’S CROSS

  DANCE OF THE GODS

  VALLEY OF SILENCE

  In the Garden Trilogy

  BLUE DAHLIA

  BLACK ROSE

  RED LILY

  Key Trilogy

  KEY OF LIGHT

  KEY OF KNOWLEDGE

  KEY OF VALOR

  Three Sisters Island Trilogy

  DANCE UPON THE AIR

  HEAVEN AND EARTH

  FACE THE FIRE

  Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy

  JEWELS OF THE SUN

  TEARS OF THE MOON