by Candace Sams
The drive to the airport went by all too quickly for Blain. He took his cues from Afton and Shayla as they got to the airport ticket counter. When Blain was asked for his identification, he was sure the sweat on his face would give him away. The man behind the counter looked him over carefully before finally processing the ticket and taking his luggage. Blain believed his heart might tear out of his chest. It was beating that hard. He saw how easily the women were getting through the entire ordeal. How the hell did they act so calm?
Finally he was on the plane. But they weren't off the ground yet. Shayla was, as always, full of poise. Afton surprised him. She'd put her hair up in a much more sophisticated style and wore a light blue sheath dress with matching sandals. He'd been so used to seeing her in jeans and farm gear that her new look was quite alluring. The male flight attendants and some of the passengers openly stared at her. And when she answered some of their friendly questions about her destination, he felt a surge of jealousy. They were looking her over like she was a thick, juicy steak Swarming like flies and spending far too much time catering to her needs
When they were airborne, Blain forgot about the men hovering around Afton and breathed a sigh of relief But Afton's collected calm got to him While he was sweating bullets, she sat next to him and exuded confidence and coolness Occasionally, she looked up from the magazine she was reading, and smiled at him as if they were doing nothing unusual It irritated the hell out of him The least she could do was show the same concern she had while they were on the farm together This new Afton seemed too self-assured He hated being placed in a defensive position Afton was confident because she knew what she was going home to and welcomed it He was left to sit and suffer in almost complete silence through the hours it took to get to London He couldn't talk about his doubts or concerns in the plane's confined spaces Someone might overhear
The closer they got to their destination, the happier Afton and Shayla looked, and the more anxious he felt himself growing He'd never considered himself a coward, but when the flight attendant came by to check with each passenger before landing, he broke into a cold sweat Then that awful feeling of impending doom hit him He stared out the window, took a deep breath and tried to shake it off Whatever he was sensing hadn't, as he'd hoped, gone away with Hannah's death It was back with force
He ordered a whiskey, drank it down and ordered another It had to be his own fear of the future eating at him That was the only plausible explanation If he told anyone, they'd think he was a fool or the coward he already thought himself. He had to find a way to fit into this Order or spend the rest of his life alone Living as they probably did, Blain believed they wouldn't tolerate someone without courage So he kept his mouth shut and tamped the black feeling down
Seeing his hand tightly clenched into a fist, Afton placed hers over it "It's all right. Everything will be easy from here on out, Blain. Lore is meeting us at the airport."
Blain recognized the name as belonging to the leader of the fairy clan. He remembered Afton saying Lore was the one with the dubious ancestry and never used his real last name. There was some fairy tradition having to do with the magical quality of his surname. As Blain tried to remember everything else he'd been told, he clenched his hands around the arms of his seat and physically willed himself to take deep breaths. When they landed, he only hoped he could get through customs as easily as any other passenger on vacation. Afton took his hand as they disembarked. He squeezed it tightly.
"Ouch, not so hard, Blain."
"Sorry," he apologized and raised her hand to his mouth for a soothing kiss. Showing his current state of nerves wasn't going to win him any points with this Lore person. And apparently, as leader of the fairies, Lore was the one to impress. Shayla hadn't yet decided who was going to train him in the Druid ways.
Shayla led the way to the baggage claim area. Blain held his breath, trying to look nonchalant as the authorities checked his passport and asked a few mundane questions. He surprised himself by being able to joke with the man looking at his documents. It must have worked because the man smiled, handed him back his passport and wished him well.
When he turned and walked toward Shayla and Afton, he noticed a man matching his own height standing beside them. His hair was long, blond and pulled back into a ponytail. He wore a black leather jacket, boots and jeans. He could have been anyone from any part of Europe or the States. As Blain approached the group, the blond giant pulled off the sunglasses he was wearing. The green eyes gazing into his own were full of curiosity and welcome.
"Blain, I'm Lore. Shayla has told me all about you. It'll be my job to make sure you're properly introduced to everyone. Sure 'n it's good to meet you."
Blain noted the Irish accent and took Lore's outstretched hand in his own. He immediately felt some kind of electric quality in the touch. Since Lore didn't mention it, he chalked it up as something ordinary between people of their race.
"I'm glad to meet you, Lore," Blain said, meaning it. Lore's handshake was made in earnest. This was his first contact with the fairy race or Sidhe, as they were called. If this had been a dream, he'd have awakened laughing. But it was all too real. It was ridiculous to have ever imagined that fairies were tiny people flitting around in a garden. While Lore seemed genuinely glad to meet him, Blain had a hunch it wouldn't do to anger him. Ever.
"Come. Let's hurry I want to be home by dark," Shayla announced.
Lore led them outside to a large sedan. He quickly drove them away from the airport and headed north. Afton sat in the front passenger seat and smiled at the fairy leader. Blain wondered what their history was together. Did Afton have a thing for the man? In that blue dress, she was downright titillating.
"You look glad to be back," Lore remarked as he returned her smile, "and you're as lovely a sight as ever a man dreamed."
"Flattery will get you everywhere." She laughed. "Now tell me all the gossip since we left."
"Pluck has been driving your poor mother daft. That wee rascal needs someone to put him back in line."
Afton looked over the back seat at Blain "Pluck and I have been friends since we were babies. He's one of the elf faction and doesn't know how to stay out of trouble."
"That's the way of elves, I'm afraid." Shayla clucked, shaking her head. "You'll meet everyone soon, Blain. Don't let anything overwhelm you. If you have any questions, simply ask."
"Questions? I don't know where to begin," Blain responded. He trained his gaze on the passing scenery, just as Shayla was doing. The two of them shared the sedan's expansive back seat, which was wide and very luxurious. And Blain thought this Order must be doing well for itself. Large sedans of this type were hard to come by, even in the States. And, as he kept his mind on these mundane thoughts, the horrible, dark feeling he'd felt on the plane disappeared But that only left him believing it represented something very important. Something he should be recognizing and wasn't. He shook his head as if doing so could rid him of his doubts.
"I can't imagine what this must be like for you," Lore said as he glanced into the rearview mirror at Blain. "But you're in for a very warm welcome. Since Shayla told us you'd be coming, members of different factions have been showing up at the estate for days. Everyone wants to meet you."
"The estate?" Blain looked at Shayla.
"That's another name for our place in England. The wooded area where we live is part of a very large estate belonging to a member of our Druid faction. The place has been in his family for centuries. It's large enough to offer privacy and very well guarded. You'll also hear it referred to as the Shire. Afton or Lore can show you some of the more historic sites there."
"Oh, there are some lovely ruins, Blain. There are all kinds of sacred stone circles and ancient abbeys to explore." Afton looked at him and smiled.
Blain returned her smile with one of his own. He didn't know what would be expected of him, but it all began to take on the air of an adventure. Talk turned light-hearted as Afton began to ask about her family and expl
ained about each of them for his benefit. The countryside became more wooded and looked as if it were the exact kind of place a creature of legend would haunt. A creature like him.
They drove on and stopped only to get a quick bite to eat and refuel the car. Though the lanes were very narrow, and they had to occasionally slow down, they made good time. It was late afternoon when they finally drove through a massive wrought iron gate and up to an old but beautifully restored castle. Blain was dumbstruck. The place had parapets with flags flying from them as if knights would arrive home any time. A set of arched oak doors graced the front. As they drove up to them, people began to exit the dwelling by the scores. Some walked toward them from the woods.
Blain's heart was in his throat and beating faster. Shayla took his hand in hers and smiled at him before they got out of the car.
"Welcome home, Blain," she whispered and leaned over to kiss his cheek.
He squeezed her hand back, careful not to squeeze as hard as he'd done Afton's. Swallowing hard, he got out of the car and stood as tall as he could. These people had to perceive him as strong. Anyone who might not accept him would use any excuse to start something. He now understood what some of those people claiming to have been abducted by UFOs must feel like. Or a fish in a bowl.
"Welcome, Shayla, welcome." A man and woman the Sorceress's age greeted her with hugs and kisses.
Afton came to stand on one side of Blain while Lore stood on the other. "Steady on, Blain," Lore advised. "There's no one who resents your being here. The two people with Shayla are the Earl of Glen Rowan and his mate, or wife. That's how the outside world knows them. To us, they're James and Gwyneth."
Blain wondered if the man had sensed his fears. If he did, then others would too. He had to control himself better. He had to.
A beautiful woman with flame-red hair came forward. She greeted Lore and Afton with a smile and a hug then stared at Blain.
"You have the look o' a Heelander," she said.
Blain smiled at her and glanced out of the corner of his eye at Lore.
"A Highland fairy," Lore interpreted with a grin. "Bonny has a thick accent, but you'll get used to it."
"And you've no' an accent at all?" She winked at Lore. "Come, Blain. Ma sisters are cryin' ta meet ya."
The girl led Blain toward a group of amazing beauties standing just outside the castle doors.
Lore began to laugh as he and Afton watched Blain's progress. "Well, it didn't take her long. Bonny has a way of getting what she wants, doesn't she?"
"Bonny needs to slow down or people will think she's forward," Afton groused.
"Well, well, young Afton. Anyone would think you were jealous." Lore smiled when he noticed her frowning at the women surrounding Blain.
"That's ridiculous. The man might at least notice other people. There are many members of the Order here to meet him. Not just Bonny and her top-heavy sisters."
"Afton!" a familiar voice shouted from behind her.
She turned to see Gawain waving at her. Thoughts of Blain's present predicament fled as she saw the other members of her family in the crowd. "Gawain! Oh, Gawain, I'm so glad to be home," she cried as she ran toward him. Her parents and other siblings were close behind.
Blain heard Afton's name being shouted , and he saw her run toward someone. The man she embraced could only be described as a mountain with long brown hair. She was soon surrounded by many other men of equally menacing size. One of them had graying black hair and a barely lined face. Her father and brothers, he guessed.
After hugging all the men, an iridescent woman took Afton into her embrace. That was the only word Blain could come up with to describe her. Her hair was lighter than Afton's, but she had the same sweet face, and she moved as gracefully as a dancer. Probably her mother. That's what Afton would look like in thirty years. Blain smiled just thinking of how Afton's dainty physical attributes would blossom in the years to come.
"Leave off, Bonny. The man needs to meet other people," Lore gently chided as he rescued Blain from the growing crowd of young women.
"May I ask a strange question?" Blain said as he looked around him.
"There are no strange questions here, Blain. Only strange answers. Fire away."
"Many of the men have very long hair and the clothing is...well, some of the people are dressed in an almost medieval fashion. Why? Doesn't that draw attention to yourselves?" Blain asked as he looked at many of the men wearing leather jerkins, leather pants, boots and armbands. Some of the women also wore similar attire or had on Druid gowns.
"While we're in the middle of sacred and protected land, we maintain our heritage as much as possible. No one is allowed on the grounds who hasn't proper business here, and that means customary dress and habits can be followed. There's no real rule about it. But once you've worn that soft leather or loose Druid cloth, anything else becomes damned uncomfortable. Speaking of which, as soon as I've introduced you around to a few more folk, we'll make our excuses and head inside. We can change and get out of these heavy outsider garments."
Blain nodded. He wondered when he'd be expected to not only change clothing, but his form as well. What if his appearance was so different from the others they couldn't accept him? As he scanned the crowd, he couldn't see any signs of ethereal creatures lurking about. No little green men and women roaming around. Nothing with wings on it. But as he focused on the woods, a strange feeling came over him He was being watched. There were eyes everywhere Hundreds. These must be the guards Shayla had told him about. For some reason, Blain felt a pull toward those woods. It was as though he needed to be there, and the more he focused on the trees and the lush undergrowth, the more he wanted to go and explore.
"I know. I feel it too," Lore spoke from behind him. "We're drawn to the earth and its denizens. Our kind has always been more at peace in the woods than any other place. The first time you sleep in this enchanted forest, you'll be lost to its charm forever. That's what this land does for us. Especially at night."
"You seem to sense everything I feel. Is that common?"
"Most of the time. But we can mask our feelings and thoughts from one another if we choose, though I'm sure you've realized that by now. But doing so depends upon your mood."
"But I can't sense things the way you seem to," Blain told him.
"That comes with time. When we're in the woods, we'll do some experimenting with your powers. I've a feeling you'll be finding out things about yourself for the rest of your life."
Their conversation was interrupted when hoards of men and women pressed forward to meet Blain. Some of them professed to know his parents and told him how glad they were that Shayla had changed the way the laws were interpreted.
All of them seemed genuinely happy to meet him, and several of them invited him to visit them at their homes. He was surprised to learn that many of them lived in cottages on the grounds. Others had journeyed a great distance just to meet him. He felt flattered and awed. More than that, he felt warm. His apprehension melted away, and he was able to be himself.
"Blain, I want you to meet my family," Afton called from a nearby group.
Blain and Lore moved toward her and the bevy of hulking giants who were her brothers. They looked like a bunch of New England lumberjacks. Blain had the feeling that if anyone ever hurt her, the offending party might as well dig his own grave. Judging by the expressions on their faces, her brothers and her parents so clearly loved her that he had no problem understanding why she was still a virgin. It would take the bravest of hearts—or the craziest of fools—to plot an amorous tryst with Afton O'Malley.
But the family was all smiles now. From the way her parents and brothers gathered around her, it was apparent Afton had been greatly missed.
After Blain's introductions were made, Lore joined the O'Malley family in friendly banter. Afton's parents, Deirdre and Markham, offered Blain an invitation to visit whenever he liked. They even gave him directions to their cottage and were overwhelmingly warm. He c
ould see where Afton acquired her openness. Smiling and laughing came easily to these people.
Afton pushed her way through her family to stand next to him. "I'm going home for the night, Blain, but I'll be back tomorrow. I'll find Pluck and bring him along. He's annoying, but rather dear to me," she said as she picked up her bags. Several of her brothers came forward and took them from her, and she laughed at their antics when they pretended the luggage was too heavy.
"I'll see you tomorrow then. Have a good night, Afton." Blain smiled back at her and nodded to the others. He was about to turn away when she stepped forward and kissed him on the lips. The kiss lingered for a moment, and he placed his hand in the small of her back. When she finally backed away,
Blain forgot anyone was there and wanted more.
"You'll be glad you came. You'll see," she whispered
"I'm already glad," he responded, grinning.
The O'Malley family waved goodbye and left with Afton in the middle of them, but Gawain took his time before leaving. He stared at Blain for longer than was polite.
Blain returned the intense stare. Then Gawain glanced at Afton's retreating form.
"You and Afton have become close?" Gawain asked, returning his attention to Blain.
"Yes," Blain admitted, not feeling obliged to explain more.
"I guess people can never have too many friends." He paused and deliberately stared Blain down again. Then, he slowly followed his family into the woods.
As he lumbered away, it didn't take any fairy sense to figure out that Gawain didn't want him around Afton. Blain's original thoughts about her family were correct. The little Druid had bruiser brothers who weren't about to let their baby sister get hurt by anyone. The biggest of them had just sent him a not so subtle, unspoken warning Come near her, and I 'II break you in half
"Well, you had to have felt that." Lore grinned "Gawain was warning you off. The man should have openly ordered you to keep your bloody hands off his sister. It would have been tactless, uncalled for and rude, but the impact would have been the same."