“Erin, Aunt Neave. Erin Lockhart.”
“Lockhart, hmm, why does that sound familiar.” Neave tapped her foot as she thought. Her brilliant blue eyes twinkled as she said, “Yes of course! The Lockharts. Oh goodness! Would you know Maxine Lockhart? She was the wife of…let me think of his name. Donald. Yes, Donald Lockhart. He was a Scot you know, and Maxine, full Irish. I met the pair of them in New York City ages ago. We were young folk then. Their apartment building was called Dublin Manor, and it was next to a very fine bakery.”
“My grandparents were named Donald and Maxine, and they did live in New York City.” Erin displayed a startled smile. “There was a bakery on the ground level next door to their building when I was little. My Scottish grandfather would take my brothers, sisters, and me there for treats when we visited. Their apartment building could have been called Dublin Manor, but I honestly don’t remember. There was a bright green awning over the door. They had a little white poodle named-”
“Blarney!”
“Yes. This one was truly Blarney the second. There had been another one before him.” Erin shook her head in wonder.
“Ah! I knew you had the looks of an O’Driscoll.” Neave set down her teacup and clapped her hands together. “I can assure you, that you are an O’Driscoll from County Cork. It comes from your grandmother’s side, sure enough, she told me. I have since seen a genealogy chart that confirms it to be true, and you do come straight from my aunt’s O’Driscoll line. Is Maxine, is she…?”
“She passed away when I was ten. Papa Donald passed about ten years later. He stayed in New York after she died. He visited us some. We visited him a few times. I liked them both very much.”
“I am so sorry, dear. They were a lovely couple. I enjoyed their company tremendously when I was there. We were neighbors of sorts. I was staying with a friend in the same building where they lived. I visited in Boston for about three months before that. It was there I met the Boston Flynns, from the County Cork O’Flynns.”
“Wow, it’s a small world,” Erin commented with a smile.
“In truth, it is.” Neave gave a nod and picked up her tea. She took a sip and sighed happily.
“So, what does this mean that I am from the O’Driscoll line?” Erin asked her.
“You are number five of the six, my dear.” Aunt Neave looked to her.
“I am?” Erin paled. She looked rather stunned. “How can that be?”
“I assure you, that you are. And I will place a wager that this one, Miss Harper, makes up the six as a McCarthy.”
When the realization of what Aunt Neave said sunk in, Liam’s head snapped up. He cocked his head and looked at Erin. That meant that she was…his one. She looked up. Her pale blue gaze locked with his. He smiled when something warm and pleasant filled him. He had no idea what it was, other than he already liked Erin a lot. Now to find out, to know, well, to know, it changed everything really. He watched as fear clouded her pale blue eyes. She turned her head and looked away. She had issues. He’d gathered that from their conversations about family and growing up. He already knew he needed to proceed cautiously with her. Now that he knew he could pursue her, that she was his one, he would. She was meant to be his.
The spell broken, he looked to Harper. “Harp, give me yours and your parents and grandparents dates and places of birth that you know of. I’ll check some genealogy sites and see what I can find out.”
“Okay,” she agreed. “I guess we should check this out.”
She looked flustered.
Jade thought no one looked as confused as Brody did at that moment.
Decker placed a plate on the oversized table for Aunt Neave and another with cheese, crackers, grapes, and apple slices for the rest of them to munch on.
“We just ate breakfast not too long ago, Aunt Neave, but I set out some snacks for us. We’ll keep you company while you eat.”
“That’s lovely, my dear boy.” She smiled as she rose, holding her teacup and saucer. She asked Jade, “Would you be so kind as to bring the teapot for me, dear? I’ll need it all, I fear. Flying sets me back a bit. Does anyone else want a cup? I can bring in more.”
They declined a cup of tea. Most chose water. Jade and Decker had some iced sun tea.
“Will you bring your mother’s book to the table, Michael? I shall call you Michael for it is your given name,” Neave O’Flynn spoke up when she had finished her lunch. She had already discarded her thick cardigan. It hung on the back of her chair.
“I’ll get it.” Brody rose. It was in the family room, so it didn’t take long.
“Thank you for lunch, my dears, I was quite shaky after my journey. Now, first things first.” Neave slid her plate to the side.
“As Niall explained earlier, I am something of the O’Flynn family historian. You see, my father was Daragh O’Flynn and my mother was Caoimhe of the MacMurchadha, or Clan Murphy. My grandfather was Bearach and my grandmother was Aoife. I have lived over eight hundred years, nearly nine, just as Ciaran O’Sullivan has. I was there, within the circle, when my granny, Aoife cursed him, you see. This is why Niall and Fianna sent me straight away. I have helped the O’Flynns over the centuries to defend themselves from Ciaran O’Sullivan. I’ve waited a long time to see you, the first six that have the ability to defeat him.”
“But we aren’t sure about Harper’s connection,” Brody posed.
“Maybe you aren’t, but I am, young man. She looks just like my aunt, Mairead MacCarthaigh, who married my father’s brother, Ceallach.
“Oh, okay.” Brody nodded. He turned his attention to Harper, who did not look up. Apparently, she was no happier about this than he was.
“Do you know how we can end Ciaran, Aunt Neave?” Decker asked.
“Not exactly, no. However, I do have ideas as how to best proceed, as I did hear my granny speak the words of the curse. Ciaran O’Sullivan was a mortal man when he was cursed. Two centuries later, after hiding and living as an outcast, he aligned himself with a woman who was a demon or consorted with one. He learned a great deal more about the dark arts from her, and in the end, he killed her and took her power into him, or so we believe. Somehow, he aligned himself with dark forces and became much more powerful than he was. Let’s just say, he is more now than he was when Aoife cursed him. Demons can be cast out, so there is hope. I believe that together, we can find a way to break the curse, destroy the demon, and thereby end him for eternity.”
“Is the demon’s power in the ring he wears?” Jade asked.
“I believe so, yes. Regardless, Ciaran does draw power from the ring with the dark stone. He also took my Granny’s crystal from her staff that night at Drombeg after he gave her the fatal blow. The crystal scepter topped the staff. He has harnessed some of Aoife’s power also. Her powers were of the light, until the day that she dared use them to bring harm to Ciaran O’Sullivan. I will admit she crossed the line that night. Whatever power he uses of hers, he twists into evil. ‘Tis possibly the crystal that helps him tap into you and follow you, now that he has found you, for you are all of Aoife.”
Neave gave a heavy sigh and continued, “She meant to kill him that day. It didn’t happen. He killed her instead. She cursed him to live until three sons and three daughters of her murdered sons and their wives took their vengeance and ended him. I was in the circle when she spoke those words. Donal O’Flynn, my father’s cousin, pulled me out of the ring before I was cursed to a life of unhappiness, thank goodness. Unknown to me at the time, I was also cursed to live until the six defeat Ciaran. Donal O’Flynn was the first guardian. Niall and Fianna are descended from him.”
“But if we end Ciaran, doesn’t that mean we end you also, Aunt Neave?” Jade questioned.
“I don’t know, dear. It matters not.” Neave smiled. “I have lived for over eight hundred years. I have had a very full life. I have spent the whole of it protecting the O’Flynns and their descendants, and waiting for this day. You see, Ciaran has murdered many of the O’Flynns and no do
ubt a good number of my parents’ and aunts’ descendants during his long lifetime. I lost track of some of their families over the years, as it was enough work to keep an eye on the O’Flynns. Many of the clans left Ireland for America, Canada, and Australia, as did some of your ancestors.”
She continued, “Ciaran has used, hurt, and killed many other innocent people over the centuries as well. He must be stopped. For you, your futures, and those of your children and children’s children, you must end him. Your life will never be your own if you do not. You will have to move, alter your names, and cut ties with people you love, in order to hide from him. ‘Tis what your mother and father did.” Neave looked to the brothers. She added, “It’s harder to hide these days with computers and such. Those things make it so much easier to find someone. Hiding, as your parents did, is the only way to survive with Ciaran O’Sullivan hunting you.”
“So, what do we need to do to find out how to end him?” Liam asked.
“Niall, Fianna, and I will train you. We’ll teach you the things you should already know. I do know you will need your magics above all else, for Ciaran is very good with his. I have some ideas about how to proceed from there, but we will need to do some research and experiment a bit before we know exactly how to end Ciaran O’Sullivan. I believe it can be done. Your mother’s book will help us. She spent a great deal of time doing research on the subject.”
“When can we start?” Liam asked.
“Now is the perfect time, cousin,” Niall O’Flynn’s voice sounded from behind them. His sister smiled and waved as they all turned around. Niall was as tall as Liam was, and though in good shape, was leaner than Liam or Decker. He was strong and wiry, built more like Brody. His dark brown hair and vivid green eyes attributed to his handsomeness. Fianna was a beauty with long, wavy, auburn hair and light green eyes. She was tall and slender. She looked like a model, or an Irish Goddess.
“Then we’ll start now.” Liam rose and extended his hand to his Irish cousins. “Welcome to our Sedona home.”
“Thank you.” Niall O’Flynn flashed them a happy, wide grin. “It is grand to be here and to meet you at last.”
Lauren Asherton was not enjoying the party, even though she knew she looked fabulous in her black evening dress that fit her perfectly sculpted body to perfection. Of course, she had a gifted personal trainer that helped her attain her shape. Her dress was a De La Renta she’d purchased in Paris last year. More than one man had looked her way and approached her to strike up a conversation this evening. The problem was they were all boring types, and nothing special. They were not Michael Decker.
Put Michael in a designer suit, with a high-end salon hairstyle and manicure, and he would be the best looking and most sought after man in the room. She missed sleeping with him. He was very romantic and knew exactly how to please a woman. The best sex she ever had, had been with Michael.
Her anger rose to a boil when she imagined that skinny, blonde slut beneath him in bed.
Inside, she was seething. Michael was hers! She knew deep down he loved her, he had to, and could never love another. No doubt, the little witch had cast a spell upon him. There was no other explanation for him treating her so poorly and choosing that trashy woman over her. How could he? The blonde was ordinary, nothing. Lauren was rich, cultured, and worldly with a perfect body, and well, more than one man had told her how beautiful she was. Some people were just beautiful and some were not. Lauren just happened to be beautiful. She knew it, and she spent a great deal of money to remain so. She’d never let herself go. Looks were so important, the most important thing really. Well, aside from money.
She returned her attention to the drink before her as she sat at the bar. She would find a way to get Michael back. She had to. He belonged to her. He would be hers and no one else’s.
“What I don’t understand, is why such a beautiful woman would be sitting alone at the bar in the midst of such a grand event, drinking alone and frowning.”
Lauren looked up at the sound of the cultured, slightly accented, masculine voice. She was not disappointed to see the handsome man before her. He was tall with neatly cut dark hair and wearing a very fine black suit that had to be from Paris or London. She noticed his hands were well manicured. Everything about him screamed upper class European, even the large, but antique-looking ring on his finger. Though it leaned toward gaudy, it was probably a priceless heirloom. He might even be blue-blooded. That raised her spirits some.
Lauren managed to smile. She shrugged. “I just had a fight with my boyfriend.”
“Oh, damn. I was hoping you were single. When I saw you, I thought you might be the woman I’ve been looking for all of my life.” He smiled at her. “Which man is the lucky gentleman to have won your heart?” he asked as he looked about the room.
“He’s not actually here. We broke up, and currently, he’s dating some blonde bimbo.”
The handsome stranger shook his head. “He doesn’t deserve you, beautiful lady. You deserve to be treated like a queen.”
“I won’t argue with you on that point.” She looked to him with a coy, little smile.
“Donovan. My name is Ken Donovan. At your service, my Queen.” He gave her a quick, but regal bow.
Lauren laughed. Well, she could think about how to get Michael back tomorrow. Tonight, she could use a diversion and she suspected Ken Donovan would provide an intriguing one.
He pushed a drink toward her. “I asked the bartender to fix another for you.” He lifted his martini to her. “Cheers, beautiful lady whose name is…?”
“Lauren. Lauren Asherton. I thought this was going to be another boring Sedona Country Club party. I was wrong.” She cocked her head and gave him her sultriest smile.
“I promise you, I will never be boring, Lauren. Do you dance?” He held out his hand.
“I would love to, Mr. Donovan.” She placed her hand in his.
“Where exactly are you from? Donovan is Irish; yet, your accent is too refined to be Irish.”
“I was born in Ireland, but I grew up on the Continent. My family traveled extensively, my father was a diplomat. I have lived all over Europe. Rome, Paris, Vienna, London.”
“Ah!” Lauren purred with approval.
It was a slow dance. He was tall, fit, and muscular. When she looked into his eyes, she knew she would have him that night. How could she not? The look he gave her promised sensual delight. She rather liked the gleam in those dark eyes. He gave her a seductive smile. She decided there was something very animal and alpha about him. She rather liked it.
“So, tell me about yourself Miss Asherton. And this bad boyfriend of yours.”
“Why do you want to know about him?” she asked.
“Only so I can be certain I treat you ten times better than he has. You see, I’ve decided I want you.”
“Well, then.” Lauren grinned up at him. “You should tell me about yourself and what you plan to do about that, Mr. Donovan.”
“I won’t deny seduction is my main goal, but to keep you, I think I shall offer you the world, my beautiful Lauren. Anything your heart desires.”
Lauren thought hard. What was it she wanted more than anything? She sighed softly as she looked into the dark, mysterious eyes of this handsome man. It was a pity that she wanted Michael more than anything or anyone. This suave, European hottie didn’t have to know that yet. She definitely wanted to enjoy his company for a time. It might even make Michael jealous! Oh yes, she would allow this willing specimen of male virility to dance attendance on her, enjoy his company and more. Michael would be so jealous; he’d dump the blonde and beg her to take him back.
“I believe I just might want you, Mr. Donovan,” she said in a silky whisper.
“Then, I plan to proceed with my plans for your complete and total seduction immediately.” He gave her a hungry, wolfish smile as his fingertips slid lower to caress her hip then skimmed quickly over the rounded contours of her bottom. He pulled her tighter against him, making certain
she felt the very hard ridge of his arousal.
“Oh, my.” Lauren raised a brow at him. “You are very eager aren’t you?”
“I would be a fool not to be. I am dancing with the most beautiful woman in the room.”
“In that case, why don’t we go outside for some fresh air,” she whispered. “Perhaps we can think of a way to help you out with that eagerness of yours.”
“It would be my pleasure. May I suggest someplace secluded?”
“Secluded? Of course. I think I know just the spot,” Lauren gave him her most flirtatious smile.
She still had the hotel room she rented because she thought that she and Michael would reunite today. She hadn’t cancelled it yet in hopes he might show up tonight. He had not. However, Ken Donovan had.
Chapter Seventeen
Two exhausting days had passed since the arrival of the O’Flynn cousins from County Cork. They had spent hours in training. Jade thought their group had made a great deal of progress.
She was actually learning how to fly. She certainly hadn’t mastered flight yet. Hop and glide was a more apt description for what she was doing. Decker could fly, and did it quite well. It was mind blowing when she thought about it. They were learning how to fly! Just lift up, zip at warp speed to another destination. Yeah, it was mind blowing, and it scared the crap out of her.
Aunt Neave had spent the better part of two days working with her and Decker. There had been many meditations for the spiritual aspect, many exercises to get into the mindset, and then the physical techniques involved with rising, landing, and gliding. Aunt Neave had high hopes that she could get to moving as quickly as their cousins did from Ireland to Sedona, or move like Decker did yesterday, from the fitness room to the family room in two seconds flat.
Jade’s only problems were fear…and of course doubt. She grimaced. She just could not get used to the idea that she could fly - enough to believe that she wouldn’t fall, anyway.
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