by L. A. Boruff
Hands grabbed me and pulled me out of the way why others rushed in to clean up the mess.
“Now the stinging nettles, Iasan.”
“You did good.” Breandan’s breath brushed across my ear while his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling my back into his chest. Together, we watched as the men on the stretchers writhed and moaned, expelling the draught through their skin, from their noses, and even from their stomachs.
It didn’t take long, but each second stretched on for an eternity as I waited to see if they would open their eyes.
“The rogue…” one of the men gasped.
“Is taken care of.” Breandan released me into Adhamh’s waiting arms. Too focused on the scene, I haven’t even noticed when he arrived in the room. “You did your duties. This wasn’t your fault.” He placed a hand on both of them. “Once you’ve fully recovered, you can give Adhamh your full report, but until then, rest, and do what Iasan instructs.”
Adhamh nodded at the two men. His look almost as if they were conducting a silent conversation. I wrinkled my brow. There were too many strange things piling up, and I felt I needed answers sooner rather than later.
He led me from the room with Breandan following. I could hear Iasan issuing some final orders before he, too, followed.
We ended up in what looked to be like an office, but besides the large desk with multiple chairs, it also contained shelves filled with books and a large comfortable seating area. The men sat on the couch, but I couldn’t sit. Instead, I paced in front of them, trying to work off my excess energy.
Stopping in front of them, I wrapped my arms around my waist. “There is something strange going on here that you’re not telling me. I need to know what it is. Why do you all have a birthmark similar to mine? Why did mine change? I’m guessing the rogue was the wolf you killed, so why were you watching for it? And most of all, why aren’t those two men dead?”
My shaking knees gave out, and I landed on the chair behind me. It had been pure happenstance I’d stopped in front of it, but I was grateful for its presence nonetheless.
The three looked at each other. The feeling I’d had earlier about them talking to each other resurfaced. “Are you three talking somehow?”
Adhamh and Iasan gave Breandan a curt nod. He leaned forward holding out his hands for me, but I kept mine wrapped tightly around my waist. My judgement didn’t seem to be rational when they touched me.
His shoulders slumped a little, and I felt a twinge of guilt. “Let’s start with your birthmark. It identifies you as being chosen. Chosen by fate, by the gods, whomever you choose to believe in, to be a human mate to a shifter. We have the matching mark because the three of us were chosen for you.”
“I told you, you were ours.” Adhamh grinned at me, but it didn’t reach his eyes. They continued to hold a hint of wariness in them. My heart melted, and I couldn’t resist offering them some comfort. Sliding forward on my chair until my knees nearly touched Breandan’s, I placed a hand on Adhamh’s lap and one on Iasan’s. Breandan shifted until our knees touched, bringing a little lift to the corners of his lips.
“Your birthmark changed, lass, because when we all had sex with you, you were mated to each of us.” Iasan squeezed my fingers before lacing our hands together.
“But we won’t force you to stay with us if you don’t want,” Breandan added.
They stopped talking to let me think. Something I was thankful for. Everything I’d ever been told about my birthmark had just been upended. It didn’t mean I wouldn’t get married. It meant I would. And in this case to three amazing men. Why did everyone tell me differently? Did my dad, my parents know the truth? Thoughts swirled until I felt hopelessly adrift, yet three points of contact kept me grounded.
“My parents, why did they lie? Did they know about this?”
Breandan’s hands landed on my knees, giving them a slight squeeze. “Only a few of the village elders know about shifters, but midwives are taught to look for the mark. They keep the girls secluded, knowing that one day they will find their non-human mate. Normally human girls with the mark are aware of what it means, but sometimes the village elders or the parents don’t explain it to them, especially if they don’t like shifters.”
It was all too much. Did my parents know and keep quiet because they didn’t agree? Or were they as much in the dark as I was? They waited for an answer to their earlier question, but I didn’t understand enough to decide. Two words they used jumped out at me. Non-human and shifter. What did that mean? It couldn’t have the same meaning as my books, could it? There was only one way to discover the truth, so I asked.
“The shifter race lives alongside humans. We are a people who can shift our bodies into various other things. I am the leader of this village.”
My eyebrows lifted. So that is what Iasan meant when he called Breandan alpha. Did that mean they were… wolves?
“Yes, lass, we are wolves.”
I jumped, surprised when Iasan answered my unspoken question.
“And to prove that we are mates, and you’re no longer fully human, we can already hear some of your thoughts when you direct them to us.”
“And you can probably hear ours if you open your mind,” Adhamh added to Breandan’s comments. He winked and suddenly my mind was filled with a picture of him placing his mouth over my pussy, his tongue entering me, lapping up my juices. My hips twitched, and I bit my lip. I wanted nothing more to make my thought—his thought?—a reality.
“Enough Adhamh.” The command in Breandan’s tone was unmistakable even if his voice was rough with desire.
Adhamh’s eyes twinkled. “Whaaat? Just proving our point.”
I couldn’t help the small chuckle while Iasan laughed. Breandan shook his head and shrugged his shoulders, but his eyes twinkled, too.
“So, is everyone here a wolf? That’s why the two men are still alive,” I mused.
“Yes, but they wouldn’t be without you. You were the one that knew about the sleeping draught. We don’t use it, so I completely forgot about it from my medical training.”
“I agree. You saved their lives and we, the shifter race, are forever in your debt.”
“And he says that as the Prince of the entire race,” Adhamh added.
Wow. I knew my men were amazing, but a prince of the entire race… how lucky was I?
Breandan stood and the other two followed, pulling me up with them. “Enough talk. Come meet the rest of the village and join us for our St. Patrick’s Day meal of corned beef and cabbage along with soda bread. It’s our tradition.”
They led me from the room and from the house. The square in front was lit by flickering torchlight. Shamrocks and pots of gold decorated the tables. Adults and children milled around, laughing and talking, while sipping from various green drinks.
“And if your shoes need repair, don’t forget to leave them out for the leprechauns tonight.” Adhamh chuckled against my temple before his lips landed, giving me a sweet kiss.
The people stopped and turned. I briefly caught Breandan’s voice in my head asking for their attention. He pulled me to stand in front of him with Iasan and Adhamh flanking. I know you haven’t agreed yet, but even if you don’t choose to stay, you will still be afforded the respect due our mate.
“Everyone. I’d like to introduce you to Shaylee, our mate.”
How could I possibly think of leaving? After the best day I’d ever experienced. Looking over the happy faces in the crowd, I made my decision… I’ll stay.
They wrapped their arms around me, holding me close while their smiles lit up their faces. This may have been fast, but it was the right thing. Deep down, I knew I was designed for them and them for me.
The crowd clapped and shouts of praise erupted. “The luckiest St. Patrick’s Day ever.”
And I couldn’t help but agree.
Other Books By TB Mann
Entangled Hearts Series
Savor Life
Red Line Series
Junior “Eh”
Changing On The Fly
About the Author
TB Mann lives in beautiful Ottawa, ON, Canada. When she isn’t behind a computer screen, you can find her watching a hockey game or on the beach in the Caribbean writing. To find out more about all her books, you can follow her at:
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Lucky Gold
M. Lizbeth
Pegs, without your support, friendship and kick in the butt this book would not have been written. I can never tell you how thankful I am for your friendship.
Elissa, girl you saved my butt and encouraged me not to give up. #NewbieLife
Prologue
There's a story that my Grams would tell me when I was little – a story of rainbows, pots of gold, and a soul mate of the Leprechauns. She would tell me that if I were to ever find a pot of gold that it would lead me to my heart’s desire, to my destiny. It was said that pots of gold were magical, and they wouldn’t just appear to anyone. For the keepers of the gold were leprechauns, and they got to decide who was worthy of the gold and who was not. Legend says that the pot of gold was a way to find their soul mates, so if the person didn't believe in magic, they weren’t worthy of the gold and couldn’t find their soulmate.
As I got older, on the afternoons my Grams would watch me, I'd spend my days searching for rainbows. No matter how many times my Grams would tell me not to play in the rain, I would, and I'd come home with my hair plastered to my face, tracking mud through the house. I always loved the rain, because almost every time after, a rainbow would appear. I think I was more intrigued with the leprechauns at the time, than the actual gold, and my Grams knew it. My mother thought it was flights of fancy, but I wanted them to find me worthy of their treasure. I wanted them to find me magical.
As I grew up, I still searched for my pot of gold, but Grams eventually told me not to get my hopes up. That it had been centuries since the last time anyone had seen the gold at the end of a rainbow. Probably because humans didn't believe in magic the way we did. Grams always said I had an affinity for it, even if I didn't have any magic myself, and I knew deep in my heart that it existed. Between Grams’s stories and the things I saw that no-one else could, no-one could tell me otherwise. We also had Irish and fae blood running in our veins, which Grams said was a reason why I could see magical things.
This led to my love of the woods behind my Grams’s house. I swore I could see faeries around, fluttering to and from the trees. I liked to think they played hide and seek with me. No but my best friend Gemma and my Grams believed me, which was ok with me. I knew what I knew, and they loved me for it. All was right in the world.
Little did I know that it would all change on one rainy birthday.
1
Aideen
The day I turn twenty-five starts just like any other day. I grab breakfast with Grams and Gemma, at Grams’s house, then spend the morning putting together the puzzle Gemma got me for my birthday. I love puzzles, and every year she gets me a new one. We always put it together with Grams. As the day passes, I realize it’s raining, and I get this sudden urge to go outside. I tell Grams and Gemma that I think it’s about time I head home and let them know I’ll meet them tomorrow for Ádh mór oraibh, bright and early.
As I start to follow the path to my home, I look up to see a particularly beautiful rainbow. Since it’s my birthday I decide to follow it. I still hold my childhood dream that magic will find me worthy. So I start off to follow my rainbow.
It leads me to a field, where the grass reaches my knees. In the middle is a humongous tree. As I walk closer, I can see what looks like a door with a pot of gold etched in it. I let curiosity get the better of me, and I go to explore the tree. Circling the trunk, which is as big as a house, I run my hand along the bark as I walk. I get back around to the door and reach my hand out to touch the design etched into it.
The moment I touch it, my skin starts to feel tingly and a burning sensation follows, starting in my hand, then traveling up my arm and finally settling behind my neck. I can’t take the sensations anymore and I pass out. I don't know what else happens, but I when come to, the tree is gone.
Remembering the burning sensation, I run home to look in my mirror and see a gorgeous winding vine that ends in what looks to be a Celtic heart design, sitting on the back of my neck. My eyes have also changed to a piercing, almost glowing green. I can’t believe it!
I run for my Grams, and as soon as I go through the front door, I start screaming her name throughout the house, finally finding her in the kitchen.
"Grams, you will never believe what just happened!" I exclaim, out of breath.
"Well, my dear child, I'm sure you're about to tell me. But first, wash those dirty hands. I just made your favorite bread pudding, and I can see by the looks of you that this is going to be quite a story for sure."
I quickly wash my hands, then turn around and grab us both some plates and forks. Setting them down at the small table that sits in front of the kitchen window, I wait for Grams to come over and dish us each a nice helping of the pudding.
"Now child, what did you want to tell me?" She asks, sitting down opposite of me. I proceed to tell her everything. After I’m done recounting what happened, she tells me to show her the mark, then proceeds to laugh and tell me that I am one very special girl indeed.
"What do you mean by that, Grams?" I ask her, taking the last bite of my pudding.
"Where would the fun be if I told you everything, girl? You'll just have to wait and see what destiny has in store for you." She laughs, patting me on the hand and then getting up to put our dishes away. She excuses herself, but not before smirking and telling me to chase my rainbow.
Whatever that means.
2
Aideen
That night my dreams are plagued with three sexy-as-sin men, if you could call them that.
It begins with me standing back in the field and a rainbow appearing out of nowhere. I feel this overwhelming compulsion to follow it, and I do. At the end of the rainbow is the same door, with the outline of a pot of gold. But this time, when I reach out to touch it, there’s no burn, just coolness to the touch. I reach down for the handle and find it unlocked, so I push open the door and step through to what I can only imagine is a different world.
On the ground before me is a stone path, with what looks to be gold coins along the sides and the most vividly green four-leaf clovers attached to vines that are intertwined to make a wall that goes along with the path of stone and gold. I follow it down until I reach what looks to be a beautiful cabin surrounded the wall of clovers. The more I look at it, though, it seems to be made out of another gorgeous and gigantic tree.
The massive trunk has a beautiful green door on it and another pot of gold with a design I recognize as the one that is now on the back of my neck, with three other symbols on it, all connected in a circle. There’s a little window to the right, with what looks to be little lights hanging in a zigzag pattern on the inside. My feet have a mind of their own and go to the door.
In the dream I don’t have to knock. The door opens on its own to reveal the most breathtaking room I have ever seen. The phrase “it’s bigger on the inside” comes to mind as I take in the high ceiling and spacious set up. A small kitchen is to the right and bookshelves, that seem to be made of the wall, are along the left side with a windowed reading nook in the center. Taking up space in the middle is a gorgeous four post bed that appears to be coming out of ground, with a mattress, green sheets and gold, sheer drapes hanging from the top.
As I take in the room, I feel a presence behind me, but I'm not afraid. If anything
, tiny goosebumps form along my skin as lips press down on my bare shoulder. My hair is swept up into a hand, while the other snakes around to hold my hip. I look down to see that I’m in a green, spaghetti-strapped, almost see-through dress with the same symbol on it as the door and my neck. Those lips kiss up my neck and then I feel a blow of air whisper the words, "we've been waiting a lifetime for you." I shiver as a set of hands lightly feather up my arms before another set of lips kiss my other shoulder.
They’re all shadows, but I can sense deep down that they won't hurt me. The hands that are touching my arms move up to cup my face, and before I can take my next breath, I am being kissed senseless. Literally, this is the most erotic thing I've ever felt. Since I can't see them, my other senses take over, my body overwhelmed by it all.
A tongue teases my lips, and they open with a moan. It invades my mouth, as the hand that's holding my hair pulls my head back sharply. The lips that have been raining kisses on my neck start to nip and bite, sending a pulsing need straight to my core. I gasp and pull back from the kiss, as I feel another set of hands slide up my thighs, pulling my dress up with them. Right as my dress is about to expose my very wet pussy to whoever is on their knees in front of me, I'm rudely awakened by the buzzing of my alarm clock.
* * *