This was what she'd been missing. He'd kissed her, the once, and then nothing.
Now he kissed her again, staking his claim. And that's what it was. He was showing the world, well, Cuchi, just who this goddess belonged to.
Bat lifted her hands and clutched at his sides. He still held her upper arms firmly, and she couldn't reach around him, but this was just fine as well.
She slid her tongue along his, and he pulled back to nip at her lower lip before diving back into her mouth. His hands slid up her arms and to her neck, cradling her, his thumbs brushing against her jaw. The strokes were short, smooth and enticing.
She wrapped her arms all the way around his waist and pressed against him, reveling in the firm muscles.
This. Yes, this.
"Guys."
A throat cleared.
Someone snickered.
"Guys."
A new heat appeared behind her, close enough she could sense it, but not so close she could feel the person's body. New hands gripped her arms and she moaned. How had they not done this for two months? Two whole months since they'd really touched her...
How she'd wanted them. Dub. Shar. Mell. And now Finn. The four of them, they would be perfect...
The four of them.
Grainne's visage flashed before her.
Four of them.
She crashed back to reality just as Mell succeeded in pulling her from his brother.
Oh, gods, what had she done? There was a reason she was holding back from them. She stared, eyes wide, at Dub. He was breathing heavily, his face drawn in tight lines. His hands still cradled her neck, the oh so careful strength there speeding her heart once more.
Mell stepped back, taking her with him, until they'd backed to the first row of bookshelves. She pulled her attention from the oldest brother and found Shar. Her giant stared at her, lips tight and cheeks flushed. Finn took a step toward her, swallowed, and stopped.
"Well, that happened." Ailis leaned back in her chair. "Thank goodness. Now we can all stop prancing around the issue." She pointed at Bat. "Ya all want her." She pointed at the brothers in turn, hesitated a moment, her expression thoughtful, then pointed at Finn. "And she wants all of ya." The pointing finger turned into a wave of her hand. "Ya need to all just go get this out of yer systems. Or at least settle it. But not now. Now we have ta figure out what the hell is going on."
Bat stared at her. Ailis was right. They should not be kissing or seducing or thinking of sex at a time like this. The men of ba had just been practically slaughtered, and she was worried about kisses...
"The goddess has her needs. We should not be impinging on them," Ari said, as though he sensed her thoughts.
Bat's cheeks heated. Dub sucked in a deep breath and uncurled his clenched fists. Mell soothed his hands over her arms. Shar, his face flushed, straightened her chair and waited for her to be seated.
Finn rolled his shoulders and nodded to Ailis. “The fae is correct.” Heated green eyes met hers and he licked his lips. “I do want you. And we need to get on with our planning.”
Dub jerked and closed his eyes. He was on the edge of his control.
Bat stepped forward. “I am being a wanker.”
Shar and Dub’s brows drew together, and the youngest brother opened his mouth, but she cut him off.
“I am. I am worried about my feelings, hiding in my anger and fear when there is something so much bigger confronting us.”
Mell’s hand settled against her back. “You deserve to be angry.”
Did she? Maybe. Yes. But they could not afford it, not now. Not with the vessel stolen, a possible attack coming against the pub, and the O’Loinsighs’ father most likely conspiring with Balor. “I will be.” She focused on Dub. “Later.” The word held a promise, not just of her anger, but of everything else still unsaid. “For now, we need a plan.” She held her hand out to Dub. “Sit by me?”
As Dub stepped forward and slid his callused hand into her much smaller one, she came to a realization. She couldn’t continue as she had. And she was unwilling to give up her new home, or any of the brothers or Finn. She didn’t want just part of them, though. She didn’t just want a warm room or the pub or friends. She didn’t want a temple, refuge or supplicants. She didn’t only want nights with music and Guinness and admittedly wonderful scenery in the form of wide shoulders and flashing eyes. She wanted the kisses and caresses and heated nights. She wanted to be able to hold them to her, and comfort them when they needed it. She wanted to be able to speak the words that Horus and Seth had never needed or wanted from her. She wanted… She wanted it all.
She deserved it all.
Finn glanced between the two of them, then pulled back his shoulders and rounded the table to take Dub’s previous seat. Bat sent him a grateful smile, hoping he could see that this was not a rejection of him, merely what needed to happen in this moment.
As everyone resumed their seats, Dub leaned into her. “I will not be letting you go.” The low words were a promise. “Ever. Know that.”
His words settled into her and nestled next to the promise she had just made to herself. Her eyes slid closed and she took that moment to revel in the feeling of being wanted. “Thank you,” she whispered. Then she pulled her back straight and focused on Oisin, who still stood near the head of the table. “Let us begin.”
He set the book before her. She remembered how this went. She used the drawings to identify the weapons and artifacts from her visions. Oisin had the volume flipped to the beginning pages this time.
The Cauldron. It didn’t look like half of an egg. It did look like a large pot, with a curved lip and everything. She thought back to her vision. There had been a slight difference between the body of the object and the rim.
Tracing a light finger over the drawing, she chose her words. “It is this, the vessel. But someone disguised it. The rim is stone and iron, and false.”
Oisin nodded and flipped a few pages.
She shook her head. The sword was close, but not quite what she had seen. This had a red stone in the pommel, and the blade was too thin.
Oisin turned to the next sheet.
“This one. With the green stone. A dark shadow flowed from the tip.”
“It is Nuada’s,” Oisin said.
Cu Chulainn snorted but held his words.
The next picture showed the spear. “This is the first spear I saw, in the possession of the dark-haired man. I did not recognize him, and only saw him from the back, really. But his ship led others, and they headed into a storm.”
“It could be metaphorical,” Mell mused.
“Or literal, if it is one of the Fomoiri who holds it,” Dub countered.
Finn leaned forward, hands clasped before him. “No one should hold it. The artifacts, other than the cauldron that was lost and the harp that was waiting, are locked away.”
“Are they?” Bat cut her gaze to the crow. It had claimed the back of the chair nearest Ari.
Feathers ruffled and the raven twisted its head, but made no answer. Finn’s and Cuchi’s eyes narrowed and their lips thinned, the similarity of their expressions reminding her once again that they were both captains of the fae’s guardi. They held their silence. They were, after all, under the Morrigan’s command.
“If I ever become that cryptic and uncooperative, please shake me until I come to my senses,” Bat murmured to Dub.
He raised a brow. “Okay.”
She gave him a light slap. “You are supposed to protest.”
“I will spank you, then.”
Heat pooled and her lower belly tightened.
“Guys.” Ailis waved a hand. “Focus.”
Bat cleared her throat and kept her gaze on the drawings in front of her. “Yes. Well, I did not get the sense that these visions were too far removed in time.”
Oisin tapped the book. “We have more to identify.”
Bat laid her hand over his and met the man’s too calm gaze. “We won’t find the other in he
re. It has yet to be created.”
“Someone is gathering the treasures and preparing for war. And we know who that someone is, or at least who is directing them. He is crafty.” Cu Chulainn leaned back in his chair, frowning, gaze thoughtful.
They all stared.
“What? I am not always an idiot, as you all seem to believe. Some have even called me wise.”
“He’s right.” Oisin drew the volume away from her and carefully closed it. “Unless these were visions of the past?” he asked Bat.
“No. Sometimes it is difficult to pinpoint an exact time, but most of these were not of the past. And I, too, believe Cuchi is correct. They are gather—” Her breath caught and it took her a moment to force the next question out. “Where was the harp when you left the pub?” she asked Mell.
He shot to his feet. “By the hearth. I didn’t even think of it. No one has so much as touched it until you came.”
“Farking bollix. He can’t get his hands on the harp.” Finn pushed back his chair. “I’ll transport us. No time to take the truck. We’ll grab the harp, come right back here, and then finish sorting out the next steps.”
Bat rose as well, her heart pounding. She wasn’t sure what exactly the harp did, other than enhance emotions, but those were powerful things indeed. If this Balor needed all the artifacts she had seen, then they needed to prevent him from acquiring this last one. “Can you take us—”
Dub pushed her back down into her seat. “No. We—” he gestured to Finn “—will go. I need you here, working with the ba men to see if you can figure out exactly how Balor—who is dead—plans to come back.”
Caw.
The raven half flew, half glided to land in the space before Bat. Let them go. It will give us time to discuss things.
“I will not keep secrets.” Bat was very clear on this. Secrets had gotten them into this mess.
The raven’s head cocked. Well, I will let you make that decision. But sometimes secrets are a kindness.
Bat pressed her lips together, refusing to agree.
“Dub, Mell and I will go,” Finn said. “Shar and the men of ba will remain here, and you may strategize with Oisin.”
She noted he was leaving those she’d seen in her alleyway vision of death here with her, and that he carefully did not mention Cu Chulainn, who was now effectively hobbled. The other guardi sat in stony silence, his fists clenched on the table before him.
Ari stood. “We will go with you. As I told the goddess, we have a purpose.”
“Which is to guard the cauldron, not the harp,” Finn pointed out. “And the best way you can guard it, is to find it. Am I correct in thinking you have some kind of connection to it?”
Ari bared his teeth, but nodded. “You are correct, sidhe.” He looked to his companions then nodded, slowly. “We will remain this time. As you said, our duty is to the cauldron.”
Thank you. She thought the sentiment to Finn, sure he would not hear her, for that was not his power, but hopeful he would at least feel her gratitude.
Mell’s brow rose. He at least had felt it. Good. Dub stepped toward the door, and she grabbed his wrist, tugging until he bent down. “You will bring them, and yourself, back in one piece. There will be no missing limbs, and no wounds that will hamper our mission.” Or your life. “Do you understand?”
Dub pressed a hard kiss to her lips. “Yes, goddess. I will keep your playthings safe.”
Mell snorted. “That sounds more like my line.”
Dub straightened and glared at his brother. “Stop yapping.” Then he headed for the door, Finn just behind him. Mell shrugged and went after the other two men. They had just opened the door when Bat called out.
“Wait.” She focused on Cuchi and the power that wrapped around his right arm. “I am modifying your curse. You may lift your sword, but only in defense of the O’Loinsighs and Finn. None other, not even me.” For another sword to defend her men, she was willing to do this.
Cu Chulainn’s eyes widened as he flexed his arm. But he rose and joined the other three men at the door without a word.
“Are you sure about that?” Ailis asked on a whisper.
“I would think you, of all of us, would appreciate the irony,” Bat replied as Mell closed the door behind him. She held onto her control. It would not do to go running after them. Finn and Dub were correct. It was smarter to divide their resources. Still, she didn’t like that they were gone from her sight, even with the extra defense she’d provided in the form of an asshole.
Goddess of Egypt. The raven hopped closer to her. They will be well. I do not have much time. The others are suspicious of me, and have started monitoring my actions.
“Others?”
The other deities. The Tribunal. We have a seer. She has predicted some of what is to come. Know that, if I could have, I would have prevented all of this. But things were set in motion long before any of us were aware of Balor’s plans. And now there is a very narrow path of success that you must travel. After observing you these last couple of months, I have to admit Ruith was correct—you are the one to handle this.
“What is ‘this’?”
The raven twisted its head and ducked, eyeing her hungrily. Or what Bat thought was hunger. Just what the elder man of ba told you. Balor seeks resurrection.
“Is he in the blades?”
Oisin sucked in a breath and Ailis stared at her with wide eyes, any previous mischief wiped from her expression. Shar’s hand crept to the nape of her neck and kneaded, slowly. Ari and his companions showed no sign of shock. But then, they knew so much the other immortals seemed to have forgotten.
He is in Nuada’s sword. We think.
“Was he the one guarded?”
The Morrigan hesitated. No. Or, not the only one. The being held by the smaller blades is secure, for now.
“Who is it?”
That is a secret better left kept. You are a curious one, though.
“I’ve learned recently that there is much of this world kept from me, despite the fact I am a goddess.”
Caw-aw-aw-aw-aw-aw. The goddess laughed.
“I am glad I can amuse you. Is there anything else you are willing to tell me?”
The raven mantled and hopped, but did not leave. You will need to restore the cauldron. You will need the second spear. And you will need to bring back he of the evil eye before you may defeat him.
“Why are you, and the other Irish deities, not handling this, if you know so much?” It seemed like they were doing this the hard way. If the Morrigan knew the cauldron would be taken, that the spear and the swords would be taken, why not simply stop it before it began?
You, more than anyone, should know the answer to that.
She ignored the non-answer. “When was the sword taken? I assume it has gone missing, along with the spear I saw.”
Six months ago, before you arrived.
Also about the same time her visions of Ireland began. Even then things had been in motion. Had Finn known? Why did he not say anything when she first talked of the sword? His and Cuchi’s tight expressions when the possibility had been mentioned came back to her. No, he had not known. The Morrigan, all the gods, were keeping secrets from their own.
We do not know everything. We do not know how he escaped in the first place, or how the sword went missing. All we can do is follow the paths laid down by she who is more powerful than any deity.
“I met her once. Fate. She seemed nice. Told me people blamed her for more than she deserved.”
Caw. But it sounded as much like a snort as a raven could make. I’ve met the bitch too, and believe me, she is a bitch.
Bat held her silence on that. “Is there anything else you will tell me?”
It will get bloody, and there will be death. You can not allow this to deter you, and you must trust yourself. As you said, your visions are never without a reason.
There wasn’t really anything she could say to that.
Trust yourself, the Morrigan repeated. An
d your companions. The brothers, my Finn. The fae and the bomen and the banshees and pixies. Even Cuchi. And, oh, how I will use that name from this point.
Bat didn’t like the other goddess calling Finn hers, but let it go. “Did they all really come from my homeland?”
The raven shrugged. Probably. It’s not as if I ever stopped to have tea and a chat. I mostly tried to kill them. They only recently learned to play well with others. And before you ask, no, I do not know the truth of why they came to this land. But based on what dealings I did have with Balor before he was slain, I would trust the bomen over whatever tales are passed down in the Fomoiri clans.
Bat thought over these words. Balor. A Fomoiri. Who was taxed by Seth to take the vessel from Egypt, but then never returned to the war. Who, from what Ari had said, had used the vessel for his own gain.
Maybe Isfet had not won the war in Egypt, but it seemed chaos had won at least one battle.
“Morrigan?” she asked. “Why me?”
The raven cawed, leapt to the air with wings stretched, and flew to the top of a nearby shelf. There was no answer.
Bat took a breath, gathered her thoughts, and turned to the men of ba. Shar was a reassuring bulk beside her, and Ailis and Oisin looked ready to leap to their feet and follow her merest whim.
“Ari. Tell me all you know of Balor.” The shard had been pushed to a corner of the table at some point, still nestled in Finn’s sweater. She pulled it in front of her and ran a careful finger down the length.
Chapter Ten
DUB
As soon as they materialized at the mouth of the alley, Dub sketched a quick rune of hiding and opened his senses. He had no special power there, but he had been trained as a warrior by one of the best. Whatever he thought of his father as a father, or a man, he was undoubtedly a formidable fighter.
A warrior was always aware of his surroundings. He’d grown complacent, if Bat was correct in her assumptions of the invitation. He should have sensed the attached spell, and the wards should have averted it.
The Legends That Remain Page 9