Adrianna's Storm (7 page)

Coni showed the boys to their rooms as she silently thanked the god and goddess for sending them so quickly. She had put them side by side at the end of the hall. Ari's room was right across from theirs. She motioned the boys to go into Lachlan's room and she shut the door.

"Thank you for coming. I am concerned the threat is already near. I can feel him close," Coni told them.

Lachlan nodded. "We feel it, too. Don't worry, nothing will happen to her. We vow." Both men put their hands over their hearts and bowed their head to her.

Coni nodded seriously and said, "Thank you, we are honored you are here. If you need anything, let me know. Blessed be."

Over the next few days, the women planned the party details and gathered their supplies. They caught up on each other lives, sharing about work and men. The sisters all dated, they never seemed to lack for attention from men, but not one of them had found that special someone.

Ari found that that special someone might be closer than one thought. The two men who had moved into the castle had also decided to move into her life. They seemed to be everywhere she was. She couldn't turn around without bumping into one or both at one time or another.

She started receiving small gifts at different times during the day. At breakfast, she would find a small sprig of Foxglove, which was also known as 'Witches Bells', sitting next to her place at the table. She would go to bed at night to find something chocolate on her bedside table.

She loved the gifts, but she loved spending time with them more. When they were around her, she felt safe, cared for. When she would talk, they would actually listen and then they would respond with answers or questions that showed intelligence. They didn't just ignore her comments and talk about themselves like most men did.

They took her for walks in the forest, picnics in the meadow near the castle, and had even taken her into town for lunch a couple of times at O'Leary's. She had found herself on more than one occasion waking up looking forward to seeing them. They had exchanged many kisses during the time spent together. Ari was so sexually frustrated she could have screamed. She had to drag out her vibrator on more than one occasion to try to stave off the burning need they were building in her.

Not only was she losing sleep because of her men, she was losing sleep because of the dreams as well. She was still being plagued with the dream that she was being chased by evil. She knew in her dreams the two men who never seemed to make it to her were Reilly and Lachlan, but she didn't know who or what the evil was. Many nights, she woke in a sweat, feeling the evil had almost reached her. It terrified her and she knew she would need to find a way to deal with it or she would never get any sleep.

Her sisters had all commented on the fact that she looked tired and tried to blame the men and the attention they showered on her. They thought she was having wild sex with them each night and losing sleep that way. Then they noticed the hunger in the men's gazes and knew that had not been happening. They had asked her repeatedly about why she looked so tired and why she wouldn't let the men in. She kept avoiding talking to them about it. They had cornered her more than one time. Each would try to give her advice on 'getting it on' with the two hot guys and maybe that would solve all her problems. She would roll her eyes as they always gave her a knowing look.

It seemed they had all made a plan and now had her at the smaller table in the kitchen, trying to talk to her regarding 'her men'. She put her head in her hands, wondered how fast she could bolt out the back door and if they would follow.

Reilly and Lachlan had been trying to woo their woman for several days now with no result. Well, they had gotten some kisses and she had opened up to them about her life in some ways. They could still tell she was holding back and keeping herself removed from them. They wanted her. In more ways than one. But they wanted to make love to her, show her how much they really did care for her, and she was being difficult.

They had discussed it that morning and decided they would have to resort to the sisters. If they could charm them then maybe Ari would come around. They headed down to the kitchen area to strike up a conversation with them and get to know them. When they entered the hallway, they could hear the women yelling at each other.

"What are you talking about? You're crazy!" Ari yelled.

Erin chimed in with, "Yes you can!"

Kira was yelling over Erin, "You are an idiot not to!"

They heard Calli say, "You need to, you are wound too tight!"

The girls were all sitting around the kitchen table, trying to convince Ari that a threesome with those "hot guys" could work. She had argued that she couldn't do that, it was impossible. She had a life in New York. Then everyone had started yelling at her. She heard someone clear their throat and looked over to find the men in question standing with their grandmother in the entry to the kitchen.

She groaned and put her head back in her hands. She couldn't imagine her day getting any worse at this point and it had started out so well. She glanced at the men to find them watching her with amusement on their faces. Erin jumped up and invited them over to the table. Kira asked them if they wanted anything to drink and Calli helped prepare them. Both men sat down across from Ari while the sisters bustled around them, making sure they didn't want something to eat or anything else. Ari rolled her eyes as she watched her sisters look like fools, all because two good-looking men were at the table. Okay, she had to admit, they were hot, and she would probably have acted the same if she hadn't been so embarrassed over what they heard.

She sighed and excused herself from the table. Everyone looked at her as she stood and headed out the French doors. She walked through her grandmother's garden admiring the colors in late afternoon sun. She walked around the greenhouse toward the caretaker's cottage. There was a hiking trail, which led around the cabin into the woods beyond. She continued to walk, thinking about these new men and what it might mean to her life. Her sisters were right about one thing, they were interested and she should take advantage of that, if for nothing else than it had been a while since she had been sexually satisfied.

She was jerked out of her musing by a sound in the forest. The wind whipped around her furiously for a few seconds, as if it was trying to tell her something. She looked around quickly, thinking that maybe one of her sisters had followed her. She saw no one but felt a chill run down her spine. She had an overwhelming sense to get out of the woods immediately. She turned and began to head back the way she had come. She hurried back toward the caretaker's cottage, feeling like something was watching her—or stalking her.

As they watched Ari head back into the back garden, Lachlan and Reilly stepped into the woods looking lethal. They glanced at each other and then stood tall knowing they were there. It didn't take but a moment for Ari's hunters to arrive. Out of nowhere a man dressed in all black appeared. He had on a tight, black t-shirt, cargo pants, and military boots. Another man, dressed the same way, stepped out to their right. Suddenly, there were four men surrounding them and they kept their stance relaxed.

"What do you want?" Lachlan asked him, trying to keep an eye on all four.

"We have been sent to retrieve her. Do not interfere," he said.

Reilly barked out a laugh. "Well, I'm thinking that's going to be a problem, gentlemen. She is ours to protect and you aren't going to get anywhere near her."

All hell broke loose as the four men attacked Reilly and Lachlan. The brothers had turned so their backs faced each other and they faced the attackers.

Lachlan and Reilly exclaimed, "
Claíomh
!"

They reached over their heads onto their backs and pulled out their magical swords, which would appear when called upon. They were about the length of their arms and heavy with power.

Their attackers also pulled out swords and the fight was on. Clashing and clanging could be heard throughout the forest as they battled the enemy trying to get to their woman. When the dust cleared, Reilly and Lachlan were panting and tying up the four downed men. They had not killed them, it was not their way. That was for the Council to decide. They also needed them alive to answer questions.

Lachlan knelt beside the lead man, huffing a little from the exertion of the fight. "We told you that you will not get her. Who sent you?"

The man remained silent as Lachlan finished tying him up. Coni had told them earlier the caretaker was out of town for a couple of weeks so they stashed the men in the little cottage for the time being.

Reilly made a call to the Council and asked for an extraction team. This team would come pick up the four men for interrogation at their main headquarters. When he hung up, he looked at Lachlan and nodded. They both realized how close Ari had come to being taken. They had to identify who was after the girls before anything else happened.

Both men also knew that Coni wanted to have time to talk to the girls to prepare them. That time had just been cut short. In order to protect them properly, they needed to be told what was happening so they could be vigilant. They also knew they had to call in other teams, but it would take some time for them to arrive. For now they were on their own and they would handle things as they came. First thing was to talk to Coni and convince her time had run out.

Reilly went into the kitchen and found Coni by herself. He quickly checked the hall to make sure the girls were not around.

"Reilly, what is going on?" Coni asked.

Reilly looked grim. "A team was sent to take Ari," he told her quietly. "Lachlan and I stopped them, but more will come."

Coni put her hand on her chest. "Is she okay? Did they harm her?"

Reilly put a hand on her shoulder. "No, she is fine. She was safely inside before we battled them. We have the men secured in the forest. Do you have any forgetful potion?"

Coni nodded. "In my greenhouse. How many men?"

"Four," he answered.

"I have enough," she told him. "Does she know anything?"

Reilly shook his head. "No, but you will have to say something soon."

"I understand. I just wanted to get to the party and then tell them together."

"Coni," Reilly took her hand. "I think you are going to have to tell them sooner rather than later. They need to know. The threat is real and here now."

Coni squeezed his hand. "I know. I will do it in the morning."

"Good. Lachlan and I will help. Together we can assist them through the transition. Now, I am going to find Ari and convince her to come for a swim," he said as he smiled at her. "Don't worry, we will keep her safe."

Coni smiled at him. "Thank you, Reilly. Blessed be."

Reilly headed to the back door and turned to Coni. "Good night, Blessed be."