Stone of Destiny (The Danaan Trilogy) (7 page)

“Father,” Niamh said from the entryway where she stood with Liam holding her arm. “Let go of your pride. Aodhan is trying to help.”“

Aodhan sighed, releasing Deaghlan and backing away. But his eyes remained focused on the king.

“What are a dozen humans in the grand scheme of things?” Deaghlan asked with a sneer. “I just don’t see what the big issue is, Aodhan.”

Aodhan was quiet for a moment, seeming to weigh his answer carefully. “When your people attract media attention, doesn’t that bother you? You’re worried about Allison’s friend knowing too much, but what if they start digging deeper in Thunder Bay?”

Deaghlan scoffed and turned his attention to me. “Nobody
there
would object to the guards wiping anyone’s memories. If Aoife’s guards cause trouble, Niamh has her people do damage control.”

Heat rushed up my spine. Point taken, but that didn’t mean I was going to sit back while he turned Ethan’s mind into oatmeal. It was one thing to erase his memories, but Deaghlan had gone way beyond that.

“Now what’s this about Aoife’s land? I haven’t heard anything about this.”

Aodhan looked at Niamh, jaw clenching. I could see some silent communication going on there, which I would think more about later.

“Niamh?” Deaghlan said, giving her a look of impatience.

Niamh took a deep breath. “Breanh was teaching Aoife how to use Old Magic, as you know. Aoife hasn’t been careful about keeping her guards from coming and going as they please and the effects of the iron are spreading. Plant life and animal life are dying. It’s like Aodhan said, only brambles are thriving.”

“What I’d like to know is why Saoirse never mentioned this to me,” Deaghlan said and I wanted to punch him. It wasn’t a secret that despite his feelings of grandeur when it came to humans, he enjoyed plenty of human pastimes. When he wasn’t in Tír na n’Óg, he was enjoying the pleasures of this world, especially the women.

Niamh’s expression shifted from plaintive to almost indignant. “Father,
everyone
has tried to tell you about this. You just don’t want to hear it.”

Deaghlan cast his eyes to the floor, looking thoughtful. When he looked up his expression returned to his usual blithe indifference.

“Very well, I’ll play the bad guy,” he said, winking at me. “It suits me.”

He was playing it off, but I knew I’d seen the effect this conversation was having on him. He might act like everything was a big joke, but underneath, I was willing to bet he would finally do something about the trouble Aoife had started.

Ethan touched my arm. “If everything’s cool here,” he said in a hushed voice. “I really need to get back to work.”

Ethan’s job was waiting for him, my school work needed to get done. The real world kept spinning no matter what supernatural crises popped up, didn’t it?

“Um,” I said, looking around the room. “Is Ethan good to go?”

Niamh nodded, but her eyes were locked on Aodhan. Deaghlan made a gesture toward the side door, his eyes meeting mine. “By all means, but if the boy causes any problems, he’ll be dealt with. No second chances.”

“I’ll walk you out,” I said.

Ethan’s truck was parked on the road at the end of Liam’s driveway. We walked down without saying a word.

When the silence became too much, I glanced up at him. He was already looking at me but I couldn’t get a good grip on his expression. He squared his shoulders and if anything, I’d say he looked determined.

“I’m sorry,” I said, voice wavering. “I tried to keep you out of this, I really did.”

Ethan shrugged. “Nothing to be sorry about. I just need some time to process it all. But, Al?”

“Yeah?”

He opened the driver door of his pickup truck. “Whatever you’re planning to do to help your parents, I want to be there.”

I gaped at him. “That’s not a —” He cut me off by climbing in and shutting the door.

“Good idea or not, I need you to trust me. I want to be there,” he said through the open window.

Before I could respond, he started the truck and gave me a salute before driving off.

I heard the screen door open and slam shut downstairs the next morning. Sticking my head out of my bedroom door, I listened for who it was.

I didn’t go back to Liam’s house after the showdown figuring I’d hear more from them soon enough. Instead I opted for a shower and some overdue laundry. I was actually surprised I hadn’t been summoned back yet.

I heard Nicole’s laughter coming from downstairs. I grabbed my cell off my bureau before I headed down.

“Hey Nic,” I said when I walked into the kitchen. Nicole sat at the kitchen table with my grandmother pointing out wedding cakes in a bridal magazine. I looked across to where my mother sat in the living room watching a cooking show.

“Hey, whatcha doing?” Nicole asked without tearing her attention from the magazine.

“Not much, just finished a week’s worth of laundry,” I said as I sat beside her.

She turned and wrinkled her nose at me. “You’re off today, right?”

“Yup, two days of good old R and R.”

“Hmm, well. Want to grab a late lunch? I found some of the cutest ideas I want to show you.”

I willed my face blank. I had no reason not to. I had no plans other than saving the world from blood-draining fairies. But even that seemed on hold for now.

“Yeah, lunch sounds good.”

Nicole’s face lit up. “Great. Let’s go to The Bean Counter. I’m dying for a mocha.”

We took my SUV and parked it on the street in front of Stoneville’s coffee house. The place was pretty crowded, but the food was always awesome and it smelled like coffee heaven. As we entered, I gave the place a quick scan from the corner of my eye. As far as I could tell everything seemed pretty normal, no signs of glamour.

We seated ourselves and opened our menus. The sound of a couple arguing a few tables over caught my attention. A girl with spiky black hair sat with her back to us. Across from her, a tall guy with caramel-colored hair around our age sat fiddling with a straw wrapper, but his demeanor was agitated.

I went back to my menu and decided to order a turkey club and a mocha Frappuccino. Once the waitress took our orders, Nicole pulled a stack of magazines out of her messenger bag.

I bit back any comments, because this was Nicole’s big dream and I wasn’t about to ruin it for her. She had little post-it notes marking up dozens of pages and we pored over them until our food arrived.

While we ate, I absently noted the arguing couple getting up to leave. I glanced over and when I got a look at the girl’s face, I gasped.

She looked just like Aoife.

But it wasn’t her. Her chin length black hair framed her face in perfectly arranged spikes. Aoife’s hair was long waves down her back. This girl had piercings covering both ears and in her eyebrow and lip. I would have remembered if Aoife had multiple piercings.

When the guy she was with caught her looking at me, he grabbed her elbow and pushed her toward the door. She went without arguing, but not before taking one more curious glance at me. I watched them out of the corner of my eye as they made their way out the front door.

I tried to focus on what Nicole was saying about linen chair covers, but I couldn’t get the girl’s face out of my mind. It had been almost an exact match. Maybe her cheeks were a little fuller, but still, so close.

My mind was going over the idea that maybe it was Aoife and she was glamoured to look human. But that didn’t make sense. I’d looked for glamour and there was none.

I made a few affirmative noises to Nicole, not really surprised she didn’t notice my distraction. She was in her element with all the planning involved in a wedding.

When our food arrived, the couple was still standing outside the plate glass window at the front The Bean Counter. The girl gestured widely with her hands while the guy stood with his arms crossed. He glanced over and saw me watching. I averted my eyes for a second, but when I looked back, they were gone. They disappeared into thin air.

I unwrapped my straw and plunged it into my Frappuccino. My mind was reeling with the possibilities. I couldn’t wait to get out of there, but I wasn’t sure who I should talk to. Liam? If my suspicions were true and this girl was Samantha, he might not be the best one. I still hadn’t told him he might have another daughter, one whose mother happened to be Aoife. Niamh seemed a better bet. Although I didn’t know if she’d brush this aside because of everything else going on.

“Allison.”

I started at the sound of my name. “Hmm?” I said between sips.

“I said I need to get a dress for the engagement party next weekend. Will you come?”

“Yeah, I will. But can we do it tomorrow? I have a ton of homework this weekend.”

Nicole sighed, but nodded. “How is school? You don’t say much about it.”

“It’s good, but there’s a lot of work.”I took a bite of my sandwich so I didn’t have to elaborate. The topic of homework made Nicole’s eyes glaze over. She’d gone to beauty school right after high school and had been working full-time for years.

“Okay, so I’m glad you like the invitations. Mom wasn’t sure if they were elegant enough, but I want everything to be stylish and fun, not some stuffy, traditional wedding.”

“No, they were great,” I said, plastering on my brightest smile.

The waitress came with the bill and Nicole snatched it up from me. “You’ve endured all this wedding talk, let it be my treat.”

Guilt ate at me. I’d only heard a quarter of what she said, but I couldn’t stand to take away her happiness. I nodded and, once again, pulled out my cousin-of-the-year smile.

I tried paying attention while Nicole was trying on dress after dress at the mall the next day, but my mind was on the black-haired girl at The Bean Counter. Thankfully Nic talked herself out of each one with only a few nods needed from me.

She inspected herself in the mirror, spinning for full effect. While she looked at her back, frown lines popped up between her eyebrows. “You know, I think you should try this on. It’s too long for me, but I bet the color would really bring out your eyes.”

“Me?” I said, startled. “All right, I’ll try it.” I had to get something for the engagement party anyway, I might as well go with one pre-approved by the bride-to-be.

I went into the dressing room next to hers, the ice blue dress in hand. The neckline was a little more daring than I was used to, but Nic was right, the color did bring out my eyes.

I stepped out to show her and as I scanned the dressing area I caught the faintest silver shimmer in the doorway. I blinked and the shape of a girl melted into view.

My eyes snapped open, shocked to see the girl from yesterday standing less than ten feet away. My surprise must have registered on my face because when I looked at her, her eyes widened in panic and she bolted from the dressing area.

“Wait,” I called out, but she was gone before I could make it to the doorway. I cursed under my breath at my bare feet and unpaid dress. I couldn’t chase after her like this.

“What in the world are you doing?” Nic said from behind me. I spun around, heat creeping up my neck.

“Oh, I just thought I saw a girl from school,” I said, looking down at my bare toes.