The First Spell Weaver of Airendell: Book Two of the Airendell Chronicles (43 page)

Luca is flooded with images and then buries his face in his hands and sobs.  “Is that real?”

“Yes,” says Agnar simply.  “She would have successfully killed herself if you had not been there for her.  The emptiness would have eaten her alive.  She walked away from Lou without ever looking back because she simply didn‘t love him.  She forgets his name and never gives him another thought after she moves to North Texas.  Her only true joy as Deidra came from her children.  When she believes they are dead, and you don’t come to her, she loses all will to go on.  Do you honestly think that anyone else could have made her happier than you have?”

Luca covers his face and sits in silence for several seconds.  Suddenly he feels a familiar touch on his hands.  He slowly moves his hands and looks up to meet his beloved’s eyes.  “Darling, how could you ever doubt that you are the only one for me?”  She asks quietly.

Luca rises to his feet instantly and takes her into his arms.  “Forgive me Morna.  I fear I have been a jealous damned fool.”

“Nothing to forgive.  I assume this matter is closed, forever?”  Morna looks pointedly at her mate.  She smiles when he nods.  “Let’s go back to our room.” 

Luca finally notices that she is wrapped in their bed sheet and puts his arm around her protectively and starts to walk her back to their room.  But suddenly he turns to Agnar and says, “That gift of yours is truly a double-edged sword, isn’t it?”

“Yes it is.  I never really know exactly what I will see when I use it.  But in this case, I had a really good idea of what would have been without you in Morna’s life.  You two were truly created for each other.  There is no denying that.”  Says Agnar with conviction.

“Thank you Agnar.”  Luca says quietly, humbly and then turns back to his mate.  They walk back to their suite in silence. 

When they get back into the privacy of their rooms Morna turns to her mate and says, “Darling, please forgive me.  I will cut all ties with Rinda and send Lou away.  I will never, ever give you another reason to doubt my love for you.”

Luca tilts her face up so that he can look into her eyes.  He knows the pain he sees there is only because she thinks that she has hurt him.  “Morna, I never doubted that you love me.  I just doubted that I was the best one for you.  Lou is my equal, it made me jealous to know that he had loved you.  It was stupid of me Morna.  I let jealousy make me think and act like a fool.  There is certainly no need for you to cut ties with Rinda.  She is my friend too, you know.  And I think I could easily come to respect Lou, especially now that he doesn’t remember what you meant to him.”

“Luca, I would rather just cut them out of our lives than risk hurting you again.”  Morna says with firm resolve.  “Rinda is a big girl, she can take it.  And Lou will just think we don’t want his help.  Easy fix.”

“No way Morna!  We might actually need Lou’s help and you would miss Rinda.  Besides, I don’t want to hurt her.  As I said, she is my friend too.  I had a momentary lapse, that’s all.”  Luca assures his mate.

“I won’t risk them being around hurting you Luca.  I would murder them both before I allowed them to cause you pain.  I can’t undo what I have already done.  I hate myself for that, but I can make damned sure that I never hurt you again.”  Morna says in a very quiet, and matter of fact tone of voice. 

Luca backs away from Morna and continues to watch her for several seconds.  “Damn Morna!  You would really do it, wouldn’t you?  You would go against everything you believe to be right to protect me?”

Morna swallows hard and nods.  “I would do anything for you, Luca.” She whispers so quietly he can barely hear her.

Luca takes her into his arms and says, “I know that love, but I would be a real beast if I wanted you to do anything so drastic.  Please try to forget this morning happened.  Our friend Rinda stays in our lives and Lou will be a valuable ally, so he stays too.  Agreed?”

Morna steps back a couple of feet and says, “If that is what you really want Luca.  But only if you are sure.  I won’t hurt you again.”  Morna vows with iron resolve.

Luca recognizes the hardness in her resolve and it chills him.  He knows how tough she is on herself and others when she is this firmly resolved to a course of action.  “Morna, you have never hurt me.  Only my own petty jealousy has ever hurt me.  Morna Glynn Michaels, my one true mate, has always been true to me.  You have always been a loving wife, and a good mother to my children.  You have always been honorable in all things.  So don’t even consider for a second doing anything that would go against who you are.  Do you understand, I mean really understand what I am telling you?”

Morna rushes to his arms and looks into his eyes.  She holds his gaze for several minutes.  “So we never mention any of this again?”

“Agreed.  No good could come out of it.  I can’t even imagine why I became so obsessed with this.”  Luca admits.

He turns his head towards the door to their suite.  “Heimdall and Gullveig are here.  I will let them in while you get dressed.”  He kisses her gently and holds her close for several seconds, until Heimdall‘s knock sounds.

Luca goes to let them in.  He can tell by the looks on their faces that something bad has happened.  He waits until Morna joins them before asking what brings them by so early in the morning.

Morna walks into the sitting room.  She is dressed in a green linen sundress and sandals.  She looks as fresh as the morning.  Luca can’t help but smile when he sees her, but then he notices her expression is troubled.  “Morna?  What is it?”

Morna looks at their guests and then back at Luca.  Realization hits her like a ton of bricks.  “It was a curse.  Luca has been cursed, hasn’t he?”

Gullveig nods.  “Which bitch did it this time?”  Hisses Morna.

Gullveig looks away and says, “My daughter, of course.”

Morna’s face looks as hard as stone when she asks, “Can you remove it?”

Heimdall clears his throat.  “Agnar already has.  Luca’s rage at Lou was so intense he was broadcasting pure hatred this morning.  Agnar contacted me and we realized it must be a curse.  The first incantation he used on you removed the curse and then he showed Luca what your life would have been like without him.  You never married or had children.  You still would have been an admirable, honorable woman and a great leader to the Guild.  But your life would have lacked true joy and meaning, and your leadership while very sound, but would have been uninspired.”

“How was that bitch able to curse Luca?  He is so strong, his brain works differently than a humans.”  Demands Morna stonily.

“My daughter has been spending a great deal of time around other types of magic and with other supernatural beings, including vampires.  She created those Stone Cannibals.  It was a hybrid between a vampire and a Troll.  We still don’t understand how she was able to do it.  Obviously dark magic of some kind.  Maria, Guldfey, Rowena and I have been researching my daughter’s escapades and we believe that she somehow twisted your mother and Kyera into the monsters that have been after you for all these centuries,” says Gullveig.  “She’s trying to weaken you Morna through the people you love.

“I am your Achilles’ Heel.”

“And her greatest source of strength, at the same time.” Insists Heimdall.  “Two sides of the same coin.  You understand how that works.”

Luca nods as he watches his wife.  He sees her resolve forming.  “Well, she won’t be able to twist me into the same kind of sick creature she has become.  Because, I do have Luca, and my children and my friends.  All she has is strong magic and an evil genius about using it.  But that won’t be enough.  We will bring her down.  I will abandon my plan to hunt Kyera down to kill her.  I will probably have to take her life, but I will try to stop her without killing her, if I can.  Just because I am good at killing doesn’t mean it is the only solution to all of our problems.” Morna says quietly. 

Morna stands up and takes her mate‘s hand and says; “Let’s go eat, and take Aiden to the healer’s hall.  Once he is healed we have business in Airendell.  After the 22nd, I start preparing to ascend again.  I will need coaching from Breena, Rinda, Maria, Gullveig, and I think Agnar as well.  But mostly, from you Luca.  You will be my lore parent and ascension guide.  You have always been the purest of us all.  You will lead me back into the fold.”

“I am not so pure Morna.  I was full of hatred just a short time ago.”  Luca quietly reminds his mate.

“You are still the one to lead me and my son.”  Morna looks at Gullveig and Heimdall and asks, “Am I wrong?”

“No, Baby Girl, I think you have figured it out.  This is the solution.  Be the best you that you can be.  That’s what she hates because she fears it.  That’s why she continues to attack in ways that might undermine your resolve to always take the high road.  She goes after your children and your mate to force you to act out of rage.  Rise above it.” Heimdall says enthusiastically while Gullveig nods her agreement.

“Okay, next item.  Can we trust Annie and Lou?”  Morna asks, even though she is sure that they can she wants the opinion of those in the room with her.  All three agree that the twins are to be trusted. 

Something else occurs to Morna.  “We need to get those prophesies sorted out, quick.  The ones Breena had studied and the ones that Annie spoke of.  Who can we trust to do that?”

“Collingwood,” says Gullveig simply.  “I also think he has been keeping secrets about your abilities Morna.  You think of yourself as only a killer, but I know there is much more to you than that.  You need to spend some time with him, let him fulfill his role as your mentor.”

Morna agrees with that assessment.  “Okay, so the way I see it, I do not have time to go running off to the woods every night to hunt.  I have to prepare and get my focus where it belongs.  So Heimdall, I need someone to get a good supply of blood for me from several blood banks, in different areas.  And for pity sakes, don’t get the rare stuff this time.  I couldn’t stand it if some poor human died because I needed a snack.”  Morna says honestly.

Heimdall nods, “Sorry, I didn’t think of that until Luca mentioned it before.  Consider it handled.”

Morna nods and says, “Collingwood should be here any minute.  I realized a few minutes ago that he has been monitoring me ever since Luca’s outburst this morning.  He is finally satisfied that I am ready to proceed in the right way.” 

Morna opens the door to a smiling Collingwood.  “Yes my child, you are ready indeed.  I have sent for copies of the prophesies that Annie mentioned.  Breena and Maria can help me sort them out.  Although, I probably should consult Odin.  He paid dearly for wisdom of this kind and I know he will be willing to help Morna.  I don’t really think it will take us very long.  Now we should go eat and take Aiden to the healer’s hall.  Morna I am certain that he will walk out of there on his own power in a few hours.”

CHAPTER 11 - AIDEN

“From your lips to God’s ear,” prays Morna.  “Let’s get this party started then!”

Once everyone is settled in the dining hall Heimdall fills everyone in on what has transpired this morning, leaving out Luca’s jealousy of Lou.  If Lou heard of that he would figure out his past connection with his aunt.  And no one wants him to be burdened with that knowledge.  Morna sees Rinda talking to Annie and surmises that Annie knows that her brother no longer remembers his sexual relationship with Morna.  Annie hugs Rinda and then shyly pulls back.  The lovely warrior looks greatly relieved and looks at her brother and then over to Morna and mouths, “Thank you.”  Morna smiles and nods.  She only wishes that she too could forget.

After Heimdall finishes addressing the group Collingwood stands and explains his role as Morna’s mentor and that she is ready to assume her full power.  “We must get rid of the distractions for her.   Her son needs to be healed, and the Guild business needs to be resolved.  She must be installed as the Guild’s head.  It is her destiny and in the best interest of the Guild.”  And then he chuckles and adds, “And I would very much like to attend the ceremony in two days when Morna and Luca renew their vows.” 

A rousing cheer goes up at that reminder.  “But hear me friends, we only have a few weeks until the baby comes.  Morna must be ready by then.  We must all work together to prepare her and protect her.  She is most vulnerable through those she loves.  She loves all of you, so we must protect all of you.  The Vanirs will make sure that no one is currently cursed and I will place a protective spell on each of you that will prevent any more curses.  Maria and George will make protective charms for each of you.  I was a fool not to do this when I first arrived.”  Collingwood admits.

“I am sure I don’t need to say this, but her children must be protected at all costs.  They are the key to maintaining the balance in the magical world.  Aideen, Kyle, Aiden, Nora and her unborn son all have crucial roles to play.”  Collingwood looks to each person in the room.  “I know every one of you would protect each of these children without knowing that, but I felt you needed to know how crucial their safety really is.”  Everyone in the room is firmly resolved to protecting Morna and her children.

“The Vanirs have been examining all present while I spoke, and none are cursed.  George and Maria will bless an object that each of you keep with you as a charm of protection.  This will protect against magical attacks that my protective spell cannot.  Is everyone ready?  Once the Stone Breakers have blessed your objects, come to me and I will place the spell on you.  After an hour everyone but Morna and Luca have had an object blessed and received their protective spell.  Collingwood looks at Morna and says, “Do you two have anything you keep with you at all times?”