A Place Beyond (13 page)

“Most portals are made to repel iron. Aoife appears to have grown strong enough to create her own portals. The pendant she had you wearing was made of fháillan, but it was infused with magic conjured using human blood,” Niamh said.

“Oh, okay,” I said. “Liam told me fháillan is an iron repellant.”

“Yes, but fháillan is also a magical conduit,” Niamh said. “It can be used to attract unlimited amounts of magic from the blood of both humans and Danaan. The magic from human blood carries traces of iron.”

I closed my eyes for a second, focusing my thoughts. “I understand Aoife is your family and you don’t want to see her harmed. What we need is to come up with a way to stop her we can agree on. Niamh had her imprisoned in the fey globe when we met. That seems like a justified punishment.”

“She managed to escape the fey globe, though,” Niamh said, glancing Aodhan.

I wasn’t sure how to continue without accusing Saoirse, and I knew that wouldn’t be my best move. “Tighter security measures would have to be taken. I mean, there has to be a way to keep her trapped, right?”

Saoirse watched me, her expression tranquil. “Of course, Allison. Aoife has performed detestable acts against you and your family. I appreciate your compassion.”

My mouth opened, but I thought better and I closed it. Telling her about my desire to take Aoife’s life with my own hands wouldn’t be a good idea.

I took a deep breath and tried again. “My compassion is not for Aoife.”

Her returning smile melted my anger. There was no question why she was the most powerful member of her race. Just one look from Saoirse and you would hand her your soul.

“She’s hiding in the fháillan mine. We’ll need to sneak inside to get everyone out. What do we have to do to get her in the fey globe?” I spoke to everyone in the room, but it was something I was trying to work out in my own mind.

That’s going to be complicated, if she can see what you’re doing.

Doubt crossed Aodhan’s features. His mouth pressed into a thin line as he waited for Saoirse to speak.

“We need to contemplate our options,” she said, giving Aodhan a beguiling smile. He blinked and stood. Rubbing his hand over his buzzed hair, he walked to the corner of the room and back, frowning.

We’ll have to come up with two separate plans. One real plan, and one plan for Aoife to overhear. It won’t be easy, but it’s doable.

The hand around mine tightened. I forced myself to smile at Ethan, unsure how we’d be able to pull this off. Aoife would know we were coming for her, but could we take her by surprise?

“I can rally Deaghlan and my guards in two days time,” Saoirse said, tapping her finger on her lower lip.

It will have to be tomorrow, really
Niamh thought.

We all nodded, making me think Niamh had communicated with the entire group.

After some more discussion on the logistics of our fake plan, a serving girl came to show us to our room to freshen up before dinner.

Remember to keep silent about our real plan, Allison. The only way we can finish this is if we have the element of surprise.

I’ll remember.

The girl brought us to the room I’d stayed in whenever I’d been a guest here. As she shut the door behind her, I felt hyper-aware that Ethan and I were alone in the same room he’d spent the night with me the first time. Nothing remarkable had happened, but we were very rarely alone.

As if he could read my mind, he turned and a slow smile lifted one side of his mouth.

“What?” I said.

He shrugged. “I was just thinking that in a few days there’s a good chance all this will be over.”

He advanced toward me, placing his hands on my hips.

“It’s hard to imagine my life going back to normal,” I said as my heart picked up speed.

“I don’t know if
that
will ever happen,” he said, his eyes glinting as he pulled me to him.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, though it was difficult to speak when his lips touched the place where my neck met my shoulder.

“You,” he said each word between slow kisses until his lips were just below my ear, “are far from ordinary.”

“Hmm,” I said, not knowing if I could form a more intelligible reply.

It seemed he was done talking, because we were moving backward until my legs hit the bed. He pressed his hands on my shoulders until I sat and he hovered over me.

Seconds later, I was on my back and his arms were on either side of my head. He looked into my eyes as he bent down and pressed his lips against mine, kissing me softly.

I ran my hands from his shoulders to his waist, loving the feel of him so close. When I touched him, he tensed and the kiss deepened. His lips moved against mine in a way that burned all the way to my toes.

Ethan shifted so he was on his side and pulled me against him. His eyes were intent as he picked up my hand and kissed the tender skin of my wrist.

“I put in for a condo down by Arrowhead Lake before I met up with you today,” he said before trailing his lips from my wrist to the sensitive area near my elbow.

I swallowed. “You did?”

“Yes,” he said, making his way back down to my wrist. “You and I don’t get nearly enough time together with us both living with our families.”

I laughed while he kissed each one of my fingers. “Yeah, you’re right.”

“Once I get you home,” he whispered. “I plan on memorizing every inch of you.”

With my free hand, I grasped his cheek. His words echoed in my head, making it difficult to breathe. Closing my eyes, I brushed my lips against his.

Pulling back, I looked at him. I studied the thick eyelashes over his chocolate-colored eyes. I ran my fingers over the light stubble of his cheek. I still couldn’t believe Ethan wanted me, really wanted me.

“Sometimes I can’t believe this is real,” I said shyly.

His lips curved into a smile. “
This
as in Tír na n’Óg or as in you and me?”

I laughed. “You and me.”

“This is very real. And I am very much yours.”

Mine.

A little while later we headed down to the dining hall. We’d gotten cleaned up and were smiling a little too much for the seriousness of the situation.

Saoirse sat at the head of the table and when we walked in holding hands she smiled, her eyes dazzling.

“Good evening,” she said, inclining her head.

“Good evening,” Ethan and I said at the same time, causing us to smile even more.

Niamh’s mouth quirked up in a knowing smile and I felt a blush creep up my neck. I wondered how much of my time alone with Ethan she was able to see in my thoughts.

Dinner was served, a hearty vegetable stew. As we ate, Niamh filled us in on the plan for the following day.

Knowing Aoife was able to watch every move, Niamh and Saoirse were being very careful about sending a messenger to Deaghlan. The only way to keep the plan secret was by using another telepath. He left for Aoife’s seaside home only moments before Ethan and I came down.

Saoirse and Aodhan discussed the logistics of the fake plan as we listened to Niamh with our minds, pretending to be engrossed with our food.

Tomorrow morning before dawn, we would leave for the fháillan mine. Saoirse and Deaghlan would undo the protective wards that kept the mine hidden. Once those were down, Ethan and I would find the back entrance Ciarán and Samantha had used to sneak inside. We would find Samantha, Liam and Ciarán. Aodhan had given Ethan a folding saw-like tool to cut through the shackles. Meanwhile, Niamh and Aodhan would find Aoife and capture her.

It sounded good, in theory. The truth was, nobody knew what Aoife was capable of. Not even Saoirse. She had promised me she would make those I loved suffer if I didn’t do as she said. But sitting around thinking of that wouldn’t get me anywhere. The only way I’d be brave enough to go through with any of this, was to just keep focused on the moment.

I’m in the dining room at Liam’s house. My grandmother is in his kitchen, mixing juice and ginger ale in a punch bowl and when she hears me, she looks up and smiles.

Someone says my name from behind and I turn to see Ethan holding up two bags of hot dog buns. I laugh and follow him into the living room to the French doors leading to Liam’s patio.

He opens the door and I look past his shoulder, but instead of Liam’s back yard, there’s a gray stone wall. Standing in front of the stone is Aoife. Her arms are crossed and she looks at me as though I’ve just said something that makes her very happy.

She speaks, but her mouth doesn’t actually move.

You’re just in time.

“Allison.”

I screwed my eyes shut, burying my face into the feather pillow.

“Come on, Al. It’s time to go,” Ethan said, rubbing my hip from behind me.

I yawned and stretched. I wanted to pull the blanket up over my face. Aoife’s strange expression of pleasure was still ingrained behind my eyelids.

The idea of leaving hours before sunset was that Aoife would still be sleeping and unaware we were coming. We dressed in charcoal leggings and tunics to keep inconspicuous in the dark morning. I brushed my hair and pulled it into a braid before we went down to the dining room.

Aodhan and Niamh were the only ones at the table when we got there. There were fruit and crumbly scones set out for us by the serving women. We didn’t have time to waste, so we ate in relative silence.

When we were finishing, Saoirse and Deaghlan joined us. It was strange seeing the queen in the same dark leggings I wore. The simple clothing did nothing to take away from her beauty, though. Her hair was pinned back, drawing attention to her lovely heart-shaped face.

I couldn’t get a very good read on Deaghlan. His expression was very solemn, nothing like the smirk I’d grown accustomed to seeing on him.

When they approached, we all stood.

“Good morning,” Saoirse said, her gaze fixed on Niamh.

I glanced at Deaghlan. He was taller than most of the men I’d ever met, other than Aodhan. His black hair had been cut since the last time I’d seen him, making him appear less rakish.

He didn’t greet us, just stared into space. I wasn’t sure how to react to this version of Deaghlan. He wasn’t making lewd jokes or demeaning us in anyway. It was almost disturbing.

It’s time to go,
Niamh told me.

I turned to Ethan. “Ready?”

“Let’s go,” he said, standing.

My parents and their guards will go ahead. Aodhan and I will stay with you to show you the way. Once we get there, we’ll split up.

The walk to the mountain was quiet. Aodhan marched ahead like a soldier going into battle, his face rigid with determination. It reminded me of the first night we’d met in Thunder Bay. If not for Aodhan, it was possible Liam would have died that night.

Niamh stayed by my side, as did Ethan. She held her head high as we walked, reminding me of a goddess from my Greek history book. I felt very insignificant beside her. She radiated confidence and I knew she would fight until the end to capture Aoife. She might not be willing to kill her, but now that she knew about Aoife’s scheme to tear Aodhan from her, she had little sympathy for her sister.