Dragon Knight's Medallion (24 page)

He kept his blade level with Stephen, giving Aileen a gentle kiss along her temple, while holding her firm with one arm. “I will answer your questions in a moment, but for now go stand next to Liam. I have unfinished business with this man.”

Confusion marred her features. “Dad, this is Stephen MacKay.”

“I know who he is. However, it doesn’t explain why he is with my daughter and the both of you half naked.”

“Now just one minute...” Her voice rose.

His eyes didn’t waver from Stephen. “Liam, please take my daughter away to put on some clothes.”

“I will
not
be treated like this,” she gritted out, squirming in her father’s strong embrace.

Liam quietly moved to take Aileen from her dad.

“How dare you!” She slapped at Liam.

Stephen’s eyes flashed with anger, his fists clenching. “Take your hands off of her.” He didn’t dare move, the blunt of the sword now level with his chest.

“I will let you fight for my daughter,
Knight
. Fetch your sword,” demanded her father.

Stephen shook his head, slowly. “It would be foolish to fight ye, Fenian Warrior.”

“Scared I’ll win?”

A feral look passed over Stephen’s features, and he stomped over, retrieving his sword.

The challenge had been tossed out.

“You’re insane!” yelled Aileen, trying to twist free from Liam’s strong grasp.

The first clang of steel upon steel grated along her nerves, and her stomach clenched. This could not be happening, her mind screamed. She would
never
forgive her father for this.

Her dad swung his blade, drawing first blood along Stephen’s arm.

“Nooooo!” she screamed. “If you kill him, I will never speak to you again!”

Neither man heard her words, each caught up in the moment of their fighting. Her dad took a blow to the jaw, but not before he nicked Stephen’s shoulder.

“Hold still, Aileen,” demanded Liam. “Your father won’t kill him. He just wants to test his mettle to see if he is worthy of you.”

“He’s a barbarian,” she hissed.

“No, he’s an
ancient
Fenian Warrior, trying to defend his daughter’s honor.”

“Really?” Her tone dripped with sarcasm.

When her father backed toward the loch, Stephen took swift advantage. Calling forth the water, it rushed forth. Unaware and off balance, her dad slipped. Sliding back, he landed with a thud in mud and water.

Chest heaving, Stephen pointed his sword at the warrior’s chest. “Have I proven myself?”

“No fair, you cheated with your powers,” responded her dad with a smirk.

At that remark, Stephen roared with laughter and extended his hand to help the man stand.

Aileen tasted copper in her mouth from where she had bit her lip earlier. Now
both
idiots were laughing and clapping each other on the back.

Liam started chuckling, his grip loosening. Aileen took advantage, breaking free. She turned and with all of her might, slugged him square in the face.

“Shit!” he bellowed.

Aileen shook out her hand, not giving him the satisfaction that her actions pained her, too. Instead, she stormed off to where her items lay. Grabbing her gown and other articles, she went for the trees.

“Aileen,” said Stephen.

“Sweetheart,” said her father.

“Go to hell...both of you!” Her fury rising with each step she took.

****

The misty gray light of the morning matched all of their moods.

Her dad snapped at Liam.

Stephen sent a curse flying at Liam, with a promise they had unfinished business, as well.

Liam flipped off her father and Stephen, storming off through the trees.

And Aileen remained silent, nestled against Buttertwill. Idiot men, she thought to herself, watching the bickering continue between all three.

She was still furious. To think her father traveled back over eight hundred years to start behaving like some medieval, domineering father, just set her teeth on edge.

“Humph!” Almost choking on the dried oatcake, she took a long swallow from the water skin.

Come to think of it, why was he here? Smacking her thigh with her good hand, she made up her mind to take control of the situation. Questions that had troubled her for weeks needed answers. Answers only one man could give her.

Dusting off the last remaining crumbs from her gown, she held her head high, taking off toward the grumbling group of men. If she wasn’t so angry with Stephen, she would have asked him to make a block of ice for her hand. At least she hadn’t broken it on Liam’s face of granite.

Aileen stopped abruptly in front of her father. “You are long overdue in explaining who and what you are.” She folded her arms across her chest, giving no room for him to back out.

Stephen stepped hesitantly toward her, but she held up her hand to stay his movement. “We’ll talk later.”

He only nodded and then made his way to the horses.

Her dad motioned for her to sit beside him on a log. “Ask your questions, Aileen.”

There were so many in her mind, all fighting to be first. In the end, there was only one. “
Why
?”

His shoulders slumped, and Aileen saw the weariness in her father’s face. He would never recover from the loss of her mother, and he couldn’t always be there to protect her.

“I am no longer a little girl, but a grown woman.” She kept her voice gentle.

He closed his eyes and let out a groan. When he opened them, he said, “Your mother and I made a difficult decision many years ago based on her vision. We truly felt in our hearts that keeping the truth from you would keep you from harm.” He let out another deep sigh. “I now understand it was wrong, for the fates are always telling us that our destiny is one of our choosing.”

He took both of her hands in his, giving a gentle squeeze. “We were so very wrong in keeping you from your path. We were just trying to protect you.”

Aileen squeezed his hands back. “You and mom were always telling me to go and
find
my destiny, and yet, you held it back from me.”

He looked in her eyes, eyes that mirrored his own. “One day when you have children, Aileen, you will understand the fierce loyalty called
protection
.”

“We all live, and we all will die, Dad.”

“Aye, now you’re quoting me?” he replied with a grin.

“You held back so much. Did you know I met the Great Dragon?”

His eyes went wide. “By the Gods, truly?”

Aileen had to choke back the mirth that was at the back of her throat. Ever since her father had appeared, he had slipped back into some medieval warrior, including the use of language.

“Yes. She is the most wondrous being ever. I felt as if I never wanted to leave her presence.”

“Och, aye. She is a beauty.”

“She told me about how you came to her for advice. Also, that you defied the Tuatha De Danann to be with Mom.” Aileen paused, waiting for his reaction.

He kissed her hands, and stood, clasping his hands behind him. His eyes scanned the loch, bringing forth memories suppressed over the past few years. “I am a Fenian Warrior to the faery. I was part of an elite group of guardians who protected the realm of fae and human. There are many different echelons, but I was part of the high command.”

At that moment, Aileen didn’t see her father standing before her, but a proud
warrior
.

He continued, “As an elite guard, some can time travel, which we call the
veil of time
. I am one of the oldest warriors. However, on the day I met your mother, something shifted.” His voice took on a far off tone. “I was returning from a task, when I literally ran into her on the streets of Glasgow.” He glanced briefly at Aileen. “She was studying at the university, and on her way to the pub to meet some friends. I turned to slip down the alley and back through the veil, when she tripped landing into my arms. She had the most glorious scent of any human I had ever encountered.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “I take it Fenian Warriors are not allowed to fall in love with humans?”

“Nae,” he answered quietly. “I stayed that day, and every day thereafter. She never made it to see her friends that evening. Instead, she spent it with me. We talked into the wee hours of the morning, and I walked her home. I gave her my soul that night, and in turn brought down the wrath of the faery.”

“What happened?” asked a stunned Aileen.

“Fenian Warriors have never taken a...
human
as a soul mate. It is not permitted.”

“It sounds like an archaic rule.”

He arched a brow. “Do you have any idea how old I am, Aileen?”

“Well, I have heard the villagers and Stephen say you were ancient. One of the oldest.”

Her dad’s laughter rang out across the loch, frightening a pair of geese on the other side. “Dearest, I am older than your Mother Earth.”

Chapter Thirty-One

“Do not follow the path of a rainbow, for it will not lead you to riches, but to the realm of faery.”

Aileen’s eyes felt as wide as saucers. How could this man in front of her—
her
father
be older than this planet? His blood flowed within her veins, and she hugged herself with the realization she may never fully understand her own heritage.

“Whe...where are you from?” she spit out.

He waved his hand in the air. “A place among your stars. My home is called Taralyn, your home, too. There is so much I need to tell you, but that discussion is for another day.”

“Tara? The hill of Tara in Ireland? Is that...” She never finished her sentence.

“Yes, where the Tuatha De Danann first arrived,” he paused. “In truth, I don’t want to overwhelm you.”

“You’re not. Besides, I need to hear this.”

Aileen stood on shaky legs, needing to feel the strength of him. Looping her arm around his, she asked, “Did Mom know?”

“Yes. You see she is…
was
exceptionally gifted. She recognized the moment we touched.” He hesitated briefly, letting the memories of long ago wash over him. “Of course there was my
aura
, too.”

Sorcha cawed above them, and they watched in silence as she drifted over the water.

“You gave it all up...your immortality, powers,
everything
for her,” she said, tightening her grip.

His smile was broad when he nodded in agreement. “I would do it again, even knowing that we had only these short years together. Besides, look at the life we created.” He tilted her chin up to meet his gaze.

Aileen’s heart lurched. It was then she truly saw him. Her father
and
a Fenian Warrior. She pulled her pendant out. “This is what the Great Dragon did to mine and Stephen’s.”

He reached out, brushing a thumb across its smooth surface. “Great Goddess! She melded the stones,” he uttered incredulously.

“She told me we had a destiny to fulfill.” Swallowing, Aileen laid her hand across his. “I love him, Dad,” she said softly.

“Does he love you, too?” he asked, his tone stern.

“Yes.” Realization dawned bright and illuminating and Aileen started to laugh.

“I fail to see the humor in this.”

“I’m just happy you both held me back, now.”

“You are? Why the sudden change of heart?”

“Oh Dad,” she beamed. “If you had told me everything, I may never have met Stephen, or been able to find his medallion.” She gave a slight push against his arm. “This
is
my destiny—all of it.” Standing on tiptoe, she brushed a kiss on his cheek. “I love you.”

The next moment Aileen was crushed against his chest. “What a fool I’ve been to lock you out of my life for the past year. I have wasted precious time. But as you’ve just stated, your course was already set in motion, regardless of what I have done.”

She hugged him tight. “I think I need to go and speak to Stephen.”

Muttering a soft curse, he released her.

Narrowing her eyes, she added, “But don’t think we are done talking. I want to know all about my people. We’ve only started.”

He rolled his eyes. “I suppose there will be no rest tonight.”

“Nope.” Turning to leave, Aileen paused. “Dad, why are you and Liam here?”

He hesitated for a moment. “We’re here to help you with your journey. Also, I needed to see you were safe.”

Her throat thick with emotion, she only nodded.

Hastily making her way over to Stephen, Aileen felt a wave of uneasiness pass over her. Was there more to what her father was telling? Could it have anything to do with the bishop and his men? Or for that matter, did they know who the druid Lachlan was?

The whisper of the loch called to her, and she saw Stephen crouched along the bank, Grian nudging him. Her smile was immediate. How could she stay angry with him? Whispers of anxiety floated off of him, and for a brief moment, she thought to read his emotions.

Taking the last few steps at a run, she nearly tripped. Stephen turned at the last moment, catching her in his arms.

“Trying to take flight,
fae
?” His eyes were alight with humor.

“Oh hush, and just hold me,” she retorted.

Moments passed before either spoke. Thunder rolled in the distance, while a flock of geese flew over the loch. It was Grian who snorted, breaking the peaceful silence, pressing his nose against Aileen’s back.

She pushed him away. “Go bother someone else. He’s mine at the moment.”

“He likes ye,” said Stephen, drawing her closer. He gently tipped her chin up. “Ye realize I will fight for ye, including your father.”

Her eyes narrowed, briefly. “So medieval.”

Stephen let out a roar of laughter.

Aileen stared at him in amazement. The man was positively stunning, and he should laugh more often. She reached out to touch the rugged line of his jaw, his skin a warm caress for her hand.

In an instant, he captured her fingers, taking them into his mouth. Her sudden intake of breath made him instantly hard, and she wished there were no others around.

“Ye sorely tempt me to take ye.” His eyes alight with desire.

“What’s stopping you?” Her pulse quickened at the possibility.

Stephen squirmed. “Well, your father for one.”