Chapter Fourteen
HE KNEW BY the wayChloe’s eyes flashed then returned to normal, leaving behind a peaceful expression, that she’d just learned something very important about herself. They both had because he was convinced it tied in with him somehow.
“Tell me more,” she whispered. Her gaze remained on Grant. “Tell me what this means.” Fresh curiosity sparked in her eyes. “Why would I go from being a faery to a witch? Does it tie in with the MacLomain-Broun connection somehow? And how does this tie in with Julie’s Guardian Witch power? And—”
“One thing at a time, lass.” Grant chuckled, charmed by her rather than exasperated. “Like all good things, you must wait for the answers to find you when they will.” He glanced from Aidan to Chloe, seeing what he wanted based on the approval in his eyes. “One thing is certain, though. This does indeed tie into the MacLomain-Broun connection.” He grinned. “Or should I say Hamilton-Broun connection?”
Aidan kept his expression neutral, unwilling to admit too much, but he knew that something had most certainly changed between him and Chloe. Otherwise, he would not have felt such stark fear when she was taken. Nor would he have felt their growing connection so strongly.
Better yet, recognized it for the lifeline it was.
When he sensed a Disinherited had grabbed her then felt the drag on his soul the further away she got, he realized that though he wasn’t ready to admit to love, he wouldn’t let her leave him. She would, when all this was over, remain by his side whether or not the feelings between them were real.
“Oh, they're real and well ye know it, lad,”great-granda said telepathically.“So ye best just accept it now. Ye cannae escape true love nor the power of the Claddagh ring, and I suspect, tis impossible to deny the love of a faery.”
“The love of a faery,” Chloe whispered, having obviously caught every word. Her eyes widened. “Love aside, are you saying I’m an actual faery now? If so, what does that mean? How will it affect me? What can I—”
“Nay, you’re not a faery,” Grant said, gently interrupting her before she asked more questions than he could keep up with. “You but have Fae blood, which will likely mean your Fae magic will merge with your witch magic as you come into your own.” He glanced from Aidan to her. “As to what I meant by the love of a faery, I believe there's a good chance your former faery fell in love with Aidan. ‘Tis without a doubt what helped your soul transmigrate into a form that could be with him.”
“Whoa.” Julie grinned at Tiernan. “This is getting even more intense than us hooking up.”
“Ya think?” Chloe murmured, a little lost. When she absently sat as if there were a chair waiting, Aidan chanted a log into existence for her to sit upon.
“Och, verra good indeed.” Grant nodded, pleased. “Your magic is returning, Aidan.”
It was, wasn’t it? His thoughts seemed clearer, and his emotions more tempered. He felt more in control and focused.
More alive.
That’s when it occurred to him that colors seemed slightly more vibrant, and the scent of the pines overhead more obvious. He felt the cool wind caress his skin and heard the sound of woodland creatures going about their business.
“The world is becoming less gray,” Chloe murmured. Her eyes rose to his. “And the darkness is receding.”
“Aye,” he whispered without meaning to.
“’Tis the power of the Fae at work,” Grant echoed. “The power of love.”
Before he could say another word, his ethereal form caught on the wind and blew away. It seemed for a moment he tried to manifest again but had no luck.
“I meant to ask Grant about that,” Cray said. “Why he seems to be having so much trouble staying with us.”
“It has something to do with whatever the Disinherited have done to our magic,” Tiernan enlightened. “’Tis affecting the afterlife as well.”
“You're right.” Chloe’s eyes sparkled a little. “But I think it's more specific than that. It’s targeting not just anyone in the afterlife but solely MacLomains.”
Julie nodded slowly, sensing something. “That’s exactly right.” Her eyes narrowed as she understood more. “Because the Disinherited have accessed my ancestors’ magic through the ley-lines...” She nodded, sure of herself. “This all has to do with them trying to stop Adlin from being born to Celtic King, Erc. Whatever they’re doing or already did tugs at deceased souls of MacLomain lineage.”
“Because they would cease to exist if the Celtic king was replaced,” Chloe murmured. “Or should I say be different souls entirely if someone other than the king had sired the lineage.”
“Och,” Cray muttered. “How are we to stop such enemies?” He scowled in the direction of the vanished warriors. “Enemies who can possess allies so easily? Then make them vanish altogether?”
“I don’t think they’ve vanished,” Chloe said softly, eyeing the woodland. “In fact, they haven't.”
Almost the moment she said it, Aidan felt the same. “She’s right. They’re out there somewhere.”
Cray looked between them before he headed into the forest. “I will go see.”
“What did you just feel, Chloe?” Julie asked. “What makes you so certain they’re not really gone?”
