Unknown Magic Page 24
He walked back to Donovan and with a nod, both Seamus and Donovan disappeared.
Megan awoke lying on the sofa with her head in her mother’s lap.
Looking down at her, Bernadette said, “I am sure that was a bit disconcerting for you. How are you feeling now?”
Shaking her head, Megan said, “Overwhelmed to say the least, but it’s nice to be able to remember all the things we did together when you were alive. I wish I could forget what they did to us in that warehouse. How could anyone do that and live with themselves?”
“These people have no conscience, little one, and the worst thing is that the person behind them is one of our own.”
Megan’s breath left her in a whoosh. “Who? Do I know this person?”
“No, you do not, but you will know of her soon, and you have a great undertaking in order to stop her. She is a very evil woman who lusts for power. All this will be explained to you in great detail soon. First, though, you will need to meet some of the others and Conall is anxious to see you.”
Megan thought for a moment and said, “I remember him from the last time. He played with me back then.” Then she could feel her eyes widen as she realized who Conall was. “He’s the prince isn’t he? The one who died just before you and dad married.”
“Aye, he is the prince, but he is much more. Come. That is yet another thing that has to be explained.”
Megan, not sure what to make of her mother’s vagueness, got up and walked out of the halls of knowledge.
When she arrived outside, Megan blinked at the brightness. Standing on the steps, as if waiting for them, was a man with long blond hair who stood about six-foot three from Megan’s estimate. Just from his regal stance, even though his back was to her, Megan knew he had to be the prince. When he turned to look at them, her breath caught. Looking into his eyes was like looking into a mirror. How could he have my eyes? No, I must be imagining things.
Then he smiled as if knowing her thoughts.
Bernadette spoke first. “Let us go somewhere that is comfortable to talk.”
Within seconds, they sat on a balcony overlooking the sea. Megan stared as the waves crashed over the rocks, trying to make sense of the thoughts that were running around in her head. After some time, Megan turned to her mother and Conall and asked, “I know all about true mates and the bonds between them and the impossibility of infidelity between them, so how could I have your eyes when you were already mated to another?”
Conall answered without hesitation. “I was forced into mating Mallaidh, even though she was not my true mate, when she threatened to kill my mother while she was pregnant with Devlyn. Mallaidh was already into her evil doings back then. She had a drug to prevent my mother from going to Brú na Bóinne upon delivery which would have killed both my mother and her unborn son. I knew Mallaidh would use it. She had some of her people in the castle long before my mother became pregnant, and I had no choice but to give her what she wanted as I did not know who she had working for her.”
“One day, not long after I was mated, I was visiting Seamus when his mother came up to me and told me she needed to talk to me in private. She told me she had seen great evil enveloping our people that would carry with it great destruction. Then she told me of a child born of the king’s family and the O’Shea’s that would be of great importance in crushing the evil bleeding into our people.”
Megan shifted in her chair. Conall paused until she settled back again.
“At the time, I thought that the person would be mated to my brother as I was already mated. Therefore, I informed my father he must keep my brother safe at all cost. Not being able to explain myself to him for fear Mallaidh would find out, my father made me that promise on faith alone. During the next three years, I was able to keep Mallaidh from becoming with child, as I knew that was one of her goals. She wanted to be queen. If she were the mother of my child and I became king that would be exactly what she would have been. Even if I was no longer around.”
A look passed between her mother and Conall that Megan could not interpret.
Conall continued, “I had known Bernadette for years and never knew she was my true mate. Then one day, when I was out having a drink with James, she came in and we both knew the truth. Unfortunately, there was no way to undo the bonding I was committed to. Bernadette and I met in secret for almost a year before Bernadette became with child. I then remembered Fiona’s prophecy. Knowing just how important you were to our people, we knew we had to do everything to keep you safe. After great discussion, we went to James and spoke to him. He agreed, since he had been half in love with your mother for months by then. Then I erased any memory he had of me being around Bernadette.”
Conall stopped talking. Megan just stared at him, not knowing what to say or even what to think. Jim was not her father?
Then, her mother told her the rest of the story. “I know this is hard for you to understand. When I became pregnant with you, we did the only thing we could to keep all of us safe. James thinks you are his daughter, and this must always be. I did grow to love James very much during the time we had together, even if it was nothing like the love I have for Conall. So I ask that you keep this part from him, as it would likely kill him to know the truth, but you will have to tell Seamus, my family and the King.”
Megan could do no more than nod. The ability to speak had abandoned her in the light of this new twist in her lineage.
“Unfortunately, Mallaidh must know of the prophecy and I think that is why she came after us. She could not kill either of us outright due to the repercussions, but she wanted to make sure there were no O’Shea women around to complete the prophecy. You were never supposed to have made it out of that lab alive the first time, but thanks to Seamus, you did.”
Bernadette put an arm around Megan and hugged her close before continuing. “Mallaidh kept very close tabs on you, biding her time knowing she would be given a second chance to kill you by preventing you from going to Brú na Bóinne upon your birthday and once again, she failed. She may leave you alone now, since you are mated to Seamus. I do not think she has figured out you are Conall’s daughter, but if she ever does she will come after you herself. She is very powerful as she has perfected a way of stealing powers from others now, so you will still need to be very careful.”
Then Megan asked, “Why did she come after you if she knew you were mated?”
“Because James would only live a normal life span, and then I would be free to mate again. I would say, she was taking no chances.”
Looking from her mother to her real father, Megan once again spoke. “My mind is working overtime trying to process all this. I have so many questions all jumbled together. If it’s okay, I’d like a little time alone.”
Bernadette answered, “You may take as much time as you need, but there still is much you have to learn and we do not want you to stay here any longer than necessary.”
Conall and Bernadette disappeared, leaving Megan alone to work through her thoughts.
When Seamus and Donovan arrived back, the whole family was sitting around talking. Sean looked up and said, “How did Jim take the news?”
Donovan answered, “He took it hard, but was happy that she was here and being cared for. I could tell he was worried she would be in the coma again for many years and he would not be able to visit. Seamus reassured him that she was not in a coma and felt she would be back with us soon.”
Seamus had gone to Megan’s side and was whispering to her in Gaelic, telling her to hurry back as both he and her father needed her.
He then turned to Fiona and asked how Megan had been while they were gone.
Fiona told him she was quiet for the most part, but a few times she had whimpered and thrashed around a bit. “I could not catch anything she was murmuring, but at one time it sounded like mallai or mathair, so I assumed she was talking to or about her mother.”
Concern washed over him. “Why would she get agitated talking to or about her mum? No, I
have a bad feeling she is learning something she does not like. And more so something none of us are going to like.”
Donovan came over and looked down at his niece. Looking up to Seamus, he said, “Aye, I think you are right. She does seem a bit anxious about something. And until she comes out of this, we have no clue to what it could be, unless you are getting more from her.”
“I wish I could. It is almost as if she has somehow blocked me out. I can feel her energy but cannot get much of her thoughts.”
“You are old enough to do such a thing, but she is much too young to have such a power.”
Fiona started to laugh. “You all seem to forget Megan possesses powers way beyond any we have ever encountered.”
“Truer words have never been spoken.”
With a gasp all heads turned, as the King swept over to Megan’s side.
“How is she fairing? I cannot believe they snatched her away once again with all of you there to protect her along with my own guards. It is hard to believe these mere mortals would have such ability.”
Seamus answered him. “These mere mortals, as you so gallantly put it, have technology none of us have ever seen the likes of. They have been going at it for over twenty years from what I can gather. If we cannot get to the heart of it and find the head of this organization, I fear we are going to have some even more difficult times ahead. We also must find this traitor.”
The King looked tired as he let out a breath. “Aye, I truly wish Conall was here with us. I feel much too old to deal with all of this now. He should never have died and should have taken my place by now, and Devlyn is much too young. So it looks as though once again I have to call on powers that should have long ago left me.”
Fiona spoke then, although she was looking off in the distance, not focused. “Mo Rí, {My King} a great darkness has been trying to destroy your people now for some time. Beware of someone who lives within your household and has been deceiving you for many years. Protect your mate and child by bringing them here. Tell no one else, other than these two families. You and yours are in grave danger. Waste no time. You will not deal with this situation alone, as you will have much help from your son’s child. She carries more power than you could have ever imagined. All will be revealed to you soon.”
As everyone stared at her, she kept looking straight ahead and then collapsed. Seamus grabbed her before she hit the ground, carried her to one of the beds and laid her down.
It took the King a few minutes to get his voice. “What does she mean we are in danger? Whom was she referring to when she said my son’s child? My son has no child. Whom is she talking about? What in the Goddess’s name is going on?”
Seamus looked up and said, “I have no clue, give her a few minutes and I am sure she will be able to tell us herself.”
Bridget spoke, “She will not know what she meant. I have only seen her do that twice before and she could not remember even what was said let alone what was meant. She was in a trance as she spoke and therefore will not even remember the incident itself.”
Roarke materialized at his mate’s side. “What did she say?” He asked as he bent down to check on Fiona.
When Seamus told him what Fiona had said, Roarke turned to the room and said, “Seamus, you, Colin, Noel and Donovan go with the King and get his family here now. I can guarantee when Fiona says something during a trance and you do not heed it in all haste, it will be too late. Do as she says and tell no one. GO!”
Without another word, Seamus, Colin Noel, and Donovan surrounded the King and they were gone.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Megan trekked up and down the beach, then went back to the balcony and sat a little longer replaying every bit of information she had received. The man she knew all those years to be her dad, was not her father at all, yet she could think of him no other way. She was the daughter of the prince and granddaughter to the King. How could this be, worse yet, how was she going to keep this from her dad once she told everyone else?
She had to make them all promise to never tell her dad the truth, before she told them anything. That solved, she went on to the next problem, her real father’s mate. Somehow, she had to let the King know he was living with the traitor of his people, and a deadly one to boot. She had to be careful there as she did not know just who Mallaidh had working for her in the castle.
Good God, how was the King going to react to all this? Would he even believe her? How did she get him to understand and keep the royal family safe? God, her life had gone from mundane to nuts in a matter of weeks. She would do anything to have boring back again. She told herself to stop wallowing in self-pity, buck up, and get some answers to the thousands of questions now running around in her head.
She then called to her mother.
Both Bernadette and Conall materialized in front of her. For the next few hours, they talked; answering her many questions and explaining different things to her.
Conall then got up and said, “I will leave you two for a while, but will see you before you leave.” With that, he took Megan in his arms and kissed her. “I have never been more proud than to know you are my daughter.” And he was gone.
Megan felt such a sense of love that tears trickled down her cheeks.
Then her mother stood, holding out her hand, and said, “Come. Let us walk as I am sure you still have many unanswered questions.”
Four days had passed, and Megan still showed no signs of regaining consciousness. Seamus felt as if he was going out of his mind. Even keeping busy with going back and forth keeping Jim updated on Megan’s progress, talking with both his and Megan’s families and dealing with the royal family did not help. He knew he was going to be in trouble if she did not come back soon. He had not gotten any sleep now for the last three days and eating was out of the question. He had become so restless and crabby that everyone was beginning to shy away from him. When Donovan came into the room, he turned and growled at him.
Putting both hands in front of him, Donovan said, “Easy, Seamus, you will do Megan no good if you do not settle down.”
Rubbing his hand over his face, trying hard to get himself under some control, Seamus said, “I do not know what to do, I feel as if I am going insane. If she does not come back to me soon, I do not know what will happen.”
“Perhaps a run in the woods would help to relieve some of your tension. This is rough on all of us, but for you, being her mate, it must be one hundred times worse.”
“Maybe that would be a good idea, would you keep me company?”
“Aye, and I think we should bring Colin and Paddy with us. Safety in numbers is best until we know more about this threat your mum has been fretting about.”
He no sooner finished his words than Colin and Patrick were at their sides.
Colin turned to Seamus and said, “Mum is on her way in to watch over Megan for you. She said she would call us if anything changed.”
Seamus was still more than a bit agitated but knew Donovan was right and a good run would ease him. As soon as his mother arrived, they all disappeared, leaving Fiona with Megan.
Megan strolled with her mother and asked her many questions she needed answered, but one she did not know how to ask. Yet, she knew it was the one she most needed an answer to. Finally gathering the courage she needed, she said, “I’m not sure how to put this, but I need to know. When you died, everyone said you shouldn’t have, because your injuries were not life threatening to us. Did you just will yourself to leave, or is there something no one knows about that can kill us?”
Bernadette turned to Megan, shock covering her face. “Little one, do you really think I would have left you under my own power? No, my darling, I fought with my last breath to stay with you, but in the end I was given no choice. Think back to that day, before they kidnapped us. Do you remember the conversation we had before I started telling you about my first change again?”
Megan thought for a moment and then sucked in a breath. “You were pregnant.”
Megan’s heart pounded and tears leaked from her eyes. “They took the baby didn’t they? That is why you died. Damn them, not only did Dad lose you, but also his own son.”
“Aye, and you lost your mother and brother. These people have no conscience to be able to do the things they are doing, and now the time has come when you are old enough to fulfill your destiny. You will be the one that will stop them.”
No sooner did her mother finish those words than her father materialized next to her. With him stood two women, one was a beautiful, tall woman with long flowing raven hair and dressed in a silvery-black gown. In her hand, she carried a jeweled sword that made Megan think of an ancient warrior.
The other woman kept changing before her eyes. She mesmerized Megan. Looking at her, Megan could almost become lost and yet she gave Megan a great sense of peace. When she spoke to her, Megan hung on every word. “I, Danú, the mother of The Tuatha Dé Danann, beseech you to restore balance unto my people. In all their years, there has never been darkness such as this to come upon them. You shall lead the battle to defeat this darkness.”
Then the woman with the sword spoke to Megan. “You have much to do when you return to our people. I, Mórrígan, goddess of battle, shall bestow upon you even greater powers to defeat your enemy. She has created an army of fearful people who will go to great lengths to destroy The Tuatha Dé Danann. This undertaking shall not be an easy task and shall take many years to accomplish. Nevertheless, with my help you shall be triumphant. You may call upon me at anytime. I will hear you and guide you through, by any means necessary.”
She reached out and touched Megan’s head with the sword. A white glow started from the hilt of the sword and encompassed Megan. The light grew brighter and brighter to the point Megan could see nothing else, and then, just as suddenly, it was gone. Blinking, Megan looked around, but only her mother and father now stood in front of her.