Unknown Magic Read online

  As Megan’s legs gave out, she sat. “What just happened? Who were they?” She asked with a shaky breath.

  Conall smiled and said, “You have met the goddesses Danú and Mórrígan. It seems you have just become a champion for The Mórrígan herself. No greater honor could have been given to anyone.”

  Her father stepped up to her and helped her to her feet. Giving her another hug and kiss, he said, “We shall be watching over you. Take my love with you and carry it always.”

  Then her mother put her arms around her and whispered, “It is time for you to return to your family. I love you, little one, and only wish I could have been with you as you grew, but remember I will always be with you here.” She placed her hand over Megan’s heart. “Now follow the sound of your mate’s voice as he is desperate to have you back.”

  Just before the dawn, a brilliant light encompassed Megan’s body. As Seamus watched, it began glowing brighter and brighter. Within seconds, it looked as though the sun was enveloping the room. It did not take long before everyone awoke and stood watching. Then it was gone.

  Seamus ran over and grabbed Megan into his arms calling to her, speaking in Gaelic and English, telling her to come back to him, as he could not live without her. When her eyes fluttered open, there was a collective sigh of relief.

  Seamus was speechless with the sense of exhilaration that went through him. She was back, his mate, his love, his Megan. All he could do was stare at her, and thank the gods she was back with him.

  Everyone started talking at once. Asking how she was feeling. Did she remember everything before her coma? Did she know who they were?

  Megan started laughing. “Fine, yes and yes. Now you all are starting to sound like me. For crying out loud, I have only been out of it for a few hours, not years.”

  Fiona came up to her and Seamus. “Let me check her out and then we will leave you both alone. When she is ready she can tell everyone the news she has brought with her from the otherworld.”

  Megan gasped. “How did you know?”

  Smiling, Fiona said, “Child, you know I have the gift of sight, but it was Seamus who let us know where you were. I know you have much news that you have brought back with you even if I do not know what that news is. When you are ready you will share it with us.”

  Seamus could barely breathe as Megan spoke to their relatives. He needed to hold her, touch her.

  “You must get the King and his family out of the castle as it’s not safe.”

  Fiona replied, “It is already done child. He is safe.”

  Megan glanced around the room and then her gaze locked on Seamus. “I’ll explain everything later. I need time with my mate, I’ve been feeling his anxiousness for hours.”

  They all gave her a hug in turn and left. Donovan was the last to leave and told them he would go over and give Jim the good news and tell him she would be by to see him in a few hours.

  Megan thanked him and he left.

  Turning to Seamus, she jumped into his arms. “God, I missed you. I can’t believe that being away from you for less than a day feels like months.” She claimed his mouth.

  Kissing her back, it was as though he could not get enough of her. When he finally came up for air, he said, “Megan you were not gone for only a few hours, you have been in a coma state for five of the most agonizing days of my life. I felt as if I were going insane without you. When that light encompassed you, I was sure you were leaving me for good. I do not ever want to go through that again as long as I live.”

  Gasping, Megan said, “That’s not possible. I know I wasn’t even there a full day. The sun was just beginning to set when I left.”

  “Trust me, a ghrá; time obviously does not pass the same here as it does in the otherworld because we have had a full five days while you were there. Even your father has nearly recovered enough from his injuries to go home since you have been gone. Now we can figure all this out in a while, right now I need to make love to you to give my spirit peace and to know you are really here with me.”

  “I would like nothing better.” And as Megan spoke, she made their clothing disappear.

  His eyes gazed slowly over her from head to toe. When he looked once again into her eyes, his eyes had gone forest green with yellow specks pulsating in them. He had her in his arms and them both on the bed before she could blink. He was devouring her with his hands and mouth, as he murmured to her in Gaelic.

  He brought her to her first climax and then he was in her bringing her yet to another.

  When they lay spent in each other’s arms, he said, “If I ever have to be away from you for even a few hours again you might as well just put me into the ground. These last five days have been worse on me than the month I spent being tortured could have ever been.”

  “I’m sorry I caused you pain. I really thought I was only gone for about ten hours. Now that I think about it, last time it was for a few weeks, yet it was actually five years of my life.”

  “So are you going to tell me what happened when you were in the otherworld?”

  “I’ve got tons to tell you. Some of it is almost unbelievable. I need to tell everyone together. There are two things I have to do first before I tell everyone.”

  Wiggling his eyebrows at her, he asked, “Could one of those be making love to me once more?”

  Laughing, she smacked him across the chest. “Is that all you ever have on your mind?”

  Giving her an innocent look, he said, “Well, you have deprived me for what seems like a lifetime.” His hands started bringing her into a heated frenzy once more.

  Once both their needs were satisfied, Seamus said, “Now since that was not one of the two things you had in mind, what is it you must do?”

  Curled up next to him, sated and refreshed, Megan let out a sigh and said, “I need to go see Dad, and then back to the cave and get my mom’s memory crystals.”

  “Well, then a ghrá, let us get to it, so I can spend some more time with you alone and show you just how much I appreciate you coming back to me.”

  “Any more appreciation and I’m not going to be able to walk for a week.”

  She could see a mischievous look come into his eyes as he said, “Oh, trust me. You will not need to walk, for what I have in mind.”

  She could not suppress a giggle. “Seamus, you rogue, that’s all you ever think of.”

  “At this moment love, looking at you, I could have no other thoughts.”

  Laughing, Megan got up and they both dressed. Within seconds, they were at the hospital visiting her father.

  Jim’s relief was evident when he started to cry. “Megan, I’ve been so worried you’d stay in another coma like the last time.” Megan could tell her dad was reluctant to ask the questions by the way he ran his hands through his hair. He cleared his throat. “Are your memories okay?”

  Smiling, Megan went to Jim and hugged him. “My memory’s fine, Dad, I have all my memories even the ones from my childhood.”

  He stared at her. “How’s that possible?”

  “Well, it seems both times I really wasn’t in a coma, but in the otherworld. After the kidnapping, I was so distraught, the Sidhe tried to suppress the memory of it, I was too strong even then, so they had to suppress all my memory.”

  “My God, how could they do that to you? Didn’t they know it would devastate you?”

  “They knew it would be difficult, but the alternative was worse. Mom said I was pretty broken.”

  Jim sucked in a breath. “You saw your mother?”

  “Yes, Dad, she’s so beautiful. I’m so happy I can now remember her. The best part is remembering all the good times the three of us had together. She told me to tell you she loved you. She said she wanted you to know you did a great job raising me and that you should be very proud.”

  By the time she finished, they were both hugging one another and crying tears of joy and sorrow. Then he asked the one question Megan had been wishing he would not think to ask.

  �
�Megan, did she tell you how she died?”

  Megan stiffened in her father’s arms. Megan felt Seamus tense and waited for his question.

  “What is it, a stór? Is this something he should not know?”

  “No. It’s something that’s going to devastate him, but he has a right to know.”

  Megan straightened from her father and said, “There is no easy way to tell you this, so I am going to say it straight out. She was pregnant with your son, my brother. They took the fetus, she couldn’t transport herself and the baby to Brú na Bóinne because of the drug they used to stop her from transporting, and they died.”

  As her father sobbed, Megan put her arms around him and cried with him, telling him how sorry she was.

  “Megan that is not possible, our women can only give birth once every fifty years.”

  Her mate’s surprise could endanger the rest of the truth Megan needed to keep from her father. She had to stop him from saying anything. “Please, Seamus, don’t say anymore. I’ll explain everything later, just trust me, Dad can’t know about this.”

  Although she could tell he was still puzzled, Seamus refrained from mentioning any more about the baby as they talked for a while longer. When they had to leave, Seamus told Jim they would be back tomorrow to take him home. Saying their goodbyes, they left.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Seamus and Megan materialized in the cave, picking up the crystals of memories. Seamus could not wait any longer and asked, “Now that we are alone, can you explain to me how your mother became pregnant again when you were only eight? I know she had great powers, but not even she could go against the laws of nature. The only possible way for that to happen is...”

  Megan cut him off. “Seamus, my dad must never know. Promise me.”

  “Megan, I promise.”

  “Thank you. You know, it’s amazing, all these years I thought I was just a run of the mill person. Then my whole life changed, and I find out I’m someone very special. Now I find out I’m not just special, but part of a prophecy. How’s that for a real kick in the ass?”

  Puzzled, Seamus asked, “Megan what are you talking about? What does the prophecy have to do with your mother’s pregnancy?”

  “Sorry. I forgot you haven’t heard this yet. I guess the easiest way would be for you to share my thoughts. Just enter my mind, it’ll make it quicker.”

  Floored that she would offer such a thing, Seamus said, “Are you sure you want to do that, Megan, as once it is done you can never shut me out again.”

  Smiling, Megan said, “Seamus you’re my true mate. I’ve no secrets from you. Your energy is already part of me along with your heart, soul, body, and love. Why not finish it with giving you access to my mind as well?”

  Seamus walked over to her, taking her into his arms. “That is the one thing I did not ask of you, as I thought you would feel invaded. I wanted to give you time to understand our people better. I always thought you would allow it down the road, but for you to do it so soon is more than proof of trust, but also of love. If you will accept it, I will also give you the same offer.”

  “Seamus, you don’t have to offer that just because I have.”

  “Hush, I did not offer it to you the night of the Deasghnáth, because I thought you would be afraid that if you could read my mind, I could also read yours. I thought it best to wait, so now I am offering.”

  They touched, closing their eyes and saying the words allowing each other into their minds.

  For Seamus, he felt as though he was drowning in all that had happened to her in the short time she was in the otherworld. He was in total awe of the fact that she had met with both The Goddesses Danú and Mórrígan. However, when he found out who her true father was and the prophecy she was to fulfill, he was overwhelmed.

  Megan grabbed Seamus’s arm, “We need to leave now.” She pulled them into the small cavern where she picked up her mother’s memory crystals and they dematerialized.

  Megan’s heart raced when they materialized back at Brú na Bóinne. She willed her breathing to slow as she spoke, “Mallaidh’s people are still determined to recapture me. I wonder if Mom was wrong about her knowing I’m the one who can bring her down.”

  “Perhaps she is just trying to make sure there are no O’Shea women left to fulfill the prophecy.”

  “If that’s so, I can hope Shannon does not get pregnant for a while. If Mallaidh thinks there’s even a remote chance Shannon will have a girl, she’ll come after her as well.”

  Seamus stiffened. “I had not thought of the possibility that Shannon could be in any danger.”

  “Seamus, we’re all in danger. We need to figure out is why she went after you. Is there any chance she may know more of the prophecy than your mother?”

  “Perhaps we need to talk to Mum and see if she can give us some insight to that.”

  “Before we do, I want to see what the crystals of memory hold. Then I’ll talk to everyone else and tell them about Mallaidh.” As Megan said this, she put her hand in her pocket and pulled out a triad of stones she had retrieved from the cavern. One was black onyx, another a brown and white onyx and a third was a red onyx. Each carved with Celtic knots and swirls. Lifting her hand up with the stones flat in her palm, she recited the words that would activate them. . They lifted from her palm and started spinning. As they rotated faster and faster, it was almost as if they became one and then they began to take the shape of a holographic movie.

  As they watched, first her Mother and then Conall appeared, confirming the things she had learned while in the otherworld. When they finished, Megan went to put her hand out to recall the crystals when another figure appeared.

  Megan recognized the Goddess Danú as she spoke to them. “You have the power to bring them both here to tell it all, then not one would doubt your word. Once you have gathered all your family use the crystals and call your parents forth.”

  Then she was gone and the crystals dropped to the ground. Seamus and Megan stood, their eyes transfixed to the area where Danú had stood.

  Donovan came in and cleared his throat, bringing them back out of their stupor. “What is it? You both look as though you saw a ghost.”

  Seamus answered. “Not a ghost, Dono, a goddess.”

  Eyeing them both suspiciously, Donovan said, “And what have you two been drinking?”

  “Nothing my friend, now what did you need?”

  Shaking his head as if trying to clear his thoughts, Donovan said, “Aye, we wanted to know if you two would like to join us for supper in the great hall. We are all anxious to hear of Megan’s adventure in the otherworld and of her news.”

  Bending down to retrieve the crystals Megan said, “Yeah, I think it’s time you all heard the news I have. I can guarantee, Uncle Donovan, it’s going to shock the hell out of you.” She chuckled.

  The three of them walked through the passageways to the great hall. When they arrived, all her family, Seamus’s family, and the royal family were waiting for them. They ate and had what Megan would consider normal conversations. She could feel her own tension climbing as the meal came to a close.

  Once the dinner was over, Ruairi turned to Megan and said, “I know you have much to discuss with your family so we will leave you to it.”

  Unsure how to address the King, Megan stammered, “Sir…if you’ll please stay, what I have to say also includes your family.”

  Ruairi laughed, “Megan, child, you do not have to address me any other way but by my name. Now you have my curiosity up, so please proceed.”

  All eyes in the room turned toward her and her anxiety level went up.

  Seamus put his hand on her arm and spoke telepathically. “Everyone is going to be shocked at first, as I was, but it will not be as bad as you think.”

  “I hope you’re right. This news is going to devastate some of them. Before a few weeks ago, a lot of them didn’t even know me.”

  “Remember every last one of them are family now, including Ruairi,” Seamus
said.

  When everyone got quiet, Megan knew it was time to start. Clearing her throat, she said, “First I need you all to agree to keep one secret from my dad.”

  Once she witnessed a nod of consent from each person in the room she continued. “You all need to know…why my mom died. She was three months pregnant with my baby brother when those butchers kidnapped us.”

  A collective gasp went through the room. The silence was almost deafening as her words sunk in. “Yes, my dad’s not my biological father, and that’s the one you can’t tell him.”

  It was Ruairi who then asked, “That being the case child, do you know who your father is?”

  “Yes, sir, and that’s the shocker. So instead of me telling any of you, it’ll easier if I let them,” she said as she pulled the memory crystals from her pocket. Instead of just activating them this time, she also called her parents to join them in the now.

  As previously, the crystals started spinning, lifting from her palm. As they rotated faster and faster, they began to take the shape of a holographic movie once more. Only this time, her mother and father were standing together holding hands.

  As Megan watched the faces of her family, she saw disbelief, devastation, excitement, awe, and questions. In all of them she saw tears. Her heart went out the most to Ruairi and Aine, as she watched tears course down their cheeks. Ruairi’s mouth moved to form the word “how?” and his eyes riveted on Conall.

  Conall spoke. “I am sure this comes as quite a shock to all of you, but more so to you, Father. I am sorry you all had to live with this deception for so long, but it was necessary to protect Megan from Mallaidh. She is the one who has been behind all the kidnappings and killings of our people. She has many working with her, so you must be careful, as all of you are now in danger from her wrath.”

  Megan could feel Ruairi’s fury and despair as he spoke with his son.