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  “I asked you this once before and you told me it had to be. Will you answer now why you mated with Mallaidh against both The Fates and me?”

  “I had no choice as Mother was with child and Mallaidh threatened to use some drug to prevent her from going to Brú na Bóinne upon delivery. I knew she had infiltrated the castle already, and she would have done as she threatened. She wanted power and to be queen. I was able to prevent her from becoming with child herself through magic, because I knew she would have killed Devlyn after his birth and then gone after you and Mother.”

  A wailing sob came from Aine, and Ruairi hugged her trying to comfort her, at the same time Conall turned to her, love showing in his eyes. “Do not blame yourself mathair, she had this planned for many years.”

  Megan could see shock paint every face in the room.

  Then Ruairi looked back up and asked, “Did she murder you?”

  “No, that was at my own hand, once I realized Bernadette was pregnant with my child and upon remembering what Fiona had told me years before. The safest course was to leave.”

  Ruairi turned toward Fiona and said, “Tell me this prophecy.”

  All eyes focused on Fiona, as she said, “The prophecy states that a darkness shall penetrate our realm. Only a child produced from the loins of the families of the king of our people and of the Tribes of Kilkenny, whose ancestral homeland was Kerry, will have the ability to thwart the darkness from spreading. This child shall be the instrument in bringing the light that shall destroy the darkness. It is also said that the first-born son of the family the Tribes of Meath shall stand at her side in this battle. One other part of the prophecy states the child shall have the ability to go between both worlds. That was one part I did not understand,” Fiona gazed toward Megan and finished, “Until now.”

  When Bernadette spoke again, everyone’s attention went back to her and Conall. “We knew what would happen if Mallaidh found out I was carrying Conall’s child. James was the only one we could trust. He knew about Conall and I for the year we had been seeing each other and kept our secret. We knew our child was the child of the prophecy.”

  “We talked to him first and he agreed to marry me and raise my child as his own, saying he had been in love with me for some time anyway. Once we explained about the prophecy, he decided he wanted to have his memories manipulated in order to prevent anyone from being able to find out about Megan from him.”

  Donovan then asked, “How is it I was not able to sense this untruth about Megan from you? Also, if Mallaidh did not know about Megan, why did she come after you both?”

  Bernadette answered. “We think Mallaidh knew of the prophecy, so she was trying to prevent any O’Shea women from mating with an O’Nihill. She set her people on us to get rid of us, but she had to be careful, as she could not afford anyone finding out she was behind it. Thanks to Seamus, she has failed to destroy her true opponent twice and now that Megan has her full power, and much more, Mallaidh’s days are numbered. Although, as Megan knows, it is not going to be an easy battle. It will take many years as well. As for not sensing the untruth, I had Conall manipulate my memories, knowing you would be able to tell I was not telling the truth and to prevent anyone from learning of our daughter. Once I became pregnant again, my memories returned and I knew I would have to confide in the family. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to do so.”

  They continued talking and answering questions well into the night. Megan was beginning to feel signs of weakening when Seamus pushed his energy into her so they could continue until everyone was satisfied. Finally, she could feel even his energy abating and Megan urged Seamus to halt the session.

  Seamus said, “I know we all could continue conversing through the night, but unfortunately, it is taking a toll on both Megan and myself so we are going to have to let the door between our worlds to close.”

  They all said their goodbyes and Megan stood. She swayed, and Seamus steadied her. She reached her hand out, called the crystals to her, and closed the doorway.

  Megan then turned, looked at her family, smiled, and said, “I know this as much a shock to all of you as it was for me. Personally, I think I am too young and inexperienced to be leading a battle against someone as old and powerful as Mallaidh. Unfortunately, I don’t have a choice. I hope all of you will help and guide me through this. Before I left the otherworld, I had the privilege to meet the Goddesses Danú and Mórrígan, and they gave me some great gifts, one of which you just saw. You’re about to see two more.”

  Turning to Colin, she asked, “Do you still have those machines that detect the tracking chips?”

  Colin replied, “Aye, do you want them now?”

  “Please.” She no sooner got the words out than both Colin and Conor were gone. She then turned to Seamus and said, “Now we know why she wanted you, too. She was hedging her bets. She had to have somehow set explosives that night to get rid of all three of us at once.”

  Turning back to their family she said, “We need to assume she now knows who I am. She is going to try anything to get to me, and I think she is going to try to use each and every one of you to do it.”

  When Colin and Conor reappeared with the equipment she asked for, she asked Colin to turn his on, so she could see everyone who had one of the microchips implanted in them.

  When Colin did, seven bleeps came on the screen. “What the…?”

  Megan then asked, “Conor, would you use your machine to pinpoint where the microchip is in Seamus’s body?”

  When Conor ran the machine up and down Seamus, he found a microchip in Seamus’s left hip. Megan then placed her hand over the area and when she took it away she had the chip in her hand. Placing the chip on the table she went to Noel, Brian, Donovan, and Sean, repeating the procedure and then to herself.

  With the machine Colin had, they followed the last beep and ended up in front of Devlyn. Then Megan said, “I’m not surprised she somehow placed a microchip in you, she probably planned to have you abducted too.” Then with Conor’s help, they located Devlyn’s microchip and Megan removed it.

  Next Megan said, “Now if you will all form a circle around me, I’m going to perform my last task for the night.”

  When everyone did as she asked, she stood in the middle with Seamus. He was in her mind and knew what the next step was. Together, they worked a spell then cast it out encompassing them all.

  When she finished, Donovan asked what she had done. Megan said, “You’ll now all be able to transport anywhere undetected, like a ghost.”

  She glanced around the room. “Now, I’m calling it a night. See you all tomorrow so we can secure my grandfather’s castle.”

  Epilogue

  Megan woke in Seamus’s arms, as she had for the last few weeks. Her life had settled down into what to the outside would look like a normal everyday existence. It was easy to believe everything that had happened had been no more than a dream. Unfortunately, it was far from a dream. She and her family would soon be engaged in a battle for their lives and that of all Tuatha’s.

  However, for now she was going to enjoy every moment of peace she could accomplish. Even in her wildest dreams, she never imagined she would be so in love with someone, as she was with the man lying at her side. Her heart soared every time she thought about it. That part of her life was like a fairytale come true.

  She had quit her job, subleased her apartment, and was now living in a beautiful home outside of Dublin. Her father was still living in his place in Chicago, where she visited him at least two or three times a week. His work kept him quite busy, so she did not overly worry about him. Her grandfather’s castle was now secure. Her uncles had gone back to their normal routines for a few weeks with the exception of Patrick who had been spending an exorbitant amount of time with the small obsidian wolf he rescued from Golden Enterprise’s labs.

  Her thoughts were interrupted when Seamus sleepily whispered, “I do not think I will ever get enough of you no matter how long we live.”
/>   Megan shifted and snuggled closer to Seamus whose hands were now making a slow, but methodical exploration of her body. He had a way of making her body hum as it went up in flames. “If you ever do, just let me know, I am sure I can do something that will peak your interest all over again,” Megan said with a grin as she pushed Seamus onto his back and straddled him, slowly taking him into her body, inch by glorious inch.

  A shudder ran through him, as he watched Megan start to ride him. She looked like a goddess as she threw her head back, arching her back while she began to increase her speed. His one hand reached up to cup her firm breast as his other dove into the triangular mass of curls where they were joined, finding her nub, rubbing and manipulating it.

  “Look at me, a ghrá. I want to see your eyes when you come.” Without hesitation, she obeyed. Her eyes were cobalt. They started to glaze over, and she cried out when her climax overtook her. He reached up, bringing her down to him, kissed her, and then he had her underneath him. She climaxed a second time before the first ever abated, and this time he came with her. They lay there for the longest time letting their breathing settle. He thanked the Goddesses for the wonderful gift they had given him in her. She was his world, his everything.

  “One of these days we are going to break into a million pieces with such force we will never come back into our bodies. We’ll float around for eternity that way,” Megan whispered.

  “If I have to go, that would be the perfect way,” Seamus replied, chuckling.

  GLOSSARY

  A Chroí (ah hree) My Heart

  A Ghrá (ah hraw) My Love

  A Rún (ah ruin) My Dear

  A Stór (ah store) My Darling or My Sweetheart

  A Mhuirnín (ah wer-neen) My Beloved

  A Thiarnaí Uaisle High Lords

  Banríon Queen

  Brú na Bóinne (broo-na-boyne) The place the Tuatha Dé Danann go to heal and learn of their heritage.

  Deasghnáth Ritual

  Danú (DAH-noo) The Goddess Danú, Mother of the Tuatha Dé Danann

  Mathair Mother

  Morrígan (MOHR-ee-gan) Great Queen, Irish goddess of war.

  Mallaidh (MAL-ee) Her name means “bitter.”

  Prionsa Prince

  Rí King

  Sidhe (Shee) Are a supernatural race, quite distinct from humankind. They dwell underground in the hills or mounds that dot the Irish landscape.

  Summerland This is where the dead reside.

  Tuatha Dé Danann (tOO'uthu d~ dä'nän) The children of the Goddess Danú. An ancient Celtic People that at the age of thirty (males), and twenty-five (females) come into their magical power. At that point the aging process slows to one month for every three years of life. They can travel and bring something to them at a thought. They can turn into any animal of their choosing. They are very hard to kill, but it is not impossible.

  Ritual Words

  “Tugaim duit mo ghrá, mar a thugann tu domsa do ghrá”

  “I give you my love, as you give me yours.”

  “Tugaim duit mo chorp, mar a thugann tu domsa do chorp”

  “I give you my body, as you give me yours.”

  “Tugaim duit mo chroí, mar a thugann tu domsa do chroí”

  “I give you my heart, as you give me yours.”

  “Tugaim duit mo anam, mar a thugann tu domsa do anam”

  “I give you my soul, as you give me yours.”

  “Tugaim duit mo bheatha, mar a thugann tu domsa do bheatha”

  “I give you my life, as you give me yours.”

  “Tugaim duit mo chumhacht, mar a thugann tu domsa do humhacht”

  “I give you my power, as you give me yours.”

  “Ceanglaím tu liomsa, mar a cheanglaím mé fhéin leatsa”

  “I bind you to me, as I bind myself to you.”

  “Gach aon rud ata agamsa, is leatsa é, anois agus go síoraí”

  “All that is mine is yours for now through eternity.”

  “Is mor an onoir dom a bheith I gceannas AR an ocaid athasach seo. Tugaim cead go gceanglofar Le cheile an lanuin seo, Seamus Ó Ceallaigh, mac Le Ruairc Ó Ceallaigh agus Feona In Cheallaigh, nee Mac Cionaioth, Le Megan Tully, inion Le Seamus Tully agus Bernadette Tully, nee Ó Séaghdha, garinion Le Liam Ó Séaghdra agus Nuala In She, nee In Fhlanagáin. Impim AR an Bandia Danu an lanuin seo a bheannu I ngach bealach, ionnas go mbedh saibhreas agus sonas acu go buan. At suil agam go mbeidh saol fada agus sonasach agaibh beirt.”

  “It is my most honored duty to preside over this most joyous occasion. I therefore give my consent that this couple, Seamus O’Kelly son of Roarke O’Kelly and Fiona O’Kelly nee MacKenna to Megan Tully daughter of James Tully and Bernadette Tully nee O’Shea, granddaughter of Liam O’Shea and Nuala O’Shea nee Flanagan. May the Goddess Danú look down upon this union with fondness and bless this couple with abundance in all ways. May you both live a long and happy life.”

  Coming Soon the next book in

  The Daughter of Prophecy Novel

  STOLEN MAGIC

  Turn the page for a sneak preview.

  Chapter One

  The smell hit him first—blood, sweat, and waste. Cages lined the wall crammed with animals and people. Rage flooded through Patrick O’Shea like lava. No one should endure such conditions. This is inexcusable. The stories Seamus told him about his captivity never prepared him for this. The tortured and degraded state of his people, The Tuatha Dé Danann, unleashed his fury. The walls pulsed, cracks formed and plaster fell from the ceiling. It took all his strength to contain his power, in order to prevent the building’s collapse. Trembling from the effort, he realized he never before lost control of his powers. Why was this situation causing him to do so now?

  Patrick reached the first cage; his stomach churned, trying to eliminate the dinner eaten hours earlier. A small obsidian wolf with gashes covering her body and blood encrusted fur, laid curled in a ball. His telepathic thoughts could not reach her mind, so he squatted in front of the cage and spoke words of comfort in Gaelic.

  Straining to lift her head, the wolf’s eyes glared at him and she trembled. As he released the lock on the cage, a low growl emerged from deep within her throat and her hackles shot up. Dragging her body to a crouched position, she backed into the corner as far as she could and snarled, even as shudder after shudder raked her body.

  “Easy girl, I am here to get you out and take you to safety. Your wounds need tending. We need to get you to Brú na Bóinne.” As he spoke, the wolf’s body convulsed once more and she collapsed.

  “Dono, Colin, Conor, I have found some of our people. They are all in horrific condition. Conor, we need healers here without delay. Our people must be transported to Brú na Bóinne immediately.”

  Both Donovan and Colin materialized at his side. As they went from cage to cage checking the others, Donovan said, “Bloody hell, I do not see how any of them could possibly make it, or how they even lasted this long. I can only hope some of them are going to pull through. Where the hell are Conor and our healers?”

  The words no sooner left his mouth, when Conor, Bridget, Fiona, Shannon, and Liam arrived.

  “By the gods, how could anyone do such a thing to another human being?” Shannon asked. Turning, she grabbed a bucket and heaved her stomach’s contents.

  “We need to take them one at a time.” Conor turned to Patrick with horror and revulsion in his eyes. “You will need to guard the others. There may still be more of our enemy lurking about. Keep your shield up as we have no clue what other tricks they may have up their sleeves.”

  They arrived at this wretched place just in time to save his niece, Megan from sure death. As a Tuatha Dé Danann, coming into her powers, Megan needed to transport to Brú na Bóinne by midnight of her twenty-fifth birthday. These bastards kidnapped her and, even though they only had her twenty-four hours, inflicted horrifying atrocities upon her.

  Donovan wrenched Patrick from his thoughts when he said, “Aye, although we have only found four, including the
one Seamus killed when we first arrived. I agree; keep your shield up.” He turned toward Conor and asked, “How is Megan; is she going to make it?”

  Conor answered, “Her breathing and heart rate are back to normal although she is still sleeping. I suspect she will remain so for a good few hours before she is fully recovered.”

  Patrick once again knelt down by the little black wolf’s cage. He glanced up as Fiona walked over. “She is in desperate shape, but still she tried to fight when I first found her.”

  Putting her hand on his shoulder, Fiona said, “Open the cage, and get her out. We will take her first.”

  The healers surrounded Patrick as he lifted the small wolf from the cage, holding her as if she were as precious as gold and as fragile as china. When Patrick started to hand her to Conor, she whimpered.

  Conor shook his head. “Keep her close to you and transport with us. She seems to feel safe with you, and I do not want to traumatize her any more than she already is.”

  Each placed a hand on her and they all dematerialized. Within seconds, they reappeared in Brú na Bóinne.

  “Place her over on that bed so we can examine her. We have little time as we need to get the rest of them here.”

  With great care, Patrick laid the wolf down on the bed Conor had indicated. Running his hand through her fur, he cleaned away the blood and mats. Bending down he whispered to her. “You are safe now. No one here will hurt you. Just rest, recover, and I will see you later.” With that, he was gone.