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  Turning once again toward his father he asked, “Ready?” At his father’s nod, they were gone.

  Chapter Nine

  Megan woke from another strange dream. Every time she closed her eyes lately, she remembered more about her earlier life, but in the last two dreams, it also seemed as if her mother was trying to communicate in the now as well. She looked at her watch and noticed that Seamus had been gone for well over an hour. What if something happened before he got to her uncles? No one knew where she was. Megan began thinking maybe she should try to make her way back to the cabin and find her uncles. Only her promise to Seamus about not leaving without him or her uncles stopped her. She decided she would give him another while. If he did not get back soon, though, she was going to get out of here and find out what was going on herself.

  She started pacing the cave, which now felt more like a prison. Damn him for making her stay here without knowing what was happening. Once again, she started to feel the pull of the energy in the small cavern. She walked in and back over to the altar. She stared at some of the strange objects, again reaching her hand toward them. And like before the energy started increasing.

  “STOP!”

  She looked up to see Seamus standing next to another man. They were of a similar height, but the stranger had sandy hair and looked about fifteen years older than Seamus. She pulled her hand back as the other man strode over toward her. She scrambled to her feet, backing up.

  Smiling Seamus said, “Megan, I would like you to meet my father.”

  She let out a breath. “Mr. O’Kelly, it is so nice to meet you.” She extended her hand and at the same time gave Seamus a questioning look.

  Instead of shaking her hand, Mr. O’Kelly grabbed it, pulling her to him in a hug. “It is so wonderful to meet you, my dear. And please call me Roarke, there is no reason to be formal with family.”

  “Da, you will have plenty of time to talk to Megan later, for now she needs to know what is going on. Plus, I need to find out what all this is.” Indicating the altar and its contents he asked, “Megan where did all this come from, do you have any idea what it is?”

  “No, after you left, I found it. I left it alone because I can feel energy from it. Then you were gone so long. I was trying to keep myself from breaking my promise so I came back in here to occupy myself. They must have belonged to my mom. I can feel her when I get close to them.”

  “Aye, they would belong to her from the look of them. You will be able to use them once you have come into power, but I do not know what they would do to you before that, so please do not touch them just yet.”

  Puzzling on his words, Megan said, “Fine, tell me what’s going on and why your father is here. You said you didn’t want to bring any of your family into danger.”

  “It seems I have brought your family into danger, and now I have called upon my family as well as yours to see if we can mop up the mess.”

  Fear engulfed her as her heart rate accelerated. “What do you mean? Who is in danger? What is happening?”

  Seamus put his hands on her shoulders. “Slow down Megan. Just give me a second I will tell you what I know and then explain what we are going to do.”

  She willed herself to keep quiet and waited for his explanation. She was not encouraged by the facts he presented to her.

  “So these men can shield themselves from you. None of you are able to detect them until they are almost on top of you?”

  “Aye, that is why we have to be extremely cautious. We cannot afford any more of us getting that drug they are using to bring us down. I was damn lucky I caught up with Paddy before he was hit as well. Things would have gotten quite messy if Paddy was not there to call the families. Not to mention I would have no clue to where they would have taken Donovan, Sean, your Da and Paddy, once they had captured Paddy. Now I need to get back and finish this. Da will stay with you and we will be in touch so you will know once we have accomplished our goal.”

  Still nervous, she asked, “You’re sure my father’s okay?”

  “Yes, a chroí, he was in the cabin, even though he is seething with anger, he seems to be quite conscious.”

  “Why didn’t they drug my father as well?”

  “That is one of the things I plan on finding out once we get in there. I must go now, I promise Da will answer as many of your questions as he can, anything he cannot I will once I get back.”

  He came to her and kissed her with so much passion her knees wobbled. “Do as my father says at all times. He will keep you safe.”

  “Please be careful yourself and get everyone out safe.”

  “I will do my best.” With that, he was gone.

  When Seamus got back to his cabin, he found everyone huddled around the table looking at a sketch Patrick had drawn of the other cabin. They all looked up as he walked over. When Patrick asked where Donovan and Sean were being held, Seamus grabbed the pen and marked where they had been when he had been at the cabin. Then he pointed out the position of each of the guards at the time he was there.

  “We must go in as a group, but they cannot know we are there until each of us is behind one of them. We cannot give them a chance to get off even one shot at any of us.” They got down to planning the attack.

  Just as they were ready to leave, Colin stopped them. “We have a bit of a problem, Mates.”

  Both Patrick and Seamus said simultaneously, “What?”

  “Da says there are three men wondering around the cave looking for a way in.”

  Worry etched Patrick’s face as he asked, “How is it possible for them to know anyone is there or for that matter there is even anything there?”

  “Megan! Dammit to hell and back. Why had I not thought of that? She was also in that lab.” He paced toward the window. “They placed a transponder in me when I was there and have tracked me down ever since. She must have had one placed in her as well. That means she has been tracked most of her life.” He stared out the window. His life for the last seventeen years came rushing back. All the times they came after him, the horror of never knowing when the next attack might be and then all the men he killed.

  He was pulled from his stupor when Patrick said, “But why have they not attempted to take Megan before now?”

  Seamus thought for a moment before answering. “They did not want her until she became of age. She would have no special powers until then. They are after her now because they know she will be turning twenty-five. Paddy, you and Noel go to your cabin to check on the situation. If whoever is in there has access to the tracking device they are using, they will know the minute I show up.”

  He turned. “Colin, you will have to relay the information on one for them to me just before we leave. Also tell Da to reinforce the wards, add anything he can. Tell him we will get this done and be there as quickly as we can.”

  Seamus glanced back to Patrick and Noel. “One other thing, be extra careful, if they can track both Megan and I, they know we are not together. So they will know I am here and may start bringing in extra manpower.”

  With a nod, Patrick and Noel disappeared.

  Colin cleared his throat. “Da thinks it might be a good idea to put the rest of our family and Dono’s on alert.”

  “As much as I hate getting any more of us involved in this, I would have to admit he is probably right about getting them ready in the event we do need them.” Seamus wanted to hit something. Seventeen years chasing after these people only to have them keep coming. Why? How? Who was giving them information? He slammed his fist against the wall with such force the cabin shook.

  “Tell him to work on that from his end until we get this situation finished. We will contact him as soon as we are ready.”

  Megan sat on the blanket with Roarke as he explained what was going on the best he could. He froze, his head snapped up. Then he whispered, “It seems we have company as well. Stay as quiet as possible. ”

  Megan’s heart pounded and sweat covered her body in an instant. Her lips trembled
as she whispered back, “How do you know? How many of them? Can they find us? What are we going to do?”

  Roarke’s shoulders shook, trying to suppress his laughter. “Megan, my dear child, you sound just like your mother and Patrick. I have never been able to figure out how either of them ever got a single question answered when they asked so many at one time.”

  “Seamus and Uncle Donovan tell me that all the time as well. I’m sorry, I guess when I think of something I just start firing off questions without thinking how anyone will be able to answer them.”

  “It is all right, Megan, to answer your questions, I can sense them. There are three at the moment. They are trying to find a way in, yet I do not know how they would even know we were in here. We are going to relax, go into the smaller cave and the boys will be here soon enough to help us out.”

  A shiver ran down her spine. “How can you stay so calm when those men are out there? They could be some of the same men who kidnapped me and Seamus and killed my mother.” He placed his arm around her, drawing her to his side. “First off, getting upset is not going to solve our problem. The best thing we can do is get as far away from the cave entrance as we can and just wait for the lads to get here. Do not worry. I have quite a few tricks of my own should they do happen to get in.”

  Feeling safer encompassed in Roarke’s protection Megan said, “I guess I sound like a baby, don’t I?”

  “Megan, you have every reason to fear these people. From what Seamus said about what happened in that lab, it must have been terrifying for you.”

  “I might agree if I could remember what had happened there.”

  “You may not remember consciously, but I can guarantee subconsciously you remember it all. Now, shall we go into the smaller cave, so I can take a closer look at your mother’s things?” Roarke guided Megan toward the smaller cavern. Once again as she entered the other cavern, Megan felt drawn to the altar. Kneeling down beside it, she looked up to see Roarke watching her with his vivid emerald-green eyes.

  “It would seem you can feel your mother’s powers even after all these years.”

  “I’m not sure what I feel, but I can’t stay in here without wanting to get close to these things. Did you know my mom?” She watched as a smile crossed Roarke’s face.

  “My child, your mother was like another daughter to me. Both our families were very close. She had such spirit, much like you do. She could be the most stubborn child when she felt she was right, yet at the same time, she would give you anything you asked for. Our little girl was full grown when Bernadette was born, so we had a tendency to spoil her a lot. She had every man in both our families wrapped around her little finger. As a young child, she was a mischievous little one. Even before she came of age, she showed extraordinary talents. When she came into power, she was phenomenal.”

  He paused for a moment as if gathering his thoughts. “You know, I was a bit shocked when she mated with a non-Tuatha because she was so powerful. After meeting your father and seeing them together, especially after you were born, I knew it was right. It was as devastating losing her as it had been losing my own son. Now after so long to find that Seamus is still alive is just so incredible. Then to find out he is destined to be with you makes it all the better.”

  Megan absorbed this new information and asked, “I’ve learned more about mom in the last few days than in the last twelve years. Thank you for sharing this information with me.”

  Smiling at her, Roarke said, “It was my deepest pleasure. I loved your mother as if she were my own. I always enjoyed talking about her.” Then his expression changed. “She was very powerful Tuatha. To this day, I have not figured out how or why she died. Even with the injuries she sustained at the hands of those butchers, she should not have died. Something happened that none of us understand yet. Perhaps once your memory returns, you may be able to shed some light on the cause.”

  The devastation in Roarke’s face as he spoke touched Megan’s heart. She wanted to help him. “Maybe that is why I can’t seem to let go of it. Let me ask you another question about her, if you don’t mind?”

  “Child, you can ask me anything. If I have the ability to answer, I will.”

  Pondering just how to phrase this question without sounding like a total nut case, Megan asked, “Is it possible she could be trying to tell me something or protect me even now?”

  Megan watched Roarke contemplate what she had said. “As I said she was very powerful, yet I have never heard of such a thing before. Tell me why you feel that way.”

  “This may sound strange, but when Seamus and I were having lunch I fell asleep or something and dreamt of this place. I was able to find it, almost as if she led me. It was as if Mom was trying to get me here before these people showed up. I had this strange sensation that Mom was trying to tell me I needed to get here so I would be safe. Does that make sense, or am I just reading more into it than there is?”

  Roarke sat for a few minutes and Megan knew he was talking to someone. How she knew was a mystery, maybe she was beginning to get used to the way everyone around her did things. Either that, or her powers were becoming stronger as she got closer to her birthday as her uncle had said and she was beginning to understand better.

  “No one has heard of any such thing happening before, but your mum was exceptionally powerful, so I would have to say anything was possible where she was concerned.” Roarke paused staring at her. Could he read the grief she tried to hold in check?

  “I know it is difficult for you not to remember your mum. With all of us telling you so much about her, things will come back to you at some point soon.”

  Looking up, trying to smile but failing, Megan said, “That’s just it, before this trip no one ever talked about her. Dad clammed up every time I mentioned Mom. I didn’t bother to ask anyone else because I thought I would get the same response.”

  A smile blossomed on her face. “It makes me so happy to have everyone talking about her now. In fact, the other night Dad and my uncles told me some of the best stories of her, now you’ve added yours. With the few dreams I’ve had as well, she’s becoming much more real to me.”

  Roarke sat next to Megan at the altar as they looked over her mother’s possessions. He pointed out the tools he was familiar with, explaining their uses, but even he was not quite sure of a few things. One of the ones he didn’t know, fascinated Megan the most. It was a triad of different colored onyx crystals in peculiar shapes.

  Pointing to them, Roarke said, “Now these are very interesting pieces. You seem to be drawn to them. Both times I have seen you near them you have reached out like you needed to touch them.”

  Megan’s hand hovered over the piece he spoke of she said, “They seem to almost call to me. Do you think it would be dangerous for me to touch them?”

  Roarke took hold of her hand. “As I am not sure what they are for and therefore do not know what power they might possess, I would feel safer if you did not.”

  Megan forced her hand back to her lap and sighed. “Okay, can you finish telling me what the rest of these things are for?”

  Roarke proceeded to explain the rest of the items he knew.

  Chapter Ten

  Seamus missed his telepathic ability, but never as much as he did at this moment. Having to wait for Colin to relay everything made him want to rip someone to shreds. If he knew who his adversary was, he would act on his impulse without hesitation.

  “Noel says everything is as it was when you were there earlier. No, wait there is another man walking up to the cabin. Damn, I guess Mum was right about needing Conor.”

  “Has she ever been wrong when she predicts something?” His impatience grew even more as he wanted to get this over with so he could get back to Megan.

  “Now he says the person, they figure to be the leader, is arguing with one of the men in the field about Megan not being able to do that. Something about blipping in and out. Hold on, let me contact Da.”

  Seamus stalked back and forth
across the room. “This is screwy. What in the bloody hell are they talking about?”

  “Da says they went into the small cavern.”

  ”Tell Da to bring her back out the large cave for just a moment and then go right back in. See what Noel says they say about that.”

  If Seamus’s suspicions were right, there was some type of shielding in the small cavern protecting Bernadette’s artifacts.

  “Aye, Noel says they are complaining she was back for a bit, but disappeared again.”

  “All right then. We know the one in with Jim is more than likely the leader. I will try to subdue him; maybe we can get some information about this group from him. More importantly we found a safe place for Megan and myself where we cannot be tracked. It is likely Dono and Sean are going to need it as well. Get the coordinates for us and let us finish this.” Seamus slammed a fist against the wall, rattling pictures hung there.

  Moment later they had the coordinates and the information they needed. Without wasting time, Seamus and his friends infiltrated the cabin, killing six of the seven men without incident. As part of the plan, Seamus had knocked the seventh man unconscious.

  Seamus listened as Patrick told Jim Megan was safe. He could feel waves of anger pulsing off Jim as Patrick loosened his bonds.

  Jim jumped to his feet and whirled to face Patrick. “How could these men get in here without any of you knowing? You should have noticed them long before they arrived.”

  Seamus recognized Jim’s anxiety. He had felt the same way before he knew Megan was safe.

  “If it wasn’t for Seamus, they would have my daughter again. He even warned you about these people still being out there and yet you took no precautions. How is it he sensed them and you couldn’t? A lot of good you are if you can’t protect Megan any better than you did Bern.” Jim closed the distance between Patrick and him until he stood only inches away.

  When Jim mentioned his sister’s name, Patrick’s face turned purple. “That is enough!”