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I opened my eyes to a portal of mist forming a few feet away from where I sat. The mist smelled of green fields and running water. It smelled of Ireland and home. My eyes teared up in reaction, but they cleared quickly when a giant man with long red hair, glowing emerald green eyes, and a massive body exited the portal.

I smiled at him in welcome. “It’s a pleasure to see ya, Lord Dagda.”

“It’s a pleasure for me to know ya claimed yer godly heritage at last, Aran O’Malley.”

I pushed my tiny self out of my too-big chair and stood straight as he moved closer. The Dagda was a giant in human form, but his embrace was gentle, warm, and supportive. It was the best of his magick that my illustrious ancestor could make me feel just the perfect size for anything life threw at me.

He pushed me away to study me. “Ya’re one of the bravest of my lineage and I knew seven years of that prison wouldn’t break ya. Now, what problem is so daunting today that Aran of The Dagda needs my help?”

When I didn’t immediately answer, his arms surrounded me again. I tried my best not to weep against him. Weeping was not something warriors did with their mentors, but I was tired and emotional. Maybe I was peri-menopausal. Whatever the cause, I was not feeling my best after so little sleep.

“I have to fight a guardian. She’s living on Earth in human form, but seems to have many of her guardian powers. I don’t know how to defeat her.”

The Dagda released me and waved me back to the cushion-less chair. Frowning now, he sat in the other one and filled it up with his largeness. There wasn’t an ounce of fat on him. The Dagda was all muscle and maleness. I think that was why I missed the old Rasmus so much. His size reminded me of a man who’d been a second father to me.

The Dagda met my gaze. “If the guardian is ashe, then ya’re speaking ofZara. To the best of my knowledge, she’s the only female guardian walking around on this planet.”

“Yes,” I said, relieved not to have to explain her.

The Dagda studied me as he spoke. “Guardians don’t die, Aran, so there will be no defeating Zara in the normal sense. And you’re right about her. Her brethren confined her to a human form, she has reclaimed many of her powers. That makes her a supernatural being unlike any other on this planet.”

“Oh, I believe ya,” I said sadly, and attempted to smile. “Did ya know Da was the child of a guardian? Did ya know I had Orlin’s blood running through me?”

The Dagda gave me a shrug. “When I went to get this body, Orlin himself told me. And said he intended to tell ya. I didn’t believe him at first. The guardians have a way of making people forget things—even my people. Orlin knew Murieann was one of mine so he made sureInever knew about him being in her life. In fact, he made sure our entire family never knew. That’s why yer Da thought his father was a worthless human male who left his mother and chose not to return. One of Orlin’s brethren planted that story in everyone’s head and I hate that yer father died believing it.”

I nodded. “That sounds precisely like the Orlin I know.”

“So ya’ve seen Orlin in human form then? He made this body I’m wearing and did a fine job. Mostly, I look as I did when I first walked this plane. My energy being is well-supported by it and I’m enjoying my time here with yer kind.”

I nodded a second time. “Orlin bragged to me about helping ya. I’ve seen a lot of guardians since I got out of prison and even rescued one from human scientists. The one I saved is currently sleeping in my garage. His brethren gave him a new human form and took his guardian memories from him so he could live human with me until I die. Apparently, they all felt I couldn’t handle the real guardian version of Rasmus, so he underwent a total transformation like Zara. I told them to piss off in general terms when I first saw how extensive his changes were. Eventually, I got used to how he looks now, but he’s very different as a person.”

“Does Goddess Danu know about them messing with yer feelings this way? My sacred mother would never support that.”

I shrugged. “I’ve only their word that she knows what’s been happening, but they lie too easily for me to simply accept what they say. The guardians don’t have my trust.”

The Dagda chuckled. “Ya’re more like me than any child my loins directly produced. Human genetics are so fascinating. What game are they playing with ya, Aran? I can see the stress of it on yer face. It’s hard for me to think of Orlin being yer biological grandfather, but it does explain why yer special.”

“I don’t know if I’m special in any way, but I knew what Orlin said was true the moment he spoke the words. I bet Da knew it too, but couldn’t stop being mad about it. Lies cause problems for everyone, including Murieann who never got a chance to tell me the truth herself because Da wouldn’t let her. I still don’t understand any of that.”

“Well, lies sometimes make life easier for a good long while. Many people are okay with that.”

“Yes,” I admitted, sighing at my own concession. Didn’t I feel the same? “I put a demon compulsion on Jack to get him to behave, but recently had to remove it. I’m trying not to regret my actions—both the compulsion and releasing him.”

“Is yer former husband still being an arse about everything?”

“Being an arse is Jack’s default setting. Worse, Orlin informed that Jack’s father was a guardian. I bound Jack to look for his guardian father. Orlin says he’s watching for Jack’s search and will help set him straight. We’ll see how that goes.”

The Dagda narrowed his eyes until they flashed. “Those sneaky bastards. They could have told me and I would have talked to yer Da. I could have spared Murieann and him both.”

I waved a hand. “Orlin told me some story about the guardians only recently realizing they’d not made their human forms quite as sterile as they believed. Many have fathered children, but no offspring like the original Nephilim. Thank the gods…”

The Dagda looked off. “I’m grateful they didn’t repeat the past.”

“So am I,” I said quietly. “It was Orlin who insisted I remove the demon compulsion from Jack. I warned them that I would kill Jack if he used demon magick on our daughter again. Ya’re the only one I’d let stop me from taking his worthless life if that happens.”

The Dagda burst out laughing just as the sun chose to finish rising over the trees. I sighed over my loss of sleep and pulled the blanket tighter. My body ached and my head throbbed. The company was good, and I was happy The Dagda was here, but no way could I fight Zara in my current condition.

“Do ya have any advice to help me deal with Zara?”