Page 22

Chapter Twenty-Two

T he air seemed to leave the room and Erin sat up in bed, the darkness enveloping her. Her dream had been so vivid. Padriag was battling Meliot, and the wizard was stronger. At a loss of how to help, she’d heard a woman’s voice clearly.

“The spell. Speak it out loud.”

She’d repeated the words over and over until giving up on sleep.

It was still dark outside, but she was too restless. If she was meant to help, she had to be awake. Slipping from the bed, Erin went to the kitchen opened the refrigerator and peered inside.

“Wine,” she whispered. “Come to mama.”

After uncorking the bottle, she poured a glass and padded to the front room. Not knowing what happened in the alter-world was torturous.

If the five men didn’t return, it meant they were either dead or trapped forever. Lost to this world, never to see their homeland again.

An errant tear trailed down her cheek and she didn’t bother wiping it away. Through all the turmoil and confusion of the last weeks, she’d somehow managed to form a bond with Padriag. Picturing not ever seeing him again was crushing.

It wasn’t love, not yet, they’d not known each other well enough, but in her heart, there was no arguing with knowing that he was her person. The man she could easily fall in love with and spend the rest of her life with.

So many times she’d heard the quote, “When you know, you know,” and she knew, there was not a single doubt in her mind. Why did it have to be a man with so many complications, a man who’d been alive centuries before her?

Her lips curved. He was positively the most devastatingly handsome man she’d ever known. With rugged looks, Padriag was pure man. Despite his tortured past and the cursed kingdom he came from, he was brave and positive. He’d managed to adapt to the changing times, which was admirable. Every single one of the five knights were men of incomparable courage.

The air shifted, circles of tiny lights swirling in the air. Erin eyed the glass of wine. “What the hell?”

The swirls became denser, and she braced for what would happen next. If it was Gunther, she had no weapon to use against him, unless tossing wine in his face worked. Erin backed up slowly, moving toward the kitchen and the one sharp knife she owned.

A scream caught in her throat when a ragged figure appeared, his face covered in soot, clothing torn and bloodied.

“You helped me, you were there.” Padriag had appeared, unsteady on his feet, but with a wide grin. “We did it, we’re free.” The last word caught in his throat.

“Oh my god,” Erin took a step toward him and placed her glass of wine on the table. “Are you injured?” She wasn’t sure where to touch him as every inch of his skin was either black from soot or caked with dried blood.

His mouth opened and before he could utter a word, he toppled sideways and passed out.

“Oh no,” Erin rushed closer and tapped his cheek. “Padriag. Padriag.” From the bedroom, the phone’s ringtone sounded but she ignored it. “Wake up.”

The ringing stopped as she leaned over Padriag to see if he was breathing. He was, and his pulse was strong.

The cell phone began again.

Erin rushed to her bedroom. Not so much to answer the call, but to call for an ambulance. She’d figure out a way to explain his clothing and condition once he was no longer in danger.

Tammie’s name flashed on the screen, and she tapped on the green circle to answer.

“Is Padriag there?” Tammie called out, obviously on speaker phone. “The rest of the men are here. They did it,” her voice caught. “Is he there? Please tell me he is there.”

“Stop talking and let her answer,” Sabrina’s voice sounded closer to the phone. “Erin, Padriag didn’t show up here.”

Erin let out a shaky breath. “He is here, but he passed out. I think he’s injured. I was about to call nine-nine-nine.”

“Do not call anyone,” Tristan’s voice came over the speaker. “He is not injured. Any blood you see if probably not his. He needs rest.”

“Liam passed out as well,” Tammie called out. “He’s coming too now.”

Erin was back at Padriag’s side. His eyes were open, and he blinked in her direction. “Where’s everyone else?”

“At the castle,” Erin replied watching as he sat up. “Ouch,” he rubbed the side of his head. “I banged my head pretty good.”

“Padriag,” Tristan’s voice returned. “Stay there and rest. We can all gather tomorrow to talk.”

Once the others were assured that Padriag was safe and that Erin agreed to let him stay the night, they ended the conversation.

Erin met Padriag’s gaze. “I am so glad. You did it.” She reached for him, but he held his hands out.

“I don’t want to get whatever all this crap is on you. I need to wash up,” Padriag said. “Then I will kiss you properly.” With a devilish grin, he winked at her. Erin couldn’t help but chuckle at how funny he looked with a dirty face and disheveled hair.

“I have clothes here for you. The others brought it when they came here in case you came here. They must have suspected you might since this is your ancestral home.” Her cheeks warmed, when she considered that perhaps the others thought Padriag would appear here because of her.

While he showered, Erin made herbal tea and toasted bread. When he emerged, she had a plate of buttered toast and jam waiting, as well as the tea

Wearing a simple blue t-shirt that clung to his muscular build and jeans hanging low on his hips, Padriag looked as if he belonged in modern times. His damp hair fell in lazy waves to his shoulders, framing his stubbled jaw and clear hazel eyes.

Padriag padded barefoot to where she sat and, without hesitating, he leaned over and kissed her fully on the lips. His mouth lingered over hers until her eyes fell closed and she reached up and slipped her hand around his nape, wishing to deepen the kiss.

By the time he straightened, her heart was thumping so hard she was sure it was audible.

“Please eat. Tell me what happened,” Erin said motioning to the toast. “I don’t have much more to cook right now. Everything would take too long.”

He sat in the chair next to hers and met her gaze. “Thank you. I am very hungry. With the difference in days and time, it hard to know how long it has been since I’ve eaten.”

Between bites he told her everything. How they’d defeated the first wave of Meliot’s army. The wizard’s appearance and how, just when they thought defeat was eminent, Esland had come to their rescue.

It was a fantastical tale that kept Erin breathless. Each turn of events, the creatures involved, and the medieval forms of battle kept her glued to every word. When he finally described how Meliot died, Erin gasped.

Erin spoke in a soft reverent tone. “My grandmother’s dagger was the key to your freedom. I can’t believe it. How can that be possible?” She closed her eyes needing a moment to consider what it could mean.

“What is it?” Padriag asked.

“If the dagger was a way to end the wizard, the fact my grandmother had it, could only mean one thing.”

Padriag’s gaze dropped, and he reached for her hand. “What do you think it means?”

“That my grandmother must have been to the alter-world. Or someone she knew came from there. How else would she have an ancient item from that realm?”

He nodded and took another sip of tea. “There are many people in this world that have traveled to other realms. I am sure of it.”

“I will never know. But I do wonder the reason for her insisting I have the box of what seemed to be inconsequential items.”

Erin let out a long sigh. “So many questions about everything. I suppose we have to be accepting that we may never know all the answers.”

Standing up, Padriag let out a long yawn. “I can barely keep my eyes open. Can I sleep in your bed?” He held out his hand and Erin took it.

They slipped between the sheets and Padriag pulled Erin close. Within moments he was fast asleep.

It was after midnight, she wasn’t sure of the time as she lay in his arms. It would take years to describe how she felt in that moment. One day she and Padriag would tell their children the tale of how they met, it would be a fairy tale that perhaps they’d grow up to not believe. It wouldn’t matter, because as long as she and Padriag lived, the adventure would remain with them always.

Upon waking, Padriag breath came in short shaky gasps. He fought the roller coaster of emotions, doing his best not to break down. It was true. He was free, it hadn’t been a dream.

It was early, the dim sunlight slipping through the space between the curtains.

Erin lay on her side, lost in sleep, her breathing slow and even. Her features were bathed in that gentle light. Her full, pink lips were slightly parted, her long, light brown hair spilling like silk across the pillow, catching the glow in warm strands.

She was breathtaking.

He could spend years watching her sleep. It was difficult to swallow past the growing emotions, a mixture of happiness and excitement. How had he come to be there, not only free, but with such a woman?

Just being near Erin brought him peace, settled his errant thoughts. Any idea that he was unworthy, or that he did not belong there, evaporated when she touched him. Somehow, he had to come up with a way to tell her how deeply he felt for her. That life without her in it was unthinkable. Just thinking that she didn’t feel the same way scared Padriag more than facing the hundreds in battle.

When she opened her eyes, she gave him a sleepy smile. “Have you been watching me sleep?”

“I have. You’re beautiful.”

She leaned forward and kissed him. It was a soft and sweet. “Some would say it’s creepy.”

“I want to wake up every morning like this, looking at you.”

When she reached for him and pressed her body against his, Padriag was immediately lost in her.

They made love with the desperation of two lovers finding each other again, their bodies joining with passion so strong it enveloped them completely.

Erin’s husky moans and calling out his name filled him with need, with want, with a sense of purpose as they raced toward the peak that would not only shatter their souls, but bond them in a way only lovers understood.

Their cries of release intermingled as they floated, clutching onto each other as their bodies shuddered and trembled.

Erin recovered first. With an expression of a well-satisfied woman, she raked her fingers through Padriag’s hair. “You are so very special to me.”

Her words made his insides warm. “I cannot fathom being with anyone else.”

A shadow crossed her face, and she searched his eyes for a long moment. “Padriag, you have to take time for yourself. It is important that you spend time getting your bearings, figuring out what you actually want to do. As much as it would break my heart, it would be selfish of me to expect anything from you.

He rolled onto his back bringing Erin to lay over him and looked into her eyes. “I have been waiting three hundred years for you. I know without a doubt you are the woman I want to be with.”

Everything within him seized, waiting for her reply. It was too much to hope for. That Erin would feel the same soul-deep longing that had gripped him the first time he’d seen her. Not for one second had he tried to push feelings for her away. The pureness of love was the one thing he could never deny, not after so many years without expecting anything beautiful in his life.

“I want to tell you something,” Erin replied, and his heart stopped. She was about to let him down gently. He almost laughed, there would be nothing gentle about it.

Her cheeks blossomed pink, and she pressed her forehead against his. Finally she lifted her eyes, searching his. “I have no doubt that you are the man for me. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but ... I am yours Padriag Clarre. My entire heart and soul are yours.”

Tears sprang to his eyes as her words seeped into his mind, skin, body. Pulling her tightly, he kissed Erin’s temple. “Thank God.”