Blue Keltic Moon (Children of the Keltic Triad) (8 page)

“I can’t permit you to go into the unknown. Not now. Not when you’re pregnant.”

Jayse jerked and pulled his wife around to face him. “Dea Annie?”

Lucidea frowned and pointed an accusing finger at Breanna. “
She
thinks I’m pregnant.” Lowering her hand, she sighed. “I don’t know. I have to admit there’ve been signs, but I ignored them. Jayse, I... You know how hard it’s been for us, how much harder each time was.” She stood stiff and unrelenting for a moment then let herself be enfolded in Jayse’s arms.

He kissed the top of her head. “If there’s any possibility, Dea Annie, any chance at all, there’s no way you’re going to go into the world between worlds.” He chuckled softly. “I don’t even know if I’ll let you pass through any portal.”

“But I have to save Morghan,” she mumbled into his chest.

Jayse leaned back and held her shoulders at arms’ length. “At what cost to you? To us? No, Lucidea. I would never deny you a thing. But this. I won’t let you endanger yourself and the possibility of our child.”

“But it is only a possibility.”

Breanna shook her head and blew out a breath, stirring her bangs. “Each of you has trusted me with healing a wound. Have I ever failed you?” She rested her gaze on each in turn. And received slow head shakes in return. Except from Gowthaman. He sat, head bowed, refusing to look at her. She couldn’t take time now to examine his behavior; she had to convince the others of what she knew. Of the happiness that awaited them in a few months.

“When I allow myself, I see the colors surrounding each of you. I see soulfire rising strong and bright between Jayse and Lucidea. And in that soulfire is a another color. Pale, but strong. Centered and sparkling around Lucidea’s womb. Trust me, you’ve got a baby in there. And Jayse, it’s long past the time when she’s miscarried before. I don’t believe this child will leave you.”

At Lucidea’s sharp intake of breath, Bree lifted one hand to forestall her speech. “Unless you do something stupid. Crossing into the world between worlds is a fool’s errand at any time since we know so little about it. You will not risk it. If I have to pull rank on you, I will.” She smiled to soften her all too real threat.

“As shall I,” Coralie stated firmly. “Ye shall no’ endanger yer family in any way. I shall go in yer stead. ’Tis my right, mayhap more than yers. Ye have yer love to hold. I shall bring mine home.” She turned her gaze to Breanna, eyebrows lifted in question over her determined expression. “If that is permissible, lady Alastriona.”

“I welcome your help.” There would be no way to keep Coralie from joining in her lover’s rescue. Bree glanced at Gowthaman, understanding the intensity of Coralie’s feelings.

“But—” Lucidea started.

Jayse covered her lips with his for a brief, hard kiss. “They’ll be fine, love. We’ll be here for the planning and to hold down the proverbial fort. I’m sure we’ll all have our parts to play in Morghan’s rescue. Just remember what I said.” He tapped his finger on the tip of her nose. “Here. This house. This world. Oh god, Dea Annie, I love you.” He rested his hand over her abdomen. “Both of you.”

Blinking back tears Breanna left the workroom followed by Gowthaman. She returned to her seat in the kitchen and fiddled with the sketchpad. Gowthaman waited a moment then began adding the new information to his journal. When Coralie scooted her chair close, Bree studied her. “Coralie, I think we’ll need at least one other to go with us. I know we don’t have much time to make the decision of who would be best suited. I’d really like your opinion.”

The other woman nodded. “Agreed. But first, since we’ve heard m’lord Morghan’s words, we should listen to what Gowthaman has found. With both together, we shall have more basis for our decisions.”

Gowthaman jerked at the mention of his name, his fingertips scraping over the journal page. Breanna ached to take his hand again, to offer nothing more than calm reassurance. He needed her touch, his soul called out for her healing. She reached one hand toward him, but he flinched and she drew her hand back to her side. One day he would realize how much she loved him and how deeply they needed each other. One day
.
Holding back a sigh she looked past Coralie and out the window overlooking the loch. She was tired of waiting for one day.

When this mission was complete, with Morghan home and in Coralie’s arms, Bree vowed she’d find a way to make him face his demons. And her.

Flushed and smiling, Jayse and Lucidea returned to the kitchen. Gowthaman took a deep breath and after digging though his carry sack set a few scrolls next to his journal. Bree dipped her head to hide her grin. He didn’t need the scrolls except to create a secure wall of knowledge to hide behind. He knew the information the scrolls contained, or had at least copied the relevant parts into his own notes. His mind amazed, intrigued and delighted her. His intellect was one of the many things she loved about him.

Gowthaman looked briefly at his notes then began. “An hour or two should be all I need to determine the exact time when the veil will allow passage to the... world between worlds. We need to determine the incantations needed to part the veil for both the transition from here and when you are ready to return.”

Coralie reached for the sketchbook. “There were a few chants Morghan discarded afore his battle against the elemental. I shall write them out for ye. Mayhap ’twill be of assistance.”

Gowthaman smiled at Coralie, though Bree noticed how tightly he gripped his pen. “Thank you. I believe comparing those to other recorded incantations will bring us the correct words for our purpose.”

“If you can get us there, that will be enough.” Breanna put more confidence into her words than she felt, and the look Gowthaman flashed her said she hadn’t fooled him. “Okay, maybe not enough, but it will be a start.”

M
orghan bent double, scrambling over low, jagged rocks. He peered around a narrow ledge into a level, open area at the top of a conical hill. Now that he’d found his mind... He shook his head fiercely and speared his fingers through his hair chasing the mist and forgetfulness continually attacking his consciousness.

He would not lose himself again.

A massive temple complex had once stood centered on the vast plain. He scanned the tumbled ruins. Surrounded by the remnants of smaller buildings, the arches and broken walls of the ancient temple reached majestically toward the gray sky.

Empty. Morghan frowned. Wearied of tormenting him, the fire elemental had retreated to his temple.

Sinking to sit behind a tall stone, Morghan supposed that retreat had been a mixed blessing. While ending the constant taunting and battle had been a relief to his exhausted soul, the lack of stimulation had led to his dulled mind and—

The muffled crunching of feet upon stone rose from across the plateau. Morghan stilled his breathing and allowed his lips to stretch to a smile. The movement and stretch of unused muscles felt odd. He increased the width of his smile. Mayhap he would now treat the elemental to torments of his own.

Morghan eased close to the ground and peered around the rock. Brandr Ur stomped up the narrow stairs toward the three-sided structure topping the temple. Once the elemental stood before the stone throne he’d claimed, he turned and stared in Morghan’s direction.

The heat of Brandr Ur’s scrutiny touched Morghan. Awareness crawled across the back of his neck. The elemental tilted his head and lifted his hands chest high. A ball of flame burst into brightness between his palms. He held the churning gray fire and moved his hands to increase and decrease the size of his show of power.

Morghan rose and stepped from behind the rocks. No need to hide his presence. The elemental had sensed him and now sought to disable his renewed spirit. Morghan tossed back his head and laughed.

Brandr Ur answered with a growl and his flame ball burst into fiery fragments that smoked in the dry air.

The physical touch of the elemental’s glare sparked memories of their first battle. Morghan fought the rise of anger and lifted one shoulder to ease the tension tightening his neck.

He hadn’t been defeated yet. Neither had the elemental won. Both were trapped here in this gray world. Letting despondency take him had been a mistake. He would not again fall prey to meaningless taunting and threats.

From the blatant show of power and the elemental’s posturing, Brandr Ur knew as well as he, a conjunction of moons approached. A conjunction signaling renewed battle.

Morghan tossed off a cocky salute and turned his back on his enemy. No matter the cost to him, the fire elemental, Brandr Ur, would never leave the world between worlds.

Such was his vow.

––––––––

T
elling her parents she was leading a rescue mission to the world between worlds was one of the most difficult moments Breanna had ever encountered. When she finally got the words out, their reactions surprised her.

“It’s part of the duties you took on as the leader of the Alastriona, honey,” her mother said calmly. “Your dad and I have every confidence in your abilities. Oh, don’t worry, I’m going to stress over every moment you’re in that nether world. But you worrying about how we feel isn’t going to help the mission.” Her shoulders lifted in a casual shrug, but a shimmer of tears glistened on her lashes. “I suppose it’s not a whole lot different any time mothers send their children off to war, is it?”

Mom had hit the nail square on the head. Bree was going to war. Not against the people or politics of another nation, but against a world, a place. “No Mom, it isn’t. I can’t promise everything will be fine.”

“I know, honey. Just be safe. Have you told your granda?”

Bree shook her head and grimaced.

Her dad chuckled at her unwilling admission. “Da will be envious. He’s often spoken of exploring different worlds.”

“Maybe he’ll get a chance once all this is over. Gowthaman has some interesting theories on how worlds connect. We may be able to find portals to some of these places without having to pass through the world between worlds.” Bree shared her granda’s excitement for adventure and exploring. Despite the dangers inherent to any mission into the unknown, the thrill burned within her. Although she wouldn’t be the first to experience the world between worlds and return, none of the others she knew of had embraced the experience by choice. If only there was a way to share her excitement with Gowthaman.

“How is Gowthaman?” her mother asked. “He hasn’t shown up to many family gatherings lately.”

“He... he’s withdrawn. He won’t let me help and it’s been too long. He’s unsuccessfully dealing with the recurring horror and pain alone.”

“He’s a proud Faerie, Bree.”

“I know, Dad.”

“And it’s difficult to ask for help.”

“I know that too. I hurt for him, seeing him suffer when he doesn’t need to.”

Her mother’s eyes darkened for a moment and Bree knew she relived the dark moments of her own past. “Maybe he does, honey. It’s a part of healing.”

“But to hold on to that pain for a lifetime? He’s got to come to terms with what happened. Work through it like you did. With help. No, Mom. It’s some stupid... oh, I don’t know. After all this is done, I’ve got to find a way to make him talk to me. About us.”

Her parents shared a look she didn’t have to interpret and Breanna blew out a breath filled with frustration and a bit of humor. “I’ve got to run. We’ll cross into the world between worlds tomorrow night.” She gave them each a hug. “Love you both.”

After another round of somber hugs, Bree smiled, waved and left the house. She leaned back against the brightly painted door and closed her eyes. All around her were couples so filled with love for each other it was amazing they didn’t burst with the joy.

She shook away her thoughts. This was not the time for daydreams and romantic notions. This was the time for preparation and action. Eyes open, she stared unseeing into the park across the street. There wasn’t much time before the action would consume all her attention.

“Sis?” Chance eased around a tree.

She gave him half a smile. “What do you want? I don’t have time to—”

He crossed his arms in a belligerent pose. “I’m going.”

“Where?”

“With you, stupid. To the world between worlds.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Come on, Bree. What have you been training me for if not to stand by your side in battle? So I’m not
mature.
So I’m not a full Faerie warrior. So? I need this, Bree. I need to do something important.”

She didn’t have the patience for his young man bravado or angst and pushed away from the door. “You’ve got plenty of time for importance.”

“No, Bree. Listen. I’ve got this... No, I can’t be like my father. I’ve got to prove...”

“What are you talking about?”

Chance glanced around and moved a step closer. Breanna tensed. What was he playing at? But the look he gave her, the dark, haunted dullness in his normally clear blue eyes reminded her so explicitly of Gowthaman’s pain she reached out to him and rested her hands on his shoulders. “What is it?”

After swallowing heavily and looking around again, he spoke in a harsh whisper. “It’s like, there’s a voice. Inside my head. Suggesting things, telling me things... stuff I don’t want to hear.” His whisper morphed into a ragged chuckle. “Nah, I’m not schizophrenic or anything like that. I’d know. Hell, Bree, you’d know. It’s like when Feidhlim tried to contact me, to control and use me when I was a baby.” He shuddered and she gripped his shoulders tightly.

“He’s dead. It can’t be him.”

“I know.” Frustration flowed from Chance in waves. “Sorry. I know it can’t be him. I said it was
like
him.”

“How long has this been going on? Why haven’t you said anything before now?”

A ruddy color crept up his neck and stained his cheeks. He shook off her hands, but didn’t move away. “Only a couple days ago. That might not seem like much, but it won’t stop. The voice is always there in the background. Most of the time, I don’t understand the words, but I feel them. Like a constant hum. White noise. It’s driving me crazy.”