Lost Wanderer Awakened - Book One of the Airendell Chronicles (39 page)

“Breena - sever! Aideen - sever!”

After that Morna just enjoys the run. She
feels like she is faster than she has ever been, but suspects that
is just the euphoria brought on by the news that her children are
not dead. By now Luca has caught up with her and she knows he could
out run her easily, but is holding back just to enjoy the run with
her. When Damian pulls alongside Morna, she is surprised that he
too holds back and runs alongside her. Morna can’t help but think,
“This is nice. I have family again.”

When they get back to the car she helps
Samantha down and asks, “Well, how’s that for fun?”

Sammy says, “Great, but I wish I could run
like that too. But riding is great too!”

Morna reaches out and takes her in a loving
embrace. “Thank you Samantha, for taking on that extra burden on my
behalf. I know it’s going to be tough, but you will be a great
service to us all by doing this. Just keep your concentration, and
get plenty of rest. Being exhausted makes it hard to keep track of
the visions when you are watching multiple persons. One of the
Guild Elders, Maggie Fine is a seer, she told me a great deal about
the gifts and struggles of being a seer. I am sure that you are
capable of doing this very well.”

Sammy kisses her cheek, and says, “Thanks
Mom, I will keep that in mind.”

Everyone laughs happily. Luca wraps his arms
around Morna and kisses her. For a fleeting moment, Morna is nearly
overcome by the urge to plunge her tongue into his mouth and kiss
him deeply, exploring his depths, savoring his taste and running
her tongue along the sharp edges of his teeth. She is shocked at
herself by this. Not that she is surprised by the urge to kiss him
like she used to, before the change, but that she deeply desires
the touch of his razor sharp, venomous teeth. A strong thrill of
fear moves up her spine like lightning that rocks her to her core
and ignites her passions in her body. She pulls back and looks at
her mate.

Oddly, he too looks unsettled by something.
She kisses him again, gently, to reassure him and herself. Once she
has suppressed the radical urge she smiles lovingly at him, he
says, “I love you, Morna Michaels.”

She replies fervently, “As I love you, Lucian
Michaels.”

The lovers reluctantly release each other and
then they all load up in the car and head for Will Rogers Airport
so that Morna and Luca can catch their flight to Chicago. Luca and
Morna use that time to fill Damian and Samantha in on the curse,
and the essentials of the Spell Weavers guild, and their role in
protecting humanity. It’s only a forty minute drive and they arrive
in plenty of time to clear security and board their plane.

When the conversation in the car lulls,
Morna’s thoughts travel back to the crash and the hatred that she
had harbored in her heart for the driver of the semi. About a month
ago, she let go of it and went to see him. She forgave him, but
that’s not enough. None of this was truly his fault. “Luca, we have
to figure out a way to help Edgar Jennings. The crash wasn’t his
fault, but he’s going to be in jail for a very long time. Can we
help him?”

“Carlisle and I already have a plan in place
to do just that. But I wasn’t going to move ahead with it until it
either became obvious that you weren’t going to get your memories
back or you got them back and decided to help him. I knew you
would.” Luca says quietly.

“Well we can’t let him rot in jail any
longer! Get him out!” Morna says with feeling.

“Morna, there’s no way we can get his
conviction overturned. He will have to escape and be taken to one
of the magical realms. Carlisle has set up a place for him at
Airendell. It seems to be our best course of action.” Luca
says.

“Well, I forgave him before I even knew that
it wasn’t his fault. When I thought it was just a horrible
accident. I went and told him so one time, but I think I caused him
more pain than I helped. But I definitely can’t let him live with
the consequences now that I know he was cursed.” Morna gets her
phone out of her purse and calls Carlisle.

“Carlisle, hello this is Morna. How are you
kiddo?”… “Me, I am great! I just found out my babies are safe….
Elves…. No joke…. Hey I need to talk to you about Edgar Jennings.
He must be freed as soon as possible. The poor guy has suffered way
too long for something that wasn’t his fault. I know he has no
family. But I read the transcripts from the trial. His co-workers
and his friends all said he was a good man and would never do
anything reckless or careless to endanger other people. Luca told
me that you have a plan, can you get rolling on that. Thank you
Carlisle. That’s a load off of my mind. I just wish I could tell
him myself that it isn’t his fault. Thank you, I will leave it in
your very capable hands.” Morna hangs up and smiles hugely. Luca
pulls the car over onto the shoulder of I-35 and kisses her
soundly.

Morna smiles when he’s finished and strokes
his face, “What brought that on?”

“You! It didn’t take you long at all to
absorb everything that has been happening to you and start trying
to take care of others. My Morna is truly back!” Luca says as he
strokes her face lovingly.

“Well, your Morna should have thought of it
before now. As soon as I realized Kyera was behind the accident.”
Morna says sadly. “I have been too focused on just me.”

“Bullshit Morna! You have been dealing with
some crazy stuff right now. You should give yourself a damned
break!” Samantha says enthusiastically. Morna smiles when Damian
and Luca concur. Morna blushes and changes the subject. They
continue with small talk the last leg of the trip to the airport,
but Morna is vastly relieved to know that Edgar will be taken care
of.

Before parting from the “kids” at passenger
drop off, Luca looks at Damian and Samantha and says, “Damian, take
Sammy right back to The Bridge. I called them earlier and told them
she would be with us, but I don’t want them to worry. And make sure
you two trade cell phone numbers so you can contact each other if
need be. And Sammy, leave Damian alone. He is far too dangerous for
any of your games, do you understand me?”

“Samantha ducks her head but says, “Yes, I
understand. Honest Luca, I think that crap is all behind me. I know
I have value now, I don’t have to do that anymore. Does that make
any sense to you?” she asks.

“Yes kiddo, it makes plenty of sense. But you
have always had value, and don’t you forget it,” Luca admonishes.
He hugs her quickly and shakes Damian’s hand, then steps back so
Morna can tell them goodbye. She hugs them both and promises that
one or both of them will be calling often with updates.

Once they are in the air and the flight
attendant has given Morna a coke she says, “Just in case you are
interested, we don’t have an audience anymore.”

Luca leans over and kisses her passionately.
“Oh I am very interested.” he whispers against her lips.

She revels in the ice cold feel of his hard
lips and his hand behind her neck. A fire starts to burn deep in
her belly. “I need you Luca!” Morna whispers fervently into his
slightly parted lips, while she struggles to resist the same urge
that she felt overwhelmed by when they were standing next to the
car in the Arbuckles. At the same moment, Luca resolves to call
Brigid to make sure the connection is severed with Aideen before he
does any more than kiss his Morna though. He can’t face the thought
of Aideen being an unwilling participant in their passion.

Luca finally breaks off the kiss saying, “We
better stop before you convince me to join the mile high club,” he
chuckles and takes her hands into his.

Morna is enjoying the feel of his hard cold
hands on hers when a thought occurs to her. “Luca do you think I
may have known about the children? Do you think that’s why I didn’t
go through with suicide all those times, why I constantly search
for them in my dreams?”

“I don’t know Morna, but I do honestly I
think that was your strength of character that kept from taking
your own life. Baby, I share in your joy at the news that your
children are alive. I look forward to meeting them once we have
sorted this whole mess out,” he replies sincerely.

“I know you do darling, and I know they will
love you,” she gushes.

“I hope so, but you know not everyone accepts
what I am as well as you do. You should be prepared for that,
darling,” he says gently.

“Oh nonsense, it only takes five minutes
around you to know what good man you are,” she insists.

“Well, I’ll take you at your word on that
matter my dear. Why don’t you try to get a little rest before we
land at O’Hare?” he suggests.

Morna snuggles up to him, and says, “Yeah a
catnap, that’s what I need.” Morna quickly drifts off the sleep and
dreams of loving her mate wildly and of Luca’s razor sharp teeth
slashing into her skin. Oddly, the dream doesn’t fill her with fear
or dread… it just feels meant to be, necessary even.

Luca watches his mate sleep on the flight
with longing. He is getting impatient to get to Chicago, he wants
to hold his mate and love her like she deserves to be loved. “Who
am I kidding? I just want to love this woman every chance I get.”
He thinks to himself with a chuckle. He tries to stifle an
unbidden, wild urge to change her and wonders if he should trust
himself to make love to her. Lucian has always strived to protect
her from what he has become. Other worries soon crowd out that
unreasonable fear as he tries to sort out how to help Morna regain
all of her powers and memories.

CHAPTER 17 - INTERLUDE IN CHICAGO

After they check into their suite of rooms at
the hotel, Morna excuses herself for the human necessary. Luca
quickly dials Brigid’s number to make sure the connection between
his mate and Aideen has been severed. He is relieved and excited to
learn that Aideen no longer sees, hears, and feels everything that
Morna does. He promises Brigid that they will be on time to her
offices in the morning and then he hangs up his phone and lays it
on the bedside table. He looks up and is surprised that Morna is
standing there watching him with an inquiring look on her face. He
did not hear her come out of the bathroom. He chuckles to himself
thinking that she gets more and more vampire like every day.

“Why was it so damned important to you that
the link is severed with Aideen? What‘s so blessed special about
her?” Morna asks a little stiffly.

“Because I don’t like the idea of having an
audience while I make love to my mate,” he says casually.

She eyes him thoughtfully, then says, “Luca I
know there is more to it than that, but I will let it go for now.
But soon, you will explain who this Aideen is and why is so
important that she be kept out of our love life. You only seemed
mildly embarrassed that Breena was connected, but this Aideen, that
really seems to bother you.”

“Love, if you don’t figure it out on your own
very soon, I will have to explain it. Fair enough?” he asks gently.
“I don’t like keeping things from you, but I have been down this
road before. Just telling you these things is painful for you. You
have to remember them on your own.”

She nods, then walks over to pick up her
toiletries bag, and says, “I need a shower, would you care to join
me?” she asks with a wicked gleam in her eye.

“Yes,” he says, “As soon as I call Breena,”
he laughs

“You can’t, she still on her flight. Look, if
I successfully broke the connection to this Aideen, then I surely
broke the connection to Breena as well,” Morna points out.

“Good point,” he concedes. And scoops her up
and carries her into the bathroom. He sets her on her feet by the
tub. He eyeballs the huge tub with the jets, and says, “I vote for
the tub, how about you?”

Morna laughs and says, “I don’t care. I want
you with or without the water, you know that.” She giggles like a
young girl as she starts unbuttoning his shirt.

“Be good,” he admonishes. “Let me run the
bath water.”

She smiles and reaches down to fish her
toothpaste and toothbrush out of her bag. Then saunters over to the
sink to brush her teeth. Once she’s finished cleaning her teeth,
she examines the scar on her face. Then pulls her sweater off to
look at her arm. She is pleasantly surprised at how much the scars
are fading. Luca comes up behind her and wraps his arms around her
waist, resting his hands on her muffin top as he nestles his head
next to hers. They are looking at each other in the mirror when he
says, “You up for another treatment, or have you had enough torture
for one day?”

“Please, let’s give it another go. I guess I
am vain enough to want to make them fade as much as possible. I
don’t like the constant reminders of the crash on my very face. But
honestly looking at them doesn’t pain me as much as it did when I
thought the children were forever lost to me.”

“That makes sense to me,” he says. “I am glad
to be of service to your uh, what did you call it? Vanity? As if
you even possess an ounce of vanity.” He laughs, then unhooks her
bra and kisses her back where the strap has left a red mark. He
lovingly trails his fingers along the red mark, moving slowly
towards the front of her body. Her quiet, sincere voice diverts his
attention from her luscious body.

“Luca there is one thing that I am very vain
about,” she confesses.

He raises his head from nipping at her throat
with his icy lips and meets her eyes in the mirror, clearly
surprised by what she said, “And what would that be, my dear?” he
asks skeptically.

“Simple,” she says, “I have great pride and
vanity because you love me so much. I have always felt that way,
ever since the very first time you confessed your love for me when
I was teaching you Spell Weaver lore. Do you remember? You were
every bit of twenty one years old. We were having lessons under
that ancient oak tree I loved so much. We decided to take a break.
We were just lying there side by side in the grass, enjoying a
beautiful day, when you asked me, “Morna, is it improper that I
love you?”