Chapter 5
Manus lifted me off the boat deck and onto the dock. My stomach was still queasy from the ocean’s motion.
Okay, maybe queasy was a grand understatement.
I was definitely glad to be off the boat that had brought us from the Irish mainland to the island.
The March cold of Ireland had been left far behind.
The air here had the warm, thick feel of the Deep South.
I felt the familiar burn start a low churn inside me.
My power was reaching out to the magic that surrounded us.
The same magic that allowed the island to remain hidden in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean.
Instinctively, I put my hand to my stomach.
“Welcome to WildLand,” Doran said proudly as she moved to stand beside me.
She looked a little younger in the afternoon light, whereas I felt tired and worn after hours of seasickness.
As I watched her breathe in, I felt the tingle of her essence stirring.
As she raised her hands to the sun, the tingle quickly turned into a wash of power so strong I had to steady myself not to be knocked over by it.
Her magic filled the air, mingling with the native magic of the island. It was prickling as it danced over my skin. Wave after wave pushed through me, melting away into the trees, singing to the island, strong and true.
I was awed to silence, experiencing the true power of a High Priestess for the first time. How on earth would I ever become the Witch that Doran was when I was inept at the simplest spell, unable to direct or contain the budding power that rose from my soul?
Small sparks of other magics all around us responded and merged with her silent announcement. I have returned, it said. It felt as if the very trees themselves acknowledged it. We all stood still, absorbing the glow of Doran’s power.
Wondering what would come next, I glanced around the shore—and caught the sound of a low, rumbling thunder coming from deep within the forest. Curious, I took a few tentative steps forward and spotted a trail off to the left. None of the others seemed concerned by the approaching sound.
A faint recognition dawned on me. Horses. Loud horses.
Suddenly, there came a white storm bursting from the trees.
Two open carriages, each with a pair of magnificently matched white draft horses that took my breath away as they raced toward us.
The driverless carriages drawn behind were also gleaming white and trimmed in bright maroon velvet, but they couldn’t match the brilliance of the horses.
The rigging that held the steeds was covered in shining silver and gold trim that gleamed in the early sun.
I stood transfixed at the sight as the teams skidded to a stop at the end of the dock. A deep, earthy magic rolled off the horses. I felt it rising above them like steam as they shifted and stomped in excitement. Surreal.
“Your chariot, my lady.” Tynan reached out and used one of his long fingers to lift my jaw, closing my gaping mouth. He grinned and took my arm to escort me to the second carriage as Manus led Doran and Bevin to the first, where Hogan was waiting with the door open.
I sank back into the heavily cushioned velvet seats as the horses spun the carriages around.
The rigging creaked and rattled. We took to the path at an alarmingly fast pace that made me cling to the seat, my hair whipping behind me.
Tynan sat facing backward, unconcerned with the speed and the lack of a driver, relaxed and enjoying the ride.
Bright sunlight spilled through the forest, sparkling on the dew-damp leaves and highlighting his golden hair.
Having him so close was torture. I wanted to take the two steps across the carriage and crawl into his lap.
I twisted in my seat to avoid his gaze, to hide the feelings that were lurking so close to the surface.
We passed a small clearing, and several deer stopped their nibbling to watch us pass, unaffected by the thundering hooves or the jingling harnesses.
After we passed, they stepped into the path behind, still watching us.
Birds followed behind the carriages as well.
All kinds of birds, brightly colored and drab alike.
The largest, a hawk, swooped low over our heads.
The path was starting to accumulate all sorts of animals.
We were moving too fast for me to make them all out, but large or small, I felt the life force in them all.
“Remember who you are,” Tynan murmured the words from across the carriage, and I heard them like a distant echo. “Priestess of the Wild. They are all drawn to you.”
I looked back at him from the path. “I feel them. All of them.” It wasn’t a feeling I could truly explain, but the prick of each of their lives reverberated in my mind.
I closed my eyes and tried to see each one for what it was, and I could.
I felt each individual presence, each life force.
They were all part of me, attuned to my energy.
I truly understood my title, Priestess of the Wild, for the first time.
All things here called to my soul—the loudest of which was the soul of the man sitting across from me.
When I opened my eyes, I met Tynan’s intense, appraising gaze.
He bowed his head without breaking eye contact to acknowledge my revelation.
Goose bumps arose on my arms from the desire in the depths of his eyes.
Throughout the long plane ride from Romania to Ireland, I had intentionally avoided looking into those eyes.
Feelings more intense than any I had ever experienced overrode common sense when he was close.
The flight over on his private plane had only convinced me further that I indeed was wholly in love with Tynan.
“You have your father’s eyes…or I presume you will when you’ve come into your full powers.” The corner of his lips turned up just a little. “I knew him. A good man.”
“Tell me about him. They’ve told me about my mother, but not him.”
“Coyle was half Demon,” Tynan answered. He didn’t offer more. Of course, truths had to be dragged out of this group. They shied away from anything that might bring me the slightest dismay, and I was tired of being treated with kid gloves.
“Okay, Mr. Silent Type, let’s try a different question. If Mother had the seed of two men, how do they know which is my father and which is Feldema’s?” Maybe I would have him on this one. It was a harder question to be vague about.
“Her father was a full Magician. Magicians are the males of the Witch species. Dema came into her powers at the normal time for a Witch, so it’s obvious she was the daughter of the Magician.
Your father was part Demon, part magician, and had a hint of human.
We believe that’s why you retained your human attributes until now.
” He leaned across and caressed my cheek.
“Plus, those beautiful eyes are Demon. No question.”
I blinked and felt myself starting to lean forward into his touch, pressing my cheek into his cool palm. His gaze drifted from my eyes to my lips and back. I was sure he could hear my heart pounding over the churning of the carriage wheels. He leaned in closer…
The carriage jerked, and he lost his balance, breaking the moment.
I pulled back as he straightened, turning away in a weak attempt to fight the heat of excitement that had rushed through my veins from his touch.
I forced my attention back to the path as it opened into a vast valley of lush, open pasture.
The speeding wheels left a swaying wake of purple and white Irish heather.
Tynan opened his hand to me and offered a gold coin. It looked like a Spanish doubloon, a real one.
“We’ll come to the river shortly. Throw it in,” he said.
I stared at the coin for a moment. My studies had covered all kinds of creatures and beings.
There was only one I could think of that would be significant to the river.
“Trolls?” I questioned. He nodded. When the clatter of hooves hit the bridge, I leaned over the side of the carriage as far as I could.
The river below ran strong and was about fifty feet wide under the bridge.
I let loose the coin, and it flipped and tumbled.
As soon as it broke the surface, there was a disturbance, and I saw a green, mossy mass.
I watched the spot as we passed, but couldn’t see any other sign of the Trolls.
“You will be properly introduced,” he said. I added questions about Trolls to the growing mental list of things I needed to ask Bevin.
That thought brought on another question. “How are you managing the sun?”
His deep chuckle raced along my nerves as much as his closeness had. “It’s part of the magic of the veil that protects and conceals the island. The same magic that keeps the island hidden from the non-magical protects me. I can tolerate it for short periods before I must…retire.”
The carriage raced around a bend, and the forest gave way to civilization.
The horses slowed as we got to the first of the buildings, and we rolled along what I guessed to be the main street, where giant oaks lined the walks and hung over the road.
Flowering shrubs dotted the front yards of the shops and houses.
Made of creamy stucco or ancient, silvered wood.
There were cottages and huts of all sizes, ranging from massive to the size of doghouses; the smaller dwellings were haphazardly stacked on top of each other.
The entire scene reminded me of a Seuss book.
Leaning over the side of the carriage, I looked down the side streets that wound off in both directions.
Some were populated with more modern housing.
Farther behind the storybook village stood warehouses and stores.
As we came to the end of the street, the carriage meandered between more grand old oaks dripping with Spanish moss and stopped next to the other carriage in front of a set of large metal gates.
“Cold iron.” He gestured to the gates. “The metal of protection. Third-generation Fairies forged these. The old magic used in their production provides additional wards for the manor.” The gates opened slowly, commanded by a wave of Doran’s hand from the carriage ahead.
I craned to look ahead, to catch a peek, but the lumbering oaks lining the path blocked any view.
“Your home,” Tynan said as the carriages drew forward once more.
The path finally opened to reveal a mansion that managed to keep the charm of the cottages on the main street while occupying several city blocks, part of which appeared to have at least two stories.
The exterior was creamy, off-white stucco, accented with brick-red clay roof tiles.
Natural gardens with walking paths and cozy seating areas sprawled on both sides of the driveway, further softening the palatial facade.
The place looked welcoming. I’d expected something more ominous, like Castle Dracula, but Doran’s manor was gorgeous.
One could even say cute, if one looked past its size.
I had little time to settle in or explore after our arrival.
After I was shown my rooms, Tynan went to retire and Doran disappeared to check arrangements for my formal introduction, which was scheduled for the next afternoon.
Bevin set to the task of making sure I knew the history of and the manner of courtesy due to each individual who would be in attendance.
She grilled me on the details over and over to ensure I wouldn’t insult anyone.
After hours of study and quizzing, she finally left me.
Even after a full day of air travel, horrid seasickness, and study time, I was restless rather than tired.
I couldn’t get the feeling of Tynan’s hand on my face out of my mind.
His presence was with me as I paced the room.
The large bedchamber started to feel confining.
I needed some time to sort out my growing feelings for the Vampire, and for that, I needed some serious caffeine.
Hogan and Manus were both elsewhere, so I was on my own to venture out of my suite.