I don’t bother going upstairs. Instead I walk through the barn, noticing that two stalls are empty. Aislin has moved Fergus and Concubar to Scotland already. A grey nose pokes out as a puff of warm air blows over my shoulder. “Hello, Storm.” I grin as I turn to her. She rubs her head up my chest, the force pushing me back. “Have you grown lonely out here without the men?” Scratching between her ears, I lean my face near her soft cheek. Aislin used to bring me here to ride once a month, but it’s been awhile.

“Everyone is leaving the old girl behind.” Mr. Henri’s gravelly voice causes me to jump.

“Shoot, you scared the life out me, Mr. Henri. What you doing up this late?” I scowl at him.

“Late? Girl, this is early for me. Don’t sleep like I used to.” I watch his slow progression to my side, his legs stiff and his once dark hair mostly white. I draw him in for a hug before letting him go. My hands slide down his arms taking his hands in mine. Fingers bent, a few locked in position by arthritis, wrap around my own.

“You should go relax. I can take care of Storm.” I smile, and his eyes narrow.

“You wouldn’t be trying to get rid of me, would you?” His clear eyes look over my shoulder at the pasture and the tree in its center. “Don’t think I haven’t seen what happens under that tree. Powerful magic.” His eyes lock on mine. “I knew your Grand-mere. She was a powerful woman herself, but nothing like what is happening around here.”

I say nothing for a moment and then I lean in my mouth close to his ear. “There’s no danger here. Not right now, but you keep your eyes open, Mr. Henri. There is trouble coming. A war. If it ever comes here, you get your pirogue and you head out to Grand-mere’s old place. You know where I mean?” He nods slowly, concern etched in the wrinkles that cut deep into his face.

I squeeze his hands for a moment before letting them go. I turn as power washes gently over me, his shuffling steps retreat as he slips away. I sigh, hoping he heeds my warning, thinking of all the people that will be hurt if Loki doesn’t make a decision soon. Raven, Michael, and Sean step through the portal. My feet are flying over the ground as I race towards them, my carefully ignored emotions finally breaking free from the box I’ve had them locked in. I’m swept into the air as Sean’s arms come around me.

“Ah, ya wee fairy, I’ve missed ye.” Burying my face in his neck, I blink away tears. “Hey, what’s this?” He lifts me, holding me back from him, and I shake my head.

“Have ye broken her already, Sean?” Michael’s deep voice is by my ear. Raven smiles at me. I can see her apprehension and I shake my head, to her instant relief. I’m handed like a sack of potatoes to Michael.

“What’s wrong, lass?” He studies me as I swipe at my eyes. Shaking my head, I grimace at the question. What isn’t wrong?

“Just didn’t realize how much I missed you two.”

“We are quite missable.” Sean grins.

“Don’t get a big head, puppy,” I grouse at him, ducking out of the way as he grabs at me in jest.

Raven’s voice is quiet as she looks around. “Were you followed?” I shake my head and then explain my escape from the city. Loud, deep laughs fill the air as the sky begins to lighten, and I give them both a withering look as I link my arm with Raven’s and lead her away. “Idiots.” She just grins over her shoulder at them. Ugh, love.

We head up to the apartment, where everything is clean and fresh, thanks to Mr. Henri, or his wife, I’m sure. My stomach rumbles loudly, making me realize I’m starving. Opening the refrigerator, I see the staples. Conall must have them keeping things just in case Aislin and Kai return. Grabbing some fruit and juice, I turn and lay it on the island. The others are sitting on the stools, a look of expectation on their faces. Plucking a grape from the bunch, I pop it in my mouth, chewing slowly as I grab a glass off the shelf by the sink. I can feel the boys growing more irritated by the second; I know who will snap first. Moving back to the counter, I pick up the juice and pour it in the glass. My eyes flick to Raven’s as I bring the rim to my lips. I let the juice flow over my tongue, savoring not only its flavor but the reaction it causes.

“For fucks sake, woman, get on with it.” I knew Sean would be first. My nostrils flare as I try not to laugh, swallowing the juice as fast as I can. Lowering the glass, I grin at him. “Ye are a wee monster,” he mutters, causing Raven and I both to laugh.

Holding my palms out, I wrinkle my nose at him. “Okay, okay. I’ll tell you everything, but honestly it isn’t much.”

Raven stands and moves closer to me. “Cora…” She pauses and waits until I look at her fully. “Do you really think it is a coincidence that he is here?” I widen my eyes innocently. Of course I don’t but I’m not going to say that. Her face says she doesn’t believe my act.

“He can’t stay away from our pixie. She has cast a voodoo spell on him.” Sean grins as I turn to glare at him.

“You ain’t careful, I’ll pull out the doll I already made of you.” I lower my voice and lean over the island some. “Grand-mere taught me a few tinctures that will make you a neutered wolf.” Michael’s laugh booms, and Raven gasps. Sean’s eyes narrow as he studies me, trying to gauge the truth in my statement. I just raise a brow, daring him to speak again. “Nothing else to say?”

His lips purse together, but he winks at me and I find myself winking back. “So, what has happened exactly?” Michael wheedles, his hand running down the length of his beard before it reaches out to grasp my hand. My fingers warm under his palm, making me realize just how much I’ve missed them. These men are family to me, and I feel my eyes filling once more. Jesus, I seem unable to be around them without constantly crying. Blowing out a breath, I look up and shake my head. “Lass, what is wrong?” He stands, coming around the island but never letting my hand go. I lean into him as he wraps me in his arms, holding me tight.

What do I say? How do I answer that question? I bury my face against his chest and then I feel Sean’s warmth at my back. “Cora, girl, tell us what’s wrong. We will protect you.” His breath blows over my hair. That’s just it -- I don’t need protecting. I’m not sure what I need. My emotions are in turmoil, threatening to boil over.

‘Are you in danger?’ His voice whispers through my mind, causing me to jerk in Michael’s arms. My eyes fly to Raven, and I see hers are narrowed and sliding around the room. Sean stiffens behind me, and Michael pulls me closer. I look up into his brilliant blue eyes, and he mouths to me, “Are they here?”

Raven is watching me now. She knows who it was; she felt the sliver of power. ‘Cora! Are you in danger?’ His voice is filled with worry and a hint of anger, and I jump. “No. I’m fine.” I say it out loud, unsure if he will hear it, not knowing how to connect exactly. The power fades away. Everyone’s face is now lined with worry. I pull out of Michael’s arm and move in front of Raven.

“How did he do that? Why did he do that?” I ask quietly, my nerves strung tight. She looks at me, some emotion shining in her eyes. She motions toward the couch, and I follow her, lowering myself down while tucking my feet under me. I pull a pillow to me, pressing it to my stomach. I grow more worried as she composes her thoughts.

“Do you remember when I asked how often you had dreamt of my father?” I nod once. “You said always, for as long as you could remember. Did you recognize him at the wedding?”

“Not exactly. He reminded me of the dreams, but until I was trying to find you with these two after the Norns, I don’t ever remember seeing a clear picture of him in the dreams. It was like it was foggy or misty, and then after the whole mess with these two, everything cleared.”

Her face tightens at the reminder of the men’s deaths. I squeeze my eyes shut at the memory of their blood. Almost every night, I wake up looking at my hands, seeing them coated almost black with the blood. Now they move to sit on the table across from us, reaching for us both. I shake my head as they both open their mouths. “You don’t need to. It ended well.”

“We both know well what it is like to be haunted by images of death, Cora. We didn’t mean to do that to ye.” Sean’s eyes are full of regret. My hand reaches out, and I cup his cheek.

“I know that.” I swallow, before deciding to tell them what was bothering me, what is bothering me. “I just… well,” I clench my teeth and breathe deeply through my nose, trying to calm myself and keep the tears that are threatening once more at bay. “I’ve been alone here. Lonely. Aislin and Emma were, are, my family, and they are gone. Then I chose you two, love you both so much, but you have your life, and I needed to come home but once I got here,” I sweep my hand around, “it’s just me. Alone.” The tears fall then. “I haven’t felt like this since Grand-mere passed. I just have to get used to being by myself again that’s all.”

“Fuck that.” Michael’s anger startles me. “We claimed ye, just as you did us, lass. Why didn’t you call? Ye could have stayed with Patrick or came to us.” I hear the hurt in his voice. “Ye think we forgot about ye because we have Raven? Ye don’t think much of us at all then.” His accent is so thick in his anger that it takes me a minute to figure out what he said. He’s on his feet and stalking away while I’m still puzzling it out. My shoulders slump as I realize his words. Sean is watching me closely as I climb to my feet. I squeeze his shoulder in apology, and his hand comes over mine as he shakes his head. Raven is watching Michael.

I stop behind him, “I’m sorry. I didn’t think of it like that. You are the best two men I’ve ever known. I love you more than you can imagine.” He turns and looks down at me.

“I can imagine it because we love you the same, girl. You think we are so different, but we aren’t. We guard ourselves just as you do, we don’t trust easily. Our family is one of our choosing, just as yours is, and we chose you, Cora. You won us over with the beauty of your soul, your strength, and your loyalty. We would gladly pull those guns out and pull the triggers again, if it meant keeping you safe.” My eyes widen, and I glance over my shoulder. Sean is nodding and Raven is smiling. She’s smiling when he just said they’d kill themselves. She sees something in my eyes because she stands, coming to us.

“You are important to them, and they are important to me. They wouldn’t be the men I love if they abandoned those they cared for. It isn’t just that, though I hope you consider me a friend after everything.” She moves to Michael’s side, and he pulls her in close, keeping me held to him with his other arm. I blink and then nod at them before stepping back. Moving around them, I stop in front of the tall window that looks out at the pasture and the tree in the middle.

“Back to what I asked you.” Raven has moved up behind me. “I think when Yggdrasil and the Norns forced you to release your control on your power, it burned away whatever was cloaking your dreams. Maybe they had been hidden until you were ready to face them.” I harrumph, thinking I’m still not ready, and she chuckles. “Okay, maybe it was until he was ready or until it was needed.”

I look at her over my shoulder, “I don’t think he cares for whatever the dreams or the link means.” I don’t admit that very fact hurts, that my stomach churns and my eyes burn with rejection. Her hand rubs over my back.

“If it is you that he runs from, Cora, why is he in your city?” I shrug, feigning indifference, before turning back and walking to the couch. I flop down, feeling every bit a sulking child. They are all silent, just staring at me. Sighing, I shift, turning at an angle away from them and refusing to answer. I bounce as Sean flops down beside me, pulling me close, not letting me squirm away.

“Lass, I saw your face when you thought of him,” he murmurs in my ear. I push at him, but it’s like pushing a wall so I turn and glare.

“I don’t know him. At all. Just because of a few dreams, I’m supposed to what? Fall naked into his bed, legs spread wide?” You could hear a pin drop until Sean and Michael both start laughing like hyenas.

“Well, I bet it would certainly get his attention,” Michael chokes out.

I look at Raven, and her cheeks are pink, which makes me grin, and then a giggle bubbles up. Soon, I’m laughing so hard I can’t catch my breath, all my emotions finally breaking free. Minutes later, I stop, and the tension has left my body.

“I don’t know what it all means, Cora, but I do know we can’t win without my father. I believe you are the person to get him to face his true destiny.” Her voice is strong and steady.

“Alright, what do you want me to do?” I ask, shooting to my feet, hands on my hips. I look at them, waiting for the answer until I feel my power flare to life.