AISLIN

We return to the garden. Kai leans against the doorframe, waiting. His eyes caress over me, but he waits to see what I will do. Smiling, I send love through our link, love and the need to speak to Jason. He nods his head once, turning. "I will be patrolling the grounds. I felt something earlier. I felt it a few times since this all started."

Jason looks at him with concern, and asks, "Why didn't you say anything? We should be looking for whatever it is." He steps toward the door but stops and looks back at me, indecision warring on his face.

Kai never slowed, his voice kept low to keep from waking the others. I couldn't hear it, but he sent his response over our link. 'That should keep him with you and give you time to speak to him, my love.' I smile at his scheming.

Grabbing Jason's hand, I move to a chair pulling him with me. He resists only a moment. "So, your mother…," my eyebrows raise as I wait for a response. Shaking his head, he looks anywhere but at me. He is picking at his nail, and I realize he is really upset. "Jason, you don't have to talk to me about any of it, but she said some amazing things. I took a class once and the professor talked about how we always see other people's actions through the lens of our own reactions. What if you don't know everything about why she did the things she did? I know what a mother's love looks like and I saw it in her eyes. I'm not going to tell you everything she said, but one day you should listen to what she needs to tell you."

His hand cuts through the air as he minutely shakes his head and stands. Turning, he rubs his brow and sighs, "Aislin, please. You have no idea."

Moving to his side, my hand rubs along his back. Pursing my lips at him, I give him a look, "I don't, and no one else does either. You need to tell someone your secrets or they are going to eat you up."

Drawing in a breath, I feel his anger rising and force myself to remain calm. His tone is deep when he grinds out through his teeth, "Do you tell yours? Do you tell the things that happened on that ship?"

Flinching, my heart slows and time seems to freeze. Instantly, I see the self-loathing in his eyes. My hand clutches at my throat and I swallow hard. I look up to keep the tears in my eyes and whisper, "Not all of them, but I told Kai most. I whisper them in the darkness as he holds me tight, keeping the monster at bay."

He steps to me, pulling me into a tight embrace, "I'm sorry, so sorry. I shouldn't have..."

"Bubba, it is all right. You must let someone in." Clutching at his shirt,I refuse to let him go. It kills me watching this strong man struggle with his demons. I made my decision, I’ve said all I can about it tonight, so I'm going to broach another secret. "Perséphone also told me you were carried by a hound. Can we at least talk about how fucking crazy that is? I mean, amazing but crazy."

Squeezing me, he pulls away, his hand drifting over his heart. When he turns, his eyes are filled with a soft red glow. I am rewarded with a smile that slowly builds until it lights up his entire face. "Would you like to see something no one has in a very long time?"

"Ummm, hell yes!" I yelp, bouncing from foot to foot. I can barely contain my excitement. First a dragon and now what, I don't know. His eyes shine a blood red. I feel my eyebrows climb up my forehead as in the next instant, a massive black beast stands before me. When I say massive I mean, he is much bigger than an Irish Wolfhound and thicker. His tongue lolls out. I think he grins. A giggle bubbles up as I throw myself at him, fingers burying in his soft fur. I am lost in the magic of it all, laughing and staring at his face. Noise has me turning to see the boys gaping and more laughter bursts from me. "Well, this secret is out," I chuckle. He growls, baring his teeth, but it doesn't stop them. They rush to my side and stare at him.

"Ya Bas, ye keep a secret like this from us!" Sean's face is scarlet in his outrage. I bite my lip, not sure if I should laugh or be worried.

"Get tae fuck, Scabby bassa." Michael steps toward Jason his eyebrows drawn tight, his eyes looking at Sean and me. The beast snaps his huge teeth, shifting his weight from side to side. Both the men step back, sending each other a long look before they each cross their arms over their shoulders.

"Jason! That was not nice. Don't you hurt his feelings! Let him explain," I look to Sean and Michael. "You talk about me, I couldn't understand any of that with your thick accents. Well, anything other than fuck." I squeak as Jason is suddenly standing beside me. Hugging him tightly, I whisper, "You need to talk to them; this hurts them. Not all your secrets but at least explain this." Kissing his cheek, I move between my Druids and put my hands on their cheeks, giving them a look that I hope said be easy on him. I walk away, leaving them to talk, and go to find my love. I want to sit with him on the cliff and watch the sun come up. Today we need to find the Order - I must find Emma.