Chapter 2
RORY HADN’T MEANT to shout at the lass. That up-turned chin and angry stare sent a clear message. He couldn’t afford to lose her trust now. Without her cooperation, he couldn’t complete the ritual. To his bitter disappointment, she stood from her log seat at the fire and glared at him. Her pale brown hair blew around her face in the breeze, yet she hadn’t made a move to secure it behind her ears or brush it out of the way. He’d worn out his welcome.
“How could an old monument possibly be dangerous? Sounds like superstitious tales to me.”
Her crossed arms didn’t hide her curvy breasts or hips. Yes, she would be a fine one for the ritual, but she was a willful woman, independent, partly resistant to his Glamour and not one to take orders, especially from the likes of him. He sat on the log and rubbed his forehead, determined to win her over and gain her trust. How far would he go to avoid another eighty years trapped in this faery prison? What right did he have to bring her into this? The ritual wasn’t without risks.
“I’m sorry, Carolyn. The Druid’s Circle is a dangerous place. Best you keep far away.”
“And why is that?” She pursed her mouth as if she thought his words were in jest, or he played a game.
“The Sidhe for one. If you not believe in them, then the ley lines are another concern.”
“Ley lines? My, Mr. Donovan, don’t we have lots of campfire stories. You must entertain many hikers and campers. I think I’m going to need another cup of tea for this story. How about you?”
A puzzling woman. She sounded miffed, yet she now invited him to stay. Was she curious, or in need of company? He wasn’t using his Glamour now.
“Aye, I’ll take another cup,” he mumbled.
She filled a pot with water from her jug and placed it on a rack over the fire, then placed teabags in their tea cups.
Crickets and other insects whirred and chirped in the bushes and grasses. Behind a pine tree, he spied the eyes of a raccoon watching them. No doubt, the animal planned to ransack the campsite later for scrapes of food. Rory looked up through the tangle of branches swaying in the slight breeze. The moon cast an eerie glow through the forest. Only a few days left to go before it was full. He’d do everything in his power to protect her.
He didn’t like the idea of using his Glamour influence on her, but he would if necessary to a point. The Sidhe required a sexual mating to complete the ritual, but Rory had no intention to force Carolyn.
“No milk for me, thank you,” he said as he watched her pour some into her cup, holding his breath that she didn’t waste any of the precious bounty. He would need that for the ritual in three days.
She handed him the tea, then sat. “Okay. The Druid Circle is dangerous because of these ley lines. Explain.” She crossed her legs, facing him on the log, sitting very close.
He wanted to pull her over his lap into his arms. Better yet, he wanted to taste her mouth, her neck. If dreams were reality, he’d drape her with the warmth of his nakedness. Then savor every inch of her skin, beginning with her breasts and continue moving down. Thoughts of pleasuring her with his mouth aroused him.
Stop. Do not think of this now.
Ah, yes, this be the time to break the curse. No wonder his manly drives were getting the better of him. He leaned on his thighs with his forearms to hide the bulge in his pants. No need to scare the lass. If she saw that, she would most likely send him on his way.
“Tell me about ley lines,” she said.
A serious one, she is. “Yes. Ley lines. They’re paths of unknown energy that run straight through the earth. There are cool vortices, the magnetic energy and the hot vortices, the electric. When they intersect they become a doorway to other realities.”
She stared at him for a long moment, blinking. “Is this supposed to be some metaphysical theory, or just a campfire story?”
“It be the truth.”
“I think I read about this. I wonder if that’s how people disappear in the Bermuda Triangle,” she said.
He shrugged. “There are magnetic and electric vortices—very powerful ones at the Druid’s Circle. And this is the time that the two intersect, creating a doorway to another place.”
“A doorway to where?”
“Don’t know—anywhere, anytime. The universe is constantly moving and so do the intersections of these vortices.”
She nodded. “Then it stands to reason that the places where these doorways lead also change.” Carolyn put her tea cup down and straddled the log. “So these people who keep disappearing from the Bermuda Triangle could be all over the universe.”
“All over the universe, at different times or different times on Earth too.”
“Wow, that’s fascinating. Cool theory.”
“It’s not a theory.” He hadn’t gotten his point across how dangerous the ley lines were. She’s curious about them, not frightened. Not good. The whole idea was to keep her away from the circle until the eve of Samhain. He couldn’t risk her going there before then.
“How do you know these ley lines are at the Druid’s Circle?” she asked.
“The Druids who built them used dousers or those who had the Sight to find them. The Druids then built their circles along the ley lines. Usually the lines are either hot or cold, but this area has both. Occasionally, the lines cross within the circle and that be when it’s most dangerous.”
Her leg touched his now. Did she realize what she did to him? Or was she so interested in the story that she wasn’t aware. With every stroke of her knee or thigh against his leg, his groin throbbed. Ah, he could take her to his bed tonight. No. Too soon. He must wait for the ritual if she be the one.
“What about other stone circles, are they built near ley lines?” she asked in all seriousness.
“I think some are. The Druids, or whoever built them, may have understood how to use the energy safely,” he said. “The Sidhe understand how to manipulate the energy to some degree.”
“These ley lines are why the circle isn’t safe. You can’t go near it either.”
“Oh no, I go there all the time.”
She rolled her eyes. “Then it must not be that dangerous.” She smiled. “Caught you.”
“I tell you no joke. I know the circle. Trust me. In a couple of days, I can take you there myself. It’ll be safe then.”
Her amusement faded, and he feared his welcome had too.
“I know you believe I be playing some prank on you, but I’m not, Carolyn.” The wounded look in her eyes crushed his heart. How could he make her understand the dangers without forcing his powers? He’d already used a little of his Glamour to stir her interest, but he felt guilty enough about that. With only three days left, he may not have enough time to convince her.
“I believe that you believe it,” she said softly.
He smiled at that and the sparkle of amusement in her eyes gave him some hope. Although, he was not sure if she was humoring him. She could be a willing participant for the ritual, but did he have the right to place her in such risk?
She was his only hope. After three days, he’d have to wait another eighty years before he would get another chance.
He gently touched her shoulder-length hair. “It’s the color of a fawn and just as soft.” And smells of sweet citrus and wild flowers. He raised her hand to his mouth and lightly touched her fingers with his lips. “It’s late, I should go.” He released her hand and stood.
“Yes.” She stood, searching his face as if she wanted to say something more, or do something. Her breasts rose and fell with each breath. Her lips parted. He leaned closer, inches away. With a little nudge of his Glamour, he could make her kiss him. Her eyelids fluttered. She was strong, resistant to his power. He sighed, his warm breath on her neck made her shiver.
Standing this close, he could smell her arousal, feel her heat. Good, she was responding to him, but he had to be careful not to scare her off. He sensed her desire, but he must wait. “Would you mind if I stopped by again, maybe tomorrow?”
She looked away and sighed. For a moment he feared she would turn him down. He could will her to say yes, he could will her to make love to him, to participate in his ritual, but he’d rather she come to him willingly. Although he was desperate, he wouldn’t force her, but he could entice her.
“I’ll be hiking most of the day tomorrow. I’m not sure when I’ll be back.”
“I’m not around during the day, but I may stop by in the evening if that’s all right.”
She shrugged.
Was that a yes or a no? He wasn’t sure. “Good night, Carolyn.” He didn’t wait for her to respond, or turn him down. He walked into the dark forest.