Chapter Thirty-One
The Books of Shadows Reunited…Finally
Brandy awoke in her room. Recent events swirled through her head. A bad dream or…? She moved. A dull pain ached in her right side. She was stiff all over but no visible wounds. Raising her hand to her neck, she felt two marks just right of the base of her throat. She looked across the room. Stefan stood at the window watching the sea, his face drawn and dark-purple shadows under his eyes. He turned to her. A half smile played around his lips as he studied her solemnly.
“What’s wrong?” She patted the bed beside her. Come sit with me. Her sweet voice swam through his mind.
A slight breeze and impression of movement, then he was sitting next to her, brushing a stray strand of hair from her forehead. “You gave us quite a scare.”
“Sorry.” She reached for his hand. He twined his fingers in hers and brushed a kiss across her forehead, wishing fervently he didn’t have to tell her like this. She’d already touched her fingers over the marks at her neck. She knew.
“Brandy, they’ll be coming to get us soon for the ceremony, but I need to explain something first. Nothing matters more to me than you. I love you.”
“I know,” she said quietly. “I love you too.”
“Stop interrupting. This is hard enough. When I found you, I did something that should have been your choice, but you were unable to…” He ran his hands through his hair and cursed under his breath.
“Stefan, I know you marked me as yours to save my life. What I want to know is, would you have done it if I’d not been dying?”
“That choice should have been yours, to belong to me for eternity or not. I took it away from you.”
“Stefan, my choice was made long before you took it away. I committed to you before our terrible fight and believed that you would eventually do the same. The only thing that matters is that you learned to trust and love enough to mark me.”
“You took one hell of a chance.”
“Not really. You were just the last one to see it,” she murmured, smiling, and wrapped her arms around him. “Now tell me, is there any truth to the legend of the Vampire’s Kiss?”
“I guess we’ll just have to test it out, if you’re willing.” He quirked a brow and grinned. “How’d you know about that?”
She winked and said, “A faerie told me.”
“Figures.” He raised an eyebrow and grinned.
“Did Angie and Tristian review the Books? Do we know what spells to use and how we fit into this?”
“Yes.” He gave her a handwritten page. “You are to speak these words first to start the process. The other two couples will join in with additional incantations. According to Tiarnan, the cooperation between all of us on the quest for the Books satisfied the requirements that man and magickind work together. If the legends are true and we follow the instructions in the Books of Shadows, we should be able to seal the portals and set the world right.
****
The mist floated in through the open window, crawling across the room to settle in the old rocking chair.
“It’s time,” Stefan said, watching the mist transform into a man in a multicolored sweater and jeans sitting comfortably in the chair, booted foot resting on his knee.
“Is that the only outfit you own?” Stefan asked. His lips twitched as he tried to hide a grin.
With a raised brow, Tiarnan stared at him for a beat. “Good evening to you, Stefan. ’Tis something you’ll never know.” He turned his attention to Brandy. Good to see you looking so well, Brandy.”
“Nice to see you again, Tiarnan.” Brandy grinned as Stefan narrowed his eyes at the faerie.
“Erin has the Book and is waiting on the grounds of Mary’s Castle for you two. I’ve come to escort you.” A slight smile played around his lips. “Tomorrow’s sunrise will be the first Erin and I have been able to share over the cliffs in centuries. She always loved the feel of the warm sun on her skin,” he mused.
****
Lightning streaked across the night sky. Thunder rumbled, shaking the ground underfoot, yet the full moon shone down on the druid altars inside the grounds of Mary’s Castle, County Cork, Ireland, where the couples gathered.
Stefan stepped forward with his arm supporting Brandy as she began weaving her spell. Bruce stood beside Angelique, Hannah by Tristian, as they joined her, each murmuring different incantations. The three Books of Shadows lay open on hallowed ground, glowing as they turned a soft, rich liquid gold, flowing into each other, forming one. The wind howled around the stone formations and whipped around the couples as dark clouds formed, floating across the full moon. Darkness enveloped the land. Only the golden glow of the Books remained. Then it was silent. When the storm clouds parted, the moon shone blood-red with a muted ring of rainbow colors encircling it. The chanting ceased, and the Books slowly separated, returning to their ancient leather-bound form.
“The deed is done,” declared Tiarnan, “The world is safe. The gates of Hell are bound tightly, the portals destroyed, the fabric of time strengthened, so there is no possibility of escape…for now.
Stefan quirked a brow and turned toward Tiarnan. “For now?” He inquired incredulously.
“Yes, for now. The remainder of the legend has yet to come full circle. We cannot control the behavior of man, so there will always be a need to patrol magickind.” Tiarnan glanced in Stefan’s direction but spoke to all three couples. “The progeny of your unions will have the required blood lineage and the power to seal the portals and gates of Hell forever.”
“Oh, is that all.” Smiling, Stefan took Brandy’s warm face in his hands, covering it with soft kisses. “I believe it’s time for that large, lavish Irish wedding you’ve always dreamed of,” he whispered, letting his hands slide down her body, grasping the small of her back, bringing her to him. She cuddled against him, wrapping her arms around his waist, resting her face on his chest. Stefan laid his cheek on the top of her head and sighed, loving the feel of her against him. I’ll never take this for granted. “We’ll let the rest take care of itself.”
The others nodded in agreement. Each couple picked up their Book of Shadows and watched Erin and Tiarnan walk hand in hand toward the cliffs to greet the sunrise together for the first time in centuries. Tiarnan paused, looking over his shoulder to Stefan. “Oh, by the way, the legend of the Vampire’s Kiss is true among fated mates. Brandy is able to bear your children.”
A stunned silence met the statement.
Bruce cleared his throat as his lips twitched. “Well, it’s about time we get back to D.C. to oversee the reconstruction of The Wycked Hair and return to my other duties. Can’t leave everything to Owen and Tobi.”
Angie nodded and hugged Brandy. “Please let us know when you set a date for the wedding. We wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Of course. I believe it will be sooner than later. Everyone will be notified in plenty of time to make travel arrangements,” Brandy said, smiling up at Stefan, who nodded. “I hate to bring this up, but what about Synn?”
“She’s paid her debt and proved her loyalty. Synn earned her freedom and has chosen to remain in Ireland,” Bruce said.
“But Gavin…I don’t want…” Brandy sputtered.
“Gavin is a grown man. If she’s what he wants, it’s not your place to stand in their way. After all, you’ll be married to a vampire.” Stefan chuckled, enveloping her in his arms.
Tristian reached his arm around Hannah’s waist, tugging her close. “It’s time we departed for home too. I’m sure assignments are piling up as we speak.” He cut his gaze to Bruce.
“Oh, no, not getting off that easy. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and the family is planning a huge celebration,” Brandy and Hannah chirped together. “Ma and Da would be pleased if you could delay your departures until the day after Christmas,” Hannah continued.
“Then there is the wedding to plan, and”—Brandy smiled thoughtfully—“I guess that could be done after we get home.”
Hannah waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. “Oh, Ma will have all the plans set. All you have to do is pick a date. Valentine’s Day is a thought,” she suggested slyly.
“It would give me enough time to work out another vacation with the boss. If I still have a job,” Brandy mused.
“Same here,” Stefan grimaced.
“It’s settled. Valentine’s Day it is, and you’re all invited, so mark your calendars,” Brandy sang out.
Murmurs of agreement and promises to return for the wedding passed through the couples as Brandy smiled brightly. “Erin and Tiarnan, you are expected to attend the Christmas Party and our wedding.” The ocean breeze carried her words toward the couple.
On the cliffs, the warrior faerie turned and waved together with Erin in acknowledgement.
As the couples meandered away, a small, dark shadow slowly eased out of the ground, seemingly out of sight, watching them intently, then slithered away.