“Did you really mobilize others to join the fight against the dark?”
Dewi opened one eye. “Of course. Now leave me be.”
Aislinn wanted to ask where the other Celts were. It would be good information to share with the humans flooding Marta’s yard. She considered telling Dewi she could find better places for a nap than a yard teeming with new arrivals, but she bit her tongue. After a final, pleased glance at targets she’d hit dead center every time, she moved toward one corner of what was rapidly becoming a crowd.
Probably should have sat with the men and come up with a strategy… Aislinn realized they hadn’t done so because none of them truly believed her frantic call to arms would yield more than a few stragglers. Enough humans crowded into the yard to really make a difference, and more were arriving every minute. Hundreds milled about, spilling onto the country road bordering Marta’s house.
“Aislinn.”
She spun, hearing her name. Travis loped to her, civet at his heels. She hugged him. “I am so glad you’re still alive.”
“I thought it was you when I heard the message to assemble here. The Hunter who told me said your sending was pretty insubstantial, but he got the red hair and golden eyes right. You’re the only one I know who looks like that.” He gestured toward Dewi’s bulk. “What’s with the dragon? Are you a Hunter now, too?”
If you only knew the half of it…
“She is, and I am her bond mate.” Rune emerged from the shadows under the back porch steps and trotted over. “Not that reptile over there.”
The civet hissed. Rune growled back.
Travis rolled his eyes and clucked to the civet. “She doesn’t like me to talk to other bond animals.” He shifted his gaze to Aislinn, his brown eyes glowing with pleasure. “I’d been hoping I’d run into you again...”
Fionn materialized at her other side, with Bella perched on his shoulder. “Aislinn, ye need to be coming with me, lass. Gwydion is trying to organize them so ye can talk to small groups.”
“Who’s this joker?” Travis stepped between them.
“And I might be asking you the same thing.” Fionn’s blue eyes snapped dangerously.
Oh, crap. I do not need this.
Fionn’s penetrating gaze shifted to her. “Friend of yours?”
“Yes,” she said. “Travis was, ah is, a friend.”
“Should I be leaving the two of you alone, then?” Fionn inquired much too smoothly.
Aislinn grimaced at the loaded question. Fionn was trolling for information.
“Great idea.” Travis smiled, showing lots of teeth.
The civet hissed again. Bella shrieked and batted the air with her wings.
“No,” Aislinn cried and stepped back from all of them. She was so tired that her eyes ached in their sockets. Inhaling sharply, she watched both men. They circled one another, practically dripping testosterone.
“I’ve found out lots of things about myself.” She aimed her words at Travis. “One of those things is that I have a centuries-old bond with Fionn Mac—” She bit her tongue. “Uh, never mind.”
“You don’t even know his damn name,” Travis sneered, “and you haven’t been around for centuries. Give it a break, Aislinn. If you decided fucking me was a mistake, just tell me and be done with it.” Hurt ran beneath his words.
She felt terrible. She’d never wanted to hurt him or anyone else. “I...” she started, but words wouldn’t come. What could she say? Yeah, I liked you fine, but now there’s someone I like a whole lot more?
Travis stalked off, civet in tow.
Fionn tipped her chin up with a forefinger and forced her to look at him. “If ye are wanting to follow him, best get on it afore he’s lost in the crowd.”
Anger brimmed and spilled over. “God damn it! He was just a man I fucked once. I liked him. Okay. But it’s nothing compared with what I feel for you. Pull in your horns. You just carved mine all over me.”
Shock bloomed on his face, and then Fionn threw back his head and roared. “So I did, lass,” he managed to choke out when he could talk again. “Glad ye recognize it. Follow me.”
Staggering from weariness, she struggled to keep up. “What would you have done if I’d said Travis was really special?”
“Killed him.”
Good to know. She shook her head, sorry she’d asked. Fionn was talking to her, and she’d missed most of it. “Could you repeat that, please? I’m about done in. Wasn’t listening, sorry.”
He turned to her and scanned her face. With a curt nod, he put a hand on either side of her head. Energy flowed into her. She suckled him like a starving child.