Stone of Destiny(23)

Liam nodded. “If that’s what you think is best,” he said, but he grew pale and his jaw tightened.

I swallowed, unnerved by his reaction. This was happening fast, it was possible we could have answers to Aoife’s whereabouts tonight. Or someone could get hurt, a tiny voice whispered in my head.

“I do.” Niamh’s gaze focused on me. “And Allison, Samantha doesn’t mean you any harm. I know that much.”

I wanted to be brave. It wasn’t so much that I was scared of Samantha, more I was afraid of what we’d find out. What if the hope we had of setting my mother free from her mental prison was taken away?

“Okay,” I said, willing my fear away. “What do we have to do?”

“I’m going to call to Samantha, speak into her mind. Then we’ll wait and see if she responds.”

Niamh gestured to the backdoor. “It’ll be easier outside.”

I got up to follow her out when Ethan placed his hand on my shoulder. I turned and his eyes searched mine. “You okay?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just nervous,” I said with a weak smile.

“Come on, I want to see what Niamh can do,” he said, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me toward the door.

Outside, Liam sat beside Niamh in the chairs we’d been in earlier. He watched as she rubbed her temples, her eyes closed in concentration.

The minutes ticked by before Niamh sat up and ran a hand over her eyes. We all watched her, waiting to hear what happened.

“She and Ciarán are coming here now.”

Liam blinked at Niamh, and then his gaze flicked up to mine.

“That’s it? She didn’t resist you at all?” I asked.

Niamh stood and smoothed the front of her slim black pants. “She was very eager, as a matter of fact.”

Liam ran his hands through his hair and stood up. “This is good, isn’t it? She wants to meet me.” A nervous smile was on his face as he looked around.

“Try to be cool, Liam.” I said, hoping to ease his tension.

He laughed, rubbing his hands over his face. “Be cool. Right, I can do that.” The words seemed funny coming from Liam, with his old-fashioned manners.

“Remember Allison,” Niamh said. “Samantha doesn’t know our side of things yet. Let’s hear what she has to say before we tell them anything.”

I nodded. “Of course.”

“Just follow my lead and everything will be fine,” she said, looking between the three of us.





The sound of footsteps in the gravel driveway took me by surprise. The Danaan moved so fast and soundlessly, I’d expected Samantha and Ciarán to appear out of thin air.

Ciarán came into view first. He held his hands out in front of him. “I’m unarmed,” he said in a level voice.

Niamh nodded, waiting for him to approach. He glanced over his shoulder and nodded.

Samantha stepped into the moonlight, her arms wrapped around herself, her hair so black it almost shone blue. Her steps were tremulous, I could almost feel the range of emotions coming from her. Excitement, nervousness and anxiety swirled around her. Ciarán eyed each of us through the thick fringe of his shaggy hair.

“Welcome, Samantha, Ciarán,” Niamh said, her voice lacking any real emotion.

“Hey,” Samantha said in a husky voice, one hand shooting up in a jerky wave before she wrapped it back around her middle. Ciarán didn’t speak, just nodded

“Samantha,” Liam said, the name sounding stiff and unnatural.

Samantha drew in her lips, toying with the little ball of her labret piercing.

I stepped forward, offering my hand. “I’m Allison, and this is my friend Ethan. It’s really great to meet you.”

Ethan shook her hand and offered to shake Ciarán’s hand, but he just looked at Ethan’s outstretched palm.

Samantha nudged Ciarán. “You’re supposed to take his hand and shake it,” she whispered, rolling her eyes.

“No big deal,” Ethan said, pulling back his hand and smiling.

“W-would you like to come inside?” Liam asked, rubbing his hand over the back of his neck.

Samantha exchanged a look with Ciarán and he nodded.

“Okay,” she said, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

Liam held the door as everyone walked into his living room.

Samantha sat in one of the armchairs, her black suede boots tapping a machine-gun staccato on the wooden floor. Ciarán leaned on the armrest gazing off into the distance, arms crossed.

Ethan and I sat across from them on the couch. Liam stood behind me, his hands braced on the back of the couch. I bit my lip as the room reached an extreme level of awkwardness. Nothing could have prepared me for this moment and now that it was here, I couldn’t think of how to say the things I wanted.