Stone of Destiny(4)

I arrived at work almost forty-five minutes late. Even still, my grandfather insisted on taking my car to have a new tire installed. I relented, knowing I wouldn’t win this argument. My only concession was that he had to let me pay him back.

After Pop left, I spent the entire evening placing the orders he’d left for me. He always said he had no interest in learning how to do it over the computer, so I took it on since it was so much faster than trying to do it all over the phone.

Between that and the few customers that came in, I replayed the scene with Ethan over and over in my mind.

Tonight called for an Extra Large Peanut Butter Cup Sundae and a Persuasion reread.



I’m walking in a grassy field at night, searching for something, and somehow I know it’s important. Someone tugs on my hand, and I turn to see Ethan smile at me. His face is pinched in worry, but I can tell he’s trying to reassure me.

The air is filled with the sound of low chanting. The strange rhythmic singing causes goose bumps to cover my arms. Up ahead flames and smoke swirl toward the inky sky.

I woke up to fingers of pale light spreading across the ceiling of my bedroom. The air was already thick with humidity and if I didn’t force myself out of bed now, I would never get a run in.

I changed out of my pajamas and put on jogging shorts and a light tank top. I stretched my arms above my head, the chanting from my dream still vibrating deep in my bones.

For most of my life I’ve had dreams that felt like they were somehow more than just dreams. I learned from Saoirse, the queen, that there’s a small amount of magic in my blood. She said they’re called True Dreams, which was a diluted version of The Sight. Some Danaans have visions of the future or the past, but when a human has the ability it’s called The Sight. The queen was a strong seer, but with the gift bestowed on all Danaan queens, Danu’s Basin, a magical well in Tír na n’Óg, she sees every possible way the future can play out at will.

The house was quiet as I slipped out the front door. Our road was on the outskirts of Stoneville, so even in the middle of the day we didn’t see much traffic. I cherished my morning run almost more than a hot fudge sundae with extra whipped cream. Something about the wind in my face and the pumping of my heart recharged me. I could make sense of almost any situation as long as my feet were carrying me forward and I had the peace of the open road.

The memory of Aoife’s icy blue eyes was in the forefront of my thoughts. I wondered why she was so obsessed with my father. I felt a little bit guilty for having that thought, but what was it about Liam that made her so ruthless? The truth was I really didn’t know anything about Aoife or Niamh, or any of the Danaans really. To keep my mother safe, I needed to learn more about what I was dealing with. From what I knew, we weren’t in any immediate danger from Aoife. Aodhan wouldn’t be so calm if that were the case.

As I jogged past my father’s house on my way back home, a familiar blonde leaned casually on Liam’s front fence post. Niamh stood gracefully, and I stopped when she met my eyes.

Good morning, Allison.

Niamh was a telepath. She could read my thoughts, and project her thoughts into my mind. It unnerved me and she knew it.

She actually looked apologetic, having picked my discomfort out of my thoughts. “I sometimes forget how that bothers you.”

“No big deal. What’s up?” I said as I bent down to stretch.

“I wanted to speak with you, but Liam stopped me. He told me your morning run is important to you.”

I laughed to myself a little imagining Liam telling her what to do. Niamh was one of the good guys, as far as Danaans went. Even though she had technically kidnapped my mother and hidden her in Tír na n’Óg, it was for her own protection. Saoirse had foreseen that Aoife’s adviser, Breanh, was planning to kidnap my mother. He would hold her hostage until Niamh and Liam let Aoife go.

Breanh was a telepath too, and if Niamh had told me that she was hiding my mother, Breanh would have read it in my thoughts. According to Saoirse, Breanh would have found another way to bargain for Aoife’s release. In the end he did find another way, by kidnapping Ethan. But at least Niamh’s intentions were good.

I raised my eyebrows at Niamh who was staring at me. She tossed her golden hair over one shoulder and looked up at the sky before she spoke.

“We haven’t had the chance to speak since we came back, have we?” She glanced back at Liam’s house with what I thought might be a nervous expression. She turned back to me and started leading me toward my grandparents’ house. “I thought you might tell me a bit more about what happened with Breanh.”