Stone of Destiny(5)

I frowned as I walked with her. I’d told this story several times and most of those times Niamh had been there.

“You’re right, of course,” she said in response to my thoughts. “But I can’t help feeling you’re having a hard time talking about it with all of those men. I understand that. They are intimidating aren’t they?”

Niamh was one of the most self-possessed people I’d ever met. The idea of her being intimidated by anyone was bizarre. The only time I’d seen her control waver was when Aodhan was around. Their history was complicated. That probably explained why she was sitting on my front steps rather than Liam’s. Aodhan had been staying at Liam’s since we’d come back from Tír na n’Óg.

“There’s not much more to tell,” I said. No matter how much I wanted to tell her the truth about Aoife, I couldn’t. As soon as I thought it, Niamh’s eyes widened just the tiniest bit, but it was enough to let me know she heard it in my mind.

I closed my eyes and the memory of Aoife killing Breanh played out in my mind. Aoife used mind control to keep me quiet, but could Niamh really see this? I never realized there was a loophole.

She nodded and cocked her head to the side, thinking. “Aoife wasn’t there when Aodhan found you. She must have snuck back through the portal. She didn’t say where she planned to go?”

I shook my head. One minute Aoife was standing in front of me and the next, I heard the sound of Aodhan’s boots from the corridor. I looked to see who was coming and when I turned back, Aoife was gone.

“Where does her portal lead to?” I asked.

“The only place I know for certain is an old castle outside of Dublin.” Niamh tapped her finger on her lower lip for a second and turned to me. “I believe she created a portal somewhere near Thunder Bay. That’s where all the trouble from her guards has been. My mother will know the exact location.”

I stretched my legs out in front of me on the steps. “Aodhan mentioned more reports of murders in Thunder Bay, even after your guards killed Aengus, the one who stabbed Liam.”

Niamh sighed. “I hope if my sister is there she’ll put an end to that. If only because she doesn’t want the unnecessary attention.”

“Why does Aoife use magic that’s supposed to be forbidden, anyway?” I asked.

It was several seconds before Niamh answered. “Aoife hasn’t always been so troublesome,” she said. “I was nearly full-grown when she was born. She followed me around, always curious about what I was doing. When she was just a halfling, which is about the same as a ten year old human child, I brought Aodhan to Tír na n’Óg.”

I couldn’t believe Niamh was being so open with me, so I kept quiet hoping she’d continue. She chuckled quietly, hearing that thought.

“Aoife was fond of Aodhan. At that time, he adored her as well. It was impossible not to be enraptured by her big blue eyes and thick black curls. As she got older, Aoife grew jealous of the relationship between Aodhan and me. Few Danaans experience love.” Niamh paused and looked down at her hands before meeting my gaze. “I consider myself lucky to have been loved by Aodhan once. I know you’ve wondered about that...”

I nodded. I had wondered about the relationship between Niamh and Aodhan, only knowing that Niamh had rescued Aodhan after he’d been shot by English soldiers in 1602.

“When Aoife met your father, she thought she’d found a love of her own, similar to Aodhan and me. Unfortunately for her, Liam was merely enthralled by her. When that wore off he wasn’t in love with her at all. She still hasn’t accepted that and probably never will. She tries to rationalize what she’s done to him by believing his love for your mother is a passing fancy. When you have all the time in the world, as we do, a human life span seems rather insignificant.” She smiled vaguely.

“So she thinks he’ll get over it and come back to her someday?”

“Yes. But we are a vain people, I admit. Aoife doesn’t understand why Liam would love your mother when he could have someone such as herself.”

A breeze ruffled the hair that came loose from my ponytail. When I looked up, Deaghlan was right beside me, resting his arm on the porch railing.

“So jealous of a human—I’ll never understand,” he said. But when he looked down at me his eyes smoldered. I laced my fingers together around my knees to keep from doing something I’d probably regret.

“Good morning, Father.” Niamh shot me an amused look.

“Speaking of humans, Allison, how have things been going between you and your human friend? What was his name—Ethan?”