“It seems you’ve had quite the education in your travels.”
“There are places in the world of such strong energy, such old power. They call to people like us. Only today,” he said, reaching over for her hands. “But if there are ever tomorrows, I’d show you.”
Since she couldn’t answer, she only squeezed his hands, then rose to clear the plates. “It’s today that needs us. I’ve never given a thought to destroying demons, and in truth never believed they existed in our world. Which is, I see now, as shortsighted as those who can’t believe in magicks.”
“I’ll see to the clearing up here. It’s the rule in your own house, and a fair one.”
“All right then. I should get home, and start reading up on demons myself.”
“It’s the first day of the New Year,” he said as he walked to her. “And a kind of holiday.”
“Not for the likes of us, with what’s coming. And I’ve work besides to earn my living. You may have staff and all that to see to most, but I’d think you’ve a living to earn as well.”
“We’ve no lessons today, and the guided rides and hawk walks are a handful only between them both. And I’ve a couple hours yet before I’m to meet with Boyle, then Connor.”
She angled her face up to his. “It’s a fortunate man you are to have such leisure time.”
“Today it is. I’m thinking you may have an hour yet to spare.”
“Well, your thinking isn’t—” She broke off, narrowed her eyes as the shirt she’d worn winked away, leaving her naked. “That was rude and inhospitable.”
“I’ll show you great hospitality, aghra.” Closing his arms around her, he flew them both back into bed.
12
SHE DIDN’T LEAVE UNTIL MIDDAY, AND FOUND KATHEL outside playing run and tumble with Bugs. She ignored the fact that those who worked in the stables would have seen her car still parked when they’d arrived that morning.
The juice would begin to flow from the grapevine, but it couldn’t be helped. She gave Bugs a quick rub, told him he was welcome to come with Fin anytime at all and play with Kathel.
Then she whistled her own dog into the car, and drove home.
She went straight upstairs to change out of her party dress and into warm leggings, a cozy sweater, and soft half boots. After bundling her hair up, she considered herself ready to work.
In her workshop, she put the kettle on, lit the fire. And feeling a shift in the air, whirled around.
Sorcha’s Brannaugh stood, a quiver on her back, her own Kathel at her heel.
“Something changed,” she said. “A storm came and blew through the night. Thunder raged, lightning flamed even through a fall of snow. Cabhan rode the storm until the stones of the castle shook.”
“Are you harmed? Any of you?”
“He could not get past us, and will not. But another maid is missing, and a kinswoman, and I fear the worst for her. Something changed.”
Yes, Brannaugh thought, something changed. But first there were questions. “What do you know of demons?”
Sorcha’s Brannaugh glanced down as Branna’s Kathel went to hers, and the hounds sniffed each other.
“They walk, they feed, they thirst for the blood of mortals. They can take many forms, but all but one is a lie.”
“And they search out, do they not,” Branna added, “those willing to feed them, to quench that thirst? The red stone, we’ve seen its creation, and we’ve seen the demon Cabhan bargained with pass through it and into him. They are one. Sorcha couldn’t end Cabhan because the demon lived, and healed him. They healed, I think, each other.”
“How did you see?”
“We went in a dream spell, myself and Finbar Burke.”
“The one of Cabhan’s blood. You went with him, to Cabhan’s time, to his lair. How can there be such trust?”
“How can there not? Here is trust,” she said, gesturing to the dogs who’d gone to wrestling on the floor. “I know Fin’s heart, and would not know all we do now without him.”