Jeremy, still hungry, prepared a tray of the leftover sandwiches we had put together and we took off for the library.
Between bites, Jeremy shot questions at me about Beyland—his behavior, the portal, the things the Dark Warlock had left unsaid.
“There is something there…I’m not sure what, about the ancient, Ramon. I wish we knew more,” Jeremy said.
“Dinnae tell her that,” Devin stuck in impatiently. “She’ll be all for going back to him for a visit to find out more!”
I laughed. “Have to go back…or at least, as I have no idea how to do that, I have to prepare some day-walker notes to give him when he comes for them. I imagine he’ll give me a day or two to locate them, as he believes I am searching for them.”
“Aye, and I’m nae liking that either,” Devin said somberly.
“Look, we will have to assume that Beyland, from what Bobbie learned, has a deep-seated hatred for betraying him to Bobbie’s grandmother. Right then, if he wants the notes that Ramon so desperately desires…what then? Does he mean to hand them over?”
“Probably means to dangle them at Ramon…and not hand them over. Torment seems to be the Dark Warlock’s thing,” I answered.
“Aye, I’m thinking she has a point. I’ll make copies of m’notes and keep them stashed here. Bobbie lass, coom to me and I’ll give ye the first set.”
I wiggled a brow at him. “Nice try, vamp! I know you don’t want us to go to Brently, but we have to. We honestly don’t have a choice and as soon as we get back, I’ll come then.”
“I have a client I was supposed to see today. I’ll have to send one of my paralegals,” Jeremy mused out loud.
“How do ye think ye’ll find what nae other has ever found at Allora’s manor home? Vampires on the run rest up at her place often, and as she continues to allow them to do so, we must assume nae one has ever found any of her hiding niches.”
“Ooooh, but witches can often sense magical Hallows when they are near. I have one I found when I was just a child. I was with my parents at the beach and my mother told me to keep it close always,” I said, and tore off a piece of Jeremy’s fifth sandwich and stuck it in my mouth to chew. “Oh, that is good with the honey mustard. I should have put honey mustard on mine.”
Both men shouted similar expletives almost in one breath.
I laughed. “What?”
“What Hallow, Bobbie?” Jeremy asked, and I could see he was restraining his excitement.
“Don’t you have any?” I was surprised.
“No, all I have are my journals…”
“What about that ring?” I pointed at his right ring finger. I sensed it held great magic. “You can’t tell me you aren’t aware that it is a Fae artifact.” I had realized this days ago. His ring gave off vibes of Fae magic. My mother had taught me early on to identify Fae magic. As we had the ability to see supernaturals, she would point out visiting Fae in the city. Fae love activity and often visit Manhattan. After I lost her, I wasn’t much interested and scarcely noticed them.
“Yes, I have always known the ring held magical qualities. I suspected it was a Fae artifact because I once rubbed it as I was thinking of a contract I had left at home, and voila, that contract appeared…and I knew I hadn’t used a magic spell to accomplish that.”
“Hmm, you have to rub it…telekinesis, or something in that vein. Yes, the Fae are superior at such things,” I repeated my mother’s words and then shrugged it off. “At any rate,” I pulled out the pendant I had found on the beach, and which I always wore as per my mother’s instructions, “I have this…it looks like bronze, which the Fae are fond of using. It glows when I hold it. However, I have no idea what I can do with it.”
Devin asked quietly, “Will it protect ye?”
“I don’t know,” I said as I brushed off some crumbs from my lap and stacked my dish and mug on the tray. “Are you ready, Jeremy? We need enough daylight, don’t we?”
Jeremy eyed me and then Devin, who was shouting again. I looked at Devin and realized again just how much I was in love with him. I had to go ahead with our plan, but I so wanted him at ease. “Devin…we will be fine. We need to do this, and we will be back as fast as we are able.”
“Do ye? Do ye really need to do this? Why? Ye cannae hope to find anything that will help ye. She wouldna leave it where it can be found. I know ye haven’t given me the right to forbid ye…but…”
“Whoa, forbid? Not in my world,” I said, one brow arched. “Never happening.”
He shook his head. “Aye then…I’m begging ye, lass. Dinnae go.”
“Devin, I must,” I told him, feeling my heart ache. He couldn’t follow us, join us, or even watch us to shout out a warning.
“Dinnae ye see if anything happens to ye…‘tis on me! I brought ye here…I made ye m’own and now…”
I had been sitting apart from the wall, but I got up now and once more put my palm against the invisible cold wall. He matched mine with his immediately. Those bolts of energy charged through us both and held us palm to palm, staring at one another.