Bound by Forever (True Immortality 3)

“That’s not how it works, a leanbh.” His tone was gentle with a tenderness that surprised her. And although Niamh couldn’t remember as much Irish as she should, she was pretty sure he’d just called her “my child.”

She frowned. She was the same age as Rose.

“Tell him. Once he knows, you’ll only be stronger together against Astra.”

She ignored the thought because the hope of it hurt too much. “That castle of yours,” Niamh replied. “The one with the spell that hides and protects it from the world.”

“You know about that?”

“I know about a lot of things. Take Rose there, Fionn. Until this is over. Astra can’t get her hands on all three of us.”

“What about this man, the last of the fae-borne?”

“I was hoping a vision would come telling me how to help him.” She laughed bitterly. “But look what happened the last time I followed a vision. I came to Tokyo because my instincts told me I needed to be here to protect Kiyo. And look what I’ve done to him.”

“Your visions are never wrong, Niamh. Kiyo will survive this, and you’ll figure out why you’re there.”

She had to believe he was correct.

Otherwise she was completely lost.

“Okay,” she agreed. “Okay.” She looked up to stare at her wan complexion in the mirror.

“Remember who you are, Niamh.”

He was right.

She needed to remember who she was.

“Look after Rose,” she demanded.

There was a smile in his voice when he promised he would.

“Remember, the only limitations to your magic are the ones you place upon it. Call if you need me, a leanbh.” He hung up.

The silence in the bathroom seemed palpable without Fionn’s reassuring voice echoing off the tiles.

“Remember who you are, Nee,” Ronan whispered in her mind.

Leaning toward her reflection, Niamh placed her hand on the mirror. Energy pulsed from her and she watched as the reddish-brown hair that reminded her too much of Astra dissolved in a shimmer of pale blond.

Strangely, her skin glowed again, and a renewed strength filled her.

It wasn’t about returning to her natural blond. She threw back her shoulders.

It was about returning to herself.

Marching out of the bathroom and straight to the bed, Niamh lifted her hands over Kiyo’s body, closed her eyes, and imagined her energy surrounding him, cocooning him in warm sleep where no pain could touch him. The air glittered like the sun on her skin until the process felt complete in her mind.

She opened her eyes and stepped back in wonder at the sight of Kiyo looking peaceful beneath a barrier that shimmered gold and pulsed with vitality.

His strained features had smoothed in his sleep, assuring her he no longer felt pain.

Satisfied, Niamh rounded the bed and climbed onto the other side to lie with him.

There was nothing to be done now but wait until sunset.

“Astra, you evil cow,” she said hoarsely, “if anything happens to him, I’ll drive an iron blade straight through your black heart.”* * *Time crawled.

Just when Niamh was sure the day would never come to an end, the sun began to set. She knew it was time.

Releasing Kiyo from the magical stasis, she sat up on the bed and watched him struggling into consciousness. He did it with a start, his eyes flying open, stark with pain, as he clutched at his chest.

Niamh reached for him, brushing his hair off his damp forehead. “It’s okay, it’s okay,” she tried to reassure him.

His eyes flew to her, somewhat panicked. “Niamh?”

“The moon is about to rise. The change will heal you.”

Kiyo’s face flooded with remorse and he gasped out, “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

He tried to grab hold of her other hand but his coordination was totally off. Niamh reached for him instead, still petting his hair. “Try to lie still.” There was silver near his throat.

The veins had climbed right up his torso.

Panic prodded her.

She fought it back.

“What I did,” he choked out. “What I said. The lodge.”

Realizing he was apologizing for his behavior, Niamh shook her head. “You can say sorry later when you’re in your right mind.”

“I am …” He winced, hissing. “Oh fuck … Niamh … I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” She pressed a kiss to his temple. “Shh, it’s okay.”

Kiyo squeezed her hand so tight it was almost painful, but she endured it as she held him to her while they waited for the moon to rise.

Fear soon swamped Niamh as moonbeams flooded the dark hotel room with light.

And Kiyo didn’t change.

“What’s happening?” she asked.

Kiyo had settled somewhat, seeming to suffer the pain without shuddering and jerking as much. “The silver … affecting … change.”

She cursed under her breath.

He needed to bloody transform.

“Argh!” he suddenly roared in agony, bolting upward on the bed, ripping himself from her. His arm snapped the wrong way but then snapped back into place.

“What’s happening?” Niamh cried.

Growls ripped from the depths of his belly and he lurched onto all fours. Cracks rent the air as his limbs broke as if to change but then broke back into human form.