“The stones. Do you remember the stones last night?”
“I remember touching a rock, the glow. You and Fin turned on the others. Everything is fuzzy after that. I think there was an earthquake.”
“It does feel like the earth moves when the stones are working.”
“What are they?”
Duncan grinned, but her frown kept it from staying on his face long. “The stones are older than time. They were entrusted to our family for keeping.”
“And they are used to move people from one place to another?”
“Aye.”
“A few rocks moved me to Scotland overnight?”
“Aye, they did.”
Not quite believing, but not able to explain everything she saw the night before, Tara pushed on. “You told me I was in danger last night, and we had to hurry. Why?”
He explained again about Grainna being evil.
Only this time he told her Grainna would have killed them if they hadn’t left when they did.
Tara referred to her as a witch, a term Duncan didn’t deny. He told her of the curse binding Grainna in an old and powerless body. But when Duncan repeated a rhyme about Druids and Virgins, Tara’s head started to swim.
“Back up,” she told him when he wanted to continue. “A virgin’s blood of Druid decent? Grainna thought my ancestors were Druids?
“Aye.”
“Druids?” Tara shook her head, “As in ancient people with mystical powers?”
“Aye.”
She started to laugh. “That’s rich. Really rich!
My parents are from Orange County. Believe me, there is nothing mystical about Orange County.”
“That may be, lass, but you are of Druid blood,”
Duncan told her with a straight face.
“Just because my last name is McAllister, doesn’t mean I’m a Druid. Scottish yes, some, but Druid? That’s a stretch. My great grand parents immigrated to the states at the turn of the century like so many others. No one in my family ever had...
powers.” She shook her head in disbelief.
“Druids are private with their abilities, because they are often misunderstood and feared. They keep to their own and hide what they do.”
“How is it you know all of this?” Not that she believed any of it.
“I am Druid.”
This is bullshit!
Then how is it, love, we can read each other’s thoughts?
“I don’t know. I can’t believe it’s because I’m a Druid. Or that you are.”
“You activated the stone last night by your own hand,” he reminded her.
“That can be explained. Maybe it was the heat of my hand that turned the stone on. Anyone could have done it, if that’s the case.”
Duncan stood and crossed over to the hearth.
The fire had burned down to an orange glow. “Fire is the first ability Druids have control over. It is the first they learn. The first to come and the last to leave.” He reached both hands toward the hearth, flames leapt three feet high and out of the embers.
“Oh my God!”
Duncan lowered his hands. The flames died in the hearth.
Air rushed from her lungs. She gaped at the man who she scarcely recognized from the days at the fair. “This is too much.” She stood and paced the room. “I don’t know what to believe.”
“Accept we are both Druid, and the rest will fall into place.”
Stressed, she ran her hands through her hair.
“Fine, I’ll play along. I’m a Druid. You’re a Druid.”
We are all Druids... I’m losing my mind. “I’m a virgin of consensual age, and blood shed from the loss of my virginity would give Grainna her youth and powers, yadda, yadda, yadda. Do I have it right?”
“’Tis correct.”
“You and Fin were what, sent to California to stop her from finding me?”
“Or others like you.”
“Like there are hundreds of Druid virgins running around Southern California.” Tara laughed at the thought.
“Not hundreds, but a few. Most lack true Druid blood making Grainna’s curse almost impossible to break.”
Dear God, he’s serious. “So, you whisk the young virgins away when you find them?”
“You are the first to come to our home.”
Tara sent him a questioning look. “If I’m the first one to come here, then how do you get them away from Grainna? You couldn’t leave them.
Otherwise, her curse would have been broken by now. How did you keep them away from her?”
He didn’t answer her question. He didn’t have to. A picture of the two of them, laying together and kissing, flashed in her head. Her eyes widened in panic, her mouth dropped open. “You have got to be kidding! You were sent to deflower the virgins?”
Tara’s laughter verged on hysteria. “Then why didn’t you?”
“I have never forced myself on a woman.”
“How noble of you. Really, you should be given a medal.” Anger overpowered her hysteria. “So, because I didn’t fall into bed with you, you brought me here. Where she can’t get to me? Is that it?”
Tears started to fall. And to think she liked this guy! Really liked him. All six foot four, two hundred plus pounds of him.
“Aye.” Duncan watched as her rage consumed her. “Fine,” she bit out before heading toward the stairs. “That’s just great.”
Duncan touched her arm to stop her. She shrugged him away. “Where are you going, Tara?”
“To get my things and get dressed. Now that you’ve had your laugh, you can send me back.” She put much needed space between them.
His eyes lowered to the floor. “I can’t.”
“Then you can drive me to the airport, and I’ll catch the next flight home.” She would have to max out her credit card paying for a flight, but she didn’t have much choice.
“’Tis not possible.” He dared another look at her.
“Why? Because I’m still a virgin? A threat? I’m sure I can find some stud willing to rid me of that, so don’t spend any more time worrying about me.”
His eyes snapped at hers in alarm. “Nay, Tara.
That you will not do!”
She reached him in two strides. Her finger poked him in his chest with every word she spoke.
“Who do you think you are? It wasn’t your choice in California, and it isn’t your choice here.” She lifted her nightgown and fled his side.
Duncan reached her half way up the stairs. “You cannot leave.”