Кейт Тирнан - Eclipse

EclipseSweep Series, Book 12Cate Tiernan

1. Morgan

Oh, please. Will you two stop already? This is disgusting, I teased.

On Ethan Sharps front step Bree Warren and Robbie Gurevitch tried to disentangle themselves from their lip-to-lip suction lock. Robbie gave a little cough.

Hey, Morgan. He stood off to one side, trying to act casualhard to do when youre flushed and breathing hard. It was still a tiny bit of a novelty to see Robbie and Bree, my best friends from childhood, in a romantic relationship. I loved it.

Perfect timing, Sister Mary Morgan, said Bree, pushing a hand through her minky dark hair. But she grinned at me, and I smiled back.

Robbie rang Ethans doorbell. Ethan opened the door almost immediately. Two yipping Pomeranians bounced at his feet. Down, he said, pushing them gently with his foot as he smiled at us. Come on in. Most everyones here. Still waiting on a couple. Down! he said again. Brandy! Kahlua! Down! Okay, youre going in the bedroom.

We entered Ethans small brick ranch house and saw Sharon Goodfine, Ethans girlfriend, pushing furniture back against the wall. Ethan disappeared down the hall, snapping his fingers so the dogs would follow him. Robbie went to help Sharon, and Bree and I took off our jackets and threw them on an armchair with several others.

You two look like youre getting along, I said brightly.

Yeah, Bree admitted. Im still waiting for him to figure out who the real me is and then dump me.

I shook my head. Hes loved you for a long time and seen you go through a lot. Hes going to be harder to shake off than that.

Bree nodded, her gaze wandering till it fixed on Robbie. I looked around, mentally taking attendance for the circle. Our regular Saturday night circles had been different lately because Hunter had been in Canada. Hed returned a few days ago and sent my emotions into an uproar with two bits of news: one, that hed kissed another woman in Canada, which was bad enough, and two, that hed found a bookwritten by one of my ancestorsthat recounted the creation of the dark wave. Learning that my soul mate had been attracted to someone else and that I was descended from the woman who created one of the most destructive forces imaginable had left me devastated and confused. I felt a little better now, more confident in Hunters love and in my ability to choose to to do only good magick, but both of these revelations still weighed heavily on my mind.

Hunter would be here tonight. He hadnt arrived yet, because I would have felt him. My witchy short-range sensors would have told me.

Twenty minutes later everyone in our coven, Kithic, was there, except for Hunters cousin, Sky Eventide. She was in England recovering from a failed romance, and I couldnt help glancing across the circle at the source of her pain, Raven Meltzer. As usual, Raven had dressed for attention, wearing a red satin corset from the forties, complete with cone boobs and garters, which held up fishnet stockings marred by large, gaping holes. Mens camouflage fatigues, hacked off to make shorts, completed the outfit, along with the motorcycle boots on her feet.

Right, then, everyone, Hunter said in that English accent that made me wild. Lets begin.

Welcome back, Hunter, said Jenna Ruiz.

Yeah, welcome back, said Simon Bakehouse, Jennas boyfriend.

Its good to be back, Hunter said, meeting my eyes. It was like being zapped by static electricity.

Hunter Niall. The love of my life. He was tall, thin, impossibly blond, and two years older than me. Besides having the English accent that I could listen to all day, he was brave, a strong blood witch, and knew more about magick and Wicca than I could imagine learning, despite my dedication to it. He had just gotten back from two weeks in Canada, where he had found his father, Daniel. And where he had met someone named Justine Courceau. found his father, Daniel. And where he had met someone named Justine Courceau. Finding out that he had kissed her had been one of the hardest things Id ever learned. Id forgiven himI believed that he loved me and hadnt meant to hurt mebut I didnt think Id ever beable to forget.

Ethans living room was carpeted, so Hunter had used sidewalk chalk to draw a perfect circle. The eleven of us stepped inside it; then Hunter closed it with a chalk line. He took four brass goblets and placed them at east, south, west, and north. One held dirt, to symbolize earth. Another held water, and a candle burned in the third: water and fire. The last cup held a cone of smoldering incense to represent air. When these were in place, he looked up and smiled at us.

Did you all enjoy Bethany Malones circles while I was away?

She was pretty cool, Raven said.

She was really nice, in a different way, Simon agreed. Theres a difference in how you make a circle and how she did.

I nodded. Thats true. And I liked all the healing stuff she taught us. An understatement. I was now taking private lessons from Bethany, focusing almost exclusively on healing. Giving my Wicca studies this focus seemed to have helped the rest of my life come into focus, too.

Good, said Hunter. Maybe well have her back as a guest circle leader sometime. Some of us grinned, and Hunter went on. Now, is there any circle business we need to take care of before we start? Where are we meeting next week?

We can have it at my house, said Thalia Cutter.

After that, there was no more Kithic business, so Hunter cast our circle, dedicated it to the Goddess, and invoked the God and the Goddess to hear us.

Now lets raise our power, said Hunter. And while our power is high, we can each think about the meaning of rebirth, of spring, about how we can each strive to, in a sense, re-create our lives each spring.

We joined handsI was between Matt Adler and Sharon. This time Hunter began with a power chant, and we all added our voices to it as we felt ready. The ancient Gaelic words seemed to float above us, weaving a circle of power above our heads. Hunters voice was strong and sure, and in another minute I began to feel the incredible lightening of my heart that told me I had connected with the Goddess. It wasnt like she spoke to mebut when I made a real connection to magick, the magick that exists everywhere, my worries dropped away. Pure, unquestioning joy filled my heart and my mind, and I felt a rush of love for everyone in my circleeven meand everyone outside of my circle. It was this connection that made coming back to magick so necessary for me. It was question and answer, reason and instinct, need and fulfillment all at the same time.

Hands locked, we circled deasil around the room, our feet moving faster and faster as smiles lit our faces. Rebirth, I thought with wonder. Re-create my life. Begin anew. The quickening of life.These concepts seemed full of promise and hope, and I knew my exploration of them would be joyous and exciting.

Morgan. With zero warning my birth father, Ciaran MacEwan, was standing in front of me. My hands ripped away from Matts and Sharons, and my feet stumbled on the blue carpet.

I stared at him, my eyes widening with fear and shock. In a moment I realized that he was an image in front of me, not the real person. But a complete, realistic image, shimmering gently, as if with heat.

Morgan, he said again, his Scottish accent coming through. His brownish hazel eyes, exactly like mine, examined me.

What do you want? I whispered. All I could see was him; my circle, the room, my friends had faded out of sight, replaced by this glowing image of my father, the man who had burned my mother to death more than sixteen years ago.

I know you put the watch sigil on me, he said softly, and fear clenched my stomach. But I forgive you.

The last time I had seen Ciaran, we had shape-shifted together. At the councils request, I had traced a watch sigil onto him so that council members could track Ciarans movements and eventually take him into custody. It had been a betrayal of him, but the risk had outweighed the danger of the deeds he would commit if left free. My birth father was one of the most evil witches in existence. He had murdered scores of people, including my birth mother, Maeve Riordan, as well as the lover she had known from childhood. I had chosen to chosen good over evil.

Ive... dismantled the watch sigil, Ciaran went on, and my knees almost buckled. It was beautifully done, Morgan. So subtle, so elegant, yet so powerful. He shook his head admiringly. Your powers...

Oh, Goddess, I thought in panic.

Of course, I was unhappy that you chose to betray me to the council jackals, Ciaran said dryly. My own daughter. My favored one. But I do forgive you. And its gone nowthey have no idea where I am. He gave a mischievous chuckle, making him appear younger than his early forties. But Im coming to see you, daughter. I have some questions for you.

His image faded quickly. Blinking, I felt like a wall I had been leaning against had suddenly been taken away. There was a split second of seeing the members of Kithic staring at me in concern; then everything went fuzzy, and I felt myself fall.

Stay still. Hunters reassuring voice made me quit trying to sit up. My eyes opened, then shut againeverything looked too bright.

What happened? I murmured.

I was hoping you could tell me, said Hunter. He gently lifted my head and rested it on his crossed legs. You just stopped dead in the middle of our power chant and turned as white as a sheet of paper. You said, What do you want? and stared at nothing. Then you keeled over.

Just like that, it all came back with a sickening rush.

It was Ciaran, I said softly, looking up at Hunter.

Above me, his green eyes narrowed. What happened? he asked, almost fiercely.

But I knew his anger wasnt directed at me. I struggled to sit up, feeling my elbow aching where I must have hit it.

The rest of the coven was gathered around, looking at me in concern.Then Bree knelt close to me, holding out a glass of water.

Thanks, I said gratefully. I took it and sipped, and felt a bit stronger.

What happened? Bree asked also, her dark eyes worried.

It was Ciaran MacEwan, I explained more loudly. I just... suddenly had a vision of Ciaran. And then I fainted.

That was all I wanted to say in front of everyone, and Hunter must have understood because he said, I think perhaps we should call it a night.

He put his arm around my shoulders and helped me stand up. It would be hard to recapture the energy, anyway. Still looking concerned, the members of Kithic started pulling on their jackets.

Do you want me to follow you home? Robbie asked. Or drive you?

I smiled at him. After Bree, Robbie had been my best friend since grade school.

No thanks, I said. Ill be okay.

Ill make sure she gets home, said Hunter.

We said good-bye to Ethan and Sharon, who decided to stay, and walked out into the brisk late-winter evening. I breathed in the damp night air, trying to detect the first hint of spring. The change of seasons would do a lot for me. It had been a long, hard winter. I stood next to my beloved white whale of a car, Das Boot, and rubbed my hands on my arms. I cast my senses but picked up nothing. Hunter, Ciaran said hes taken off the watch sigil and that he knows I put it on him.

Bloody hell, Hunter breathed.

Yeah. Lets go to your place.

I felt nervous, as if my father would leap out at me from behind Ethans holly bush. Hunter agreed and followed me in his own car to his house. I would feel safer thereit was a blood witchs house, spelled, protected, and familiar. I almost ran inside. The overheated living room felt like a haven. Automatically I cast my senses again and felt Daniel Niall, Hunters father, in the kitchen. I tried not to let Hunter see my disappointment. Until three weeks ago, Hunter hadnt seen his parents in eleven years. They had been in hiding from Ciaran and his coven, Amyranth. Though Hunters mom had died before hed been able to see her, his father was still alive, and the danger seemed to be gone. Things had gotten pretty bad for Mr. Niall in Canada, and Hunters trip had ended with Hunters bringing his father home to live with him. Mr. Niall was staying in Skys room until she came back. If she ever did.

Sit down, Hunter said. Ill get you some tea. He headed to the kitchen, and soon I heard murmured voices.

The truth was, I couldnt help itI didnt like Mr. Niall. I had been so excited to meet Hunters father, whom Id heard so much about, whom I knew meant so much to Hunter. But Id been shocked by his appearancehe looked like a homeless person, all bones and pale skin, mussed gray hair, eyes that looked half crazy. Still, I had put on my best manners, smiling and shaking handsand he had reacted to me as if I were a gift his cat had left on the doorstep. He wasnt mean, exactlyjust standoffish and reserved. I wasnt looking forward to seeing him again.

Hunter was soon back. Drink this, he said, holding out a small glass with an inch of dark amber liquid in it. I sniffed it. Its sherry, he explained. Just a tiny bit. For medicinal purposes.

I sipped it hesitantly. It didnt really ring my bells, but after it was down, I felt a bit warmer and more able to deal.

Then Hunter handed me a cup of tea, and I could sense that hed added herbs and also spelled it to be healing and soothing. It was very convenient, having a witch for a boyfriend.

Now, said Hunter, sitting next to me on the couch, so I felt his leg warm against mine. Tell me everything.

Feeling safer and less freaked, and becoming more and more aware of his body next to mine, I told him everything about my vision that I could remember.

Bloody hell, Hunter said again.

The kitchen door swung open, and Daniel Niall came out, carrying a plate with a sandwich on it. He saw me on the couch and gave me a tight little nod.