On the run from the Dalais, Danni finds refuge in a Scottish fortress with the sexy Sidhé Aodhán, the same man who took her virginity. The Dalais seek the stone of destiny, and Aodhán fears they may have the sacred book of magic in their possession. If so, Danni is in even more danger than she realizes. After catching a sweaty Aodhán in the middle of a training session, Danni finds herself drawn to him again, but the entrance of Delci, the house-fey, throws cold water on their would-be tryst.
Before another encounter can take place, a strange woman arrives. To her horror, Danni learns Aodhán has a fiancé he conveniently forgot to mention! Danni is so out of there! She runs off to find her friends. They need to mend the tear in the veil as quickly as possible! A chance encounter with a beautiful Celtic god and Danni finds herself with a ride to Edinburgh.
Aodhán is angry when he learns that Danni has gone, and he and the Cat Sidhé soon hit the road. There is just something about her that he can’t let go of. Which means at some point he is going to have to make up his mind as to which woman he really wants, as well as keep the stone of destiny safe from the Dalais. Will he have to lose one to save the other?
More From Cauldbearer Stone
Aodhán tensed, his arms tightening around Danni as rage build within him. He grabbed Danni by the upper arm and dragged her away from the tower, periodically stopping to glare back at her. “What part of do not leave the premises didn't you understand, Danni Jarvis? Do you know what could have happened to you had I not sensed the danger?”
Danni's pulse raced against his fingers. He couldn't believe he'd wrenched her from the jaws of a Dalais’ minion. Their ability to control her even under the Bloodstone’s protection was alarming. If he hadn't followed her, she would've been captured.
Aodhán watched as Danni opened her mouth to answer, but his anger seemed to leave her speechless. The fear she must have seen was also reflected in his eyes. It shocked him that anything or anyone could cause him, the most dangerous of the Guardians—fear. But that is what he felt for the first time in his immortal life.
“I didn’t leave. I followed the ball of light out here. How was I to know it was leading me to something evil?”
“The fact that it was a mysterious ball of light for one. I could have lost you, Danni,” Aodhán snarled, ignoring her excuse.
“You mean lost the stone?” Danni corrected him.
“Yes,” he agreed while releasing her slowly. “But the Dalais could've taken you as well.”
“Would it have been any significant loss? Anyway, what am I to you? A human who controls the stone, or am I something more?”
“I don’t know. I just know I can’t function with you around me and can't think of anything but you when you’re not here.”
“So where does that leave us?” Danni whispered as they walked toward the stairs.
“That leaves me to sort through the mess I’ve created,” Aodhán answered, leading her back to her room. “I'd hoped the magic would protect you here,” Aodhán grumbled, then murmured to himself. “They should have protected you within the Teach.”
Suddenly, he spun, raced back up the hall, and leaped, landing on the marble floor below the staircase. He swung around to face Danni who had hurried down the stairs to keep up, now stood behind him, her breathing loud as the air rushed in and out between her lips. Aodhán moved his palms over the embedded symbols along the front door and then swore under his breath. A flash of blue and green light flared outward to envelop his hand. “Shit! Someone has tampered with the magic.”
Aodhán grabbed Danni by the upper arm and dragged her behind him as he pushed her back toward the stairs.
“What the hell’s happening?”
“What you saw on the turret was a puppet of the Dalais. They excel at casting illusions to snare those caught unaware, but they shouldn't have got that far.”
“You said this house was a fortress and there was no way to get past your spells." Danni's voice quivered with alarm. "It appears you were wrong and nothing or no one can protect me.”
Danni twisted out of his grasp and stormed off to her room. Aodhán watched her retreat, admitting to himself that she'd made a point. He had brought her from America in order to protect her from the Dalais who were hunting her, the Cauldbearer. Years ago, Danni and her friends had opened the veil between the two worlds, and she was now in possession of the Bloodstone. This night proved they were all in danger not only from the Dalais, but from one of their own. Although he was aware his priority was to ensure Danni's safety, Aodhán had underestimated those around him, but he would not do so again. He closed his eyes and sent a message on a wave of energy to summon his warriors.
Aodhán combed his fingers through his hair in frustration as he leaned his hips on the long rectangular table in the hallway. The Dalais had something the Elders had been looking for—the Taludar. The Taludar was an ancient book of power that worked with the Bloodstone to open the veil, and with the help of someone within his compound, had been used to create a rift in his wards.
How the Dalais got their hands on the Taludar was puzzling. Until now, the Bloodstone protected both the book and the Cauldbearer. One called to the other wanting to be joined. When the Bloodstone was separated from the Taludar, the book was secreted away under the protection of his people, the Guardians. The assumption was that the Bloodstone would provide added protection to the book even from afar, but something had changed once Danni placed the stone around her neck. Instead, the Bloodstone had concentrated its power around her at the first sign of a threat which was often, and that, too, was a mystery. If it only protected the Cauldbearer, someone was aware of that, and the recent attacks had been planned. Now that the danger had increased, he had more significant issues to deal with. First, find the Taludar which was supposed to be under the protection of the Elders, and second, discover the traitor in their camp.
