Forever Love (Circle of Ghadan Book 1) Read online

  He brushed his thumb against her bottom lip, making sparks shoot through her. “You’re an exciting exception. Exciting enough to make me forget forever the whole one-night-stand thing and want to spend every night with you. But to answer your question, around the time you were born, I was livin’ in Chicago. I stayed there a few years after my one and only wife and daughter died before I returned to my cabin. I’ve been there since.”

  Cass stared at him. She’d have asked about his wife and daughter, but the pain in his face made it clear he didn’t want to say more. So she picked the safe part of what he’d just told her, and that was not the part about wanting to spend every night with her. Even though she wanted to pursue that, she knew better. “You never married except for once? Were you a priest or something?”

  Her question startled a laugh out of him which was precisely what she’d wanted. “No, luv, I was a warrior. Until I took over MacKenna Brewery from Paddy MacKenna in 1749. Then for the first time, I left the battlefield for a short period. I’ve always been a warrior in one way or another.”

  “Oh, then why did you say I was different than my mother?” Not that she believed him in the least. She knew what she’d done. She’d always entered a relationship after careful consideration, and it only became sexual after she knew her partner well and understood exactly what she was doing.

  “Because, pet, what happened to you was a result of your new Aeterni status.”

  She furrowed her brow. “Huh? Being an Aeterni caused me to jump all over you? Something I never, ever do, by the way.”

  He chuckled softly. “No Cassie luv. Your emotions were running crazy. You were bein’ human wanting to confirm you were still alive and in control.”

  His explanation didn’t make her any happier with what she’d done, but she decided not to argue the point further. Besides, maybe he was right. Unable to fight it, she yawned. Now that she was safe, she was feeling the exhaustion, the last week catching up with her.

  Keegan pulled her against him so she was leaning on his shoulder. “Curl your legs up on the couch and nap, a mhuirnín. I’ll wake you when we’re ready to land.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  As Cass and Keegan walked out of the airport, she saw Nilos leaning against the hood of a black Lexus sedan, his long legs resting on the sidewalk. He looked like a GQ cover model with his well-tailored gray wool slacks, black wool duster and Ray-Bans covering his dark blue eyes. He’d pulled his hair into a low pony tail that reached the middle of his back. The cocky grin Cass had gotten used to was replaced by a thin, tight line.

  An exotically beautiful woman stood next to him, her smile wide as she moved her finger across the screen of her phone. The heels on her white suede boots made her almost as tall as Keegan. She was dressed completely in white, including a calf-length white wool coat. The only splash of color was the bright red silk scarf around her neck. She was the most elegant woman Cass had ever seen. Her straight black hair hung past her waist and her sky blue eyes were a shining contrast to her olive skin.

  Cass glanced to the side to see what Keegan thought of her. His smile was wide, but there was nothing compared to the way he sometimes looked at her. Was the woman a friend? Who was she?

  “Althea, what a pleasant surprise,” Keegan said as they neared. He put his hands on her shoulder and kissed her cheek lightly before turning to shake hands with Nilos. “I thought you were going with Jasmine to check out the bookstore.”

  Cass pulled back feeling like the fifth wheel. She was a short, frumpy bookstore owner. She didn’t have a lot of money, she made enough to make ends meet and to live comfortably, but she certainly couldn’t afford to rent a Lexus. In fact, she drove a Ford that was eight years old. Her clothes were off the rack, usually sale items.

  Reality hit. She did not belong in this world. She studied the trio as Althea put her phone in the white leather clutch purse she pulled from under her arm. Private jets, rented Lexus, designer, one of a kind, clothing. She wanted to go home. Back to her bookstore, back to her friend and business partner. Back to her world. She wanted to run, but knew better than to even try. What she wanted didn’t matter, they wouldn’t let her go. If she couldn’t go home, then she at least wanted to go back to Keegan’s mountain where she didn’t feel like the little lost orphan child no one knew what to do with.

  Althea’s smile was sheepish. “I’m afraid that’s my fault. I had a vision and called my father. He put me on one of his planes last evening. Messed up the meeting I was supposed to attend for him, but what the hell, I’d rather be here.” She seemed to have the same accent as Derian. Then again, with a name like Althea, it didn’t come as a surprise she was Greek.

  “You didn’t tell me that, sugar. Do I want to ask you what kind of vision since your visions are never the warm-fuzzy kind?” Nilos’ voice had lost its light teasing note and most of the Cajun accent gone. He sounded upper crust southern. Interesting. The woman put him as much on edge as she did Cass.

  Althea smiled at him. “I’ll explain in a minute, first I want to meet Keegan’s guest.” Her smiled faded. She looked at Keegan and said, “She knew nothing before you told her.”

  Keegan nodded, then glanced around and frowned at her standing a few feet behind him. She’d stayed back, not wanting to intrude. He stepped back and took her hand, pulling her forward. When she was even with him, she started to pull her hand away, but he tightened his grip and pulled her closer. “Darlin’, this is Althea Sotiris.”

  “Derian’s daughter?” Or his wife? She could be either.

  The woman held out an elegant hand encased in a fine kid leather glove. There was nothing delicate in her handshake, however. “Yes, I am. Thank you for not thinking I’m my mother. So many people think I’m married to the old goat.” Her perfect smile was nothing but friendly.

  Cass returned the smile, relaxing a little. “I’m glad I guessed right then. I’m not used to this world. It just doesn’t seem right that someone as young as Derian should have a daughter your age.”

  Althea laughed. “It does seem strange, I admit. I’m very sorry you’ve been thrust so unexpectedly into our world, but I am fascinated by you, I have to admit. I’m not sure if I would have told my father about my vision if I hadn’t wanted to meet you.”

  Cass blinked. This beautiful fashion model woman had wanted to meet her? She shook her head.

  A cold wind kicked up. It may have been April and the sun may have been shining bright, bringing the hope of spring with it, but the wind was straight out of the north and cold against Cass’ aging wool pea coat and old leather gloves. She was glad she’d grabbed them for the trip to Maine when she’d been home.

  Nilos pulled his mouth even tighter as he straightened. “Let’s continue this conversation on the way to Bastien’s. If we don’t get going, Derian’s gonna be calling my cell and giving me hell for being late.”

  Althea reached over and patted his face. “Ah, the Cajun’s scared the old goat’s going to yell at him?”

  Nilos bared his teeth and walked to the driver’s side. Cass watched with interest. The short time she’d known him, Nilos had been friendly and sympathetic. Yesterday, he didn’t seem like he took anything seriously. Today it was obvious he wanted to be anywhere but here.

  Keegan opened the door to the backseat and motioned her in. “Luv, come on, you look cold.”

  Cass sat behind Althea and looked around, awed. The heated seats were black butter soft leather that she sank into. As Keegan got in next to her, she noticed there was ample leg room. She was the only one swallowed by the seat. She really did feel like the little orphan child. A feeling she wasn’t comfortable with. She’d spent a lifetime being in charge. She always did her best to feel like she belonged, but there was just no way she was ever going to feel like she belonged in this world.

  Pulling into traffic, Nilos said, “You gonna tell us ‘bout that vision of yours, catin, or are you just gonna make us guess what it is? ‘Cause I ain’t so good at guessin’
games.”

  Cass stared at the back of his head. He never so much as looked at Althea, but the animosity was clear. As was the reason for his even stronger Cajun dialect. Althea seemed to rub him the wrong way.

  “Smart ass,” she murmured.

  “Not the only part of me dat’s smart, sugar.”

  “Do you think I buy that Cajun crap? I know you spent most of your life in New Orleans and Greece, not on the bayou. So you can just drop it.”

  Cass could have sworn she heard Nilos growl and Keegan chuckled beside her. “Enough you two. Just tell us what happened at Cassie’s store today.” He shook his head as he continued, “Because somehow I get the feeling you’re not going to be tellin’ us about that vision of yours.”

  Before Althea could answer, Cass’ brain finally caught up and she realized the significance of Althea having visions. If she’d understood Keegan correctly, the woman was one of the most important people in the Aeterni world. “Keegan told me only Oracles have visions. Since you’re Derian’s daughter, I understand that’s possible.” She shook her head in confusion. “There’s just so much to learn.”

  “Don’t worry, Aeterni and Daughters are old as dirt, you have a lot of catching up to do. It’ll come to you, you have forever to learn.” Althea said.

  “Yay for me,” Cass mumbled under her breath.

  “Don’t you want to live forever?” Althea turned to look at her between the seats, her raised eyebrows hidden beneath the straight-cut bangs.

  Cass sighed. “I was hoping the guy who did this to me would be able to reverse it, put me back.”

  “But you’ve found out he can’t?” Nilos asked.

  “Yes. According to Dr. Bell, he doesn’t see any way for it to happen. He did mention a slight possibility that my body could still reject the change, but I think I’d rather live forever than deal with what he said would happen if it did. Apparently it was easier to make me than to unmake me.”

  “Huh, well then, ‘tit ange, it appears you’re going to see the 45th Century after all.” Cass met his eyes in the rearview mirror, the dark blue depths were filled with sympathetic humor.

  “If we can continue to keep her safe, then she will.” Keegan looked at her and smiled. “Don’t worry, you’ll ease into it and won’t even notice the changes as strange.”

  Now that was something she’d have to see to believe, but decided it was wiser not to comment.

  Looking forward, Keegan asked, “Althea, what’d you find from the store?”

  “Right.” She looked at Keegan. “Turns out that poor Kerry has had a bitch screwing around with her head.”

  “A Daughter? Damn, things are pointing more and more toward one of our own.” Nilos said.

  “Yup, and she wasn’t very skilled at playing around in someone’s head. Kerry’s got some permanent memory loss.”

  “Shite.” Keegan said.

  “Agreed. Dad’s going to blow a gasket.” Althea said.

  Cass was appalled, anger seething at the cold-blooded treatment of her friend. “You mean Daughters can get into our minds and make us do stuff or believe stuff?”

  Keegan squeezed her hand. “Some, not many, and even fewer are very skilled at it. Jasmine is one, which is why she’s my assistant. Hannah, Bastien’s assistant, is another, since he too is Drakōn. Andreas’ daughter, and Althea are Oracles, so yeah, they can ‘mess around’ as you put it. There are a few others, but everyone knows the consequences if they hurt a mortal in any way.”

  Nilos nodded. “Li Zhao has a Daughter who can manipulate, but not read, and I don’t think the consequences would bother either of them in the least.”

  Althea nodded. “Yes, May Zhao would be a possibility. Not being able to read the mind she’s manipulating would compromise the mortal because she wouldn’t be able to tell how much damage she’s doing.”

  She sighed. “But really, Aeterni love to crow about the birth of their sons but do they pass on to you, Keegan, when a Daughter is born? You know, it’s very possible there are many out there we just don’t know about. You record them when you know about them, but Cass is a fine example of an amazing surprise.”

  “You’re right, Althea, unless someone tells me, I have no way to track Daughters. So there could be any number who could mess around with the woman’s mind. Oracles can find Aeterni if they have a vision about them, does that include Daughters?”

  “Until Cass, I’ve never had a vision about a Daughter, and I’m going to bet that’s because she’s not technically a Daughter anymore. I don’t know of any Oracles who’ve ever had a vision that concerned a Daughter unless an Aeterni was somehow involved with her.”

  Cass glared at Keegan and snatched her hand back, resisting the temptation to sit on it. “Kerry’s my best friend in the world, my business partner, and you’re acting like someone getting into her head and screwing around with it is no big deal.” She turned her glare to Althea. “You said yourself she’s caused permanent memory loss. How can someone do something like this? You don’t seem to even care that my friend’s been damaged by your world.”

  “As you’ve been damaged by our world, pet? The Aeterni world is no different than the mortal world. We’ve bastards, too. If our world were perfect, we’d have no need for Drakōns to handle justice and we’d have no need for the Circle of Ghadan or the laws they enforce,” Keegan said softly.

  He had a point, but she refused to look at him. His words only made her angrier because she knew he was right. Criminals existed in both their worlds. At least Kerry had experienced only some memory loss, and wouldn’t even realize it. A mortal with a gun could just as easily enter the store to rob and kill her. She refused to admit that to them, though. She was too angry at everyone and everything. Including the situation she found herself in and the man she was falling in love with, who didn’t seem to have the same feelings for her.

  Ignoring her attempts to keep her distance, Keegan took her shoulders and turned her toward him as far as the seatbelt would allow. “Cassie, we’re very aware your friend’s been damaged, and if there was anything in the world we could do for her, we would. No sanctioned, law abidin’ Daughter would’ve done that. The woman who tampered with your friend’s mind has broken our laws and will be judged by the Circle and her sentence will be carried out just as soon as we find her.”

  She sighed. His words took the wind out of her anger, but darn it, she just wanted something she could be angry at because she felt so helpless otherwise. “I’m glad to hear that, but it won’t put Kerry’s mind back together.”

  “No, it won’t and we can’t put you back together either.”

  Cass flinched at the direct hit. He’d just made it clear he understood where most of her anger was coming from.

  Keegan turned to Althea. “Did there appear to be any serious damage done to Kerry?”

  Althea shook her head. “No, she just seems to have lost a few hours from one day a week ago.”

  “A week ago? That’s when I was kidnapped.”

  “Did she see it happen?” Althea asked.

  “I don’t know, I thought she was already at her car. Maybe she came back for something.”

  Althea pushed her hair over her shoulder and looked at Keegan. “Hum, perhaps I was wrong. The damage to her memory wasn’t an accident, but very intentional.”

  Keegan undid his seatbelt and scooted into the middle space. Sliding his arm around Cass, he pulled her against his side. She shouldn’t let him comfort her, but she just didn’t have the strength to stop him and her anger was draining away. She was too honest with herself to hang on to it. Everyone in the car had done nothing but help her. It wasn’t their fault this was happening.

  “I don’t suppose there’s any way to see what she saw that day?” Keegan asked.

  “I tried. If she did see Cass get kidnapped, that memory has been completely removed.”

  “Damn,” Nilos said. “That could have been very helpful.”

  ***

  It was sta
rting to get dark when Nilos stopped at an incredibly fancy and tall wrought iron gate. Once it swung open, he continued on down the well-maintained dirt drive toward the house. Yup, there was no doubt about it, Cass just freaking did not belong in this world of money and opulence. Bastien St. Clair’s house had to encompass multi-thousand square feet at the very least, most likely on hundreds of acres of land. It was a veritable stone mansion set a good mile back from the road. It was guarded by woods and what looked like an electrified fence.

  Nilos drove the rented Lexus to the cobblestone turnaround in front of the house and parked. They were the only car parked in front of the house.

  “It appears we’ve arrived first,” Nilos said as he undid his seatbelt and opened his door, but didn’t get out.

  “That’s intentional,” Althea said as she opened her door and stepped out.

  “Stay here, luv, I’ll come around and get you.”

  “Keegan, I’m perfectly capable of opening a door and getting out of a car.”

  Nilos handed a baseball cap back over the seat to Keegan who shoved it on Cass’ head, pulling the brim down low. The hat was followed by sunglasses which he then placed on her nose.

  Cass felt ridiculous and stared at both of them. “What? You don’t have a blond wig for me?”

  Nilos laughed and said, “Damn, chère, I wish that would’ve occurred to me. Derian told me I was gonna have to make sure you got here in one piece and unrecognizable. Mebbe I should’ve asked you for suggestions.”

  Before she could ask another question Althea opened Cass’ door and leaned over, looking in. “Are you two coming? I thought the idea was to get here before everyone else.”

  Keegan got out and walked around. When he reached the passenger’s side, he held out his hand. “It’s time you meet a few more of your new race.”