Claiming Trinity (9 page)

Cemil cupped his chin. “I’ll have to take her to the Elysian Fields. She needs at least some closure to resolve her grief.”

“Not until after we make the talisman,” Sarka spoke up.

“And after some food and another night of sleep. She’s exhausted on every level, physically, mentally and emotionally,” Cemil finished.

“So, her treatment and protection is sorted out.” Cyrus stared him down. “Kane, you continue to sit watch while she sleeps. Arawn, take turns on watch.”

“You got it, boss.” Arawn’s eagerness to get back to their banshee and see for himself she was okay overpowered him.

“There’s one piece of the puzzle missing that really bothers me.” Rekkus locked gazes with Cyrus. He stepped closer to him.

“I didn’t think we had enough pieces to form a puzzle,” Sarka sneered. Rekkus glared at her, and she straightened her posture. “What’s missing?”

“If someone wants to hurt her, we won’t find out whom until we figure out why.”

“How do you propose we do that?” Cemil tilted his head.

“I haven’t figured it out yet, but I will.” Rekkus curled his lip.

“She did mention one thing that seemed odd. She didn’t have much information, though,” Kane spoke up.

“Go on?” Rekkus nodded.

“She said her uncle took her and fled Ireland after her parents died, and he refused to raise her among her race.”

“Did she say why?” Cyrus’s eyes widened.

“Not much, but she said he felt the sovereign of the banshee is corrupt. From the way she described her childhood, they moved around a lot, and he was pretty anxious about it.”

Trinity tossed and turned. As tired as she felt, she couldn’t sleep any longer. She threw the covers off and stared at the large round bamboo blades of the ceiling fan. The soft whoosh as it slowly spun did little to lull her restlessness. She gazed aimlessly at the dancing shadows from the blades against the plaster swirls of the butter cream ceiling.

“You okay?” Kane approached the bed, a mug in hand.

“Yeah, I know Trixie told me to sleep, but I’m not tired anymore.” She propped up against the hard wood of the headboard. “Is this for me?” She licked her dry lips with anticipation.

“Sure is.” He handed it to her. “I just got up, myself. I debated brewing some coffee but went with this instead.”

“What is it?” She drew in a long whiff of aromatic sweetness.

“Tea.” Kane sat on the bed beside her.

“Tea?” Apprehension rolled over her. “On second thought….” She handed the mug back.

Kane accepted it with a knowing grin. “It’s not one of Sage’s zany concoctions. It’s chamomile I found in the cupboard. See?” He sipped from the cup and let out a low moan of enjoyment. The noise sparked her intrigue…not for tea, but how he would moan with a different kind of pleasure.

Kane held the cup for her to taste.

“Thank you.” She placed her lips on the edge and sipped a little. “Mmm, it’s sweet,” she cooed.

“I put a little honey in it.”

“What time is it?” She glanced around. The bright sunny view she had fallen asleep to earlier had darkened.

“Almost dinnertime.” He set the cup on the bedside table. “I hate to say it—”

“I know. Rekkus will have a conniption if we aren’t on time for dinner.” She stretched her neck from side to side.

“How’s our princess?” Arawn strolled to the other side of the bed and plopped down beside her.

“Much better, thanks.” She smoothed her hair back with relief. “I can’t believe what a pain in the rump I’ve been. I spoiled your whole week with this nonsense.”

“Are you kidding us?” Kane chuckled. “We’ve been skinny dipping, seen you cut loose, and best of all, we got out of getting our asses kicked by Rekkus ten hours a day.”

“You got that right, brother!” Arawn held a fist across for Kane to knuckle bump with him. “Training is brutal. We’re much happier here with you.” He winked.

Trinity studied his luscious lips curved into a fantastic smile. With an angular jaw and the black ink peeking out of the sleeves and collar of his shirt, his jet-black hair and deep, dark eyes, Arawn was stunning. She glanced to find Kane’s adoring gaze light up his incredible green eyes. These men were spectacular, protective, and devoted to her, at least for the week.

“I want to ask you both something, and please”—she glanced between them—“be honest with me.”

“Of course,” they replied in unison.

She sucked in a long, shaky breath. “Did I do or say anything I should be terribly embarrassed about last night at dinner, or after?”

“You don’t remember.” Kane’s smile faded. “You were a delight.”

“Really?” She glared at him in disbelief.

“Truthfully, you were less uptight, overall. You were fine. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“What did I talk about?” She had been heavily sedated with herbs and worried her blabbermouth ways had gotten the best of her, which was why she didn’t drink in the mundane world often.

“Not much.” Kane fixed his gaze on the cup of tea.

“You promised to be honest with me,” she grumbled.

“Look, you may have mentioned a little about your parents and your uncle,” Arawn confessed. “But it wasn’t bad at all.”

“Oh.” She slouched her shoulders.

“You did mention a few things about us that took me by surprise.” Arawn folded his arms across his rippling chest. His biceps bulged.

“Such as?”

“You told Kane here you saw stone and wings.”

“Arawn,” Kane growled and bared his teeth.

“Don’t sweat it, buddy.” He shook his head. “I think it’s okay.” He waited while she searched her brain for any recollection.

“That’s right. And a heart of stone?”

“Yeah, and with me?” he prompted.

“Hmm….” She squinted hard as she thought. “Oh, yes. She opened her eyes and stared at him. You’re conflicted with your good nature, war, and revenge…and hounds with red ears?”

“How do you see those things?” Kane’s voice became a soft murmur. “Are you clairvoyant?” He tucked his chin to his chest and avoided eye contact.

“Not exactly, but I get flashes of thoughts sometimes. My talents have been way off-kilter for months. Now, I can’t turn it on when I want, or more so recently, shut it off.” She paused and reflected on the pieces she did recall. “What did those things mean?”

“The stone and wings?” Kane shrugged.

“Or the conflict and war?” Arawn held his palms up with confusion.

“All of it?”

The two friends gawked at one another for a long moment. Frustration festered deep inside her. “Hey,” she snapped. “I poured out my guts to you two last night, and not of my volition. Things I’ve never told another living soul. You owe me the truth. Now spill it, both of you.”

“It should be pretty easy to figure out.” Kane pursed his lips. “Heart of stone, wings, total carnivore and I guard at night on top of the roof….”

The pieces slipped together in perfect harmony. “You’re a gargoyle?”

“I am.” He grimaced and turned his head to the side.

“Look at me, Kane?” She cupped his chin and prompted him to meet her gaze. His eyes held the darkness of profound shame. “You’re wonderful.”

“You don’t think gargoyles are grotesque?” His surprise stunned her.

“I’d never met one in person before now. How could I find someone who’s stuck by my side to protect me grotesque?”

“Maybe not in this form.” He grasped her hand and removed it from his chin.

“If you doubt me, then show me and I’ll prove you wrong.”

“You want me to change into a gargoyle?” He choked.

“Yes.”

“No….” He shook his head. “Never in front of you.”

“Why not?”

“Because, it would scare you, and I don’t ever want you to be scared of me, I couldn’t bear it.”

Arawn cleared his throat. “Once, a long time ago, a woman he saved screamed bloody murder and ran away from him. She called him a demon.”

Kane snarled at Arawn. “Traitor.”

“She needs to know why it’s such an issue. Seemed like a pretty good time since we’ve shared all our secrets.” He shrugged.

“Someone you saved reacted in fear…let me guess, a mundane?” Trinity needed to dissect this deep-seated indignity he tried to avoid.

“She was.” He dipped his chin.

“Humans are raised with fairytales and fables of us all.” She pointed to her white locks and motioned to her pale features and bright blue eyes. “They view us as monsters, not because it’s true, but due to the limitations of knowledge they have. I don’t imagine many mundanes would react any differently.”

“No, I would guess not,” he concurred.

“But”—she inched a little closer and set her fingers under his chin again to meet her gaze—“for the record, you are a very handsome guy.” The apex between her thighs warmed with her confession.

Kane picked up her hand and kissed the back of her knuckles. “You’re pretty damn amazing yourself.”

“Your turn.” She leered at Arawn. “Conflicted, kind, but war torn and revenge driven?”

“Your friendly neighborhood Lord of the Underworld at your service, ma’am.” He flashed a forced grin. “Or at least, I’m next in line for the throne.”

“Arawn?” The name sounded vaguely familiar, but couldn’t place it. Her time in the mundane world had dulled her knowledge of para history.

“Junior. My father is the original Arawn of Annwn.”

“You’re immortal?”

“I am.” He rubbed his thighs and avoided her gaze.

“Why are you here?” She frowned.

“I…abdicated my claim to the throne.” He rolled his shoulders.

“Go on, the rest of it?” she demanded. “What are you hiding behind those tattoos? Let me see.”

Arawn grimaced. “I don’t…take my shirt off.”

“Now.”

Arawn pulled the edges of his black T-shirt out of the waist of his pants and inched it up his muscular torso and over his head. Trinity finally got her close-up and undistorted view of the tribal tattoos adorning his body from waist to neck and across his biceps. Black ink decorated this decadent canvas of muscle. She traced her fingers over the design from his collar down to the front of his chest. The pads of her fingers grazed over a raised, rough patch of skin. The tattoos camouflaged a jagged nine-or-so inch scar from his sternum to his shoulder.

“What happened to you?”

Arawn pressed his lips tight.

“He freed me from his father’s prison, along with many other souls. Arawn senior had a bit of a temper. He liked to sic his hounds of hell on those who defied him. It’s now referred to as the Battle of Annwn.”

“Because?”

“My buddy here rose up against his father, who stood for war, revenge. He had enslaved the souls of the damned as his personal dog pack.”

“How terrible!” A ripple of devastation shuddered through her chest.

“Arawn saved my life. He gave me my freedom, and, for that, I’m forever indebted to him.” Kane reached over and patted his friend on the shoulder. “But the goofball kind of grows on you after a while, too.”

“You both do, you big lugs.” Trinity took their hands and held onto them. “So it would seem I’m not the only one with a dark past.”

“No, pretty lady, you most certainly are not.” Arawn’s features lightened a little with his smile.

Trinity shuddered. “Your father?” She ran her fingertips over the raised skin again. “I’m so sorry.”

“Yeah, he’s kind of a prick.” Arawn shrugged.

“I’d say so.” She caressed his arm. He sat hunched forward.

“I noticed, Kane, you have some impressive artwork yourself.” This up close and personal became far more than she intended, on a dangerous level, but she couldn’t help herself. She wanted to see more.

“I do.” Kane lifted his T-shirt to reveal a detailed symbol on his chest of exquisite dark wings circled around writing she didn’t recognize.

“What does it say?”

“It’s Gaelic for protector of the innocent.”

“Beautiful.” Upon further inspection, she found Celtic knot work mixed with tribal strokes of black ink banded around his biceps. “You had more on your back, didn’t you?”

“Yes.” He shifted sideways. On his spectacular canvas of taut skin wrapped over bulging muscles, he bared the tribal artwork of a Celtic cross and wings surrounding it.

“It’s incredible.”

“Well, I couldn’t let pretty boy over there outdo me in catching the ladies’ attention with all his fancy ink.”

“Joke all you want, but it’s meaningful and exquisite.” Fascinated, she skated her palm over the details. “Both of you.” Trinity folded her hands and rested them in her lap. “I have to admit, on first impression, I thought you were both sailors here to get laid. I had no idea how honorable and strong you both are.”

“Are you getting all mushy on us?” Kane slipped his shirt back over his head and threaded his arms through the sleeves.

Arawn did the same, and disappointment filled her. What she wouldn’t give to know how they felt about her right now. Were they as turned on as she was? If so, it could promise a week to remember.

The realization struck her like a bolt of lightning. “I can see your expression, but I can’t feel your thoughts right now.”

“It’s the necklace the sisters made for you.” Arawn lifted the heavy stone and metal from her chest. “A talisman to protect you from getting overpowered by your abilities. They got it ready while you slept.”

“It’s beautiful. This fixes everything?” She cupped her hand over his.

He shook his head. “It’s only temporary, I’m afraid.”

“I don’t understand. I can’t read your thoughts or feel anything right now.” She let go of his hand, and he released the necklace.

“We aren’t sure what’s happened to you, but the Rowans suspect it’s an attack against you.”

Her chest constricted. “For what? I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“We know, but we have to figure out why someone stole pieces of your memory.” Kane rubbed her thigh with a swirl of his fingertips.

“Is there a time limit on its power?”

“I don’t think it’s that type of temporary.” Kane tilted his head. “Part of the test will be dinnertime…if you can handle it?”

“How will dinner test this necklace?”

“Right now, there are only us three here.” Arawn lifted her hand and placed a kiss on the inside of her wrist, which made butterflies dance in her tummy. “They want to see how you cope around other energies, paras, and humans, in the dinner hall. Then we will take it from there.”