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Ciaran stopped
at a little white fence and beamed at the small cottage with a
beautiful thatched roof. The cottage sat comfortably within the
skeletal branches that reached around it and surrounded it. The ivy
branches grew up next to the door and around the small window to
the side of it. Ciaran had brought them to meet his parents and his
little sister, upon the request of his mother who wanted to meet
the coven he spent so much time with.

The pretty
blue door opened and a slight woman with smiling grey eyes and rosy
cheeks all but skipped down the path towards Ciaran.

“
Hello,
darling! Now, let me look at you... you look well!”Ciaran’s mother
hugged him fiercely, and it melted Cora’s heart that Ciaran hugged
her back just as much. “You look well!”

“
Now, Iona,
don’t embarrass the lad!” a man said as he made his way towards
them.

“
There is no
harm in showing love for ma boy.”

Ciaran looked
at them sheepishly and rolled his eyes. “I’m a man now,
Ma.”

“
Ma’am, I’m
Tabitha, I want to thank you for offering to extend our holiday
here. We appreciate the hospitality.”

“
Well, now,
aren’t you beautiful!” Ciaran’s mother stood back and looked at
Tabitha, holding her hands between them. “Your eyes speak of
Ireland. Ma names Iona, be sure to use it,” Iona smiled and turned
to Cora. “Now, you must be Cora?”

Iona took
Cora’s face in her hands and studied her. “You are also beautiful,
a picture of love. I assume this is your young man,
Jack?”

Jack shook
Iona’s hand. “Yes, Iona, pleased to meet you.”

Iona smiled,
her hair blew back in the cool breeze, Cora could see the colour of
autumn leaves twist there. “You were right Ciaran, they are made
for each other. Soul mates from the day you were born, and don’t
let no Scottish git tell you otherwise!”

“
Iona!”
Ciaran’s father moved his wife aside. “Ma names Cian, pleased to be
meeting you all. Also, please take everything Iona says with a
pinch of salt.”

“
I like her,”
Cora whispered to Jack as he slung his arm around her
shoulder.

“
Ciary!”

A shout from
the door had them all turning. A burst of life and colour shot
towards them, well more specifically, towards Ciaran.

“
Hey there,
Bri!” Ciaran said, picking her up and spinning her around which
made the girl burst into fits of giggles.

It warmed
Cora’s heart to see Ciaran with his family. He’d spent so much time
with them, he was bound to miss his family. Ciaran stopped turning
so that Cora could finally see his sister. Long chestnut hair fell
down past her waist as eyes the colour of the setting sun smiled up
at her brother in adoration.

“
Everyone, this
is Brianna, otherwise known as Bri, or the little terror. This is
my little sister.”

“
Hello,
everyone,” Brianna said shyly.

Alastair had a
lot to answer for. He’d taken their attention away from the things
that were important, like family and friends. He’d forced them to
focus on the doom and gloom. They would concentrate on happiness
and love.

“
Please, do
come in,” Iona gestured and literally pushed them up the path
towards the door. “I do hope you are hungry!”

“
Starving,”
Jack said, revealing his dimples.

Iona laughed
and grabbed his cheeks in a familiar gesture. “Ooohhh, I like
you!”

As they
crowded the living room, Brianna remained by Ciaran’s side, her big
eyes looking at Cora inquisitively.

“
Please,
everyone, find a room for the night, someone will have to sleep on
the sofa but it’s a good one at that.”

“
I bag the
sofa,” Clay said and dropped down on it.

“
I will keep
you company,” Ayden also dropped down next to Clay.

“
We have
sleeping bags to make you more comfortable,” Cian said.

“
That would be
lovely, I will stay here too,” Eli offered.

Cora looked at
the three men and smiled. Anyone could see the bond between them. A
bond that had grown from death and grief and blossomed into
friendship and love. They wouldn’t admit to the love part. They
were men and they did a lot of back slapping to show it. But they
loved each other. They would die for each other. Cora caught
Brianna staring at her, saw the small tear slide down her soft
cheek. What had upset her? Cora felt guilty, she hadn’t said
anything but she knew that she needed to hide her feelings a little
better. Sometimes she wore them so plainly on her face.

“
Right, food is
ready when you want it,” Iona called from the kitchen.

Cora held back
her question to Brianna as she watched the men rush into the
kitchen. Tabitha lovingly rubbed Cora’s shoulder as they entered a
spacious room. The soft lemon walls ensured the sun always shone in
this room, it was warm, despite the snow that covered the fields
outside. The table had been positioned so that the low winter sun
streamed through the window, giving it a soft glow.

“
This looks and
smells lovely, Ma, thank you,” Ciaran praised his
mother.

Iona blushed
from his compliment and softly kissed her son’s cheek. Cora felt
that weight. The weight that usually dropped when she witnessed
families like this. She missed her mum more than ever in these
moments. Jack brushed her hand soothingly. Cora took a deep breath
and let it go. She had family, a bloody good one that surrounded
her right now. She would appreciate their love, their hugs whilst
they were here with her.

She noticed
that the table was laden with potatoes of every variety and
vegetables. Two large joints of pork and beef were sat in front of
Ayden who was heartily carving them. There were little balls of
stuffing and roasted turnips nearest Cora. She suspected someone
had told Iona that these were her favourite.

Cora helped
herself to an ample serving whilst Ayden plated up some meat for
her. He smiled at the amount on her plate, so he had noticed how
much she wasn’t eating. She never wanted people to worry about
her.

“
Please don’t
be sad,” a small whisper hushed the bustle of the table as all eyes
zeroed in on Brianna.

“
Bri?” Ciaran
asked.

“
Is it because
of your mummy?” Brianna asked Cora, those big eyes watching
her.

Cora felt the
lump tighten in her throat. She was unable to speak as everyone
looked at her.

“
I don’t mean
to make you feel sad.” Brianna stood and hesitantly shuffled
towards Cora. “I would miss my mummy too.”

Cora nodded as
Brianna came to stand next to her. Her small hand slowly touched
Cora’s and held it. Cora felt tears build up in her eyes, she
quickly brushed aside the ones that had escaped. “You have a
wonderful gift, Bri.”

Brianna
grinned, revealing milky white teeth. “May I sit with
you?”

Cora looked at
Jack and smiled.

“
Of course, two
pretty ladies sitting next to me, I would be honoured,” Jack said
as he stood and brought Brianna’s chair to place it in-between
them.

“
Bri is an
empath, she feels your emotions as much as you feel them,” Iona’s
hand brushed Cora’s hair as she put Brianna’s plate in front of her
daughter.

“
What other
gifts have graced your family?” Tabitha asked them.

Cora realised
that they didn’t even know Ciaran’s gift. He’d never outwardly
shown his element near them, she assumed he wasn’t an overtly
magical witch. You didn’t ask someone, it was almost impolite to
suggest they were weak.

“
I’m lucky, I
have the gift of cryokinesis. It means I can manipulate the ice and
the cold. It is quite useful, but I don’t use it like I used to. We
have quite a few snow days every now and then, don’t we, darling?”
Iona said with a soft smile.

“
Aye, that we
do, love. Ma gift is discord. I can create conflict between
people.”

“
Interesting
gift,” Eli complimented.

“
Aye, it was
once or twice in the pub, when I was younger like,” Cian
chuckled.

“
Hmmm... well,
I’m glad to see the back of those days,” Iona murmured. “Our Ciaran
has told us your elements, I believe you are a powerful witch,
Cora?”

“
Yes, I am, but
I still have lots to learn.”

“
Always the way
of it,” Iona agreed.

“
Ciaran, what
is your gift? I can’t believe we don’t know this but I just assumed
you weren’t magical.” Clay shook his head.

“
What?” Ciaran
laughed and choked on his drink.

“
Sorry, mate,”
Clay smirked, “But in all this time you haven’t shown us one sniff
of magic.”

“
It’s fine, it
never came up because Alastair, the dates and everything else. My
element is high resistance.”

This
revelation received silence. Cora didn’t know what it meant, and
she assumed the others were a little confused about what he could
do.

“
It means I can
survive most attacks. Nothing hurts me.” Ciaran shrugged and
chomped on a carrot stick.

“
That is bloody
amazing!” Clay bellowed. “Oh, sorry,” he muttered quickly when he
looked at Brianna.

“
No bother, our
Bri has heard far worse come from my lips,” Cian
laughed.

“
Why do you
think Alastair hasn’t attacked me yet?”

Now that
Ciaran had mentioned this, Cora thought back. Alastair hadn’t
pushed at Ciaran. He didn’t outwardly fear him either. He must
believe Ciaran wouldn’t strike against him. That was due to his
arrogance. An arrogance Cora would soon deal with.

“
That is
interesting,” Ayden whistled.

“
Aye,” Ciaran
nodded. “And useful.”

“
So, what is
our Ciaran and the coven doing for you, Cora? I have to say the
pregnancy looks very realistic,” Iona said as she ate.

Cora smiled
and took a deep breath, ready to explain everything once again.
There was one thing about meeting new people, she would know the
plan inside out, which could only mean it would go to plan. If she
knew every strategy it had to work. Well, she hoped so.

6

IN LIMBO

Jack’s lips
brushed gently against her nose as he opened the front door. It had
been a lovely trip but she’d missed home, and now that the
conversion to their home was done, she could appreciate it all the
more. She didn’t have to deal with the builders. She didn’t have to
deal with the mess. Home was finally
home
.

As the door
opened, Cora stepped in and then jumped back in shock. Alastair was
stood in the hallway, fierce blue eyes watched her.

“
What the hell
do you think you’re doing?!” Jack stormed as he moved Cora to stand
behind him.

Clay charged
toward Alastair the second he saw him. “What the hell are you doing
in my home?”

“
How did you
get in?” Ember hissed.

“
Move, Ember, I
will deal with him!” Ciaran bellowed.

Alastair
simply sneered at them, enjoying his surprise intrusion. Although,
his eyes did quickly dash in Ciaran’s direction.

Cora regretted
telling the others to head on home. She’d stupidly believed they
could have a quiet night. But this was Alastair. They could handle
him, especially with Ciaran by their side.

Ember glanced
Cora’s way, the question in her eyes. Did they need the others?
Cora shook her head. They would handle it. Cora had a bump as their
insurance.

“
Yer didnae
tell me where yer were going?” Alastair snapped.

“
So,” Cora
responded calmly, like she was already bored with the conversation,
and she was. Whenever Alastair opened his mouth, she felt boredom
swoop in.

“
Don’t forget
who is in charge until that child is born.”

“
We’re unlikely
to forget that,” Clay scoffed.

Cora saw it.
Clay’s reply had ruffled Alastair’s feathers. He seemed more
annoyed than usual. He knew where they’d been. He had to. She’d
kept the bargain though. She’d texted him every day with two words:
‘
Bump fine’.
She
had said yes to the phone calls, but she hadn’t wanted to hear his
voice.

“
Yer will tell
me in future.”

“
Why?” Cora
snapped. “I don’t answer to you.”

“
Why
Ireland?”

Alastair had
ignored her response. This didn’t surprise her.

“
We were
visiting ma family,” Ciaran offered.

Cora saw it,
now she knew what to look for. The uneasiness on Alastair’s face.
Alastair had no control over Ciaran, and he hated it.

“
Why did yer
visit his family?”

“
That is none
of your business,” Ember snapped and stepped into Alastair’s
personal space.