Chapter Twenty-One

Christmas – Kildare, Ireland

Summer

I sit by the massive Christmas tree with Lydia and the kids. Rae is in Gus’s lap playing with a piece of wrapping paper. Their new toys have already been forgotten. I watch Finn and Donnie in the corner, heads together making plans for the next full moon. Melody and Sam sit by the window, talking, and I can see tears on Sam’s cheeks. She told me this morning that it was over between her and Colin. I hope that she will be able to find her own happy ending.

I plan to ask Donnie if we can come back here and stay with Melody and Finn. He was planning to leave Washington, D.C. when we met, but he decided to stay. He decided we would have to move on soon, or questions would start about his age and health. He doesn’t look a day over twenty-five but claims to be nearing forty.

Here, with Melody and Finn, we would be free to be ourselves and not hide who we are. Magic fills the hills of Ireland, and it flows through the veins of those surrounding us now. I smile at Lydia when she gets up and gathers Rae in her arms, cooing to her and bouncing her on her knee.

“Do you mind keeping an eye on them while I go talk to Donnie?” I ask her.

“Of course, dear, you’re going to have to fight me for this little girl. I absolutely adore her.” I smile at her answer, hopeful that it means she will be happy to have us here if Donnie agrees to come back and stay.

When I reach the other side of the room, Donnie turns to me and reaches his arms out. I walk into them and let him wrap me in a hug. Finn excuses himself, and I notice him heading for the front door.

“Alec is here,” Donnie whispers in my ear.

“So soon?” I ask, confused about how he could have gotten a flight so quickly when they just spoke late last night.

He winks at me and says under his breath, “He is a warlock, baby. There are very few things he can’t do with a little magic. Getting to the airport and onto an airplane would have been a piece of cake for him.”

I turn as I hear the door close, and I see everyone else in the room doing the same. Standing in the entryway, with a dusting of snow on his shoulders, is a man I would never have expected. The word warlock brings to mind a wizened old man with a long gray beard and a face full of wrinkles. The tall, well-dressed gentleman standing with Finn is incredibly handsome, I watch as he scans the room and his eyes pass over us. They settle on Sam, still in her chair by the window watching the snowfall.

“Alec?” I ask Donnie, just to make sure.

“Let’s go over and you can meet him.” He takes my hand in his and pulls me across the hall towards the door. Finn is helping Alec with where to put his coat and boots when we approach them.

“Donnie,” he says, taking him in a one-armed hug. His voice is soft and velvety but deep.

I take in his figure now that I am closer, and his dark hair is peppered with a slight gray. I would say he is in his mid to late forties, very well dressed in a designer suit. His appearance and demeanor scream money. With a bit of magic, I guess. I roll my eyes at my own thought, and Donnie catches me and scowls. I realize I’m being rude and judging this man by his looks. He is here to help us and has proven a friend to us in the past. Given his assistance in rescuing me from the Nowak brothers, I should be kinder to him now.

“Summer.” Alec holds his arms out to me, and I smile, taken aback by his friendliness but unable to say no. His smile spreads warmth through me, and I lean into him. I can feel his lean muscular body under his suit. “It is a pleasure to meet you, at last. You’re all that Donnie has been able to talk about for a long time. Tell me, how can I be of assistance to you, anything at all, my love.”

I step back to Donnie, he puts his hand protectively around my waist, and Alec chuckles, “Oh please, I would not come all this way to abscond with your woman, Donnie.” He finishes with a wink. “But, that woman in the corner.” He points towards Sam. “That one there with the broken heart. I would be happy to take her under my wing.”

“Sam?” I ask, looking over my shoulder towards her. “She has been through a lot lately. It is probably best if you just leave her be.” I glare at him, warning him with my eyes. “Consider it the anything you would do for me.”

“Ah, okay.” He puts his hands up between us. “As you wish, sweet Summer.”

“Stop teasing her,” Donnie scolds him and pats him on the back, then turns to me. “Alec finds it entertaining to get a rise out of you. He is only teasing. This, he motions up and down at his suit. This is all an act.” He shifts his gaze back to Alec. “Cut the shit, what is with this outfit; was this part of your disguise to get on the plane? What’s going on?”

“Oh, this? You don’t like it?” he laughs, then snaps his fingers, and the man standing before us is now dressed in a dark pair of jeans, combat boots, and a tight-fitting blue t-shirt.

“You can’t do that shit in here,” Finn says in a hushed tone. “Not everyone here is in the know, no more magic out in the open.”

“Um, actually…” Melody says from behind me, and we all turn to look at her. “Everyone is in the know. Sam knows, well, she knows about us.” She motions between herself and Finn. “She doesn’t know about you two or what you’re planning.” She puts her hands on her hips. “And I would appreciate it if everyone could just pretend to be normal for a while. Sam is going to be staying with us.”

“Oh really?” Alec asks, and I roll my eyes again. “Who are you, might I ask?” He directs his question at Melody.

“Melody.” She reaches her hand out to shake his. “I am Finn’s mate. It’s nice to meet you, Alec.”

The holiday festivities go off without another hitch, except that Sam spends the remainder of the day in her room. After we have a massive dinner with all of Finn’s extended family, Donnie and I head to put Rae and Gus to bed and settle in our own. We leave Alec, Finn, and his cousins down in the great hall. I expect they’ll all be paying for their decision in the morning.

Lying curled in bed with Donnie, I smile at him, thinking about how lucky I am to have everything fall into place.

“Are you happy?” he asks me, holding my chin in his hand and kissing me.

“Of course, I’m happy.” I kiss him back.

“You have time to change your mind.” He shrugs.

“No, we made all of the plans tonight. Everything is final. All we have to do is wait for the full moon.”

“The full moon,” he says hesitantly, and I know he is feeling nervous about his decision. Fidgeting, he runs his hand up and down my arm. I take in as much strength from his touch as I can.

“You’ll be able to do it. I trust you, Donnie.” I curl against his body tighter, trying to fight off the cold of the night.

***

The night of the full moon – Kildare, Ireland

Summer

Looking up I see the full moon overhead in a clear sky. Donnie stands before me. We’re in the center of a circle of wolves. His eyes glow a bright silver as he steps toward me. When he kisses my neck, along my jugular, I get goosebumps that spread over my body. Wrapping his arms around me and pulling me to him, I feel the brush of his fangs against my neck and then the sharp sting as he buries them into my flesh.

I don’t scream. Tensing under the pain I feel the burning spread through my body. It is like a soft blanket is wrapped around me. I go limp in his arms as he holds me against him. My eyes drift closed, and all I can see is darkness.

When I open them again everything seems tinged with a shade of red but is crisp in my vision. I turn my head and over Donnie’s shoulder I see Finn behind him. Donnie’s fangs are coated in my blood. I blink at the two of them, and Donnie shifts between Finn and me. His stance is protective of him, not me. I turn to look behind me to see what the threat is. When I see nothing there it dawns on me. It is me. I am the one to be feared now. I smile at them, and I know what my eyes will look like. The gleaming silver in the moonlight. When I toss my head back and laugh, it is a startling sound that echoes around the woods.

I will forever be with him now. Rae, Donnie, and I will live for an eternity. Donnie and I decided that we will give Gus the choice when the time comes. We know we have friends to help who will be there for us if we need them. If and when the time comes for him, he will have the choice to be part of my immortal family.

THE END.