Page 59 of Enchanted
“So they thought her eccentric, and perhaps a bit fey, but they didn’t believe. When they birthed children of their own, they only said Rowan O’Meara was odd. Kind and loving, but odd. And when the daughter of her daughter birthed a daughter, that child was raised not knowing what ran in her blood.”
“A person would have to know. How could you not know?” This time he released her hands so she could pull back, spring to her feet. “You’d feel it. You’d sense it.”
“And haven’t you?” He got to his feet as well, wishing he’d found a way to tell her without frightening her. “Haven’t you felt it, from time to time? Felt that stirring, that burn in the blood, wondered at it?”
“No.” That was a lie, she thought and backed away. “I don’t know. But you’re wrong, Liam. I’m just ordinary.”
“You saw pictures in the flames, dreamed your dreams as a child. Felt the tingle of power under your skin, in your mind.”
“Imagination,” she insisted. “Children have wonderful ones.” But she felt a tingle now, and part of it was fear.
“You said you weren’t afraid of me.” He said it softly, as he might to a deer startled in the woods. “Why would you be afraid of yourself?”
“I’m not afraid. I just know it’s not true.”
“Then you’d be willing to test it, to see which of us is right?”
“Test what? How?”
“The first skill learned and the last to leave is the making of fire. What’s inside you already knows how it’s done. I’ll just remind you.” He stepped to her, taking her hand before she could evade. “And you have my word that I won’t do it myself, just as I want your word that you won’t block what comes.”
It seemed even her soul was trembling now. “I don’t have to block anything because there isn’t anything.”
“Then come with me.”
“Where?” she demanded as he pulled her outside. But she already knew.
“The dance,” he said simply. “You won’t have control just yet, and it’s protected.”
“Liam, this is ridiculous. I’m just a normal woman, and in order to make a fire I need kindling and a match.”
He paused just long enough to glare at her. “You think I’m lying to you?”
“I think you’re mistaken.” She had to scramble to keep up with his ground-eating strides. “There probably was a Rowan O’Meara who was a witch. There probably was, Liam, but she wasn’t my great-grandmother. My great-grandmother was a sweet, slightly dotty old woman who painted beautifully and told fairy stories.”
“Dotty?” The insult of that brought him up short. “Who told you that?”
“My mother … That is …”
“So.” He nodded as if she’d just confirmed everything he’d said. “Dotty,” he muttered as he began to stride along again. “The woman gives up everything for love and they call her dotty. Aye, maybe she was at that. She’d have been better off staying in Ireland and mating with one of her own.”
Then he wouldn’t be stalking down this path with Rowan’s trembling hand in his, he thought.
He wasn’t entirely sure if he was pleased or annoyed with that particular twist of fate.
When he reached the stone circle, he pulled her directly to the center. She was out of breath, from the quick walk and from what she could feel swimming in the air.
“The circle’s cast and so it begins. I ask that all be safe within. This woman comes that she may see. As I will, so mote it be.”
As the chant ended, the wind swept through the stones, wrapped like a warm caress around Rowan’s body. Startled, she crossed her arms over her breasts, gripped her own shoulders. “Liam—”
“You should be calm, but that will be hard for you. Nothing here will harm you, Rowan, I swear to you.” He laid his hands over hers and kissed her, gently but deeply, until the stiffness of her body softened. “If you won’t trust yourself, trust me.”
“I do trust you, but this—I’m afraid of this.”
He stroked a hand down her hair, and realized that in many ways what he was doing was like initiating a virgin to love. It should be done sweetly, patiently, and with thoughts only on her.
“Think of it as a game.” He smiled at her as he stepped back. “A more basic one than you imagine just now.” He drew her down to her knees. “Breathe deep and slow until you hear your heartbeat in your head. Close your eyes if it helps, until you’re steady.”
