Page 5 of Evil Eyed
“If I did paint it, either before I came to Kansas City or before I left the institute, then it was here unguarded for months or even longer. I didn’t know about any of this treasurekeeper business then, but the imps were already here, right? They didn’t attack or destroy it.”
Warwick shook his head. “I don’t know what triggered the magic, but I felt it like a lightning bolt from miles away. Even humans were milling around the display, drawn to your magic embedded in the canvas. I can’t imagine a single fae being able to resist the pull to investigate, whether dark or light.”
I gnawed on my lip, trying to decide if my curiosity was worth the risk of bringing the painting to light. My only other alternative to study it would be to go with Warwick back to the Summer Isle. Would my guys be as nervous about me going to Faerie now that we suspected I might be fae? Or would their worry be even worse?
“It be broad daylight,” Doran said. “If we treasures can’t handle whatever shows up, then we deserve to end our time on the mortal plane before we even have a chance to locate Evil Eye.”
“Are you sure?” I searched his craggy face for any concern or hesitation. “If we get attacked, and one of you is hurt…”
“Fucking hell,” Aidan muttered, shaking his head. “Remember what we are, Riann. Let us do our fucking job. If the motherfucking fae show up to cause you or yours any harm or concern, then your treasures will send them back to Faerie to stew in their own magic until they can regenerate. By then, we’ll all be dead and gone.”
Ivarr took my hand and gave it a squeeze. “I’ve got something to show you while the leprechaun fetches the painting.”
With a wink and a flourishing bow, Warwick disappeared in a puff of green sparkles.
Holding hands, Vivi and Hammer walked along with us. “I want to see this fabulous painting too,” she said. “Maybe I’ll be able to tell you when you painted it.”
Gravel crunched as we headed toward the house. I was already shivering, but we were almost there. I could almost taste the ice crystals in the air. “Good idea. I don’t remember anything about it, though it’s definitely my work.”
I still couldn’t believe they’d managed to buy such a large house, let alone so quickly. I’d looked around the main floor a little but there was another story and several outbuildings that I hadn’t had time to investigate. One larger steel barn with garage doors had been commandeered by the motorcycle gang that rode with Hammer. One burly man worked on a bike, while others were unloading crates and totes from the back of a truck. Probably Aidan’s weapons stash.
Rather than walking up to the front porch with a beautiful view of a large lake, Ivarr led us around to the side door and then up a rear staircase that wasn’t as wide or grand as the main stairs. “I think this must have been a studio at one time. The only entrance is up these back stairs, and you can’t get to the rest of the house from here.”
He pushed open another door at the top of the stairs and gestured for me to go inside ahead of him. Sunlight bathed the entire space from large windows along two walls and a set of skylights in the ceiling. Built-in shelving along the rear wall held my supplies from the warehouse that I’d been using.
My paintings of the men leaned against the walls. A quick glance assured me that he’d put the spicier ones behind the tamer paintings that I didn’t mind for others to see. I loved Vivi like a sister, but that didn’t mean I wanted her to see Doran or Ivarr in all their naked glory.
Tears burned my eyes. I had no idea when he’d had the time to bring all these supplies from the warehouse, let alone get them up here without me noticing. Though honestly, I had slept heavily the last two days. All the stress of the last week had finally caught up to me.
Fuck. Had I really only known them a little over a week? It seemed impossible, though I had almost died three times in those days.
I turned to Ivarr and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Thank you. It’s incredible.”
His golden eyes shone with liquid sunlight, brightening the room even more. The Sword of Light, nothing could stand against the light of his truth. “My pleasure,mo stór.”
“I helped,” Aidan practically snarled. “Where’s my hug?”
I lay my head on Ivarr’s chest, turning my head so I could at least see Aidan. “You haven’t even spoken to me for two days. Now you want a hug?”
Scowling, he strode close and pressed against my back, smashing me up against Ivarr. “That’s better. Forgive me,mo stór. I needed time to quell the overwhelming terror that strangled me at the thought of losing you to the changeling. I wasn’t angry with you.”
Tension slowly bled out of my muscles as their heat soaked into me. Their strength and comfort surrounded me. Wrapped in their arms, I wanted to believe that everything would be okay. I needed to know they’d be okay. They wouldn’t die. My throat constricted.
“We won,” I whispered. “Didn’t we?”
“Aye, but the battle has barely begun,” Doran replied. “Evil Eye will have hundreds of traps lying in wait for us. He’s had thousands of years to devise his plans. Even if he only moves one of his minions per year to the mortal plane, we’re severely outnumbered. Now he must only watch his masterful plans unfold, while we try to hack our way out and stay alive another day.”
I lifted my head with a scowl to rival Aidan’s. “It’s so unfair. I don’t understand what the point of this war is any more.”
“All things must come to an end.” Ivarr’s gentle voice wrecked my heart, shredding it to ribbons. “The time of magic—and the Irish treasures—is no more. We’ve decided that this is the last time we’ll be reborn. We refuse to return to the mortal plane again if you’re not here.”
Aidan breathed in my ear. “And that wasbeforeyour tattoo trick today.”
Doran dropped a big hand onto Aidan’s shoulder. “I swore to find you again, whether this side of the veil or beyond. If you’re truly fae, then we shall walk the rolling green hills of Tír na nÓg hand in hand for eternity.”
“You’d best not be fooling us, Riann.” Aidan’s eyes glittered like chips of blue diamonds and his jaw clenched. “I’d given up hope of ever having anything but death and war and more death. The thought of having a life with you for eternity…” His voice broke, but his eyes blazed and his nostrils flared like he was furious. Doran squeezed his shoulder. Keane pressed in on his other side. And Ivarr enfolded me tighter against them all.
Aidan forced out a harsh laugh. “Hope’s a brutal bitch, especially when you’ve all but given up.”
