Ride: Awakening

Chapter Three

It had been a long time since his wife died. Now that the veil had lifted Fallon O'Leary would finally take another mate. It wasn't just his duty to the clan to take another wife—he'd grown lonely without a partner by his side. Maelíosa wasn't exactly thrilled with her role as the chieftain's daughter and her obligation to mate with the stallion she'd been promised to. He took a long drink of ale as he considered the comments, and there'd been plenty, about him replacing her mother every time it looked like he might take a new mate. Fallon pushed back the thoughts of his daughter's misery, unhappiness that matched his own, as he waited for his son and Tomas.

Regardless of why the veil had lifted, the Chieftain of the Guardian Clan had a duty to protect the humans. Since they no longer believed in the púca, humans had lost the ability to see the threshold and could stumble across the veil to find themselves trapped there for an eternity. Only humans who'd been bound through the sacred mating ceremony could cross back and forth from beyond the veil. He would send Niall and Tomas to find out why the veil had lifted, and ensure that some unknowing half-wit on the island didn't stagger drunkenly across the invisible divide that separated their worlds.

Footsteps echoed across the stone. He nodded, and Tomas entered the hall. He hoped Tomas would tell him the winds were wrong.

Tomas approached the table where Fallon was seated. "I have tidings from the North Tower."

"Aye. So it's true then?"

"Aye, the veil lifted as we suspected from the cold draft coming from the north. Yet the dying sun has not been swallowed by the lengthening nights and the green fields of summer have not turned brown. It's highly unusual, Chief."

Fallon smacked his mug of ale onto the oak table and a loud echo resounded off the stone walls of the cavernous hall. "We must find out why we have been awakened, then."

Tomas nodded. "Agreed."

"You will cross over the veil and discover the reason for this. Take Niall with you, but I have another task for you to complete while you're on the island," Fallon said.

"Tell me, Chief. How may I be of service?"

He'd always liked Tomas Quinn. He was a strong lad who could be trusted with this duty. "Aye, it is time for me to take another mate. I had hoped to find a suitable one among our clan, but none have been able to continue the royal bloodline. I must stay here to maintain rule and order, but you will bring me a human from beyond the veil. And you will tell Niall nothing of this." Tomas shifted to his other foot. Perhaps it had been a mistake to trust that his loyalty would outweigh the undying truthfulness of his nature. "Will you do this for me?"

"Aye, I will do it. I don't like keeping secrets from my best mate, but it would be an honour to select your wife."

Fallon didn't know how Niall would feel about him taking a mate after his mother's death. Perhaps he would understand it better than his sister, but when he considered that he would soon require Niall to find a mate in order to ensure their survival, he thought it best not to share his intentions for the time being. He suspected if he supplied Niall with the knowledge that he would soon be bedding another woman, his son would be unable to focus on his duty to guard the veil and find a mate of his own. He dreaded having to break that news to him, or issue an ultimatum if he objected. It was high time at least one of his children did what they were supposed to and fulfilled their duty to the clan. And since Niall had rejected all the eligible female púca-shifters, Fallon would decree that he take a human as his mate. After all, it was what he intended to do.

"Good. I'll be counting on you to find me one that's as bonny as yours."

Tomas laughed. "That she will be, Chief."

"Just be sure the lass knows what she's agreeing to," Fallon said his voice hardening.

Regardless of the dire circumstances, their clan faced, he made sure that when they took humans into the clan they had to know what they were getting—immortality and secure marriage in exchange for púca offspring. Though birthing one of their kind was not without peril.

Tomas nodded. "Aye."

Niall entered the hall with Maelíosa trailing after him. She always had to know what was going on, and even though a woman could never rule the clan, he'd always let her in on its inner workings because she had a quick mind. Perhaps that's where he'd gone wrong because she didn't act like the other púca lasses and she certainly didn't dress like them. Right now she wore brown leather pants under a maroon tunic that brought out the amber in her eyes. Maelíosa was lovely but had a tongue that could lash a stallion to shreds. It was good she'd come down with her brother. Her outrage would make his ultimatum that much more effective if he had to resort to that.

"You called for me, Sire," Niall said.

"Aye. You will accompany Tomas to the island to discover why we have been awakened," Fallon said. He paused and took a breath, meeting his son's eyes with sternness. "And while you're there you'll find a mate that is able to ride you. If she can ride you, she'll be able to bear your offspring."

Anger fired in Niall's eyes. Fallon saw his son's stallion bucking at duty and destiny that had been written the day he'd been born, but there was no other choice. The time had come.

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