Had he also forgotten the Heart of Brigid and his belief that it would lead him to thewoman he was obviously pining for? Correction, used to pine over.
Maybe he’d even forgotten the horrible story of needing the blood sacrifice of a woman he thought was the daughter of his enemy. In that case, she’d better keep his green notebook safely away from him.
Clare turned her attention back to the design of the garden, the many gargoyles, statues, and fountains, and the low,stacked stone walls which kept the sheep in their pastures.
Silence hung inside the car, but it wasn’t unpleasant. A closemouthed smile graced Griffin’s face, and he seemed to truly enjoy the gorgeous vistas on his own property as if he were seeing them for the first time. Life never grew old if he lost his memory constantly and had to reconstruct new ones.
Clare drove over a drawbridge,which was already in the down position. Her heart pounded on overdrive as she entered over the moat and glanced up at the majestic, old structure. With the gate, the moat, and guards, it would be impossible to sneak in to replace the Heart of Brigid.
She hadn’t expected to get invited in this easily, and she didn’t have the Heart of Brigid with her.
After leaving Dublin, she’d hiddenthe valuable gemstone inside one of the fairy-mounds near Bronagh Abbey, where she, Sorcha, and Maeve had lived growing up. It was in a wild, remote area in the Midlands, situated on a rocky ledge overlooking a sheep farm on one side and a still, glacial lake on the other. A valley nearby contained a Stone Age cemetery with many unearthed passage tombs and abandoned gravel pits. Large table ordoor-like megaliths, called dolmens, were erected nearby by unknown ancient races—some say, giants.
The fairy-mounds were off-limits to the orphans living in the abbey which was built on the site of a druid temple. However, like all curious children, Clare and her friends had discovered secret tunnels underneath the abbey, allowing them to explore the old tombs and doorways to the Otherworld.
“Are you going to get out or keep gawking at my home?” Griffin’s voice broke her out of her worried thoughts.
“It’s unbelievable,” Clare recovered quickly. “Most old structures of this age are in ruins. Your family has kept this place up well.”
“We have a huge legacy to maintain,” Griffin said. He waved off a servant and came around the car himself to open the door for her.
Gallantly, he leaned down and offered her his strong and sturdy arm. His dark-brown eyes twinkled, and he flashed her a charming smile. “Welcome, Lady Brigid, to Gallagher Castle. It would please me immensely if you’d lunch with me and allow me to give you a tour.”
“I’d love to.” She slipped her hand in the crook of his elbow and alighted from her chariot—er, her rented convertible.
The woodsy scent of his aftershave, magnified by his body heat, kicked up a feeling of giddiness and promise. She couldn’t return the rock today, but she was about to get an inside look into a palace rumored to harbor fairy magic. How else could anyone explain the aura of beauty, charm, and the obvious luxury which surrounded her every step?
Red carpet lined the walkway to the marbleentrance foyer where gild-plated mirrors and majestic crystal chandeliers hung. Old oil paintings and tapestries covered the walls, and an enormous double staircase swept up to the rotunda filled with stained-glass images of warriors, griffins, princesses, and kings.
Clare could imagine Fae magic pumping its mysterious vibrations through every corner and crevice of Gallagher Castle. Yetall of it was done tastefully, with no gaudy displays of swords, chalices, wands, crowns, feathered capes, and crystal stars hanging from the walls and ceiling.
Maybe Griffin was right. True magic lay not in baubles and talismans, wands and wings.
True magic was in the heart.
Her heart was pounding so fast, she could barely breathe. She knew she was gaping, and her mouth wasopen in amazement. Her eyes were wide, and her head felt light. But she held onto Griffin’s arm like a lifeline in a sea full of possibilities and uncertainties.
How would she restore his gem and get away unscathed when deep inside, she knew she’d never want to leave the castle or the man—if indeed, she turned out to be the Brigid, Queen of the Fae, and Griffin Gallagher’s one true love?
She had The Heart of Brigid to stake her claim.
Should she?
