He’d deal with the blame game later. Time was of the essence because the sacrifice had to be made before dawn for it to work.
“I know a way out. Accordingto Maeve, Clare is not a virgin, so she can’t be the one to reanimate the fairy queen.” Griffin flipped through the Green Notebook. The old Irish ogham runes were starting to make sense, although some of the ink had run together, and the marks were undecipherable. “Clare must be the Morrigan I’m supposed to marry.”
“You’re crazy enough to be committed,” Sorcha said. “And I don’t need youimpugning Clare’s reputation.”
“It doesn’t matter. I need to convince my grandfather and the kidnappers that she’s not the one the Heart of Brigid is pointing to. Where is Clare’s black-feathered outfit? The one she wore on the airplane? I need it, complete with hazelnut belt, wilted lettuce, and dusty feathered wings.”
“How would I know?” Sorcha said. “I’m not at the apartment.Didn’t you and Clare pack her bags for the weekend or whatever crazy thing you were going to?”
“I don’t remember,” Griffin admitted. “We did pack for a party and reception. Wait, let me tell the driver to stop the car.”
After the driver pulled over, Griffin went to the boot to find the luggage he’d transferred from the Ashton to the rideshare car.
He kept Clare’s phone onspeaker as he opened her suitcase and pawed through her stuff. Voila! Clare’s fantastic Morrigan raven outfit was packed carefully in a clear plastic bag. “I’ve got it.”
He directed the driver to put the suitcase back and got into the car to continue the drive. “Sorcha, you and Maeve need to meet me at Gallagher Castle. I’ve a feeling one of the other Guardians is taking over my quest.It’s either Seamus O’Toole or Mack Brady.”
“Surprising how your memory is returning when convenient,” Sorcha said, biting her words. “I’ve actually contacted Myles and Mack Brady. They were the two men from the Garda who searched our apartment. How do I know they’re not the good guys and you’re the bad one?”
“Only one of us loves Clare more than the Heart of Brigid,” Griffin explained.“The best way to attack those two is to go after their treasures.”
“How do you propose to do that?” Sorcha asked, sounding curious. “What are the treasures?”
“You don’t actually have to have them,” he said. “But I’m sure you two can fake anything with your 3D printing and all of the paint, glitter, and artsy stuff you do.”
“Go ahead, I’m listening,” Sorcha said. “But you betternot be pulling our leg.”
“Mack’s treasure is the Quill of Niamh. It’s made of a Phoenix feather, bright orange and fiery. Niamh has golden hair, so Maeve should put on a Niamh costume.”
“O-okay… And what about O’Toole’s treasure?”
“It’s the Hairpin of Aine, the Goddess of Love,” Griffin said, reading from the Green Notebook. “It’s all in here. Can you put together an Ainecostume?”
“Oh, sure, one goddess of love coming up,” Sorcha said. “I’m not actually suited for that role. I’m more of a knowledge and wisdom kind of girl.”
“You’ll have to do the love goddess thing,” Griffin said. “As for the hairpin, do anything you can. I’m sure Seamus has no clue what it’s supposed to look like. It doesn’t say in the notebook, and knowing Seamus, he’s not likelyto believe anything written down anyway.”
“You’re reading out of a book of fairy tales,” Sorcha said. “How exactly are you going to fool the other two guys?”
“I don’t need to fool them, just distract them so I can get in there and rescue Clare.”
“I don’t like what you said about her not being a virgin,” Sorcha said. “But if it gets her out of danger, I’m for it. Okay, I’llcall Maeve, and we’ll be at your castle. You better not be fooling us.”
“Cross my heart and hope to die again, not really,” Griffin said. “Trust me.”
