Cadifor smiled at Makeda. She released him and walked back to the others, returning to her seat as if nothing happened. “Well,” Cadifor said. “Are we ready to do this?”
“Yes,” Aislinn said with emphasis as she walked passed Cullen, headed straight for the group.
Cullen growled sharply and everyone looked at him, except Aislinn. Everyone headed out the doors of the cabin and down the trail to the stones uncertainly. Cullen was fire and brimstone incarnate as they reached the standing stones. He walked up to Jenna purposefully. “If anything happens to her,” he said in a low deadly tone, “I won’t need help ripping you apart.”
Jenna could see the truth in it. She nodded in compliance before the defiant look came back into her eyes.
Cullen stared into her face reading her for a moment before he looked back to Aislinn. “Five minutes,” he said in an overly authoritative way.
Aislinn smiled at him and nodded the same way Jenna had.
Cullen growled. Stop challenging me just for the sake of it Aislinn. I don’t want to make an example of you but that doesn’t mean I won’t.
I’d like to see you try, Aislinn glared back.
Jenna laughed. “Trouble in paradise?” This was the most entertaining thing she’s seen in months. “It was almost worth the trip just to watch you both growl at each other.”
Cullen’s head snapped around to see everyone trying not to stare at them and Jenna smiling with amusement. Then he looked back at Aislinn. You’re making a fool out of me.
Aislinn looked at them as well. This was not how thing should be going. She growled to herself. “I’m sorry,” she said and stepped up to him with her head bowed. “Five minutes.”
How the hell to you get to me so easily, he asked. Then he stroked her face, giving her permission to look up at him again. He half smiled and kissed her forehead. “Get it over with,” he said.
Aislinn walked over to Cadifor. “What exactly is the agreement here?”
“You take her to Brennus and we get the last of the notes she has hidden at the Tairneach manor. In a way I suppose it was good. The Feds are missing some pretty key information. But we still don’t want it out and about. Do we Jenna?”
Jenna smiled. “Of course not.”
“Do you have Brennus’ ring,” Aislinn asked.
Cadifor stepped p and pulled on a chain around her neck. The ring came free from under Jenna’s shirt. He let it fall back onto her chest. “We’ll leave her hands cuffed, I think.”
Cullen growled his agreement.
Aislinn looked at Jenna and nodded toward the stones. “Let’s go.” Jenna was allowed to walk out of the group of guards. Together Jenna and Aislinn stepped passed the stones. Cullen and the others all watched as there was a red flash from the ruby on Brennus’ ring and the pair vanished.
Cullen felt the fog take over his mind and he began to pace impatiently.
***
Jenna looked around eagerly. Aislinn relaxed and focused on Brennus Tairneach. She felt the energy from the ley lines running through her and he appeared.
Brennus looked around at the scene and then his eye focused on his daughter. “What is it Jenna?” His voice was gentle and a tear formed in the corner of the proud alpha’s eye.
“Daddy,” she said not really wanting Aislinn to be here, but knowing there was no other way. “I need to know something.”
He just stared at her waiting.
“Why,” she sniffled a bit. “Why did you never think I was good enough? Was there anything I could have done?”
Brennus stared at her and the tear dropped from his eye. “Jenna, you were the one who thought you weren’t good enough. You’re my daughter. I always did and always will love you. You don’t have to be me.”
“But you wanted us to always rule the Tairneach,” she said with a cracking voice.
“Jenna, I wanted any number of things. But the most important thing was for your happiness. I never seemed to be able to give you that. I’m sorry.”
Jenna tried to reach for him but her hands were cuffed and there was nothing there to touch. “Daddy I put it back the way it was. I want you to know that it’s the way you left it again,” she said. “But I can’t do this without you. Please. I’m scared. They’re going to keep me in prison forever.”
He nodded. “I know.” Then he looked at Aislinn. “Let me go,” he said.
Jenna looked over at Aislinn. “No,” she said. “Daddy don’t go.”
“I won’t sweetheart. I’m going to help you.”
Aislinn felt a sharp pain in the back of her head. She looked up at Brennus and he was staring at her hard. “What are you doing,” she asked in pain. “Brennus?”
The image of the alpha disappeared and Jenna screamed. The ruby on the ring flashed. Aislinn’s head was searing in pain. She fell to her knees as Jenna began to shift. The cuffs cut into Jenna’s wrists and she started to bleed. She screamed in pain as the cuffs nearly took her hands off before they shattered and her hands were freed. Aislinn stared in fear. Jenna turned on her and Aislinn scrambled backward into the clearing.