A Place Beyond by Laura Howard Page B

side of my head. He looked into my eyes as he bent down and pressed his lips against mine, kissing me softly.
    I ran my hands from his shoulders to his waist, loving the feel of him so close. When I touched him, he tensed and the kiss deepened. His lips moved against mine in a way that burned all the way to my toes.
    Ethan shifted so he was on his side and pulled me against him. His eyes were intent as he picked up my hand and kissed the tender skin of my wrist.
    “I put in for a condo down by Arrowhead Lake before I met up with you today,” he said before trailing his lips from my wrist to the sensitive area near my elbow.
    I swallowed. “You did?”
    “Yes,” he said, making his way back down to my wrist. “You and I don’t get nearly enough time together with us both living with our families.”
    I laughed while he kissed each one of my fingers. “Yeah, you’re right.”
    “Once I get you home,” he whispered. “I plan on memorizing every inch of you.”
    With my free hand, I grasped his cheek. His words echoed in my head, making it difficult to breathe. Closing my eyes, I brushed my lips against his.
    Pulling back, I looked at him. I studied the thick eyelashes over his chocolate-colored eyes. I ran my fingers over the light stubble of his cheek. I still couldn’t believe Ethan wanted me, really wanted me.
    “Sometimes I can’t believe this is real,” I said shyly.
    His lips curved into a smile. “ This as in Tír na n’Óg or as in you and me?”
    I laughed. “You and me.”
    “This is very real. And I am very much yours.”
    Mine.
     

     
    A little while later we headed down to the dining hall. We’d gotten cleaned up and were smiling a little too much for the seriousness of the situation.
    Saoirse sat at the head of the table and when we walked in holding hands she smiled, her eyes dazzling.
    “Good evening,” she said, inclining her head.
    “Good evening,” Ethan and I said at the same time, causing us to smile even more.
    Niamh’s mouth quirked up in a knowing smile and I felt a blush creep up my neck. I wondered how much of my time alone with Ethan she was able to see in my thoughts.
    Dinner was served, a hearty vegetable stew. As we ate, Niamh filled us in on the plan for the following day.
    Knowing Aoife was able to watch every move, Niamh and Saoirse were being very careful about sending a messenger to Deaghlan. The only way to keep the plan secret was by using another telepath. He left for Aoife’s seaside home only moments before Ethan and I came down.
    Saoirse and Aodhan discussed the logistics of the fake plan as we listened to Niamh with our minds, pretending to be engrossed with our food.
    Tomorrow morning before dawn, we would leave for the fháillan mine. Saoirse and Deaghlan would undo the protective wards that kept the mine hidden. Once those were down, Ethan and I would find the back entrance Ciarán and Samantha had used to sneak inside. We would find Samantha, Liam and Ciarán. Aodhan had given Ethan a folding saw-like tool to cut through the shackles. Meanwhile, Niamh and Aodhan would find Aoife and capture her.
    It sounded good, in theory. The truth was, nobody knew what Aoife was capable of. Not even Saoirse. She had promised me she would make those I loved suffer if I didn’t do as she said. But sitting around thinking of that wouldn’t get me anywhere. The only way I’d be brave enough to go through with any of this, was to just keep focused on the moment.
     

     
    I’m in the dining room at Liam’s house. My grandmother is in his kitchen, mixing juice and ginger ale in a punch bowl and when she hears me, she looks up and smiles.
    Someone says my name from behind and I turn to see Ethan holding up two bags of hot dog buns. I laugh and follow him into the living room to the French doors leading to Liam’s patio.
    He opens the door and I look past his shoulder, but instead of Liam’s back yard, there’s a gray stone wall. Standing in front of the stone is Aoife.