back of the couch he sipped on his single-malt whisky, relishing the heady taste while his thoughts centered on Tara and how to find her.
He had already located Tara’s pitiful excuse for a mother. The same mother that had tried to kill her. But Declan had taken Tara away from all of that. He’d known there was something special about her. Too bad he hadn’t realized just how special Tara was before she had run away.
It was bad enough that she had had the audacity to leave him, but to make matters worse, it was like Tara had never been. She had vanished, all but become a ghost. Even with all his considerable magic he couldn’t find her. With all his money and connections, Declan couldn’t find a trace of her.
Oh, there were instances where the person that had been there months before could have been Tara, but he didn’t know for sure. Couldn’t know for sure.
He should have known Marie would give him nothing no matter how much he’d made her suffer. She and Tara hadn’t spoken in years, but Declan had held out a small thread of hope that Tara had given in to the need for her mother’s love and contacted Marie.
But he’d had no such luck.
With Saffron gone, Declan needed another Druid. What made Tara so special was that she came from a long line of very powerful droughs . All he had to do was apply the right pressure and convince her she belonged with him, and he’d have another drough on his side.
Tara’s magic was volatile, but he could help her control it. The thought of both Tara and Deirdre standing with him against the world brought a smile to his face.
If only he could convince Deirdre she needed him. She had survived for too long on her own to think she needed anyone, but Declan wasn’t about to give up.
He was so lost in his thoughts he didn’t see the black smoke until it was upon him. “So you think you need Deirdre?” the voice asked in his mind.
Declan wasn’t afraid of the deep, booming voice. He smiled. “Welcome, Master. I wondered when you would visit. As to answer you, aye, I do require Deirdre. She’s been around for over a thousand years. Her experience in controlling the world would be vital. No’ to mention her ability to create wyrran.”
“ I could give you that ability.”
“Aye, and I wouldna turn your gift away. You seem angry with Deirdre. What has happened?”
“She refuses to do as I command. I told her to forget the artifacts, but she will not. ”
“It was one of the reasons you allowed me to pull her to my time.”
The black smoke swirled around Declan thick and heavy, Satan’s fury evident in the way the smoke clung to Declan. “That I did. I added much power to your magic, and I thought that with Deirdre, the two of you would have already conquered the world and allowed the darkness to take over.”
“And we will, Master,” Declan hastily assured him. There was only one thing Declan feared, and that was the Devil. He’d do whatever needed to be done, say whatever needed to be said. Because the last thing he wanted was to find himself at the mercy of Satan. “I urge you no’ to do anything rash when it comes to Deirdre.”
“You would speak on her behalf?”
Declan swallowed. He knew he was treading on dangerous ground. Satan had been irritated with Deirdre for quite some time. “I do.”
“I was about to take away all the magic I had given her, but even if I do, she would still be a powerful Druid.”
Declan leaned up, causing the thick smoke to shift. “If I can persuade Deirdre that she is better off with me at her side, then your plan to have evil take over the world will happen. Give me a chance, Master, to prove my worth.”
There was a long silence before the deep voice said, “I will grant you this, Declan. But I warn you. Do not fail me.”
With that the smoke was gone. Declan ran a hand through his blond hair and sighed. He hoped he’d made the right decision, because his life now rested on gaining Deirdre’s trust.
The
He had already located Tara’s pitiful excuse for a mother. The same mother that had tried to kill her. But Declan had taken Tara away from all of that. He’d known there was something special about her. Too bad he hadn’t realized just how special Tara was before she had run away.
It was bad enough that she had had the audacity to leave him, but to make matters worse, it was like Tara had never been. She had vanished, all but become a ghost. Even with all his considerable magic he couldn’t find her. With all his money and connections, Declan couldn’t find a trace of her.
Oh, there were instances where the person that had been there months before could have been Tara, but he didn’t know for sure. Couldn’t know for sure.
He should have known Marie would give him nothing no matter how much he’d made her suffer. She and Tara hadn’t spoken in years, but Declan had held out a small thread of hope that Tara had given in to the need for her mother’s love and contacted Marie.
But he’d had no such luck.
With Saffron gone, Declan needed another Druid. What made Tara so special was that she came from a long line of very powerful droughs . All he had to do was apply the right pressure and convince her she belonged with him, and he’d have another drough on his side.
Tara’s magic was volatile, but he could help her control it. The thought of both Tara and Deirdre standing with him against the world brought a smile to his face.
If only he could convince Deirdre she needed him. She had survived for too long on her own to think she needed anyone, but Declan wasn’t about to give up.
He was so lost in his thoughts he didn’t see the black smoke until it was upon him. “So you think you need Deirdre?” the voice asked in his mind.
Declan wasn’t afraid of the deep, booming voice. He smiled. “Welcome, Master. I wondered when you would visit. As to answer you, aye, I do require Deirdre. She’s been around for over a thousand years. Her experience in controlling the world would be vital. No’ to mention her ability to create wyrran.”
“ I could give you that ability.”
“Aye, and I wouldna turn your gift away. You seem angry with Deirdre. What has happened?”
“She refuses to do as I command. I told her to forget the artifacts, but she will not. ”
“It was one of the reasons you allowed me to pull her to my time.”
The black smoke swirled around Declan thick and heavy, Satan’s fury evident in the way the smoke clung to Declan. “That I did. I added much power to your magic, and I thought that with Deirdre, the two of you would have already conquered the world and allowed the darkness to take over.”
“And we will, Master,” Declan hastily assured him. There was only one thing Declan feared, and that was the Devil. He’d do whatever needed to be done, say whatever needed to be said. Because the last thing he wanted was to find himself at the mercy of Satan. “I urge you no’ to do anything rash when it comes to Deirdre.”
“You would speak on her behalf?”
Declan swallowed. He knew he was treading on dangerous ground. Satan had been irritated with Deirdre for quite some time. “I do.”
“I was about to take away all the magic I had given her, but even if I do, she would still be a powerful Druid.”
Declan leaned up, causing the thick smoke to shift. “If I can persuade Deirdre that she is better off with me at her side, then your plan to have evil take over the world will happen. Give me a chance, Master, to prove my worth.”
There was a long silence before the deep voice said, “I will grant you this, Declan. But I warn you. Do not fail me.”
With that the smoke was gone. Declan ran a hand through his blond hair and sighed. He hoped he’d made the right decision, because his life now rested on gaining Deirdre’s trust.
The
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