Silver at Midnight: A Paranormal Romance Urban Fantasy (The Keepers of Knowledge Series Book 5) by Bridgette O'Hare (best large ereader .TXT) 📕

being played. I glanced at the reflection of the moon in the fountain just as I finished placing the Kanna Stone inside the pillar. Only a sliver remained before it filled the basin completely. I wasn’t completely sure what the Lunar goddess had meant about realizing my full power because I already felt my powers coursing through me.

I stole one more look at the fountain and then hurried back toward the steps up to courtyard to keep an eye out for when they completed the ritual. I ducked into the bushes and crouched down when I heard them walking toward me. I could barely see them making their way across the patchy grass. Kage was a few steps ahead of Cian who was holding a small wooden bowl in one hand—the little silver arrow, I presumed.

“Aish, can ya hear me? Are ya someplace safe?” Cian’s words rang through my thoughts.

“Does hiding in the bushes you’re about t’ walk past count? He did not waste any time.”

“No, and he’s quite concerned about your whereabouts. So, stay outta sight,” Cian warned.

“I’m guessin’ he didn’t leave the blade behind on the altar for me, did he?” I asked sarcastically.

“No such luck. I’ll wait for an opening. Just be ready.”

Only, that opening never came.

Thirty-Four

Their shadowed figures approached, the glow of the torches Kage had lit near the altar offered the only light. Kage slowed so that Cian could catch up to him and they walked side-by-side for a few beats. Then I watched Kage fall back by a step and reach to the scabbard at his side. It took all of three seconds for Kage to have the Tartaros Blade drawn and pointed at Cian’s back. Not enough time for me to make a move to do anything. But I was contemplating my options for attack when Cian stopped me.

“Don’t even think about it, Aish,” Cian immediately warned. “You promised.”

“But I need to—”

“You need to stay safe. Let’s just play this out.”

“What’s the deal, Kage?” Cian asked calmly. “Stop messin’ around.”

“Tell your girlfriend to come out from wherever she is,” Kage demanded. “Ohhh Aisling!” he called out.

Cian glanced back at him but didn’t stop moving forward. Doing so might have caused a nick from the blade, and since the blade was certain to take a life when used accordingly, no one knew what a scratch from it would mean for Cian’s kind. It wasn’t a chance he was willing to take apparently. And I was glad.

“Not sure what ya mean. Ya know she’s pissed at me for lyin’ t’ her.” Cian walked slowly toward the garden steps and closer to my location.

Kage scoffed and then laughed. “Dude. Do you really expect me to believe that you two didn’t kiss and make up and you stashed her away somewhere for safe keeping while I was gone? Have ya seen yourself around her?”

“You’re overreactin’, Kage. I’ve only known her a few days,” Cian countered.

“Seriously, Cian. I’m a little insulted. I’ve been around long enough to know a soul bond when I see it. And don’t try to tell me it’s not possible. I know as well as you do her father was one of us. Now, tell her to come out or you won’t get to tell her anything. Ever again,” Kage threatened.

I didn’t give Cian a chance to say anything. Not that he would have. I stepped out from the concealment of the brush.

“You wanted me? Here I am,” I announced, drawing Kage’s attention.

“Aish, what the—? Ya promised.”

“I’m not knowingly in danger here . . . you are. And I can’t let that happen any more than you could if this were reversed.” The fear in his eyes when our stares connected mirrored my own.

“See, Cian, she’s not so mad at you after all,” Kage jabbed. His upper lip curled in the moonlight, and his glare fixed on me. “Walk ahead of us. No sketchy movements. I think you know why.”

“Ya should’ve stayed hidden,” Cian expressed.

“Ya knew that wasn’t goin’ t’ happen.” I glimpsed over my shoulder, just to lay my eyes on him and get a bead on how far back they were as I started down the steps into the garden. My mind began running through various scenarios, trying to adapt our initial plan to the situation and figure out a way to get the Tartaros Blade away from Kage before he got his hands on the Kanna Stone, too. If getting the blade wasn’t possible, I had to prevent him from getting the stone. One or the other alone would be dangerous. If he had them simultaneously, well . . . that’s when his plan came together, and an entire race wouldn’t stand a chance. Nor would me and Cian.

Kage snapped the fingers on his free hand and the torches around the fountain illuminated. “Which direction?” Kage barked at Cian.

Cian glanced down at the wood bowl in his hand that held the small silver arrow. Though he already knew where I’d hidden the stone, he had to play the part. “Straight ahead.”

I started to slow my pace, thinking if I could get closer to Kage, maybe I could distract him, and Cian could at least put some distance between him and the blade.

“Stop right here,” Kage commanded, placing a hand on Cian’s shoulder to ensure compliance. “You can keep going,” he said to me. When I was a few steps ahead, he shoved a hand against Cian’s shoulder, and they began to walk forward again.

More proof that Kage was, in fact, smarter than I had initially thought.

When I got to the fountain, I began to walk around it. Considering I wasn’t supposed to know what was happening, I needed to act like I didn’t know. Cian had a much harder role to play than me. He had to act confused when the arrow went haywire again. As they approached the fountain, the arrow zoned in. But the moment Cian and Kage were next to the pillar that