«We’ll start here,» she said, leading Rohrke from the great hall out to the standing stones that circled the central point of the village. Torches burned at the top of each stone, and a circular, cobbled pavement rounded the very centre in an elaborate pattern that reminded her of the beautiful stone mosaics at home.

It looked like the perfect place for a portal, but when Ana reached it, closing her eyes and touching the stones, there was no sense of any malignant beings. In fact, her sensations in the circle felt surprisingly familiar. She opened her eyes to see Rohrke gazing at her intently.

Ana swallowed and stepped away. His presence was distracting. And now the villagers had taken notice of her, and were starting to follow her movements. They did not look happy or content, and she could feel the ollphéists’ influence among them.

The underlying hostility was disturbing, though it wasn’t overpowering. Still, Ana could not let any of them distract her from her task. Ignoring their dark whispers, she walked the perimeter of the village opening her senses and her sight for anything that was out of the ordinary.

Her concentration was fierce, and she nearly stumbled once, but Rohrke caught her before she fell. She suppressed her immediate reaction to his touch and resumed her search for the portal. She examined every crevice and cranny in Ballygur’s walls, as well as the wells and every other uneven lump in the ground. And still, she found naught.

«I need a quiet place to. to think,» she said, noticing for the first time that the entire village had gathered and were following her, whispering quietly among themselves.

Rohrke took her arm and started back towards the keep, but Ana stopped abruptly. «What are they saying? They think I’m»—

«Áine? Yes. They believe you’re the sun goddess.»

Ana clenched her teeth and proceeded to the keep. She would have to disabuse them of such an outrageous misconception. «’Tis not true, you know. I am merely Ana Mac Lochlainn, and I»—

«Merely?» Rohrke said, his voice low. He took her arm again. «I would hardly use such a dismissive word when speaking of you, Lady Ana.»

His words excited her in a strange way. It was a compliment unlike any she’d ever received before. Her cousins called her a brilliant sorceress. Her teachers said she was a gifted seer. Compliments had always been about her talents. Never about her.

Ana looked at him surreptitiously, and a purely feminine thrill went through her at the sight of the strong line of his jaw and his straight, narrow nose. His long, thick lashes caused a river of intense heat to shoot through her bones. Her palms started to sweat.

«I. I should be alone for this.»

«Not a chance,» he said. «But I won’t intrude on your peace.»

Ana sincerely doubted that was possible, but she went along with him to the keep, glancing behind her as the villagers dispersed. Rohrke led her into the stone fortress, up a staircase and onto the second level. They went into a spacious bedchamber with windows overlooking the standing stones in the centre of the village. ’Twas a warm night, so the hearth was cold, but small torches burned in sconces on each wall. Ana felt comfortable, in spite of the large bed that dominated the room, with a pure white linen sheet covering it.

Rohrke gestured towards it. «You are likely tired after your travels and all your searching. Please make use of my bed.»

«Where will you be?» she asked.

He sat down in a large, stuffed chair. «Here. ’Tis quite comfortable, I assure you.»

«I was not particularly concerned with your comfort, my lord, but my own privacy.»

Six

By the goddess, she was beautiful — lush and golden. Rohrke could almost believe she was Áine, come down to see what was amiss in the world.

If only it were true. He would have no qualms about bedding Ana Mac Lochlainn. He did not know where Sláine and her father were, but they would surely not be pleased at the attention he was paying to Ana. Not when they expected him to make Sláine his wife.

He shook off his cheerless thoughts of them and watched Ana remove her shoes and lie down.

Her feet were small and delicate, reaching nowhere near the end of the bed. Rohrke could easily imagine sliding one of his own feet between hers as he pressed her into the soft mattress. He’d barely touched her lips with his, and he wanted more. Wanted to know her taste and the feel of her naked skin sliding against his.

She closed her eyes and expelled a long breath. She seemed completely relaxed, with her hands extended at her sides, her palms up. Her gown was soft and the colour of butter, or perhaps sunshine. And it lay perfectly arranged about her. There was nothing about her dress or her bearing that should arouse him, and yet.

He rubbed a hand across his face and closed his eyes. It was not wise to allow himself to think such suggestive thoughts about Lady Ana, a stranger whose purpose he did not really understand. Perhaps he should give further thought to what she and Sedric had said. That there was evil about.

He did not know what it could be. Or how it could such infuse him — and Teague — with such animosity towards each other. Nor could he understand what its purpose would be.

He stood and looked down at Ana, who lay perfectly still, hardly breathing. There seemed to be no colour in her lips or her cheeks, but her knew naught was wrong with her. Soothsayers had their own ways, ones he was not privy to.

Rohrke went to the window and looked down at the standing stones in the circle. Geileis was there, standing just outside its centre. waiting, it seemed. He scratched his head. Hadn’t he seen her do this before? His memory was cloudy, as was his recollection of the time they’d spent together that afternoon. Or any other time. It was not like him to be so vague.

He derived no satisfaction from Geileis’ company and, in fact, wondered why he did not know where she and her servant had come from. He could not quite remember how she’d arrived, either. on foot or horseback?

Ana was in her seer’s trance. Rohrke was reluctant to leave her, but he was not a man to hover. He left her to her deep contemplations, and departed the room in search of Geileis. He hurried down to the village circle, determined to ask the woman some questions and gain some answers this time.

But when he arrived at the centre of the village, Geileis was not there. Rohrke glanced around and caught sight of some movement near the gate. Staying in the shadows, he hurried in the same direction, certain it must be the dark-haired woman and her servant.

He could not imagine where they were going so late at night, unless their purpose was illicit. They carried no torches, and managed to slip past the guards that had been posted at the gate.

With that troubling sign, Rohrke realized that Sedric and Ana had been correct. Something evil was present at Ballygur, and now he knew what it was — Geileis. She’d used some kind of magic on him, duped him and dulled his senses when he was near her.

He would not allow it to happen again.

Without making a sound, he came to the guards and motioned them to remain silent and to follow him. They took up their spears and fell in behind him as he followed Geileis, who was headed towards Lough Gur.

Seven

The sensation of Rohrke’s kisses was nearly overpowering. Ana knew his seduction was only a vision, but she could actually feel the rasp of his whiskers on her cheek, then her neck. Her breasts tightened at his touch, and her legs trembled with anticipation.

The sensations were unlike anything Ana had ever experienced inside a vision or out. She wondered if this was what had compelled her to come to Ireland.

The acute awareness of Rohrke went on, his tender embrace, his gentle caress. Ana felt more alive in his arms than she’d ever felt before, and when they became one, she knew sòlas, the deep connection that was felt only by souls meant to be together. The revelation was deeply disturbing, and yet Ana could not dispute its veracity. Her visions were never wrong. They could be altered, however.

The vision changed sharply, and Ana suddenly saw Rohrke, beaten and bound in some dark, nasty place. Her heart lurched at the sight of his injured body, and she knew he’d been hurt by the evil ollphéists with their long claws and sharp teeth. When she finally saw them, they were coming out of water — a lake — rising out of it to meet a beautiful woman with black hair and white skin who changed during the vision to her true form. She became a hag with grey skin, colourless eyes, and hair that dripped ice about her face.

Cailleach!

Ana sat up suddenly, her visions completely gone. She’d recognized Cailleach, the goddess of death, at once.

The evil goddess’ presence troubled Ana. Centuries ago, the Druzai had made it impossible for Cailleach to plague the human lands with her horrors. Yet somehow, she’d discovered a way to circumvent the powerful Druzai spells that kept her away. She was here. And she’d captured Rohrke, who was powerless to protect himself against her.

There was no time to waste. Ana would not allow the powerful goddess to harm the man who. who possessed her heart. The vision had shown her what was meant to be — she and Rohrke were destined mates. And she had no wish to alter that. Ana could not become the virgin Oracle, not after seeing the bond that she and Rohrke shared. She’d felt it as well, with all her heart and soul.