Swain - Na

Click to edit

Prologue

She comes. It was whispered by the fairies to the trees invoices that were beyond musical in their beauty.

She comes. It was whispered from the trees to the wavingblades of grass.

She comes. The voices seemed to grow as the news passed tothe animals hidden deep within their burrows or high in thethickets where deer watched with perked ears, or foxes peeked fromtheir dens.

The entire dimension waited with baited breath as a womanstruggled to bring life into their world. Red hair lay indamp, lanky curls, her hand grasping that of the tall man withmidnight hair and dark eyes that was her husband, her soul mate,her very life. Without Nicholas, Katherine Ravencroft Cassidyknew she would not have lived through the night.

All of Avalon shimmered in misty light, a dimension thatreflected what others referred to as the other world.

Avalon, a place that had been lost in the mists of time,shielded from prying eyes as a final gift by the priestesses thathad laid a beloved king to rest. None, they had vowed, wouldever see the place where magic would always dwell. Wherefairies and unicorns still lived, where all that had been lost inlegends and myth still existed.

Now, it waited, waited for the birth of the one that wouldprotect that world and keep it whole.

And as dawn finally broke over Avalon, the infants first lustycries split the silence.

Its a beautiful lass, my love.

Leaning forward, Nicholas Cassidy kissed his wifes still dampbrow. She has your hair and her eyes are already more greenthan blue.

Eve, his sleepy wife whispered as exhaustion threatened totake over. We said we would name her Eve after yourmother.

Call her what you will, a gruff voice said from the foot ofthe bed. Agnes Ravencroft, Katherines sister and a healer ofgreat renown, held the squirming infant in her arms. Hereyes will be the same green as her mothers, but her hair herhair will be the color of autumn leaves. The color ofrust.

Rusty, mused the new father, white teeth gleaming as he smiledin agreement. Eve may be the name put to record, but to us,she will always be, Rusty.

Chapter One

It was her hair that first attracted his attention. Glowing like ropes of fire, he could only stare at it and her asshe strolled along the open pens, running an expert hand overgleaming flanks and down sturdy legs.

Being a man who prided himself on being an expert in bothhorseflesh and women, Ian McAllister knew a prizewinner when he sawone. He was a man who stretched the conventional descriptionof 'handsome' to its outermost limits, with dark hair that womenached to play with, and flashing blue eyes that could, with theircolor alone, command the attention of an entire room. Standing just over six feet tall, he had a tapered, poetic face, aslash of aristocratic cheekbones, and a sculpted mouth thatscreamed to be kissed. His hair was black as a ravens wing,thick and full sweeping back from a strong forehead to fall inchesbelow broad shoulders. His eyes were blue, but the word wasmuch too simple for the depth of color or the power in them. He dressed, as always, to accentuate his good looks. Dark grayjeans were tucked into a black shirt while the wind teased at hislong sleeves.

A man as handsome as he was could stop a thousand hearts, butvery few women could do the same to him. He felt he had justseen one of them.

Jim, whos that redhead over there? he asked, after taking amoment to calm himself.

Jim Cafferty, both his head trainer as well as boyhood friend,only had to take one glance to guess the identity of the redhead towhich Ian was referring.

Ah, youd best leave that one alone, boy-o, he answered, thesound of the Irish hills thick on his tongue. Eve McCenerymay look as warm as a sunlit day, but most say shes as cold asice.

Never knew ice that couldnt be melted with the right amount ofheat, Ian observed, his mouth watering at the sight of slenderlegs encased in tight denim jeans, a checkered shirt tucked in toaccentuate a slender waist.

One man did, Jim observed as he pulled a wooden match from theside of his mouth. Left her a widow before a year was up shot in the back he was, some say, although they never found whokilled Michael McCenery. Not even with her powers could she say forcertain who squeezed the trigger.

Cocking his head, Ians dark brow raised. Powers? Take a look around you, man; the place is nothing but witches andmagicians. What makes hers any different?

Only that she rules the largest dimension in our world. His brown eyes rounded as he shook his shaggy head, his muddy brownhair touching his shoulders. Ya need to get out of thatbloody office of yours, Ian, and take a look at more than ledgersand numbers.

Avalon? He said the word in a quiet hush, finding it difficultto believe that such a responsibility could be in the hands ofsomeone so young.

His eyes narrowed as Ian took yet another look at the slenderwoman, as she appeared to be haggling over the price of a baymare. A mare that Ian happened also to have his eye on.

Then whats she doing here? he asked, the mists of Irelandechoing in his voice as his mind began turning over how he coulduse that mare to his best advantage.

I imagine the same thing that you are looking for horses tobreed. And its a mighty fine stable that she has breedsUnicorns to Andalusians successfully, I might add. Notan easy thing to do, if you ask me.

In a moment, Ian made his decision. Go find out how muchshe is bidding on that mare whatever it is, double it triple it, if you have to. I want her.

Chuckling, Jim's eyes sparkled in amusement as he glanced at hisfriend. The mare or the woman?

Both.

* * * *

What do you mean that the mare is gone? Tapping her footin irritation, Eve McCenery watched as the breeder twisted his capinto a shapeless mass. It was triple what you offered and well, a man has to make a living.

It would seem that Im the cause of this.

When she turned, Ian simply held his breath for a moment. It was more than just the fiery red hair, or skin the color ofskimmed cream it wasnt even that mouth of hers, full andpouting, that startled him. It was the entire package. The slender body with an athletes build, the temper that flared inthose green eyes and a magic that was almost palpable. Andit was all packed into the most beautiful woman he had everseen.

Introductions were briefly made as the breeder quickly escaped,thanking the gods for the sale and for getting away from those twowith his skin still intact.

Perhaps we could come to an agreement that would be of mutualsatisfaction, Ian said even as he gently guided her to a standwhere refreshments were available.

And what would that be, Mr. McAllister? When her slenderfingers wrapped around a glass of Harp, Ian noticed the absence ofa wedding ring. He moved in for the kill.

Your stud has a fine reputation and the mare has a provenbloodline. Waive the stud fee and the first foal isyours.

Her slender brow arched as she watched him pay for theirbeers. He was confident almost too confident, with an airabout him that told her he was was accustomed to having things hisown way.

A sentiment that she understood all too well. Ill thinkabout it, she said as she placed down her glass. If youhave a card, Ill take it and well talk.