“Do you ever get the chance—you know, to go on a date?” Ella’s words slipped out before she even questioned why.
The doctor removed her glasses and rubbed her eyes. “Hm, let me see, the last time I went out to dinner—wow, at least a year ago with a friend from college. Not a date, a friend. Not that I haven’t been asked, but you know how it is—the one you like doesn’t know you exist. Anyway, I’m quite happy here with my book boyfriends. At least they’re reliable and satisfying—unlike most men.”
Ella smiled at the gentle woman as she pointed at the built-in bookcase, and she flicked her gaze back to her fresh, makeup-free face. She wondered who the blind man could be, because under the glasses and doctor’s coat hid a stunning woman, even if she didn’t realize it herself. Glancing down at Nate, who wriggled in her arms and made gurgling noises, she stood, and Elizabeth came over with her baby sling. The doctor held Nate as Ella placed the soft cream material over her head and pulled it down in front. She gathered her baby into her arms and tucked him in, securing the material around him so he lay pressed up close against her chest, warm and snug.
“Thanks, Liz. Why don’t you come for dinner Saturday evening? After what happened, I think we need to all get together and it would be great to chat longer.” Elizabeth frowned for a moment, and at first Ella thought she would refuse. “We could get takeout. You know I burn toast.”
The young woman laughed. “I did hear something like that. How about I cook dinner?”
Guilt flooded through Ella, but the idea of a home-cooked meal sounded tempting.
“I couldn’t let you do that.”
“Honestly—you would be doing me a favor. Being on my own, I live on takeout.”
Ella nodded, knowing that for most of her life it had been the same. But in her case, she would rather be working out or training with her weapons rather than spend time in the kitchen. Nothing she made resembled the picture in the recipe book. Luckily for her, Marcus enjoyed cooking.
“As long as you’re sure, I was also going to invite Henry, Jake, and Isabella. Is that all right?”
An awkward pause followed and all of the sudden, Ella panicked. “I will buy the food, of course. Let me know what ingredients you want and I’ll sort it all out.”
She watched as the young woman snapped her eyes closed and swallowed before giving an answer. Her cheeks flushed slightly. “No problem at all. Let me think about the menu and I’ll let you know later, okay?”
Ella nodded. “Great, and I’ll help in the kitchen.” Maybe, if Steel’s back by then, she could invite him over too. Ella strolled for the exit, and turned back as Elizabeth stood there with her arms folded with a faraway look, twirling the strands of her blonde hair.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Elizabeth replied.
Twenty minutes later, Ella flopped down on the comfortable couch in front of the stone fireplace in her home. Nate lay in his crib, sound asleep. Going over the past several hours in her mind, she rubbed the pretty moonstone on her bracelet as if for comfort. A heavy lull swamped through her veins, weighing her down and making it impossible to keep her eyes open. The ticking of the clock, once strident and clear, grew dim and distant. Her heavy eyes snapped shut and she drifted far away.
A sharp wind caught her long hair, tossing it around over her shoulders. “Dagda, we must act—now. I can raise an army to take back the throne, my love.”
A deep baritone voice pierced through the sweeping gray sky. “My beautiful, passionate, and foolish woman. What use is the throne, when I have lost the ear of my people, tell me?”
She glided over the soft green grass to join him by his side, brushing her hand along his rugged cheek above his wide jaw covered in a thick white beard. Despite the countless years, his hazel eyes that examined hers were as sharp as the blade she hid under her flowing gown. If she expected any softness from the aging god, she received none, and his lips remained hard and unyielding. He covered her hand with his and removed it from his cheek, turning away from her. At six foot seven with tight muscles, he posed a formidable adversary, but he had a gentle soul.
“I’m a tired old man. Danu is right to replace me, to bring peace.”
She pulled away and wrapped her arms around her heaving bosom, annoyed at the ease with which her lover surrendered. Didn’t he realize she would do anything for him?
“It’s my fault,” he added.
“You fell in love with Ariana—she’s the one to blame. She turned her back on you, and chose a human!” she shouted, furious that her beloved had aged with the loss of the golden-haired beauty, who had rejected him and taken many human lovers. The goddess never loved him and still he wonders about her.
“I do not blame Ariana. Falling in love is not what we imagine, but I shouldn’t have taken out my sorrow on her children. I shouldn’t have cursed her offspring, and I need to remedy that. I am happy to accept my fate. It’s my cross to bear alone, but you are the Morrigan. You must leave. There can never be anything between us, my queen of death.”
For centuries, she had been content to remain in the shadows as Dagda’s secret lover, but she had hoped with Ariana in exile there would be a change of heart. She hoped he would acknowledge her openly. Perhaps, even in time, show her a fraction of the love he held for the goddess who betrayed him. Take her as his
