Excerpt

As the words flowed on the wings of the haunting melody, I was lost in burning reverie. He appeared before me once more in a sea of fire. I drank him in; tall, towereing over me, dark tresses framed in flame red fell across his face hiding all but those deeply green blazing eyes, thin yet muscular, a powerful presence indeed, so strong he could fell the mightiest foe in one deft movement, as if his stare were not enough to strike one down where it stood, long and lean and reaching out for me--beckoning me to him.
    The song ended, and the cold that flooded my core roused me back to where I stood. The room was silent as a tomb and every eye was fixed on me. 'Uh-oh.' A flash of a mob wielding torches filled my head. I've gone too far. I searched for Angus fearing I'd lost him too. I found him there behind the bar, smiling the wickedest, most loving, proudest I'd ever seen on a human face. It gave me a strange comfort and I started to breathe again. As I did, it seems the spell was broken. Applause filled the room, accompanied by whooping and hollering that filled my ears. Funny, I never thought my singing voice was all that good. Has to be the song. Hugh took my hand to help me down. He grabbed me by the waist and lifted me down seating me softly in a chair. The movement so fluid it felt as though I were nothing but air. "Give this girl a drink, Angus. She's suredly earned it," he said and everyone laughed. I've heard of sining for your supper, but drink? And then the questions came, "where did that come from, Luna?"
    "Oh, I don't know, really. I haven't thought of it for years. I remember it from my childhood, I guess. It seemed somehow appropriate, though. It's one of the few songs I know by heart with a Celtic hue," I explained.     I noticed a secretive, knowing look passing among them as I spoke. "What? What'd I say?"
    "Nothing, dear," Brianna chimed reassuringly. "Never you mind, it was lovely," she soothed. "Stop your hoverin' ye bilks. Let the girl alone. Let her breathe."
    And with that the feeding frenzy died out and we returned to our drinks. I caught sight of Angus again. He looked gleeful. An odd sight in an old man. We played for a while longer then I announced, "Okay, boys and girls, I think that'll do it for me tonight. I'm headed home." There was a rumbling of "aw nuts" that rose in the room. "Now, now, I'm not going away,  just home to sleep it off. You can't get rid of me that easily," I tried to soothe their grumblings.
    "Get rid of you?!" came Kale's voice. "We just found you. Why would we want to get rid of you?!"
    I flashed him a grin and a wink, "Just teasing, sweet pea," I said trying to allay what seemed a genuine concern that I might leave. He laughed nervously, "Oh. I knew that," and he blushed a little. I think he may have a wee crush on me. I hugged them all good night, then Corc and Aiden saw me home and started a fire for me. "What gentlemen you both are, thought it seems quite unnecessary. I am quite capable you know," I teased them.
    They flashed me sheepish grins, "we know, love."
    It seemed as though there was more to the statement than they were letting on, but nothing else followed. I threw them a smile, hugged them both, and sent them off, "Be off with you then. Stop hovering. Don't you two have homes to get to? I'm well kept now. Good night," I chastised teasingly.
    Aiden stole a kiss from my cheek. Corc didn't want to be left out so he quickly caught the other cheek and they left swatting and shoving at one another. Ahh, youth. I believe its returning to me. I went to the study to write to Bryn. I knew there would be nothing from him, but one can hope. Besides, I had to talk to someone and it wouldn't be anyone but him. I poured out everything, every last drop and sent it on its way. I'm sure he'll think I've gone mad, not that he would ever say so of course. He's never been anything but accepting and caring towards me.