Claire gasped.

"This is just some of the notes I made," Shayla said calmly. "Chaeli, Meekal's mom, let me use some old journals she bought. I learned that Ayden Brinawell came to the US after WWII. He is your grandfather."

Claire took the papers, looking down at them.

"Mom."

She looked up, scowling.

"He's still alive."

Claire's hands shook. Holding Shayla's gaze, she started trembling. Her eyes rolled back into her head, and she slipped bonelessly to the floor.

Shayla jumped up and ran around the bar. She was surprised when she knelt next to her mom to find a soft pad under her. She looked up at Meekal. "Very funny."

He grinned, giving one of his half shrugs of nonchalance.

Claire moaned, coming out of her faint.

Barb, who was picking up the scattered papers, asked, "What's this about an estate?" She pointed to the notes.

Shayla placed her hand behind her mother, helping her to sit up. "Don't get excited. Kal and I've already visited it. Ayden Brinawell is a recluse." Shayla helped her mom to stand, and led her to a chair in the great room. "Mom, he knew you were alive." Shayla hesitated, studying her expression.

"Why? How?"

"He disowned Grandpa when he married."

Claire's emerald eyes looked into hers. A wracking sob escaped.

"Grandma was a witch," Shayla said gently. "Brinawells have always been magical. It comes from a mixture of being Fae, and witch. Mom, it's who we are." She hugged her close, making circles on her back. "Ayden Brinawell didn't like grandma because she was too much of an American witch."

"That's crazy." Barb's voice cut through the room, expressing distain.

"Sure it is," Shayla replied. "He was stubborn about it. The only reason Chaeli knew about it was she has lived in the US. The journals were something she bought at an estate auction in upstate New York. She had them stored in an attic cubbyhole at Chilkwell Manor and never read them."

"I can't believe any of this," Claire said, eyes lined with shock and denial.

"It's true, Mom."

Claire Brinawell rose from her seat like a vengeful bird. "If that's true, then why was I in a convent? How is it that I was told that I don't have any family?"

Shayla stood in an effort to be level with her. "Mom, I said he disowned Grandpa. The records are sealed. We have no way of finding out the truth. Kal and I went to the estate. It's like I said, he lives there. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d has pictures of you and me at our college graduations. He was there, mom. Other than that he's a sneaky b.a.s.t.a.r.d, we don't know much else."

Claire wavered, and returned to the chair. "Shayla, I just don't know where to begin or what to believe."

"I know, Mom. When I get back from England, we can go there. We'll even ring the old codger's door bell and make him answer some questions if you like."

"You're going back to England?"

"Yes," she replied with a quick glance at Meekal. "There are some things I have to take care of. I promise, I'll come home as soon as I can."

[17] Silver & Gold Concentric Circles The rain fell in thick sheets, landing with pings around her, washing in rivets down the sides of cars to meet the ground. "Ugh." Shayla allowed her distaste of the weather to blend in with the moisture.

"Shayla, hurry."

"Kal, this is the worst I've ever seen it rain and I've seen hurricanes."

"It's just a little water. Besides, don't hurricanes have a lot of wind?" His voice rang with amus.e.m.e.nt as he winked at her from beneath his hood.

"That's not funny," she quipped when he pulled her under the overhang of a building's door front. The sudden embrace of cool bricks behind her served to calm the sensations working through to her toes. Her raincoat was in her bag, shrunk to fit her pocket. A quick appraisal of the street showed her that everyone had taken shelter from the sudden cloudburst.

"Here." Meekal's hand shimmered down her side, leaving dryness in its wake. The change in her clothing spun warmth within. She stepped closer to him and brushed her mouth across his wet cheek. Strong arms wrapped her in security. "We could just wind-ride home," he breathed into her ear.

"I suppose that's a good idea. Does everyone know we're coming?"

"We're early. I spoke with mum this morning and told her to expect us this evening."

"Well, then let's go." They journeyed dry on their pa.s.sage. The security of Meekal's arms and the soft landing in his bedroom allowed her to experience the power of traveling in a relaxed way.

"Your bedroom?" she teased. Laughter met her ears as she looked around.

"There may be guests downstairs. Hold on and let me call mum." He flipped his cell phone open and pressed the number. While he talked on the phone, she approached the portrait of Wiston Castle and noticed that Keira was nowhere within the frame. "All right, Mum. We'll be down in a little while." The phone snapped closed. "Are you okay?"

"Yes. I was just wondering about Keira."

"She isn't always there. It's hard for her to be at Wiston Castle even after all these years. She spends most of her time in Annwn."

Confusion tickled her mind. "Annwn?"

"Aye. I mean Avalon. To everyone else it's the mythical place of King Arthur. To us, it's simply Annwn under the Tor."

"Oh." She didn't feel ready for a new barrage of information so she changed the subject. "What are we going to do about Syther?"

He shrugged and pulled the chair away from his desk before opening a drawer. "Grandfather told me before we left Ohio that Gail, James and Leith were tracking his whereabouts. They were getting close. Once we find his lair, we'll be able to penetrate it. The Adjutors hope to take him alive. If we can't, then we'll have to vanquish him." He pulled a box from the inner depths of the drawer and closed it.

"You mean kill him."

Meekal chewed his lower lip. She found herself mesmerized by the action as she waited for his answer.

"Not exactly. Sit down."

"What do you mean, not exactly?" She did not move from her spot, even as he indicated the chair.

"Shay, please sit down." He waited, obviously not going to explain until she sat.

"Kal."

"I'll tell you if you sit. It's a bit complicated and will take awhile. You may as well be comfortable."

"Alright, I'm sitting," she replied with a grunt as her behind met the cushion of the chair. "I'm also waiting."

Meekal pushed his hand through his hair, leaving it standing on end and took his first few paces across the room. The box in his other hand flipped in the air as he tossed it and muttered under his breath. He began to pick up speed in his measured footsteps.

"Why do you do that?"

He stopped. "Do what?"

"Pace."

"Oh well, it's a habit I picked up from Black Bry."

"Really?" A sensation of recognition sprang through her even though she did not understand its origin. "How do you pick up a habit from a portrait?"

"It isn't that simple."

"Why are you nervous?" She tilted her head and studied him. "I haven't known you very long, yet I know you're nervous about something. Even after everything we've been through..." She allowed her voice to disappear and narrowed her eyes. The feelings she experienced, wrapped around her. She began to realize they were not just hers. "Kal?"

"You went into the portrait with me. Didn't that make you have questions?"

"Sure. I just thought it was another aspect of magic I didn't understand. You know, a portal to another plane or something."

"Well, I guess you could say that, but that isn't it, exactly."

She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in the chair. "I'm still waiting."

"Which question do you want me to answer? The one about vanquishing Syther, or the portrait and Black Bryan?" His gaze dropped to the box in his hand.

Shayla's followed. Purple velvet fabric covered the box. "What's that?"

He approached her and knelt.

Her heart stopped.

"It's okay, love." He looked up at her, his eyes intense with emotion. "Can you feel it?"

Memory of the white light surrounding her at the Pool encompa.s.sed her until she realized that was not what it was. Instead, the love embraced her in the present moment. She gasped and released a sob in the same breath. Her heart began to beat rapidly, sending her blood rushing forth with such intensity it made her shake. "Kal," she whispered, barely able to speak.

Gentleness vibrated from him. "Shayla, it's not what you think. I mean. Well, yes it is, except," he said, releasing a breath and took her hand. "I love you. I know that without a doubt in my heart and mind. I never believed it would ever happen to me, even though I saw it between Bry and Morna. First hand." He stopped speaking and watched her closely.

Her mind spun in a sudden turmoil. "First hand?" A niggling of doubt at his words twisted around her heart.

"Yes, love. Up close and personal. Literally, first hand." In slow motion, his fingers moved from hers to the box.

A sudden sense of loss at the departure of his touch swooped to her heart. "What?"

He opened the box. Cradled inside upon purple velvet lay a gold and silver pendant etched with the concentric circles of the Vesica Pisces Pool. The gold sparkled against his skin as he lifted the chain and held it for her to see. "The concentric circles mean many things to many people. When you came into my life, in that very moment at the Pool, I knew with certainty you were my matching circle. See the part where they are joined?"

She felt hypnotized by the vision of his hand laced with gold and silver. "Yes."

"To me, that's our hearts, beating as though one."

She met his eyes. Her heart flipped.

"Shay, I couldn't have taken anyone else into the portrait."

At the center of her being, she realized this was truth. "I don't understand."

"The portrait isn't just a doorway to Wiston Castle. It opens into the world in which I spent a lot of time growing up. Where Black Bryan and Morna taught me about my destiny and Annwn."

"You grew up in Avalon?"

"Annwn, love."

"The mythical Annwn?"

"Shayla, you are one of us. I know it's hard to understand sometimes. The White Lady, the Pool, CIARANLEXISS, and then there's your experience with Syther and Sheitan. Everything culminates in your destiny just as it does in mine. We are meant to be together."

"I understand even though it's difficult sometimes. But, what does this have to do with Syther?"

"I'll explain, but first, I want you to wear this pendant. It will protect you. There is something else. I know it may seem too soon."

Her heart stopped again. "Will you please not do this again?"

"Will you marry me?"

"Kal."

He moved up and placed a quick kiss on her lips.

"Yes," she breathed against him, and then she pressed forward to seal the answer. Moments later, she pulled away breathless, her fingers lost in black silky strands. "Kal, what about?" Lips found hers again.

"We'll get you a ring later. I want you to wear this pendant. It has magical powers of protection and deflection. It may help in the coming battle."

"Why don't you wear it?"

He held her gaze and caressed her neck where the chain rested against her skin. "It marks you as being my promised. In Annwn, I mean. I don't think we'll have to go there, but just in case we do."

"Okay."

He pulled away and stood before her. "When we find Syther, there's a possibility we may be able to vanquish him instead of killing him."

She nodded and fingered the gold pendant where it rested just at the juncture of her throat.

"If we kill him," he said, pacing to the window and turning. "There is always the possibility of someone stealing his body and taking his power. However, if we vanquish him and take his soul into Annwn, there'll be no way another evil Thyrza could take over his power. I'm talking about the same way that Syther took Tebalour Doomstar's bones. This was a new method, never before used by anyone. It was collaboration between Syther and Zubird that made the spell possible."

"How will it work and is that actually where Malvenue is? In Annwn?"

"Malvenue really is in Black Bry's portrait pocket. We kept him close in the beginning because we were unsure of how the spell on the bezoar stone would hold up. Time runs slightly different in Annwn. We didn't want something to happen to the stone and find out about it years later."