Page 67 of The Seer

His gleaming teeth flashed in one of his rare grins, and there was no vampire-ish quality to them like before. “You like?”

“Who wouldn’t? But still, not cool to hum a woman into a coma against her will.”

With a thoughtful frown, he set her on her feet.

“’Kay.”

Her brows shot up. “Wow. You caved pretty fast.”

Laughing, he palmed the back of her head and drew her against him. There was no denying the adoration on his face, and a huge part of her felt bad for him. Wrapping her arms around as much of his washboard waist as she could encircle, she hugged him.

“Thank you.”

His fingers were tender as they stroked her back, and unexpected tears filled her eyes. She was familiar with loneliness, just like him. Blinking away the evidence of her sorrow, she gazed up at him.

“I can’t keep calling you ‘buddy.’ Do you have a name?”

“Ardghal.”

Her heart stopped. Surely she’d heard wrong?

“Pardon?” she croaked.

“Ardghal.”

“Bloodstone?” she screeched, making him wince. The blood drained from her head, and she swayed on her feet. “How is it possible? Oh, God! Oh, God!”

CHAPTER21

Dots appeared before Taryn’s eyes, and her vision went dark. Why the hell was she always blacking out in his presence?

Bending his knees, he cupped her face and gave her a gentle shake.

“Stay with me,”he urged through their link.

“But you’re Bloodstone? LiketheBloodstone? How can that be?”

A troubled frown drew his brows down as he stroked her hair. Taryn couldn’t say how or why, but she sensed his struggle: a desire to explain and the frustration accompanying it because he couldn’t voice it.

“Fintan is going to besopissed,” she said, still reeling in shock.

“It’s a feckin’ freak incident,” Peter said beside her.

Taryn patted Ardghal’s hands, indicating he should release her, which he appeared reluctant to do.

She raised a brow, challenging his continued claim.

His mouth curled, straightened, then swept upward again, as if he were fighting his amusement and losing. Finally, he held up his arms and stepped back.

“Thank you.”With a stern look at Peter, she said, “I think it’s time you explained what you know.”

“No need to get your knickers twisted, girl,” he grumbled, but he hadn’t lost his mischievous sparkle.

“You’re a devil. I’d be surprised if you aren’t half leprechaun with your devious acts and half-truths,” she retorted without heat.

He chuckled along with Ardghal.

Taryn rolled her eyes. “So you needed the original Siren. Why?”

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