Page 73 of Rekindled Prophecy

His recent help did not erase the fact that Kael was still an evil creature under the command of Hell. He was still her enemy. End of story.

At least it should be.

Maureen called to her from the dining room. “Breakfast.”

After re-entering the inn, she saw Matthew trudging down the stairs with the couple’s suitcases. He beamed with joy.

“Good morning.” As she shoved bites of cheesy eggs with crushed up bacon into her mouth, Matthew teased her about missing breakfast again. “We appreciate all the privacy, but really … you both didn’t have to skip breakfast on our account.”

Huh?

“Kael missed breakfast?”

“Yeah, haven’t seen him since last night after he fled from Kayla’s incessant attention.” He squinted at her. “Funny. After hearing the music coming from the gazebo in the wee morning hours, I kinda thought you two may have …”

The soft padding of sneakered feet on the front staircase saved them from further embarrassment. The epitome of the glowing bride, Kelly walked over to her new husband and sat on his lap.

“Okay, the cuteness factor is getting a bit much with you two lovebirds. Knock it off!” They giggled and Kelly smirked at her, without moving.

“So,” Kelly began with a mischievous smile, “what have you done with our friend, Mr. O’Shea?”

Matthew piped up. “Apparently, the hoodlum stood us all up. Probably sleeping off a hangover. I haven’t seen any man drink that much and still be able to stand. The alcohol just caught up to him. Or … perhaps your friend Kayla popped back over for a visit.”

Kelly playfully hit his shoulder. “Shut your mouth! I have half a mind to stomp over there and check. But the way he was avoiding her,” she winked at Greylyn, “I’m confident he’s alone. No. Best to let him sleep it off.”

Greylyn changed the subject quickly by asking about what she missed after she left.

“Oh, not too much,” Kelly began, “I’m sure you don’t want to be bored with all our wedding talk. Now about …”

Interrupting her, Matthew saved the discussion from returning to Kael. “Come on, don’t forget to tell her the good stuff. When Kelly went to throw the bridal bouquet, there was such a mad scramble that Amy twisted her ankle in the attempt to snag the flowers. Luckily, she had Tony to help her get home.” Greylyn smiled. Those two would make a delightful couple.

“The best part was watching Kael fight off all the girls, though. They were throwing themselves at him.” Kelly winked at Greylyn again. “Kael had zero interest in them.”

Greylyn forced herself to not roll her eyes. Instead, she took another long draught of her coffee. She was saved from further embarrassment when Maureen walked back into the dining room, checking on her guests.

Matthew and Kelly regaled Greylyn with funny stories from the wedding and the reception. Maureen added a bit of good news.

“I called the hospital this morning. Edith is recovering nicely but seems to have a bad case of amnesia. She doesn’t remember a thing from the last two days. The doctor says that is common with a stroke.”

An hour and another cup of coffee later, Matthew rose to leave. They both thanked Maureen again for the gorgeous wedding and reception. “The wedding was everything we ever dreamed of. Really, it was perfect.”

Kelly turned to Greylyn with tears springing up in her eyes and threw her arms around her. Squeezing her back, she realized something.

If what Olivier said was true, if Kelly were Nephilim and if she was Nephilim, and there was only one descendant line of Nephilim still in existence then … was Kelly her family?

Tears burned her eyelids. For centuries she had felt a great void in her life because she did not remember her human life, her family, or friends. She had forced the desire for such connections behind a steel door in her heart. The mere idea of family … a sob threatened to erupt from her soul at the revelation.

Reluctantly, she pulled away from the embrace. “Oh, I almost forgot something. Wait right here.” Greylyn sprinted to her suite for the gift she had forgotten about yesterday amidst all the drama.

Grabbing the blessed medallion, she raced back to the main house and placed the item in Kelly’s palm as she explained its significance. “It’s a portrait coin from the time of King Henry VIII, but it’s also a Gaelic blessing and protection medal.”

In Gaelic, Greylyn recited the blessing for them:

Mi\le fa\ilte dhuit le d'bhre/id, Fad do re/ gun robh thu sla\n. Mo/ran la\ithean dhuit is si\th, Le d'mhaitheas is le d'ni\ bhi fa\s.

“It means, A thousand welcomes to you with your marriage kerchief, may you be healthy all your days. May you be blessed with long life and peace, may you grow old with goodness, and with riches. It’s from Reverend Donald MacLeod from Scotland in 1760. It is traditionally passed on as a blessing to all friends and family upon their marriage and beginning of a new family.”

Tears free flowed down Kelly’s freckled cheeks and the tip of her nose turned a soft pink hue. Even Matthew looked ready to cry. Shifting from one foot to the other, somewhat uncomfortable with all this show of emotion, Greylyn cracked a joke about most Irish blessings being coined by drunkards.

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