Silver at Midnight: A Paranormal Romance Urban Fantasy (The Keepers of Knowledge Series Book 5) Bridgette O'Hare (ebook offline .txt) 📖

“It’s safer locked up there. Information like that can’t fall into the wrong hands,” I expressed firmly.

“Fair, but I know you wouldn’t let that happen.”

“Not if I could help it, just not a chance I want to take.”

“Okay, anything else I can help with or should know?” she asked.

“Well, there’s a decent chance we have to resurrect Ashlyn O’Conner.”

Her face lost all expression.

“Why does that not surprise me?” Kara spat. “I take it that means you’ve decided you’re gonna trust this guy? Even if ya don’t know if Cian is his actual name?”

“K . . . you know as well as I do, in our line of work, a name is just a name. Ya have t’ go with your instinct when decidin’ where to place your trust. And my instinct,” actually every fiber of my being, I thought, “says I can trust him,” I assured her.

I wasn’t about to tell her what really happened, that I’d seen the past and the plans The Saiad had in store for the future. That’d I’d seen death. She’d insist on joining the front lines, and I didn’t want to put her at that kind of risk. She still had a family who would be destroyed if something happened—two doting parents, a brother with a wife and kids. It was the main reason I passed on putting my name up for the Director’s position when it became available a few years ago. Not only did Kara deserve the job, she needed to be out of the field.

“Fine, Aish. I trust you. Even if I don’t trust him. So . . . what does this mean for the Keeper position?”

“Good question. One I don’t have an answer for yet. I’m going t’ have a chat with Uncle Lach and get back t’ ya. Meantime, have Lazlo bring Ashlyn back from the dead, would ya? I’m goin’ t’ pick up a few groceries, and I’ll touch base later.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll let ya know when I send those files over. Ciao for now!” Kara gave a peace sign. I waved goodbye and closed the call.

It was a few hours later before I heard back from Uncle Lachlan. Rather than calling, he sent a text saying he was in the middle of Keeper business that couldn’t wait, but we were still on for dinner at seven. I had several hours ahead of me, so after putting away the few items I’d picked up at the grocers, I brewed a fresh pot of coffee, grabbed a slice of the banana nut bread from The Black Cat, and settled into the oversized chair—seriously, two people could sit in the thing—between the fireplace and the window to begin decrypting the files Kara had sent.

While the files were going through the decryption process, I pulled a pad from my bag and decided to make a list of questions that still needed answers. Things were happening at such a quick pace; I wasn't sure which piece of information needed my attention first.

I had questions for Cian about why he'd been at my flat in Dublin and why he’d left me a note with Pixie Witch instead of simply talking to me himself. I had questions about who might have been snooping around my cottage the night before, and why. I had questions for Uncle Lachlan about what he wasn’t sharing and how was I supposed to manage to fill the position as Keeper and help Cian, too. I clearly needed a little perspective.

Then there was the Davar Magén. I was almost certain I’d find something amid my Silver Scroll notes that would give me some insight. Though, I wasn’t sure how much or what else I needed to know after Cian’s info dump into my brain. I just had a gut feeling that I was missing a piece to that puzzle.

Getting my eyes on the Kanna Stone files promised to be a different rabbit hole all together. Cian had said I didn’t know even a fraction of what the artifact was capable of. Maybe I had missed something. I intended to look. If something were there, I’d find it.

Truth was, for the first time in my life, I felt overwhelmed and underprepared.

I checked the decryption program. Still about an hour left. I set the laptop on the coffee table and curled up with the fuzzy blanket thrown across the back of the chair intending to watch the waves from the warmth and comfort of the cottage. Considering how taxing the previous few days had been, I shouldn’t have been surprised that I would doze off.

All at once I was standing in front of the table, staring at the glow of candles as they bathed the intricate leather book in a warm yellow light. I was alone. I turned in a full circle, wondering why I hadn’t started out in front of the church like my previous dreams, but then I focused my attention back on the volume before me. It was closed, so I tried to open it. Despite my efforts, it wouldn’t budge. I was studying it from different angles, looking closely at the lock holding it shut when his voice pierced the silence.

“That’s not going to work,” he called from the doorway.

“Holy mother of—” I jumped and turned to face Ruman. “You should not do that t’ people. You’ll give someone heart failure.” I rested my hand over my chest and took a few calming breaths.

He attempted to conceal his amusement, but he failed. I noticed.

“My apologies, Aisling,” he offered as he made his way toward me. “I would have been here to greet you had I known you might be coming.” He stopped a few steps from the book, just to my right, then tilted his head slightly and studied me.

After a few moments, I began to fidget. “Umm, what is it? Why are ya looking at