Emerald Isle Read Online Free PDF Page B

place.”
    Fiona shook her head. “No, Birdie. I respect your role as the matriarch of this family, but you have gone too far this time. You must call Aedon back and say it cannot be done. Tell him that she hasn’t been training for twenty-nine years. She hasn’t even been training half the years he thinks she has! He will understand.”
    Birdie knew Fiona had a point. A part of her wanted to retract her declaration, but another part—the slice of her soul that had known from the moment she laid eyes on her that Anastasia was born for bigger things, that the girl was part of something more important than all of them—couldn’t leave the fate of the cauldron in anyone else’s hands.
    “And what if she doesn’t go, Fiona, then what? The cauldron could be lost to the ages if the only one seeking it is that idiot grandson of Tallulah’s. And then what will become of Ireland? Of the world?”
    Fiona planted her hands on her curvy hips and said, “Is that what this is about? Tallulah and that ridiculous feud? Release it, Birdie. It was a lifetime ago.”
    Birdie shouted, “This has nothing to do with what happened at the Academy.”
    “Of course it does. You want to live through your granddaughter, Brighid. You’re not thinking of the bigger picture,” Fiona fired back.
    Birdie slammed her hand on her desk. “That is all I’m thinking of. I want my girls back, both of them, safe and sound. Can’t you understand that?”
    “And in your desperate desire to reunite your family, you have put both of their lives in danger, Sister. What happens if the girl fails? Do you know what the council will do if you don’t live up to your end of the deal? They may not set her mother free. And she will only blame herself!”
    “Geraghtys do not fail,” Birdie said.
    “You did,” Fiona shot back.
    The two sisters stood face-to-face, heat radiating off them in angry waves.
    Behind them, Lolly bellowed, “Enough of this!”
    Birdie and Fiona turned to face Lolly.
    She said, “I will not have this bickering today of all days. You are upsetting the woodland sprites and the earth deities. My great-niece is about to celebrate a very special birthday, and I won’t have the two of you spoiling it with your nonsense. I am still the oldest in this family, and I can knock you both on your keisters.” Lolly wagged a finger from Birdie to Fiona.
    They each stepped back a foot.
    “Now sit,” Lolly ordered.
    Birdie sat at her desk, and Fiona took a chair near the door.
    “This is what’s going to happen.” Lolly paced as she spoke. “The three of us are going to perform all the rituals and spells for the holiday alone. We are going to tell Stacy that we thought she could utilize the extra time to prepare her spell and that she needn’t arrive until just before dinner, whereupon I will present her with the beautiful maiden’s dress I fashioned. Then we are all going to sit down and have a lovely dinner with Stacy and her friends. After the dinner guests have gone, Stacy will perform her dedication spell, and only then will we tell her what the council has proposed.”
    Birdie and Fiona exchanged a glance.
    “And then what?” Fiona asked.
    Lolly crossed her arms. “And then we let the girl decide.”
    Five hours later, I was plucked, painted, washed, dried, and styled. I felt absolutely amazing, but I was also sleepy.I kissed Cinnamon good-bye, thanked her for the much-needed gift, and hopped in the car to go home.
    Thor was waiting by the door when I opened it. He ran out to accost the shrubs and I went to grab the Blessed Book. I set it on the counter next to my list and flipped through the pages, but couldn’t find anything on “Web of Weird.”
    My phone signaled there were messages waiting, so I hit the button to retrieve them while still turning the pages of the book.
    There was a “happy birthday” voice mail from my sweetheart, Chance, with a promise to be on time for dinner, a message from Lolly telling me that she