Portals 1: Fallon's Men Read online

  “Tell me more about these standing stones, Fallon. They sound really intriguing.”

  “Oh they are,” Fallon said with a smile. “Mum and Dad took me to see them when I was ten and I was fascinated with them.

  “The stones date back over four thousand years, and are older than the ones down at Stonehenge. They’re spread out over different locations, but the main one has about fifty-three stones, set in a sort of cruciform shape. Very unusual. But the ones I most vividly remember are situated a little bit away from the others. There are eight stones making an outer circle, and four in an inner circle. There used to be more, but they have fallen down.”

  “Why do you remember those in particular?”

  “I don’t know if I can explain it. It was as though the very earth surrounding them was… alive.” Fallon broke off, wondering if she had totally freaked Marina out with her remembered observations.

  “Ah, I know what you mean. Some of the ancient places of worship in Greece were chosen because of the placement of earth’s energy. I would imagine that the people who placed these stone circles were aware of this too.”

  Fallon breathed out a sigh of relief, glad that Marina understood what she was trying to say about the stones. “I have to admit that when we returned home I used to make up little stories about what the stones were used for long ago.” Fallon gave a wry grin. “Of course I didn’t tell Taine or my parents how much they affected me. I felt it was too personal.”

  Marina turned to her with a smile. “Then I’m honoured that you have taken me into your confidence.”

  As Fallon drove into the little parking area, she felt at peace with herself for the first time in months. The awe she felt for the builders of the giant pillars of stone was the same she’d felt the first time she saw them.

  Fallon watched the expression on Marina’s face as she spied the largest stone; it stood about sixteen feet tall and formed the central spot of the site.

  “Goddess, Fallon. I feel a shiver running through me.”

  “I know.” Fallon was pleased that Marina felt the same way she did about the place. It seemed wrong to talk in their normal voice around these ancient relics. The two of them spent the next thirty minutes in silence, just wandering around, in and out of the stone pillars, until by mutual consent they walked back towards the car.

  “We’ll take the car to the next site; from there it’s not too long a walk down to the one I really want to visit,” said Fallon, as she opened the door.

  “That sounds good. Although how the other one can be more spectacular than this place is astounding just thinking about it.”

  Fallon turned her head towards her before starting the car. “You’ll see what I mean when you get there.”

  It didn’t take long before she pulled into the little parking area, and both walked the short distance to the second circle of stones at Callanish. Fallon was glad Marina just wanted a quick wander around these stones, because for some reason she felt she needed to move as quickly as possible to the stones that she most wanted to see.

  It was only about three hundred meters to the circle, and as she neared them, Fallon felt the same ripple of sensation she had the time she came with her parents.

  Something about this place called to her.

  Marina stopped just before she reached the outside circle. “Goddess, Fallon. This place is full of the earth’s energy. You can feel it from here. It’s everywhere, even running beneath us, and it appears to be centered in the two stones over there.” Marina pointed her hand in the direction that Fallon was already looking, at the stone that called to her, and the one beside it.

  “How did you know that?” gasped Fallon.

  “I don’t know, but something is calling to me from the one on the right. What does this mean?”

  “It’s the other one that does the same to me. I thought I might have imagined the strength of the sensation. But it’s even more powerful than it was all those years ago. It’s as though my presence has woken it up somehow.”

  Fallon reached over to take Marina’s hand in hers and they walked slowly but steadily towards the two stones that seemed to be pulling them.

  Stopping beside the one that drew her, Fallon studied it carefully, peripherally aware that Marina was doing the same with the neighboring stone. Looking upwards she spied a faint symbol on the stone, one she hadn’t seen all those years ago. Maybe it was because she was taller now? She didn’t know. It seemed to be glowing, either that or the sun was catching something in the stone.

  Out of the corner of her eye Fallon saw Marina frown before she raised her hand above her head, reaching towards something on the stone she was looking at.

  It was strange that the two of them were mirroring each other’s movements.

  Fallon raised her hand to touch the little barbell symbol that seemed to be pulsing, not just glowing now. She heard Marina say something and glanced sideways just as her hand touched the symbol.

  She watched in horror as Marina’s body grew fainter and fainter before her eyes until she vanished.

  Before she could call out she felt her body begin to pulse in time with the glowing symbol. Her muscles knotted and it felt as though she was in a whirlpool. The world around her disappeared in a bright white light. Her head pounded, as though it was going to explode.

  Fallon felt like she was being carried one way then the other as her body crashed and spun. Then just as she thought she couldn’t bear the pain any longer, she found herself plunging downwards.

  As her body hit the hard ground, she cried out in pain. Her muscles were bruised and sore from her travel.

  Fallon tried to raise herself up but the pain in her head overwhelmed her and she blacked out.

  Chapter Four

  Jarek and Soren looked up from the foal they had just helped to birth. Both felt the energy coming from the Portal. Someone was coming through. Someone not approved for travel to their dimension.

  Jarek glanced at Soren. “No one was scheduled for travel today. Do you think…” He let his voice trail off as the guards called out his name. Jarek jumped up, reached to pull Soren up and said, “Come on, I think our complement has arrived.”

  He knew that Soren was feeling the wrenching pull towards the Portal. Then he felt the most horrible pain in his head. Clutching his forehead, he noticed Soren doing the same.

  “Something is wrong with her, Jarek. She’s been injured. We must hurry!” Soren tugged on his hand, and both of them stumbled out of the stables into chaos.

  “My Lords, come quick! The guards say that a woman has come through the forbidden Portal and is hurt!”

  Jarek glanced at Marissa, one of the household servants. “Prepare the fire in our adjoining bedroom; make sure the bed is turned down.”

  Thankfully the pain had receded for the moment, and they were able to run the rest of the way to the Portal. The sight that greeted them caused their hearts to stutter.

  Their mate was lying on the ground. The guards had attempted to make her as comfortable as possible, but the bruises and cuts that covered her skin made it hard to know where they could touch her without causing more pain. They rushed over and sank to the ground on either side of her.

  “How did this happen? I’ve never seen anyone so beaten up traveling through the Portal before,” Soren asked quietly.

  “It’s because the doorway has been closed for so long. I was only able to open it sufficiently for her to travel through. But I didn’t think it would be so hard on her.”

  Soren reached over and caught his hand. “It’s not your fault, Jarek. We can heal her and take away this pain.” Shaking his head he continued, “Although where do we start?”

  “You must give her some of your blood. It will begin the healing and allow us to transport her to the mansion. I’m going to see if there are any internal injuries we have to heal first.”

  Brushing away some of her hair from her face, Jarek took himself out of his body and entered his mate’s body. Than
kfully no internal organs were damaged, but she did have several cracked ribs. Traveling up to her head, he was pleased to see that the concussion she had sustained had not done any damage. Withdrawing from her body he entered his own once more.

  “Well?”

  “She… we are lucky, mate. It’s mostly superficial; it just looks bad, and it will feel extremely painful if we don’t heal most of it before she awakens. I put her into a deeper sleep, so that we can move her. Although I do want to heal her cracked ribs before carrying her home. Give her your blood, Soren, and I can do that.”

  Soren cleared his throat before saying, “I thought you would provide her with blood.”

  Reaching over their mate, Jarek grasped Soren’s chin and said, “I converted you, love. Now it’s your turn to convert our mate. That way the circle will be complete.”

  Gasping in surprise, Soren covered his hand with his own. “Thank you. I know how much it is costing you to let me do this.” He looked down at their mate. “She’s beautiful, Jarek, and she hurts. I can feel it in my soul. Hurry, heal her and let us move her somewhere more comfortable.”

  The last of Jarek’s concerns faded when he saw the deep distress and need reflected in Soren’s face. He knew that he had made the correct decision to allow Soren the right to convert their complement, even though his soul called out in denial at not being the one to do it himself.

  Waiting until Soren cut the tip of one finger and slipped the bleeding point into their mate’s mouth, Jarek again left his body.

  He was exhausted but satisfied when he opened his eyes and saw that all that remained were a few bruises that would fade in a day or so.

  Soren still fed their mate with his healing blood. When he saw Jarek had returned to his body, he pulled his finger slowly from her mouth.

  The moan of pleasure she made was encouraging. It meant she would find no problem converting to life as a vampire, if she enjoyed the taste of their blood.

  Jarek glanced to his side as a pallet was brought closer to them by some of his men. They knew the importance of quiet when he was healing, but now it was time to take their mate somewhere much more comfortable.

  As he stood, Jarek swayed. Soren was at his side before he could blink. “You need blood, Jarek. Take some of mine.”

  “No, you will need to remain strong. Not only for our complement, but to help with closing the Portal once and for all.”

  “Let me, master,” said Jed, one of the lieutenants in the guard.

  Jarek gratefully took the proffered wrist and carefully bit into the vein. He drank slowly, but deeply. “Make sure he has something nourishing to eat and drink,” he said to one of the other guards who steadied Jed before leading him away.

  Glancing around, Jarek was pleased to see that while he had been feeding, his men had laid his mate on the pallet and were carefully carrying it towards the mansion.

  Soren glanced back at him from the side of their mate. “Well, come on.”

  Jarek shook his head in amusement.

  *

  Fallon groaned as she stretched her arms and legs. Forcing open her eyes, she was startled to find herself in a strange room. Not only that but two men were sitting beside her bed, eyes boring into hers.

  She thought they looked familiar, but she was positive she had never seen either of them before.

  They were gorgeous. That was the only word for them. One had long black hair… much darker than hers. His lovely green eyes were focused on her face, taking in her perusal, as though watching her lying in bed was a natural occurrence.

  The other male had shoulder-length dark ash blond hair. He too was watching her, with beautiful dark blue eyes. Both looked so muscular, not overly muscled, just… well, perfect!

  Fallon cleared her throat before saying, “Where am I? The last thing I remember was standing at the stone circle with my friend. Is Marina here too?”

  The blond man glanced at the dark-haired one before answering, “No, you came through the Portal on your own.”

  Fallon tried to sit up, but the residual effects of her journey through whatever it had been made her groan.

  “Lie still; you are still not completely healed.”

  Fallon bristled at being told what to do. It was her body. She didn’t need some man telling her whether she could sit up or not.

  Pushing herself up onto her elbows, Fallon glared into his peridot green gaze. She didn’t like his know-it-all attitude. Although she was finding out he was right. She was feeling lightheaded.

  Damn!

  The blond guy looked from one to the other before saying, “Please, my mate. Lie down; I can feel that you are not completely recovered. You were badly cut and bruised and needed extensive healing.”

  He stood up and came closer to her before laying his hand over her forehead and brushing some hair back from her face.

  “Who are you?” Goddess, his touch did things to her. She loved his features. His oval face with high cheekbones suited him. In fact both of them actually complemented the other. One so dark, the other fairer and not so large, but still well built.

  The dark male stood up and came around to the other side of her bed. Fallon followed his glide, because that’s how it looked — he didn’t walk; he glided.

  She was taken aback when he plumped up her pillows, and then helped the fairer one move her up the bed. They waited until she got herself comfortable before saying anything more.

  Fallon realized she was actually naked in the bed. Who had taken off her clothes, and why hadn’t they put something on her? She pulled the cover up to her neck. Her people, the Selkie, didn’t find anything wrong with nudity, but the way these men looked at her, the heat in their eyes… it was enough to make even her embarrassed about being naked.

  Grinning at her actions, the blond male said, “Don’t be embarrassed, my mate, we were the only ones to see you without your clothes on.”

  “Why do you call me your mate? I don’t even know you… or your names.” Fallon was getting irritated that they hadn’t introduced themselves.

  “My name is Soren, and this is Jarek.” As he introduced the dark-haired one, Jarek, he nodded to her, lips twitching.

  Fallon felt her teeth grind together. She just knew he was one of those dominating guys who she avoided like the plague. “Thank you for rescuing me; sorry I can’t remember what happened. It felt as though I was pulled into the stone I was in front of at Callanish. How far from there am I?”

  “You are in our home near the Portal, mate. But I am afraid you are nowhere near your stone circle,” Jarek said.

  Fallon nibbled her lower lip as she thought about his words. She was nowhere near her stones? What did he mean by that? And why was he calling her mate too?

  Chapter Five

  Jarek felt his body respond to his mate’s pull as he watched her bite her lower lip. He wanted to be the one to nibble on her! He loved how she demanded their names, but didn’t feel the need to tell them what her name was.

  She was perfect for them!

  “You know our names, mate. But you haven’t given yours to us in return,” said Jarek, watching the blush that appeared once more on her cheeks.

  “Oh! Sorry, my name is Fallon.” She paused before continuing, “What did you mean that I was nowhere near my stone circle?”

  Do you want to tell her, Soren, or shall I?

  Oh no, I’ll leave the explanation all up to you, mate. I don’t want to be the one who is on her bad side when she finds out!

  Thanks, love!

  Jarek could see Soren’s point of view. It wouldn’t do for her to be angry at both of them right now. He was quite prepared to be the “bad one” in her eyes. It would be good for Soren to be the one she turned to for now.

  But not for long… he couldn’t stand not being able to touch her. In fact… Jarek sat beside her on the bed and reached out for one small hand. He only got to feel that her skin was soft before she pulled it away from him. But he was pleased when he saw her rubbing
the part of her hand that he’d touched.

  “Fallon, you have traveled to an alternative dimension through what we call the Portal. Soren and I are the Guardians of this particular dimension.” Jarek paused to give her time to analyze and mull over what he had said. He wasn’t prepared for her reaction.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Fallon laughingly said. She continued to chuckle until tears came to her eyes and she had to hold her ribs. “Ouch, remind me not to laugh for a while.”

  “I am telling you the truth. The Portal, or stone that you touched in your world, transported you to our dimension here. Unfortunately the Portal that was used was one that had been sealed long ago as your world is unsuitable for our people.”

  Jarek knew he had her attention now. She glanced at Soren as though expecting him to laugh at a joke at her expense.

  “If what you say is true, how did I manage to come through it?”

  “Because I opened it for you.” Jarek waited for the inevitable reaction.

  “What the hell are you talking about? You opened it for me? You don’t know me, and I certainly don’t know either of you. How could you know that I would be near the stones at Callanish today? Well, come on, answer me? How?”

  Jarek spoke with a wry grin on his face. “I will if you stop asking more questions, mate.”

  Fallon looked over at Soren. “Is he always so irritating?”

  “Not all the time, but often, yes,” said a smirking Soren.

  I’ll get you for that later, mate!

  Soren just winked at him in response.

  “We didn’t know when you would come through, Fallon. I opened the doorway five days ago.”

  Fallon made a strangulated sound.

  “What’s wrong, my mate?” asked a concerned Soren.

  “Nothing, I’m all right. Just had a thought. Carry on with your explanation, Jarek.”

  “Once the doorway was open we just had to wait until you arrived.”

  “All right, but why did you know to open the doorway, in the first place?”