Current Impressions by Kelly Risser Read Free Book Online

his. “Clearly, you enjoy it.”
    Face burning, I stomped away from him.
    “Meara?”
    I stopped and spun back. “Yes?” I bit
out.
    He tilted his head to the side. “Ronac is
this way.”
    I seethed as I walked back to him. He held
out his hand. “Shall we?”
    I could refuse and walk back, or I could
take his hand and transport like I did with my dad on my first day
here. I couldn’t do it on my own yet. I didn’t know how. My muscles
ached now that the adrenaline wore off. With a sigh, I placed my
hand in his.
    ****
    “Fraternizing with the enemy?”
    Brigid stood at the entrance to the fortress
with her arms crossed. She’d changed out of the velvet dress to
fitted, leather pants and a blood-red blouse that billowed like
silk. Something seemed different. I realized it was the first time
I’d seen her in pants. She looked beautiful. And dangerous.
    I dropped Kieran’s hand and stepped
back.
    “Hardly an enemy.” Kieran’s voice was calm.
“David invited me.”
    “Did he?” She slinked forward and wrapped
her arm around his. Her lips curled up, but it was more sneer than
smile. “Let’s just see about that.”
    She flipped her hair and peered back over
her shoulder at me. “I trust you can find your way from here,
niece?”
    As I watched them walk away, I couldn’t
decide if I wanted to laugh or weep, smile or scream. The day
wasn’t even half done yet. I thought about finding Ula. She was
pretty upset. Would she want to see me? She looked so hurt before
she left.
    In the end, I decided to retreat. My room
sounded like the perfect place to be.

 

    There was a knock at my door, followed by a
polite, “May I come in?”
    The voice was deep, masculine. I didn’t
recognize it. I rubbed my eyes and glanced around the dimly lit
room. Had I fallen asleep? The sun was about to set. I must have
napped for a few hours at least.
    The knock was slightly louder. “Meara?”
    Clearing my throat, I called out, “Come
in.”
    A man with wavy, dark blond hair shouldered
the door opened. I realized his hands were full, holding a tray of
covered dishes. I bounced up and held the door back.
    “Sorry,” I said. “Had I known your hands
were full, I would have opened the door for you.”
    “No worries.” He set the tray on the chest
at the end of the bed and turned to me with a smile. Something
about his face looked familiar…
    “I’m your uncle, Padraic.” He offered me his
hand. “You can call me Paddy, if you like.”
    “Nice to meet you.” I studied him as I shook
his hand. His coloring was completely different from my dad’s, just
as Ula’s was different from Brigid. It made me wonder what my other
uncles looked like. Uncle Ren was visiting, so I’d probably meet
him, but I wasn’t likely to meet the remaining two any time soon.
Ula told me that they’d married into other clans and moved
away.
    He gestured to the tray. “I thought you’d be
hungry. You missed lunch and dinner.”
    I smiled sheepishly. “I guess I was a little
tired.”
    He didn’t seem like he was in a hurry to
leave, so I asked, “Would you like to have a seat?”
    “Don’t mind if I do.” He positioned the
pillows against the headboard and flopped down on my bed,
stretching out his long legs. For some reason, he made me want to
laugh. Once again, he gestured to the tray. “Go ahead and eat
before it gets cold.”
    I perched on the end of the bed. Crossing my
legs underneath me, I reached for the tray and rested it in my lap.
The smell had my mouth watering. Before I lifted the lid, I
knew.
    “Scallops!” I cried happily. They were Dad’s
favorite dish and quickly becoming one of mine, too. When I popped
a scallop in my mouth, it melted like butter. I closed my eyes and
hummed in pleasure.
    “You’re a fantastic cook,” I said when I
reopened my eyes.
    Paddy blushed and ducked his head. “I’m glad
you enjoy it.”
    “Could you teach me?” I asked and
immediately regretted it. I was probably unteachable. Who