Relic (The Brethren Series) by Deena Remiel Read Free Book Online

comments had thrown him for a loop, and fluttering butterflies busied themselves in his stomach. He took out the photo and examined her face for the millionth time. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t memorized every detail of it already. But she knew my name . And something tugged at the deep recesses of his mind. She’d mistakenly called herself Sirona instead of Serena; an easy thing to do under the circumstances. I certainly don’t know any Sirona. Something niggled in his heart, just out of reach . And as for the Celtic words, well, maybe she’s a student of ancient languages. One never knew out here where a person’s interests lay . And yet….
    His head hurt. It was only ten in the morning, and he needed a beer.

 
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    It’d been a week since Raphael put Serena in the hands of people who could really heal her. Besides having an insatiable curiosity, he also had an onerous task to do. He needed to tell her about her brother and be done with it.
    The hospital staff had been very kind to give him daily updates on her status, something they normally wouldn’t do. But because he used his persuasive Brethren abilities on the staff, they extended the courtesy. After being in critical condition with an assortment of internal injuries, fractured ribs, and a concussion, she was now upgraded to stable. In the beginning, she’d had no shortage of visitors, he’d been told, with friends coming round at all hours, but that had dropped off sharply.
    He decided to drive back to the hospital before visiting hours were over for the day, with all intentions of telling her the news and saying his farewells. When he saw her, his intentions flew right out the window.
    Serena lay asleep in her hospital bed, a small, seemingly fragile wisp of a woman. The way the setting sun cast a glow about her face, she looked enchanting and more like a delicate flower. He could almost smell the sweet scent of a Lily of the Valley in the air. He shook himself free of his musings as he moved into her room and quietly took a seat next to her.
    Glancing around the room, he discovered the sweet-smelling culprit that had captivated him—a small bottle of perfume. Returning to gaze upon his enchantress, he found the bruising along her jaw line much more pronounced since he’d first come upon her. Raphael felt a cold, steel anger well within. His eyes trailed down to her slender arm outfitted with an IV, and to all the machines with their bells and beeps.
    “I’m sorry, Serena,” he whispered. “You wouldn’t have needed all of this if I could’ve done my job properly.” He bristled in frustration and leaned his head against his arms resting on the bedrail. He noticed her stirring in her sleep. She seemed agitated, and surprised him by blindly reaching out to grab hold of his hand.
    “Mmm…I cannot die. I am immortal. An feidir le heinne cuidiu liom ? Can anyone help me? Graim thu , Raphael, anam chara . I love you, my soul mate.” Serena whimpered and fell silent once again.
    The chair screeched across the floor as Raphael sprung out of it like a Jack-in-the-box. Her hand stayed firmly gripped around his, and a flood of memories, well-hidden for centuries, came crashing through unbidden. Sirona, Goddess of Healing, the love of his immortal life, his wife, smiled at him as they walked in the mountains. She bathed him in the hot roman baths. She made love with him under the stars. She was lifeless in his arms as he carried her to her temple. He was asking E.L. to wipe his memory clean of all remembrances of her and to harden his heart. Raphael wrenched his hand away from Serena’s tight grasp, involuntarily backing up to the door. He clutched his chest over his racing heart, now filled with centuries of unresolved anguish, his mind filled with too many questions.
    Serena’s eyes fluttered open. Raphael’s face must have had a look of utter horror on it, because she raised her hand to her face shielding the bruise. “It looks