J ack, if what you say is true, we'd know about it."
Margaret Mac Ruaidhri was in the kitchen making
dinner. While her husband sat at the kitchen table, a
bottle of cheap whiskey and a half filled glass on the
table in front of him. "There has been no liaison
between Aiden and any other Wahjee, something like
that would be hard to keep quiet."
"I'm telling you, I felt it." Jack glared at his wife.
"It was the same feeling I had when Mary's kids were
born. Though I have to admit I don't feel anything
now. But for a few hours, maybe two, I knew there
was another of the Mac Ruaidhri clan in the world."
"Do you think you should be drinking?" she
asked to change the subject. He was one of the few
Wahjee who suffered from the affects of alcohol. She
hoped Aiden hadn't inherited his father's trouble with
human substance abuses. She wasn't sure what Aiden
was up to, but whatever it was, he didn't need his
father's interference. Jack had done enough damage to
the boy when he was growing up.
160 Magical Moonlight
"What the fuck does it matter if I drink? I'm dead
either way." Jack shrugged before swallowing the
contents of the glass and pouring more. "You'd think
with all the Wahjee's abilities, they'd have come up
with a cure for this evil disease. He was referring to
the cancer that ran rampant through his body.
Margaret sniffed and turned back to the stove
where she stirred the pot of stew she was making. Jack
had, as usual, conveniently forgotten the fact that you
get back three times as much evil as you put out. His
cancer was just retribution, as it was the Wahjee way
to make sure evil was repaid. Not that he'd admit
anything. He was too stubborn or too stupid to do that.
"Mary and the children will be here for dinner, put
that drink away."
"I'll drink what I want and when I want in my
own house, woman." He grumbled. "I want you to
find out what your son is up to and why I felt the
presence of another Mac Ruaidhri. He won't talk to
me."
"And you think he's going to suddenly have a
change of heart and talk to me?" her voice was filled
with scorn at the idea. "Aiden is no fool. He lives by
his own set of rules. No doubt you were drunk the
night you had the feelings of another Mac Ruaidhri
being born. Even the high council has no knowledge
of such a birth. I know you've checked."
"They wouldn't tell me shit if their mouths were
full of it." Jack pushed back his chair with a screech of
wood on linoleum. "I'm going to the garage."
ER Bryant 161
"Fine, go to the garage. Maybe you should stay
there while Mary and the children visit. They don't
need to hear your drunken ramblings about our son."
"Our son?" Jack spit on the floor. "I fucking wish
he was never born. It's because of him the high
council won't allow me the use of magic."
"You did that yourself, Aiden had nothing to do
with it. You abused the privilege of magic and you
know it."
He looked at her slyly. "I will have my power
back sooner than you think, old woman." His laughter
was evil, sending chills to all who heard it, as he
stalked to the dark garage, a place where he liked to
hang out in and meet with the few friends he still had.
Jack chuckled to himself as he thought of the plans he
and Zane Chambers were making. Zane was powerful,
he'd restore Jack's power and together they'd show
his good for nothing son just who was the power
behind the Mac Ruaidhri clan. The moment Aiden had
been born, the balance of power had shifted, though it
had taken Jack almost ten years to realize this.
Goodness had been born of evil, creating a force more
powerful than any evil power Jack could summon. It
hadn't sat well with Jack at the time and it still didn't.
He constantly looked for any way he could to reduce
Aiden's status in the eyes of high council. So far he'd
been able to discover nothing and it pissed him off.
Margaret watched him disappear through the
door. She waited for a few minutes to make sure he
was genuinely gone before she allowed herself to
relax. He needn't worry about her shedding a tear
162 Magical Moonlight
when he finally succumbed to the cancer that was
eating away at his insides. She too had felt it when
Aiden's son had been born. That it was a son, a
grandson, was something she wasn't prepared to ever
reveal to the man she'd been forced to marry. Or the
fact that Shay was Zyndaix. And how that son had
been made to disappear from Wahjee watchers, that in
itself had told her someone powerful was watching
over him. For she knew her grandson lived, she knew
that deep inside of her. She sent a silent prayer to the
powers that be, that her son Aiden and his son would
continue to be under the care of the person who loved
them both. Adding as she always did, that she hoped
someday to meet her grandson and the person Aiden
loved. And that her son would forgive her for his
childhood and understand that she'd done her best to
keep him alive until he'd reached the maturity of his
powers and was able to fend for himself. It hadn't
been easy, but she knew it had been worth it.
Across town, Aiden and Liam were sitting on the
sofa in the loft staring at Shay who was sitting
precariously on the floor surrounded by pillows. "He
looks like he's going to fall over any minute." Aiden
whispered, as if somehow speaking out loud would
knock the boy backwards.
"He just needs to get his sense of balance." Liam
assured him. "It says in the book that he should be
able to sit on his own at five months. That doesn't
mean the moment he turns five months old he can
immediately do it." Liam wiggled his fingers at Shay
who smiled at him and gurgled.
ER Bryant 163
"But he's my kid, I'm sure I could sit up by
myself at his age." Aiden leaned forward, prepared to
catch the baby should he fall.
"How would you know?" Liam giggled. "No one
can remember what they were up to at that age."
"No one wants to. I mean all the kid does is eat,
sleep and poop." He stuck his tongue out at Shay who
blew bubbles back at him.
"He does more than that." Liam laughed. "Don't
you Shay?"
"Da." Shay answered.
"Did you hear that? He said Da." Aiden crowed.
"I heard." Liam smiled at Aiden, lightly punching
Aiden on the arm. "I wish I could have let him keep
his powers. It would have been great to see how he'd
develop them at this age."
"It would have been too dangerous for him."
Aiden's face was unreadable. "When I think of what
could happen to him, I'm sorry I agreed to Vanessa's
demands. But when he's here, in this apartment, I
can't imagine my life without him. How fucked is
that?"
"Fuck" Shay looked at Aiden; the green in his
eyes clearly showing the fact that he was a Wahjee
child and one with considerable inborn power.
"The kid has a round ass and can't sit up without
pillows, but he can repeat words?" Aiden snorted. "It
figures my kid would have to be different."
"Shay, you have to listen to me." Liam was on his
knees in front of the baby. "You can't say things or do
164 Magical Moonlight
things like that anywhere else but at your daddy's
house. It has to be a rule."
"K" Shay grinned, pushed himself forward until
he lay on his belly. "Da." He reached for Aiden's foot.
Aiden looked up at Liam as he picked up his son.
"This can't be a good thing can it?" he asked Liam.
"Why is the kid talking?"
"Probably because he can." Liam shrugged. "I
know I could at his age. I just didn't do it around
people. He probably trusts us. Don't worry; the
penetration spell around the apartment building is
pretty strong. Anything he does here won't be
monitored by anyone. I've made sure of it."
Aiden didn't say anything. He knew Liam had
done his best, just as he had reinforced the spell so
that Shay was always protected no matter where he
was, the apartment or at home. It was one thing to not
to actively practice his craft, yet another to put his son
in danger just for a principle that really meant nothing
to anyone other than himself. "Hey there Shay." He
kissed the boy on his nose. "He's one smart kid." He
said to Liam. "Takes after his daddy."
"That he does." Liam stood up. "I should go. I
have homework to do and I was going to Dakota's to
work with her."
"It's leather night at The Odyssey, I was hoping
you could watch Shay for an hour or so."
"Like you'd be only gone an hour." Liam snorted.
"Isn't leather night kind of not your thing?"
"Everything is my thing" Aiden laughed. "I really
won't be long. I thought I'd stay for a couple of
ER Bryant 165
drinks. It's always fun to watch Bob parade around
bare ass in leather."
"Ewww, a visual I didn't need." Liam pretended
to shudder. "No problem. Shay and I'll get along just
fine." He went up on his toes to reach Aiden's cheek
and kissed him. "We'll order in pizza and beer. Isn't
that right Shay?"
The baby laughed out loud and waved his hands.
He reached for Liam who took him from Aiden's
arms. "Li." The baby gurgled. "Da, Li"
"Come on big boy, we're going to give you a bath
and get you ready for bed while your daddy gets all
beautiful for the men at The Odyssey." Pretending not
to see Aiden flush with pleasure at the compliment,
Liam and Shay headed for the bathroom. To make
extra sure that Aiden would notice what he was
missing, the red head pulled off his tee shirt before
starting the bath. He made sure his skin was rosy
under green-eyed scrutiny.
Shay clapped with pleasure as he was lowered
into warm bubbles.
"He can't even sit up and you're putting him in
the tub?" Aiden couldn't help commenting.
"He isn't alone. I'm here. I won't let him go.
That's why my shirt is off. Shay tends to splash a lot
in his bath."
"You've bathed him before?"
"One of my favorite things is naked and wet Mac
Ruaidhri men." Liam giggled at the look on his lover's
face. "I've bathed him lots of times. Who do you think
the girls get to babysit."
166 Magical Moonlight
"I never thought of it. I've actually never thought
about them ever leaving him alone."
"They never do. But they wanted to do work out
in the yard and he's a bit too little to help. As he
expertly washed the baby, Liam missed the smile of
recognition and giggle Shay gave at the arrival of a
certain turquoise cat. The cat smiled at the baby,
looked around to assure himself that all was well,
before popping away.
"Look, maybe I should stay home." Aiden began.
"No, go out and play with your little friends.
We're fine here." Liam grinned and then popped
Aiden to an alley near the Odyssey.
Aiden had been gone an hour. Liam and Shay had
both eaten and were now sitting on the sofa together,
the baby nestled in Liam's arms, but sitting up, both of
them watching television. The room became darker
than usual, a green mist swirled around behind Liam,
but he didn't notice, as he was caught up in the movie
on television.
Shay could feel something wrong. He wiggled to
catch Liam's attention. But Liam only kissed him on
the forehead and continued to watch the television. He
hated that Liam and his daddy had put restrictions on
what he could do. Didn't they know he had to protect
the two of them? They thought they were in charge,
but they weren't. So many things were happening in
the world that he knew about but they didn't. He
didn't like being so young. He couldn't speak properly
and had no control over much of anything he wanted
to do.
ER Bryant 167
Green mist began to climb the walls. Shay knew
it was something sent by someone who meant his
daddy harm. He was sure of it. He turned in Liam's
arms, moving so that he was facing the back of the
sofa. Liam pulled him up on his feet and let him hang
on as if standing on his own. That's all he needed to
mutter a few words in the ancient tongue that
effectively banished the evil green mist.
"Shay, were you talking old Wahjee?" Liam
asked, turning the baby to face him. "I'm pretty sure
you aren't supposed to do that."
Grinning at Liam and using all the charm
inherited from his father, Shay tried his best to look
cute and make Liam forget what he'd heard. It helped
that the buzzer sounded on the intercom.
Liam jumped, not expecting anyone. He stood up
taking Shay with him. "Mac Ruaidhri residence." He
said into the speaker.
"Where's my Boyo?" a drunken man slurred into
the speaker. "Let me in."
"Sorry, Aiden isn't home." Liam answered. There
was something about Jack Mac Ruaidhri's voice that
told him not to let him in even if the man managed to
get up to the loft.
"Who are you?" Jack asked.
"No one." Liam said into the intercom before
walking away, ignoring the buzzer that bleated over
and over again.
He turned the television up loud, but still the
buzzer could be heard. Liam sighed; he hated using
magic in Aiden's loft. The man always knew when he
168 Magical Moonlight
did it. Just as he was about to zap the buzzer and
silence it, the damn thing exploded into dozens of
pieces. Shay laughed with glee, his one hand out
pointing to the intercom unit that used to sit on the
wall by the door. "Bang." He giggled. "Gone."
"Shit Shay, I can't believe you did that." Liam's
eyes were big. "I thought I had all this magic stuff
covered as far as you were concerned.
"Bad man." Shay said, laying his head on Liam's
shoulder. "Da?"
"Your daddy is out playing. He'll be back soon."
Liam assured the baby. He was unnerved by the
combination of Aiden's father demanding to see his
son and Shay's abilities that forced themselves out
despite his strongest spell to keep them under wraps. It
was as if he'd done nothing, but he knew he had.
"Shay you are an interesting baby. You have to
stop doing these things though. It'll freak your
mommies out. They're human you know and you are
Wahjee through and through." He carried the baby up
to the bathroom to wash him and change him for the
night. Soon the baby was clean and dressed in
midnight blue footed sleepers. The Calvin Klein logo
was on the chest. Liam couldn't help but grin at
Aiden's need to dress his son in designer clothing. He
carried him back to the kitchen while he heated up a
bottle. Turning the lights on low, as well as the
fireplace., Liam settled on the rocking chair to give
Shay his last bottle of the night. He set a few of his
twinkling electric sparks to dance for the baby to the
lullaby he hummed. It was quiet and peaceful, too nice
ER Bryant 169
to think of anything mean or evil that might be outside
the loft wanting to get in and do either of them harm.
The baby had finished his bottle and Liam had
him with his head resting on his shoulder as he rubbed
his back to make sure any air bubbles cleared. When
the apartment door opened, and Aiden walked
through, his father stumbled in after. "Ten minutes old
man, that's all you're getting out of me." Aiden said.
When he'd felt his son and Liam were in danger, he'd
immediately popped back from the Odyssey. It was
the truth, but he'd also felt that he shouldn't leave his
family tonight, now he knew why.
Liam could tell Aiden was tense and so could
Shay. The baby had been close to sleep when the door
opened. Liam felt him tense up when Jack Mac
Ruaidhri's presence was felt by both of them.
Not sure what he should do, Liam mumbled a
quick invisibility spell. He knew that Aiden's father
shouldn't see Shay, he'd know as Liam had known,
that Shay was Zyndaix.
Jack Mac Ruaidhri stepped into the loft. "Not a
bad place you have here Boyo." He said gazing
around. "You live here alone?"
"No, I have someone living with me." Aiden
found two bottles of water in the fridge and handed
one to his father.
"Don't you have something better than that to
give to your old man?" Jack asked looked at the water
as if it were poison.
170 Magical Moonlight
"No." Aiden opened his bottle and took a drink.
"Now what the fuck did you want to say to me that
you had to come here in the middle of the night?"
"Where's your room mate, he answered the
intercom?" Jack was walking around peering into
corners.
"No doubt he's asleep." Aiden said pleased that
Liam had hidden himself as well as Shay. He saw the
rocking chair move slightly and he knew where they
were. It was time to get his father away from the
fireplace. "You've got five minutes left before I throw
your ass out the door."
"I've got cancer." Jack blurted out. "I'm dying."
"What do you want from me, applause?" Aiden
turned away. He turned back having made a decision,
"I'm gay and we're all dying sooner or later."
"You're a fucking faggot and I'm the one dying?"
his father spat out. "This isn't how I planned my life.
You were never supposed to have been born for fuck
sake."
On the rafters above a turquoise stuffed cat glared
down with red eyes. Below Aiden could see the spot
where Liam and Shay were beginning to glow red. He
knew his young lover was pissed and might even
reveal that he was there. "That's it dad, you had your
chance. Get out of my fucking home." He took Jack
by the arm and pushed him through the door. "I'm
sure my mother will let me know when you're gone."
He said as he slammed the door and locked it. He put
a protection spell on the lock just in case. Aiden
ER Bryant 171
leaned his forehead on the cold metal of the door
while he tried to gather himself together.
Liam and the baby watched from their place by
the fire. He wanted to run over to Aiden, but he knew
that he had to give the man a few minutes. He dimmed
the lights again that Aiden had turned on and began to
sing the lullaby he'd been singing to Shay earlier. His
voice clear, the notes true, with just a hint of calming
magic in them, barely perceptible but still there. He
projected his voice so that Aiden was included in the
lullaby, making up the words as he sang. His eyes
trained on Aiden, his arms full of baby, Liam watched
as he sang. First Shay relaxed under the combination
of music and love, and then Aiden too began to relax,
he could tell by the set of his shoulders.
Seamus, lulled into sleep, his belly full, his daddy
close, was content for now and he nestled into Liam's
arms. Liam stood up and placed the baby in a crib that
had appeared earlier in the night. Aiden's bed was
large, but the red head knew the man wouldn't sleep
properly with Shay between them. When he was sure
the baby was safely settled, he walked over to Aiden.
"Hey." He said quietly, knowing Aiden had
watched him with the baby. Without waiting for
Aiden to answer, Liam took his hand and led him to
the bedroom.
"Thanks for keeping Shay from him." Aiden
shuddered. "He did his damndest to ruin my life, I
don't want him touching my son in any way." Slowly
he removed his c