Read Online Emerald Isle by Barbra Annino - Free Book Online Page A

shivers through to my core. I heard chirpy voices oohing and ahhing from somewhere off in the distance and felt the strength of a thousand warriors surge through my essence.
    It was the most exhilarating experience of my life, and I made a mental note to find out exactly what type of drug I had been slipped.
    The raven-haired woman released my sword, stepped back, and studied me for another moment. “Well? Anything?”
    I racked my brain.
Think, Stacy.
Who was she?
    A twittering came from the top of the tree that was holding me, and the woman shifted her stance and cocked her head, listening.
    She turned back to me, crossed her arms, and arched one glossy eyebrow, questioning.
    I shrugged. “I got nothing.” She looked disappointed, so I added, “Sorry. Maybe if you gave me a hint.”
    Just then, the trees along the pathway uncurled themselves one by one, and a wave of amber light flooded the cage, blinding me.
    I heard squeaky whispers of “she comes” and “the queen,” and I knew this situation was going to get a lot worse before it got better.
    When the blaze of light subsided, I opened my eyes. Two things immediately struck me. The first was the sight of Thor rolling around in a patch of grass, fireflies flickering all around him. The second was the staff of the woman standing before me.
    I rubbed my head where she’d bonked me. “Ouch. What was that for?”
    Her hair was a mass of flaming red waves, swept away from her face by a jeweled headpiece. Her eyes were a shade of sapphire sprinkled with specks of bronze that matched her draping gown.
    She said to me, “That was for being incorrigible.” She turned to the black-haired woman and said, “For all that is sacred, Badb, let her out. Honestly.” She shook her head and walked over to a golden throne carved with lion’s-head feet.
    “Just having a little fun, Danu,” the dark woman said.
    Badb? The warrior goddess I had called on to charge my sword?
    Danu? The mother goddess of the Tuatha?
    This couldn’t be real. This couldn’t even be a hallucination.
    Holy nutfugget
, I thought.
I must be in a coma and Birdie’s reading to me from the Blessed Book.
    That was the only logical explanation.

Chapter 10

    Birdie stared at the still body of the Amethyst chief of police. “Was that necessary?”
    “Absolutely.” Fiona circled around to Leo’s head, bent down, and secured a grip on his torso. “Grab his feet.”
    Birdie sighed and walked over to Leo. She stooped to lift his ankles.
    Fiona explained. “Did you hear what he said? We don’t have time for you to get wrapped up in red tape. Besides, we could use him.” She pointed her chin toward Leo. “On three. One, two, three.”
    The two women lifted the police officer. Fiona’s face reddened with the strain, and she grunted.
    “He’s heavier than he looks,” Birdie said, gasping for breath.
    They were inches from the settee when they heard a young man say, “Mrs. Geraghty?”
    Both women dropped their cargo.
    “The rug!” Birdie said.
    Fiona ran to the edge of the antique wool rug and flipped it up and over Leo, kicking it snug.
    It was Derek, Stacy’s business partner, who was calling to them. “Excuse me, ladies, but your sister”—Derek looked nervously over his shoulder—“seems to be having some sort of episode. She’s slow-dancing with Stacy’s boyfriend and calling him Jack. We didn’t think much of it when she took her shoes off, but she lost the dress about five minutes ago. All that’s left is a pair of knickers and a sports bra.”
    “Thank you, Derek. We’ll be right out,” Birdie said.
    The sisters smiled at Derek. He tossed them an odd look and walked out of the room toward the kitchen, mumbling under his breath.
    “Lock that door,” Birdie said.
    Fiona produced a key from her pocket and hurried to the door that divided the house, locking it.
    When Fiona turned around, Birdie asked, “What do you mean we could use him?” She thumbed over her shoulder to