Stone of Destiny (The Danaan Trilogy) by Laura Howard

use her own child as bait to lure you back to her?”
    “Oh, I see. You might be right, Allison,” Liam said.
    Niamh didn’t say anything, she just stood still. I wondered what she made of this.
    Without meeting my eyes she said, “I think you’re right. That sounds just like what Aoife would do.”
    “So, what did she say to you while you were together?” I asked Samantha.
    “Well, at first she asked a lot of questions about my… abilities,” Samantha said, toying with one of the rings on her finger. She looked up and met my eyes. “She wanted to know about the voices I hear.”
    Before she could continue, Ciarán stood up. “There’s something you should know,” he said in a low voice. “I don’t think Aoife came looking for Sam.”
    Samantha looked up at Ciarán, pursing her lips.
    “Why don’t you think so?” I said.
    “Aoife showed up at the house, troubled about something. She wouldn’t tell us what happened, but she had this hunted look, like someone was after her. The next day, Sam showed up and Aoife knew instantly who she was.”
    “How is it possible that of all the people in the world, you end up with Aoife’s daughter?” I asked Ciarán, skeptical that it was merely a coincidence.
    “Nobody is more surprised by that than I am,” Ciarán said.
    “Ciarán and I met almost a year ago,” Samantha said, cutting him off. “I used to go and watch him and the guys play. I didn’t know anything about the Tuatha de Danaan or magic. I just loved their music.”
    “We had a band, Finn, Seamus, me and Aengus,” Ciarán said. “I didn’t even know she was Aoife’s daughter until a few weeks ago. I knew she had Danaan blood, though. It was what drew me to her.”
    Samantha rolled her eyes.
    “But you’re Aoife’s guard. Why should we trust you?”
    It’s the truth, Allison. Niamh told me in my thoughts. She raised her hand to Ciarán, signaling him to wait.
    “Okay, so then what?” I said.
    “She was making preparations for something. She refused to tell us what she was up to, though,” Ciarán said, looking away.
    “That’s why I wanted to come here,” Samantha said, a pinched look on her face. “I think she’s going to do something to you, Liam.”
    Liam laughed grimly. “Not that I’m surprised, but what makes you say that?”
    “I overheard her talking on the phone about going to Ireland and a binding. I didn’t understand all she was saying, but I’m pretty sure I heard your name. ”
    “Binding?” I said, making a face, but nobody responded.
    Niamh started to pace the length of the living room. Her eyes were unfocused and I wasn’t sure if she was reading someone’s thoughts or just trying to sort out everything they’d told us.
    Moonlight coming in through the windows illuminated Liam’s pale face. He stared at the floor, his fingers twisted into his hair.
    “Are we talking about binding as in tying someone up?” I had a feeling it was much more than that, but I had to ask.
    Niamh stopped pacing and gave me a bland look. “No. Binding in this case would be a form of old magic. It can be used for good, for protection and so on. But I have a feeling that’s not what Aoife is up to.”
    “And what are the ‘not so good’ things it can be used for?” I asked, my voice small.
    “Well,” Niamh said, glancing at Liam. “It can also be used to seal someone’s fate.”
    I swallowed, understanding setting in. “But Liam would have to be with her for that to happen, right?”
    Liam and Niamh were both quiet for a second. Liam cleared his throat and met my eyes. “Not necessarily. She has my blood, that’s enough to perform a binding.”
    I looked around the room and jumped up. “No. That can’t happen. My mother needs you.”
    Ethan stood beside me, placing a hand on my arm. The warmth of his skin grounded me and I took a breath, trying to calm down.
    Liam tilted his head to the side and blinked. “I’m not giving up, if that’s what you think.”
    I