Summary – Hunter arrives in Widows Vale with his mentor Ciaran MacEwan. There he meets his half brother Cal and his girlfriend Morgan, whom he feels strangely drawn to, and is sucked into a cat and mouse game that has played between Ciaran and Selene Belltower for years and on top of it all he is reunited with his cousin Sky who is a Seeker for the International Council of Witches and has been hunting him down for years.

Disclaimer: These are all Cate Tiernans toys. They're just in my playground.

A/N: I know what you're all thinking... what lucky ducks you are, two chapters in 1 week! I'm afraid its because you may be waiting a while again for the next one with Christmas coming and everything else in between. So here's my Christmas gift to you all, chapter 4. Enjoy and please review

Today I made my initiation, on the same day as Killian. I was glad, Killian had become a good friend, he had become like a brother to me, it made me miss my true siblings sometimes but what I had now was so much better! Ciaran was so proud of us, although he showed me more attention than his own son. Killian noticed but he claimed not to care, he had never been close to his father. I wondered why. Killian is a strong witch and has a lot of potential to be great but instead he wastes it all away he just wants to have fun with it, and that's always been Killian's way. Ciaran probably doesn't approve but I didn't mind Killian could make his own choices, he was a good friend to me. I finally have access to my full powers, Killian and I have been practicing with witch messages and learned to conjure witch fire, I can't wait to really see what I can do now. Neither can Ciaran.

Giomanach

I had successfully managed to avoid Ciaran for the last 24 hours. He hadn't barged in on me or bothered me in that time either. Smart move, I figure he understood I needed space to think. But I couldn't concentrate on thinking about my messed up family ties, about the lies my father kept from me about the brother I never knew I had. My thoughts always kept flying right back to Morgan and I couldn't understand why. Nor could I still figure out why she was so incredibly familiar.

Sure, I found her unbelievably attractive, but why were my protective instincts going into overdrive. I couldn't allow Selene or Ciaran to harm her, nor did I even like the idea of corrupting her, it was partly the air of innocence surrounding her that made her so beautiful.

I couldn't get her out of my head. I would imagine how amazing Morgan and I would be together, how unstoppable we would be. But then I would remember that Morgan is with Cal. And how can I do that do the brother I've never known, the brother I'm trying to get to know? And then my betraying thoughts runs back over the conversation I had with Cal earlier that day, Cal said that he didn't think he was in love with her anyway. And so the loop perpetuates on in my head.

Unfortunately I had no more time to dwell on my confused feelings as it was now time for me to come out of hiding. Ciaran and I were heading out to Selene's for a Starlocket coven meeting. I didn't know how I was feeling about it. On the one hand I was excited that I was going to get to see Morgan again and I was unsure why I felt that way, all of my feelings surrounding that girl confused me, how could I feel so strongly about someone after one brief encounter with them? And then on the other hand I was about to be reunited with my cousin Sky. It was not going to be an easy reunion.

I zipped up my jacket and headed down the stairs where Ciaran was waiting for me by the front door. "Are you still ignoring me today, Giomanach?" he still had the audacity to look smug about it.

"No, Ciaran. I am not a child, but you kept things from me, things you should have told me years ago. I'm still angry with you," I responded

"Understandable," he nodded, "Ready to go?"

About fifteen minutes later we were pulling up outside Selene's house, my nerves were jittering all over, my heart was pounding and my palms were sweating. I wasn't sure what was affecting me most, the thought of seeing Morgan or the thought of seeing Sky.

"Would you calm yourself?" Ciaran ordered. He was right, I needed to get a grip. I normally had such good control of myself and this was not a good time to lose it, I would not do that in front of Selene Belltower. This was insane. Pull yourself together, Niall. "What is wrong with you?" he asked

"It's just… seeing Sky again after all this time. The idea of it is making me a little uncomfortable," It wasn't a lie, but wasn't a full truth either. Ciaran wouldn't know as long as there wasn't a lie in my answer, and as I expected he seemed to accept my answer.

As we headed to the house I looked around at all the other cars parked outside trying to spot Morgan's American tank. It wasn't here but I knew she was. I felt that tingling in my spine again, I'd never felt so highly strung in my life. I needed to cool it.

I followed Ciaran into Selene's circle room. A lot of people were already here mingling and talking excitedly. There was no sign of Cal or Morgan. Or Sky for that matter. "Ciaran," Selene breezed over and they kissed cheeks, I already expected to be ignored by her. She pulled him away as they talked in hushed tones.

The tingling in my spine increased, I turned and saw Cal and Morgan making their way down the stairs, her hand was securely in his and she was laughing at something he was telling her, I felt a wave of jealousy come over me. What was that about?

I turned back to the room, Selene was floating between guests playing the perfect hostess. If only these people knew. Ciaran was engrossed in a conversation with Alyce and another man. Still no Sky. I was half hoping she wouldn't show. I really didn't want the first time I see her again to be in front of all these people.

"Morgan, I'd like you to meet someone." I heard Cal's voice behind me, I felt his hand on my shoulder and I turned to see both Cal and Morgan stood before me.

"You," Morgan smiled at me with that beautiful smile of hers,

"And you," I replied

"You two have already met?" Cal asked, he looked more suspicious than surprised

"We ran into each other at Practical Magick yesterday," Morgan explained, "I was struggling to carry the books on the reading list Alyce gave me and he helped me get them to my car,"

"How did you fair getting them out?" I asked her

She laughed, "I could have used your help again," she admitted, "So, you're the long lost half brother who just showed up out of the blue,"

"I suppose I am,"

"Cal!" The three of us looked towards the voice, it was Selene waving him over,

"I'm being summoned," he rolled his eyes, "Excuse me," he planted a chaste kiss on Morgan's temple watching me with every move he made. He was marking his territory, he felt threatened by me. Had I given him reason? I thought I was keeping my feelings concealed pretty well.

"So what brings you into town?" Morgan asked, "First time in America?"

"No, actually I've been in America for about two years now, moving around from state to state. I must say being in upstate New York feels a lot like being back in England though, doesn't make me feel as homesick. I travel with my mentor, he's a good friend of Selene's we came by to visit."

"And I've never even been out of America. I'd love to go to England," she said wistfully

"Ah Morgan, there you are," the woman from the shop yesterday, Alyce came over. "Hello again dear," she said to me, "I'm Alyce Fernbrake," she introduced herself.

"Hunter Niall," I shook her warm hand.

"Morgan, how are you getting along with that reading list?" she asked

"I read through those sections on herb properties you marked out for me last night before I went to bed," she said, "I wish I had time to read more, I found it really interesting especially about the healing properties, but I had a ton of homework to get through,"

"Cal told me you only just learned of your heritage," I said, Morgan nodded, "You have a lot to catch up on then, while I'm in town I'll be happy to help in any way that I can. Maybe I can bring a different perspective to your learning to what Cal or Alyce can."

"That would be great," Morgan smiled, "I can use all the help I can get, are you staying in town for long?"

"At the minute I'm not sure, for at least the next month though. Let me give you my number, give me a call day or night if you need to talk about anything," we whipped out our phones and exchanged numbers.

"I feel like I'm always thanking you," Morgan looked up at me and smiled, "But thank you, I really appreciate it,"

"Truthfully, when Cal told me your story I wanted to help in any way I could. Finding out you're adopted and that you're a witch on top of that must have been really rough on you and your family." She agreed, "And then coming into this world and realizing how far behind you are and struggling to keep up, keep your catholic family happy and keep on top of your school work all at the same time. You're a strong person Morgan, but you don't need to go through it alone, and I know you're not alone in the slightest you have a lot of people who love you and want to help and I'm glad you would like me to be one of those people," Did I just imply that I loved her?

"I'll call you sometime," Morgan said cautiously, she hadn't missed the implication either, "I have to go find Cal, I'll see you later Hunter. Bye Alyce,"

"Good bye, dear," she replied. I felt uncomfortable under Alyce's gaze. She was looking at me as if she was trying to work something out yet at the same time as if she knew something I didn't.

"What?" I snapped, I realize that was incredibly rude of me but she didn't seem offended

"We'll see," she said cryptically, "We shall see how it all plays out." She leaned into my ear "and I'm rooting for you by the way," she whispered

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"I don't trust Cal," she said in a low voice, "he's a troubled young man, he's no good for Morgan. Would you do me a favour?" she asked, "Would you watch out for her Hunter?"

"You don't know me," I was the last person she should be asking, why did this woman seem to trust me over Cal with Morgan after only spending a few minutes in my presence? Did she have no idea who I was here with? "What makes you think you can trust me?"

"I don't need to know you, and I don't trust you, far from it, Hunter Niall. I just know that you'll do anything to protect her. I saw it written all over your face. I'm relying on that for you to do the right thing when it counts." She took my hands in hers, "And I'm begging you not to let any harm come to her, she will need all the help and protection she can get." I pulled my hands out from hers, she saw right through me. "You may think you're on the right path now but you're not, but that girl will lead you to it I promise you. She'll also help you see the truth"

"The truth about what?" I asked

"About your parents."

This woman was walking a very dangerous ground, "Who the hell are you?" my voice was low, menacing. I hardly recognized it myself.

"I'm a friend as long as you'll let me Hunter, I told you already I don't trust you, but I'm trusting you to make the right choices, especially when it comes to Morgan. Don't let me down."

We stared each other down for a moment, but then a head of blonde hair passed behind Alyce and even though many years had passed, I recognized my cousin Athar instantly. Sky was here.