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: Hi guys, back again. Still working hard to churn the rest of this story out for you as and when my son and my job will allow it. Hopefully it won't take much longer now. Thank you so much for the reviews. I love reading your feedback. Anyway here's the next chapter, please leave me more lovely words to encourage me to finish this story faster ;-)

Everything is now within my grasp. My plan is coming to fruition, when Ciaran learns the truth he will be torn in two, the coven will no longer trust in his leadership and Amyranth will be mine before this week is out and finally I win, no more will I have to play nice with Ciaran or have to bow down to him. I will own him.

- SB

When I came to, I was dazed and confused, my vision was blurred and I tried to look around to work out where I was but I couldn't move an inch. Dread set in again and I tried with everything I had to move something, anything. Blink, wiggle a toe. Nothing.

I tried calling on some Magick but I couldn't connect to it, I couldn't even feel it.

The Taibhs within was going mad like a wild animal caught in a cage, I could feel its fury.

As my vision cleared I noticed that I was still in the library slumped awkwardly against the stacks. I couldn't see anyone else around except a lone witch stood guarding the door. I wondered if Killian was still here but then I noticed a second pair of feet next to my own, I recognized Killian's sneakers. Not being able to move, I couldn't see the rest of him but judging by my awkward position we were propped up against each other.

I tried to think. They have Morgan, I needed to break free of these binds and save her somehow.

Sky will come eventually if I don't contact her soon, that is if she hasn't already come.

I was unsure how much time had passed, even my usually accurate judge of time had deserted me in my hour of need, but if she were to come and take this coven on solo it will end up with either her death or her lined up next to me and Killian, but I knew it was likely to be the former option.

I could make out some movement by the door, "I have a message to deliver to the prisoners from Ciaran," a voice commanded, I recognized Selene's voice instantly, it sent shivers down my spine.

I saw the witch step aside to let her in and Selene stalked towards us, she crouched at our feet so that we could see her face in all its smug glory.

"I win," she purred softly so the witch guarding was unable to hear.

She wasn't just talking about me and Killian being bound like this, that was obvious, she was talking about her Cat and Mouse game with Ciaran. What has she done? What does she know?

"Pretty soon, you'll both be dead, the favourite son and the apprentice. Oh yes, even you, Killian."

She's bluffing, Ciaran may not really care what happens to me, judging from what he told me this evening that much is clear. But Killian? As much as he's a pain in Ciaran's ass, he's still his son and would not see him dead, he doesn't see Killian as a threat. Unless he thinks that Killian is now working against him, he has him bound here next to me after all. But would he really as far as to kill his own son?

"When Ciaran learns the truth, he will be too... distracted to notice me put an end to the two of you, and then he has lost everything, his most powerful assets and I win"

What truth? I wondered

"Oh I can see the question burning in both of your eyes," her eyes glittered with excitement, she wants to tell us because she knows it'll be too late by the time we're free, that is if we aren't killed first.

"Ciaran is upstairs now in his circle room, making all the preparations to kill his own daughter and he doesn't even know it,"

Behind her another person entered the room, "Ma'am, Ciaran is requesting that everyone gets into their masks and robes,"

"I'll be right out," she called to him, she put her fingers to her lips and smiled, "ssh," she said, "don't tell"

She got up and followed the other witch out of the room leaving us with our Guard dog.

What was Selene talking about? His daughter? Iona was here? No. Why would Selene care about Iona, she amounted to nothing and Ciaran barely cared for her existence. Think Niall, think. But it was too hard to think under the binding spell.

Morgan. They had Morgan now. They were going to strip her of her powers and drain her until she was dead. That's why everyone is gathering, that was the point of all of this, that was what Ciaran is preparing for. Was Selene insinuating that Morgan was Ciaran's daughter?

It couldn't be. Could it?

Then it all came rushing to me, her eyes, those eyes that were so familiar, the strength of that binding spell she put on Cal, so effortlessly with no training on the subject, also I remembered that she was adopted.

Morgan was Ciaran's daughter. But she was so pure and light, everything Ciaran wasn't. Who was her birth mother again? She told me her name was Maeve Riordan, but I thought her birth father was a man named Angus Bramson. Maeve must have got it wrong, I knew the truth. Now I that it's out there it's so obvious and I can't believe I never saw it before. It's those eyes and that power!

I needed to warn Ciaran, if he knew this truth there's no way he'd drain her, I knew him that much. He'd want to train her, with potential like hers, he'd want to have her be at his right hand - a daughter he would be proud of, a daughter he would control and with her he'd be unstoppable.

The Taibh's was stirring hungrily at my thoughts, it was the last thing I wanted for her, for Ciaran to have a hold on her, but right now this information would save her. I had to break free.

I pushed hard, still nothing. I couldn't do it alone, I had to face the truth, I needed its help. Right Taibhs, you want to be free as much as I do. Between us we've got just enough power to break free, work with me. Please.

The taibhs was in a reluctant agreement, it wanted freedom, together we pushed the binds and slowly I could feel something, my little finger and I could feel a glimmer of power. It wasn't enough and it wasn't working fast enough.

I kept working on my hand and soon enough all my fingers were free. I needed to be faster than this, the Taibhs took over me then. It used my hand to grab Killian and sap him of the energy that was currently inaccessible to him, and I felt all my binds breaking. I was free.

I looked over at the Guard who was busy playing a game on his phone with his back to us, so quietly I got up and checked Killian over, he looked pale, weakened and really pissed off.

"I'm so sorry, old friend," I said earnestly, "It wasn't me..." I begun to blame it on the darkness, but I knew what the Taibhs was going to do and I let it, if I didn't Morgan could die, "I need to save her," I said, "I need to save your sister,"

His eyes were clear with understanding, it would seem that he had also worked out the meaning behind Selene's message. He nodded.

Now that my Magick had returned I used a spell Ciaran once taught me to counteract his binding spell on Killian and immediately his muscles loosened and he slumped over to the side, I drew a sigil on his forehead to help him gain strength and healing.

He was free to move now but lacked the energy to do so, I checked behind me quickly the guard hadn't noticed us yet, so I helped Killian into a more comfortable position, "Save your strength," I told him, "don't do anything stupid, as soon as you are able get yourself to safety,"

"Hunter, I…" He began

"Promise me, Killian," I said, interrupting him, "nothing stupid, just get out of here, you're not strong enough right now," He nodded

I stood and looked for my Athame, they took it off me while I was out. It was on the table in front of the witch who was guarding us, poorly I may add, I recognised him from Amyranth circles but I didn't know him very well, his name was Percival, all I knew about him was he hated to be called Percy.

"Hey Percy, how's your angry bird score?" He flipped around quickly and I drew a spell in the air and he dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Being around Ciaran so many years was proving to be useful.

I grabbed my Athame and tucked it in my boot. I hoped Ciaran no longer had any need to intercept witch message's. I had to reach out to Sky.

Athar?

GIOMANACH! her response was immediate, Where the hell have you been, none of my messages were reaching you and I heard nothing from you, I've been worried sick! What happened?

Ciaran's onto us, he's got Morgan.

I thought so, she replied, I drove by her house earlier to check on her, I assumed you'd want me to, I sensed dark magick, she wasn't home. I called the council and reported it, they're finally sending a team.

Finally, where are you now?

I'm not far from Ciaran's, I'm casing the area now trying to work out what's going on inside and work out how many witches are there.

A lot. I need your help. Cloak yourself and come around the back of the house to the basement hatch it leads down to a corridor at the back of the library. That's where Killian and I are now.

I'm on my way.