The Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy

what was left of the chocolate. “I believe in lots of things until it’s proved otherwise. So far as I know, no one’s ever proved there absolutely aren’t faerie forts under the hills hereabouts, and people say there are more often than not.”
    “Yes!” Even blurred by wine, Jude’s enthusiasm was ripe as she slapped Brenna on the shoulder. “Exactly my point. Legends are perpetuated, and often take on the sheen of truth by the repetition. Arthur of history becomes Arthur of legend with additions of magic swords and Merlin. Vlad the Destroyer becomes a vampire. The wise women, the healers, of villages become witches, and so on. The human tendency to expound, to extrapolate, to garnish with fantasy to make a tale more entertaining in turn makes the tale a legend that certain groups then take into their culture as fact.”
    “Just listen to her. She sure talks fancy and fine.” Darcy, delighted to be wearing one of the cashmere sweaters, pursed her lips in thought. “And I’m sure, Jude darling, there’s something in what you just said that’s profound and miraculous, even for one who claims to have been a mediocre psychologist. But it sounds like bullshit to me at the moment. Did you or did you not see Carrick of the faeries this very day?”
    “I saw someone. He didn’t tell me his name.”
    “And did this someone vanish into the air before your very eyes?”
    Jude scowled. “It seemed he did, but—”
    “No, no buts, just the facts. That’s how it’s done, isn’t it, logically speaking? If he talked to you, he wants something from you, as I haven’t heard of him talking to anyonebut Old Maude in my lifetime. Have you, Brenna?”
    “No, I can’t say as I have. Were you frightened of him, Jude?”
    “No, of course not.”
    “That’s good, then. I think you’d know if he meant to cause you harm or mischief. I think he’s just lonely and wanting his lady beside him. Three hundred years,” she said longingly. “It’s a kind of comfort to know love can last.”
    “You’re such a romantic, Brenna.” Darcy yawned and curled up in a chair. “Love lasts easy as long as there’s yearning. Put the two of them together, and it’s just as like they’d be sniping and snarling at each other in six months’ time.”
    “You’ve just never had a man courageous enough to take a good hold of your heart.”
    Darcy shrugged and snuggled down. “And I don’t intend to ever give one the chance. Holding theirs keeps you on top of things. Let them get a grip on yours, and you’re sunk.”
    “I think I’d like to be in love.” Jude’s eyes drifted shut. “Even if it hurt. You couldn’t feel ordinary if you were in love, could you?”
    “No, but you can surely feel stupid,” Brenna muttered, and Jude laughed lightly as she slipped into sleep.

TEN
    T INY DANCERS WEARING sturdy clogs were doing a brisk step-toe inside Jude’s head when she woke. She could count the beats, each little shuffle-stomp-kick against her temples. It was more baffling than unpleasant, and her eyes twitched as she cautiously opened them.
    Hissed at the light, closed, then much more cautiously slitted them open again.
    Clothes were everywhere. At first she thought there’d been some sort of violent storm, a kind of Dorothy out of Oz tornado that had swooped in and swirled her things every which way around the room.
    That would have explained why she was lying crosswise, half naked, and facedown on the bed.
    At a soft snuffling sound beneath the bed she caught her breath, then it came fast. She imagined rodents at best; at worst she was sure it was one of those maniacal little dolls that come to life and carry knives and like to slash atpeople’s hands and feet if they’re unwary enough to let them hang over the bed at night.
    She’d had nightmares about those hideous dolls since childhood and never, ever let any part of her hang over the bed. Just in case.
    Whatever was down there, she was alone with it and had to defend herself. Fortunately, there happened to be a navy suede pump on her pillow. Without questioning the why of that, Jude gripped the shoe like a weapon and steadied herself
    With gritted teeth, she crawled closer to the edge of the bed, peered over, and prepared to do what had to be done.
    Brenna was on the floor, wrapped like a mummy in Jude’s thick robe, with her head pillowed on a stack of sweaters and an empty wine bottle at her feet.
    Jude stared, squeezed her eyes tightly shut, then