Read Online I Dream of Dragons (Boston Dragons) by Ashlyn Chase - Free Book Online Page B

magic. Now, don’t roll your eyes…”
    He hadn’t.
    “I don’t know what you’ve heard of the ancient little people, but I’d say the block must come from someone or something like that.”
    Finn rolled his eyes—he couldn’t help it this time. “I’m Irish. Of course I’ve heard the legends of leprechauns, fairies, and the like.”
    “They are not legends. Or as my people say, ‘Legends come from somewhere.’ They tend to be ancient truths.”
    If this woman wasn’t a fraud, he’d eat his hat, but on the off chance she wasn’t full of shite… “Fine. Let’s say the little people are hidin’ her somewhere. How do I find them?”
    “Ah, now that’s the trick. You’ll have to find someone who doesn’t want to be found.”
    Here it is… I’ll need to pay her a hundred euros and go to some far-off location while she conveniently disappears.
    “Fortunately, I know a bit of magic has upset the area recently. I’d say they’re a lot closer than you might think.”
    “Close, huh? How close?”
    “Right here in Ballyhoo. An ancient castle has appeared out of nowhere. It’s built into the cliffs off Braydon Road.”
    Now she had his attention. Shannon’s cottage was on Braydon Road’s dead end. It was too much of a coincidence. Perhaps magic was responsible for her disappearance— if magic of that kind existed.
    “I’m surprised I haven’t heard about an ancient castle appearin’. It seems like the kind of news that would spread through a small village in minutes.”
    “That’s what the villagers get for shutting out us travelers. We see things, yet you turn us away from your pubs. If we’re not welcome, why should we tell the ‘good’ people of Ballyhoo what’s happening right under their noses?” She emphasized the word “good” as if she were spitting it. “They’d never believe us anyway.”
    She had a point, but why hadn’t he seen a castle when he went looking for Shannon at her home? He’d been riding his bike and looking down to be sure he didn’t fall over a wagon wheel rut. He could have missed the castle—especially if it was tucked into a cliff.
    He rose and reached into his back pocket. “How much do I owe you?”
    “How much did I say it cost at the beginning?”
    “Thirty euros. But I already paid it.”
    “Then our business is finished.”
    He was surprised but not unhappy. “Is there anythin’ else you can tell me? Like, is she all right?”
    “I’ve told you all I know.”
    * * *
    Finn rode his bicycle along the familiar tire ruts in the dirt road. For once, the weather was agreeable, allowing him to wear short sleeves and no slicker. Perhaps the cloaked hood he’d worn to keep the rain off his face had prevented him from seeing a castle before. He shook his head. Unlikely.
    If there was a full-size castle near the Arish cottage, and not one made out of sand, he’d eat his derby hat.
    When he rode into view of the cottage, he caught sight of a projection rising from the side of the cliff. Funny, I don’t think I’ve seen that before.
    He hopped off his bike, abandoned it in the sod beside the road, and strode toward the ruin. As his view became clearer, he realized the projection resembled a turret and he quickened his pace. At last he ran toward the outcrop and halted in time to keep from tumbling off the grassy cliff.
    Gazing down, he spotted a few openings in the cliff. Seeing such a thing wasn’t unusual in Ireland, but for stone arches to be built right into the side of a cliff like this… The caves looked more like doorways. How did the ancient residents get into it? And why hadn’t modern fishermen spotted it?
    “What magic is this?” he muttered.
    The sound of a throat clearing behind Finn startled him. He whirled around and came thighs to face with a small man. He was larger than a midget, but perfectly proportioned, unlike a dwarf. Wearing a green suit and a hat with red curls peeking out from under it, he looked like a…
    “Top o’