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“The only reason I’m willing to do this is that you won’t let me stay.”

I put my arms around Rasmus and hugged. “Guarding Fiona until she gets on that plane will be helping me more than I can say. Don’t forget yer sunglasses and hat. I don’t want some sniper taking a shot at ya while ya’re driving.”

“I’ve been out without my mask plenty of times now. The only thing left of my old appearance is my hair.”

“I love yer long hair, Rasmus. I still miss the silver at yer temples, but I’m adjusting to yer new youthful look.”

“Good,” he said, sighing in distraction as he looked toward the door.

I knew he hadn’t really taken in what I said about his hair or I’d have gotten a passionate response.

Coming through the door, my unhappy daughter looked at Rasmus and nodded. Fiona had loaded her luggage in her fancy Jeep and given Rasmus permission to drive it. She’d yet to offer me such a boon. Instead, she looked at me and blew out a breath before heading back to the bedroom.

She still didn’t agree with my strategy, but I didn’t have time to care. Her approval wouldn’t change things. What I wanted most was her survival.

I looked at her disappearing back while still speaking to him. “I’m more grateful than I can say that you’ll be watching over her. Conn will be guarding my back.”

“I’ll return as soon as I can,” Rasmus promised.

“Yes. I know ya will.”

I removed a charmed necklace that I’d had Conn collect from storage for me. “Bend down,” I ordered, and then dropped it over his head.

I took longer than necessary tucking the necklace inside his shirt and under his hair. He stood silent and still as I did what I pleased.

When I was done, I lifted a hand to his face. “I don’t know if this will help ya or not, but it reflects magick back to the one wielding it. Since Zara is incredibly powerful, it may not work completely against her. But it’s all I have to give ya for protection. Wear it until this is over.”

“If I remembered my true self, you wouldn’t need to worry so much about me, would you?”

Rather than agree with Rasmus, I took the coward’s way out of the discussion. “Oh, I’d be worrying anyway. It’s just my nature. I blame my mother because Da never seemed to worry about much.”

Rasmus chuckled at my statement. Then his mouth was pressing against mine with all the longing we’d both kept a leash on. I wasn’t a bit surprised to find myself airborne as he lifted me into his arms. I wrapped my legs around his waist to better hang on as I let him have his way with kissing me.

If there was anything that could keep me hoping for the best, it was the promise of doing more of this.

Fiona’s horrified squeal brought me back to reality. “Gaaa—Mom! Take that somewhere else.” She held up both hands and stared at the hallway wall.

I unwound my legs so Rasmus could lower me to the floor. He half-sighed, half-laughed as we righted ourselves. I calmly turned to face my daughter. “Chances are far and few in this world to be happy, and I’m tired of turning mine away. I’ll walk ya to the car, Fiona. We need to talk for a moment before ya leave.”

I patted Rasmus on the chest. “If this ends well for our side, we’re going house shopping. I’ll be looking for a bedroom suite with a door that locks.”

“Promise?” he asked with a chuckle.

Forty or not, I blushed like a teenager at the eagerness in his voice. Coyness about feeling desire had never been a part of my womanly ways, though, so I raised my right hand in the air and answered him straight out. “I swear to Goddess Danu spending time with ya is what I want. I’m tired of not sharing yer bed.”

His smile was bright enough to light the entire hallway as he nodded. I smiled too as I turned to walk with an embarrassed Fiona as she squeezed by us.

The guardian’s kiss made me want to believe things could work out in my favor. When dealing with others of his kind, though, I was underpowered and nearly as vulnerable as a non-magickal human. Either stealth would help me win or I’d likely become another victim of Zara’s murderous ways.

Since seeing the future wasn’t one of my witching talents, all I could do was prepare for both potential outcomes.

* * *

My daughter was ringingher hands as we walked to the car, which wouldn’t do. She didn’t have the life experience yet that would naturally make her tougher, but she had a backbone because I’d seen to that. She was going to need all her strength to survive this.

I cleared my throat and got right to it. “The female guardian could show up at any moment. My wards might warn us, or they might not. Ya need a good strategy and a strong enough will to carry it out. Her magick is likely stronger than mine and ya need to be prepared for what that might mean.”

“You think she’s going to kill you.”