Page 8

Chapter Seven

“ T asgall and I have checked the archives to be sure,” Ava said as she went to the board mounted on the wall of the laird’s chamber, which she had been using as her bull pen. “No one has ever entered the spell trap by falling into a pit. None have claimed they were forced inside, either. Olivia Gibson is the first victim of the old man with the red eyes.” She wrote the surveyor’s name on the board.

“We still don’t know if your killer came in here willingly,” Ben put in. “From what she said before she died, it may be that someone deceived her into entering the trap for safe haven, or to look for this treasure she mentioned.”

“Let’s deal with facts first.” Ava wrote the woman’s name next to Olivia’s, and then added her own before underlining all three. “Olivia and I came here in our professional capacities. We both met with the owner of the property before we entered the castle. We were given maps to follow that led us to the spell trap’s entry. That’s all we know for sure.”

“We dinnae ken much, then,” Farlan muttered, his expression wry.

The discussion that followed didn’t provide much in the way of new information, until Darro offered a theory.

“Our healer and all of the outsiders who came before him entered the trap freely, and of their own accord,” the chieftain said. “Lady Ava and Mistress Gibson were summoned here. Insects that couldnae survive here appeared at the same time you did, my lady. From the manner in which they grew ’tis obvious they’d been enchanted. All seems deliberate, as if planned by another. Only one in the outside world should ken what the trap contains, and how to thwart the enchantment.”

“You think the one who cursed the clan in the twelfth century is behind this, and is out there somewhere in my time,” Ava said. “For that to be possible, they’d have to be immortal—which means they’re half or full blood Fae.”

“Could it be a McKeran?” Ben asked.

Tasgall shook his head. “My sire left a blank scroll that permitted Darro and me to locate all of our brothers before we formed the clan. Every one of them, they’re here with us in the trap.”

“Did your father have any Fae kin who might want to get rid of the clan?” Ava asked her husband.

“None. According to my lady màthair , he became a hunter-warrior for his king because he was the last of his bloodline, and didnae wish to remain in Elphyne. He lost all of his blood kin in a war with the dark Fae.” He thought for a moment. “Tuirne’s tribe ever resented Keran for siring two sons with her. The magic folk, they’re particular about the purity of their bloodlines.”

“They’d never curse an entire clan,” Darro said to the laird. “’Twould go against their beliefs and indeed, their laws. Druids never inflict harm unless ’tis judged appropriate by their high council. Only Tuirne could go before them and demand justice, and never did she.”

“No’ all live pure,” one of the other chieftains put in. “I’ve heard tales of renegades among druid kind. ’Tis even a tale about one tribe that used blood magic to do the unspeakable.”

“Never have we crossed druids,” Tasgall said. “As such they’ve no reason to curse us.”

“Pure blood Fae are known to utterly despise mortal halflings,” Farlan put in, “but ever they slay at once those they discover.”

“That takes us back to the MacBren.” Ava wrote his name on the board. “Since the clan is forced to relive the events that happened before he and his wife were murdered, the curse seems tied to them. Your vassals believe it was an act of vengeance by their daughter. That would be the same daughter you’ve been refusing to marry.”

“Like her parents, Torra’s mortal,” Tasgall pointed out. “As such she’s long dead.”

“Unless she had druid blood, and reincarnated as the laird’s lady màthair did,” Farlan countered. “As such, mayhap she’s the druid we crossed.”

All of the men began sharing their opinions, until it became clear that there were too many unknowns involved for them to make an informed guess about the one responsible.

“We need more facts to build a better profile of the person who cursed the clan,” Ava said finally. “I’ll speak with Olivia Gibson again. In the meantime, we need to be on alert for anything that might have come through with her. Let’s ask all the guards and household staff to be on the lookout. I’d also like to put together some search teams to check the stronghold, especially areas that are seldom used.”

“If ’tis another insect, and ’tis been enchanted to attack and render us helpless,” Farlan said, “we’ll ken soon enough.”

A guard burst into the room, bowed quickly and said, “Healer, you’re needed in the infirmary. Inga found one of the maids frozen in a passage, only she cannae seem to warm her.”

Ava exchanged a look with her husband before she hurried after Ben, with the sound of Tasgall barking orders behind them. When she arrived at the infirmary she had to wade through a throng of maids and sculleries. She paused for a moment to reassure them before she asked them to clear out, and had two guards take up positions to prevent any more spectators from packing into the hall. As soon as she walked inside and saw Ben working on the maid her heart sank, as it was Elspeth, the head chambermaid.

The guard had been right; frost appeared to cover the girl’s dark skin in a thin, white layer. Ice crystals glittered on her hair and eyelashes as well.

“Inga, have the maids fetch a bucket of hot water for me,” the healer told the hovering chatelaine, who nodded and rushed out.

Ava went to stand beside him. “I saw her this morning, and she was fine. It’s not cold enough outside to do this to her even if someone doused her with water.”

“It’s not natural. Look.” He took hold of the chambermaid’s wrist and held it for thirty seconds, and then removed his hand. The frost covering her skin remained intact. “The heat of my touch should melt the top layer of this, but it didn’t. It may resemble ice, but it isn’t cold at all.”

Ava brushed her fingertips against the girl’s arm. “It’s like glass.” She met Ben’s gaze. “Hot water isn’t going to thaw her, then. She’s been paralyzed, not frozen.”

“Another fucking cocoon.” The healer picked up one of the daggers from his instrument table and tried to cut through the ice, only to snap off the end of the blade. He swore and walked across the room, kicking everything in his path.

Ava covered the chambermaid with a blanket before she stepped out into the hall and beckoned to the guard who had alerted them. “Go to the laird and advise him the maid has been paralyzed, not frozen. Tell him that we need to search the castle immediately for the cause.”

“At once, my lady.” The guard bowed before he hurried off.

A wide shadow fell over Ava, and she turned her head to see the clan’s armorer approaching. The largest man in the spell trap, he kept his stunning face covered these days by wearing a hooded tunic.

“Rory, I'm glad you're here.” She meant that, for aside from her husband he was the only other man at Dun Talamh who gave her a sense of safety.

“My lady.” He bowed and glanced at the open door of the infirmary. “I saw Elspeth but an hour past, entering the gallery above the lists. She appeared well and whole.”

The armorer always spoke in a whisper, as his mortal weakness was his voice, which at a normal level could crack granite. If he shouted, it was possible for him to bring the entire castle collapsing down on top of them.

“You know a little about magic,” she said, and gestured toward the treatment table. “Could you take a look at her?”

Rory hesitated for a long moment before he inclined his head and went inside. Ben stopped pacing around the table at once and gave the big man a hopeful look.

“She can’t move, and she’s barely got a pulse.” He came to stand beside the armorer. “It has to be some sort of stasis spell.”

“Mayhap.” He stretched out one enormous hand over the chambermaid’s face and closed his eyes.

Ava watched the big man as he murmured under his breath. A faint dark glow seemed to shimmer beneath his fingers, as if he were radiating some sort of power. The same effect made all the hair on her arms rise. She’d seen him do the same when placing one of his spell stones on the threshold of the armory, and it should have frightened her. Instead, she felt a deep sense of wordless empathy, as if Rory was doing something only she could grasp. Trying to fathom why she had that reaction to him still preoccupied her. She could have sworn she recognized what he was doing, but she had no memories of such a thing. Rather than a memory it seemed to be an instinct—something running through her blood, or buried in her bones.

This is why I’m drawn to him, but how could I know anything about a man born a thousand years before I was?

Tasgall had admitted that none of them knew exactly how Rory could use such magic, especially as he was a halfling. No person with any amount of mortal blood could wield Fae power. She suspected the armorer didn’t explain his ability to do the impossible because it would frighten the rest of the clan even more than his size and otherworldly looks. Just as she hadn’t yet told her husband that she and Rory shared a bond that, like his using magic, she didn’t entirely understand.

Slowly the armorer lowered his hand and sighed. “Apologies, my lady, Healer. Freeing the lass, ’tis naught within my power.”

Ben swore again and rubbed a hand over his sweaty face. “Do you know what could have caused this?”

“Fae magic.” Rory’s jewel-colored eyes moved over the chambermaid. “I dinnae ken what cast the enchantment, but ’tis very old and powerful. The same manner of magic keeps Dun Talamh imprisoned in the spell trap.” He regarded Ava. “And made the caterpillars grow to such enormous sizes, I reckon.”

Ava’s stomach knotted. “Then whoever cursed the clan came in here and did this to her.”

“Aye,” the armorer said. “Or the villain sent into the trap something that did.”

B odach returned to McKeran’s Castle after dark to make his entry into the trap when the barrier was at its weakest. But he was forced to drive past a police car flashing its red and blue lights, and a burgundy town car barricading the front gates. As he found a spot down the road to park, his annoyance grew. Despite his efforts to clean up after Olivia Gibson, someone had found something that put her at the castle. After gathering his composure, he practiced an understanding smile in the rearview mirror a few times before climbing out and walking back to the gates. Approaching the three males made him wish he could unleash the full extent of his power on their unworthy heads for getting in his way yet again.

Killing them will only bring more mortals. The damn things are like cockroaches.

“I’m Renard Beaumont, the owner of the property,” he told the uniformed officer who stopped him from going through the gates. “What seems to be the problem here? Has there been an accident?”

A tall, heavyset man dressed in clothing that matched the town car hobbled up to him and leaned on his cane. “I’m Jack Riley, Beaumont. What have you done with Olivia Gibson?”

“I don’t know what you mean.” He feigned confusion by frowning as he regarded the cop. “I contacted this man’s company to perform a survey on my property, but the surveyor never arrived for our appointment this morning. Was that your Ms. Gibson?” When Riley gave him a curt nod he sighed. “I did inform your answering service that she was a no-show.”

“Yeah, we got the message.” Riley turned to the police officer. “I talked with Olivia after she arrived for the appointment. So did my wife. You need to search this place for her, right now.”

“She could have called from anywhere,” Bodach said, silently cursing the man. “And as for searching the property, you’re more than welcome providing you’ve obtained a warrant to do so.” He looked expectantly at the cop, who shook his head. “Oh, dear, that is a problem. My attorney advised me not to allow people on the property for liability reasons.”

The other man lifted his cane. “Do you want me to beat the snot out of you, you prissy asshole?”

“Not at all, sir.” Bodach was going to have to inflict a special torment on this one. To the cop he said, “I won’t make you go to the trouble of obtaining one at this hour, Officer. By all means, search my property.”

After he unlocked the gates, he accompanied the three mortals to the front entry, where he unlocked and opened the doors.

“Perhaps you should wait out here while the police search the premises,” Bodach told Riley. “In your condition you might trip and fall in the darkness, and I would be legally responsible.”

The officers agreed, and then took out their flashlights and went inside.

“Just tell me what happened,” Riley said as soon as they were alone. “Did you get handsy with her? She’s little, so guys think they can get away with that shit. I also know she could dump your ass in a sec if you tried, because I taught her that. Did it make you angry, Beaumont? Did you hit her? ”

“I would never harm a woman. As I said, Ms. Gibson never showed this morning.” He was tired of repeating himself, so he asked, “Why do you think I’m lying to you?”

He took out his cell phone, punched in something and then showed him a map with a red line running from Salinas to the front entrance of McKeran’s castle. “All of my employees have a tracking app on their phones. This shows that Olivia came directly here this morning, in time to meet you.”

Bodach chuckled. “You mortals and your annoying technology.”

“So you did meet her.” Riley brandished his cane like a club. “What did you do? Tell me.”

“Oh, do shut up. Sending her where I did, that actually solved all her problems, at least, physically.” He slapped a hand on Riley's shoulder, sending a surge of his magic to engulf the mortal, who went still. “Let’s see now, you have a rather lovely wife, I believe. Older, of course, but still quite attractive.”

“No,” the man groaned the word.

“I prefer younger females, so you don’t have to worry,” Bodach assured him. “What do you think would happen if I sent someone to attack her, and slice up that well-preserved face? Do you think if I make her resemble a Picasso she’ll still be able to go to all those fashion shows? Or perhaps she can wear a hat with a strategically hung veil. It will have to be made from blackout material, of course.”

The enchantment he employed was a simple one that brought to life what Bodach had suggested in Riley’s mind.

The big man’s face drained of color as his eyes widened. “Rebecca,” he croaked.

He could have continued the torment, but he needed to resolve this situation and send the men on their way.

“Give me your phone.” Once he did Bodach erased the map and disabled the tracker. “Now, it seems our business is finished, Mr. Riley. You will forget me and what you saw on the app. You will leave now to return to Salinas and tell your dear wife that Olivia Gibson chose to move back to Utah to reunite with long-lost family. After that you will never again think about her or me. If you do, you know what will happen to the lovely Rebecca.”

Riley’s shoulders sagged as he limped back to climb into the town car and drove off.

Bodach had to wait another hour for the two police officers to finish their search, and when they returned he thanked them for doing their jobs. As he walked back to the front gate with them he kept chatting with them and found out that all they knew was what Jack Riley had told them about the app. After wiping that from their memories, he gave them both one of his business cards.

“Do contact me if I can be of help again, officers.” He smiled. “I’m always happy to cooperate with the authorities.”

After locking the gates and returning to the castle Bodach removed some red crystals he carried in a pouch and swallowed them. The dangerous Fae gems sucked the life out of any living thing that came near them, but they had a strange affinity for him, and only added to his power when he ate them. The faint, unpleasant odor of rot that consuming the crystals added to his body was the only unfortunate side effect, but he hardly smelled it anymore.

Dispelling an illusion that appeared like a solid wall, Bodach went downstairs to the dungeon level, where he had long ago set up the main room as a living space. He did not fear mortals, and thanks to his ability to assume the appearance of anyone, never tried to hide from them at the castle. He needed to monitor what was happening in the trap, however, and continuing to use his sea cave lair for that would only unnecessarily drain his store of red crystal.

He removed from his jacket the blank Fae scroll window and mounted it on one wall before murmuring the opening spell. “Show me Olivia Gibson.”

O livia had just finished washing up and was changing into her borrowed clothes when the door to her room flung open and Alec stalked inside. He went to the wardrobe without a word to her and opened the doors.

“Ah, hello.” She quickly laced up the front of her gown before she saw him take out the other garments that Ava had given her. “Ah, what are you doing?”

“You cannae stay here. ’Tisnae safe.” He tossed everything onto the bed and then picked up a large empty basket one of the maids had left for her laundry, thrusting her clean clothes into it. “Do you need that red cloth and box of fripperies there?”

He looked so furious she took a step back. “Yes, I do. Where am I going? Why isn’t it safe here?”

“A maid’s been attacked and rendered helpless. Until we discover what did thus, and why, I cannae permit you to stay alone.” He grabbed her slippers from where she had left them by the hearth and added them to the basket before holding out his hand. “Come with me now.”

Olivia took his hand and trotted to keep up with him as he strode out into the hall, where he looked down each direction before hauling her toward the left side of the stronghold. It should have been awkward, being practically dragged along by the man, but he still looked so angry she didn’t resist. From there he guided her to a back passage that led into the largest tower on the west side, which she knew to be the entrance to the garrison hall.

“This is where the clansmen live, isn’t it?” she asked, and got a terse nod in return. “I can’t go in here. Lady Ava said that women aren’t allowed unless they’re escorted by one of the clan.”

“And what am I?” he said, snapping the words.

“You’re in charge of the garrison,” she said, trying not to cringe. “I just don’t want to break any rules.”

“You shallnae stay long. ’Tis only until we find the thing that attacked Elspeth.” Alec marched her through the tower base and into another hall before he opened a door and took her inside.

The room had very few furnishings but massive amounts of weapons on every wall. A rack held long bows in multiple sizes as well as several primitive cross bows. Arrows fletched with white and black feathers had been packed into large leather quivers with loops so they could be attached to a belt or a body strap. One table covered with parchment scrolls sat over by the window slit. She saw a feather pen and a tiny crock that probably held ink. The air smelled of Alec and now her.

She knew it was his room, of course, the moment she saw the thin straw ticking near the dark hearth. No bed for the war master anywhere, it seemed. It hurt to see how uncomfortable he must be sleeping in here, too. But why had he brought her here? There were certainly plenty of guards to watch over her in the stronghold, and she was sure the clan would protect all the women at Dun Talamh. She looked over at him, wondering what his real motive was.

“Dinnae look at me thus,” he said suddenly. “I only wish keep you safe.”

“How can you do that when you have to find whatever attacked the maid?” she countered. “Are you going to lock me up in here, or put a bunch of guards on me? What should I tell them when they ask me why I’m alone in the garrison hall?”

Alec looked at her as if actually seeing her for the first time. “You’re angry with me for protecting you, my lady?”

My lady. He said it so snidely she almost cringed. Almost.

“It’s not appropriate for me to stay here,” Olivia told him. “I can only be here unless I’m involved with...with one of the men. I didn’t ask you to protect me. I can take care of myself.”

“Indeed.” He dropped the basket and walked up to her, so fast she backed away until her shoulders hit the side of the hearth’s stone mantle. “How did you that in your time? From what you said, the bastart who attacked you broke your hands and kicked you in the face while you landed how many blows? A dozen? Six? One?”

The fact that he was shouting in her face made her shake, and she had to clench her fists at her sides to stop that. Why was he trying to bully her? She hadn’t been this angry since going through her aunt’s things after Mae had died.

“I was too busy dangling from the edge of a pit to defend myself.” She flattened her hands against his chest and pushed him back from her. “I’m not helpless, Alec. I’ve learned not to let people use or abuse me. I’m not weak or powerless anymore.”

He seized her by the wrist. “Prove your words.”

Olivia put her free hand over his, twisted the arm he held, and grabbed his wrist. She then used leverage on the joint to force him to his knees.

“My boss went to college on a wrestling scholarship. He taught me how to defend myself.” She released him and stepped back as he straightened. “I know a few other ways to put you on the ground, or even make you limp for a while, if you’d like me to demonstrate.”

Alec rubbed his wrist and met her gaze. “Such tactics shallnae work against magic.”

“It might give me enough time to scream for help and run.” She tried to smile. “Do you want to try me? Do your worst.”

“That you could say such to me...” His eyes darkened, and his hands curled into fists. “Grant me leave to touch you, lass.”

Was he planning to put her on the ground in retaliation? Olivia saw how strained his expression had grown, as if he were close to bursting with rage. At the same time, she knew without a doubt that he would never hurt her.

“All right,” she said. “Go ahead.”

Alec pulled her into his arms and held her close, his hand pressing her face against his chest so that his heartbeat thudded against her temple. His warmth and the woodsy smell of him enveloped her, making her pulse race even as it comforted her. Being held by him made all her tension melt away; she relaxed and curled her arms around his waist.

“I need you here, so I ken you’re safe,” he muttered against her hair. “My brothers shallnae permit anything to come near you. Give me this peace so I may return to the search for what harmed the chambermaid.”

Oh, Alec, you’re going to break my heart, I just know it.

Olivia had never fallen in love, and the fact that she was on the brink of doing so with him worried her. Those summer flings she’d had in France had been lovely, but none of those boys had ever given her a sense of being protected or cherished. Here she was different; the spell trap had changed her, made her as she should have been. If he wanted her, it was because she wasn’t tiny and stunted. She didn’t have to worry about his motives.

He's scared. That’s why he’s so angry. He’s scared for me.

“I’ll be okay, you know,” she murmured, and dared to rub her hand over his back. “Ava and your brothers wouldn’t let anything bad happen to me. You don’t have to make the garrison guard me.”

Olivia’s heart almost burst when he lifted and carried her over to the table with all the scrolls. With one sweep of his arm everything went flying onto the floor, and then he put her down and pushed the fingers of his hands into her hair so that it streamed down his arms. His chest heaved, and his breathing went shallow and rasping.

“What are you doing now?” she whispered, dragging the edge of her teeth over her bottom lip.

“I’m touching you. You gave me leave and I cannae stop.” He put his mouth against her brow, and then her temple. The kiss seemed hot, almost feverish, as if he were somehow branding her. “I wish to do more, so much more.”

Her heart fluttered madly beneath her breast. “War Master, please. ”

“Say my name, lass.” He put his hands in her hair and made her look at him. “I need to hear it on your lips.”

“Alec.” She couldn’t move; she could hardly breathe now. “You shouldn’t do anything. You have to go...ah, find the thing. The thing that hurt that girl. I’ll stay here until you do.”

“I shall. Stay after I do.” His lips touched the hollow of her cheek, the cleft in her chin, and then hovered a breath away from her lips. “Stay forever.”

Every sane reason she could think of to avoid this crumbled into nothing. “Do you mean that?”

“Aye. I ken only too well that I shouldnae touch you.” He buried his face in her hair and breathed in. “You’re so sweet and soft, ’tis too tempting. You’re like flowers in my hands. I shall bruise you, crush you.”

He wasn’t the only one being tempted, Olivia thought, her head spinning a little as she linked her hands behind his neck. “I’m stronger than you think.”

“You seem as innocent as a bairn, and then you look at me with your quiet eyes, and I need your hands on me.” Alec’s breath warmed her mouth, and every word he said made her lips throb. “You make me hard and heavy, and I ken you must be a maiden, and I should set you away, only I cannae.”

She knew what he meant by that. “Alec, if you want someone who has never been with a man, you need to find another girl. I have been.”

He groaned and closed his eyes. “Now you surely shall drive me mad.”

Olivia had never been an aggressor with guys. At her former size she simply couldn’t manage it. Now she was tall and strong enough to pull him down and press her lips to his—and it was so good to kiss him she groaned against his mouth. This was going to kill her for sure; the spell trap could never heal this kind of damage.

In another moment it didn’t matter because Alec was kissing her back.

He swallowed the breath that escaped her before he took possession of her mouth. Olivia thought her blood might boil from the hot, streaking bursts of excitement that erupted in her breast. Alec tasted like a wine that made both of them instantly drunk. He might be the most beautiful man she’d ever seen, but he kissed her like he was desperate and starving for her, a beggar at a feast, a castaway at an oasis.

“Ah, Gods, but you shall prove my ruin,” he muttered against her lips before taking them again, stroking her tongue with his.

Ruin yourself with me. Go crazy all over me. I never want you to stop.

Olivia let her hands move up into his hair, which glided between her fingers like dark inky satin. She wanted him to rub it against her face, her breasts, her thighs. Why were they wearing all these clothes? They should be naked with each other, now and always. The heat inside her had climbed up into the inferno range now; he was burning her alive from the inside out. She wanted him to look at her new body, to see his desire for it. Those thoughts should have terrified her, and on some level they did. She had never wanted anyone or anything as badly as Alec. And he wanted her, judging by the swollen length of the ferocious erection pressing against her belly.

I’m yours, Olivia thought, whether you take me now or not.

He put his hands on her breasts, shaping them to his palms, and tugged at her laces before his fingers slid inside, stroking her curves. When he circled one peak with his thumb she jolted against his hand, and he squeezed her, making her gasp. With a sudden jerk he pulled her bodice aside, making her breast pop out, and bent his head to capture her nipple, sucking on it until a whimper of need escaped her.

“Don’t stop,” she begged.

He slowly took his mouth from her body, as if any sudden move might cause them to explode. “If we dinnae stop, I’ll have you now.”

Olivia had never seen anyone regard her with so much visible lust, as if she were all he had ever desired, ever dreamed of, ever needed. As if she were his blood, his bones, his heart. Her, the girl with the ordinary face. Even changed she wasn’t stacked like Ava Travars. He could have practically any woman in the castle. Then his fingers curled against her scalp, in the exact same way hers did to his.

It’s the same for him. He knows I want him just as badly.

For once she deserved to have something wonderful, and not just because most of her life had been miserable. She had never been in love, and somehow, for reasons she still didn’t understand, this magnificent man wanted to love her. It might only be with his body, but she’d settle for that. Why couldn’t she offer herself to Alec? He needed her.

You can’t because you know it’s too soon for this. Too soon for him.

“We’ll stop.” She wanted to say for now, but she was afraid of saying too much. Words like ‘for now’ could turn into I’ll be waiting for you , come back and make love to me , and other things she couldn’t say to him.

Alec kissed her brow. “Stay here until I return.”