by Hazel Hunter
“Aye.” I rolled with her, and used my weight to hold her down. “But never gloat, lass.” I held her like that for a heartbeat before I rose and helped her to her feet, and saw some of the clan emerging into the courtyard to watch. “Again?”
She nodded and backed away.
An hour later we both collapsed in a heap, both of us grinning as the watching garrison cheered. We’d sparred to a draw in the end, and I’d never known a clansman to learn moves faster or use them better.
“I want to learn that midair hook kick you do,” Val said as we pushed ourselves upright, and wiped the sweat from her brow. “That’s beyond dank.”
“Aye, if you’ll teach me your side flip and back roll.” I silently gave thanks to the Gods that I healed quickly, for I’d need that for the lass’s training. Then my blood chilled as she rose and staggered. “You’re hurt.”
“I’ll live. Or, if I don’t, I’ll come back for a rematch.” With that odd remark she waved at the garrison before she hobbled into the castle.
“Nice work.” Isobel Jennings, the laird’s wife, stepped in my path when I would have gone after Val. “Uh-uh. Training day is over.”
“I forgot she’s mortal.” And I felt like a nag’s ass for it. “Summon your healer.”
“Valerie will be fine.” She studied my face for a moment. “She’s what Kendric calls a borrower. When she touches one of the other girls, she can use their ability for an hour or so. We needed to see if it would work with immortals.”
“Why?” A dull rage rose inside me as I suddenly recalled the flare of heat when I first touched Val. She had awakened my Eagle battle spirit, which since boyhood had given me my incredible strength and speed.
Isobel shrugged. “The girls and I will do what we must to fight for the clan.”
I stalked inside the castle, and went to Healer Ivers’ infirmary. She had Val on her work table, and was examining the darkening bruises covering her limbs.
“Nothing broken,” the healer said, shooting a dark look at me. “Miracles still happen.”
Val smothered a groan as she sat up. “Give us a minute, Doc.” When Ivers left she swung her legs over the side of the table. “I’ll be okay. I was in worse shape after UCA Nationals last year.”
I sat down beside her and took her hand. Like mine it was calloused, square and strong, but it trembled in my grasp. “Isobel claims you borrowed my strength and speed, yet I didnae feel diminished. Your power imitates that of others.” When she nodded I said, “Then take my healing power.”
“I don’t know if I can,” Val admitted. “That’s part of your immortality, not your battle spirit power.”
I pressed her hand over my heart. “Try.”
The heat flared between us again, but this time it enveloped us both. Through a haze of golden light, I watched the bruises I’d left on her face pale and vanish. Through the bond the Eagle forged between us I felt her heart, and how much she had longed to find a love worthy of it.
“You are,” Val said, and curled her hand around my neck as she leaned in to kiss me.
Chapter 8
Tempted
I love my squad, really I do, but sometimes I wish they would just grow up.
“Coach never said we could be eaten alive by these shifter horse-shark things, Liv,” Deb whined as we finished our workout in the courtyard. “I wouldn’t have jumped back in time if I’d known that.”
“Me either.” Gayla grunted as she did her last sit-up. “It’s ratchet AF.”
“Right? I gave up manis and pedis and blowouts to be, what?” Deb threw up her hands. “Demon fish food?”
“Stop Draking.” I handed her the flask of water I’d brought. “We’ve got the guys and the druids, plus the powers.” I just couldn’t use mine without starting a riot.
“Sure, I’ll bedazzle the monsters.” Deb snapped her fingers, sending a shower of glittering sparks up into the air. “See? Pathetic. I can’t even start a fire with it.”
“Aye, but you might blind them for a moment, Sister.” Kendric walked out to join us, looking as perfectly K-pop as ever. Beside him was a shorter druid wearing a hooded cloak. “’Twill give our warriors an advantage.” He regarded me. “Sister Olivia, may we speak alone?”
I’d had the feeling that this was coming, so I nodded to the other girls, who left. “What’s up, Master Gowan?”
“’Tis naught to worry on, Sister.” He gestured at his companion. “The council sent Master Teague to test you.”
I frowned. “Test me for what?”
“The depth of your ability, Sister,” Teague said, his melodic voice like an invisible caress.
The shorter druid pulled back the cloak’s hood, revealing long garnet-red hair around a dangerously beautiful masculine face with golden-brown eyes. If someone had crossed an angel with a tiger, Teague would have been their lovechild.
Did I mention he was maybe thirteen, fourteen years old at the most?
“It’s deep enough.” I turned to Kendric. “Can I get an older tester? He’s just started puberty.”
He smiled. “In my first life I served as Teague’s novice. He’s among the oldest of our kind.”
Druid crap like this always gave me a headache. “I promised the laird I wouldn’t use my power. As in ever again.”
Kendric raised his hands. “Only show Master Teague once, that he may take the measure of your gift.”
“You need to go, then.” I wasn’t going to have a repeat of the night I’d come into my power; every man in Dun Dorchas had fallen to their knees in front of me—including the laird. As soon as K-pop beat it I glared at Teague. “I’ll do it for five seconds. That’s all.”
He nodded.
I took a deep breath, and one by one let go of the chains and locks I’d mentally wrapped around my ability. A glow started to roll off my skin as my body shifted from ordinary Olivia to the thing I became with it. I’d done it once while I was alone by the loch, and watched the transformation. Honestly, I didn’t see any change.
The girls had described it as me going supernovamodel. Men couldn’t describe what they saw; they were too busy drooling and begging me to love them.
Teague didn’t take his eyes off me as he started to glow, too. “Come here, Olivia.”
I didn’t think as I walked right up to him. “You’re like me.”
“Aye.” He pressed his palm to my cheek, and the glow from our powers merged.
We stood in one of those weird druid trance moments with history rushing all around us. Those who possessed our ability were born only once every two or three millennia, and always lived solitary lives. The loneliness that came with the ability made them choose not to reincarnate—all except Teague.
The glow faded, and we stood there looking at each other. He was staring at my mouth. I wanted to rub my cheek against his hand (and the rest of him, for that matter.)
Since I hadn’t turned into a pedophile, I stepped back. “Why show me that?”
“The water demons cannae entrance us, nor we them,” Teague said. “We possess the same allure and shifting powers.” He ran his hand down my arm in what was most definitely a caress. “Gods, but you’re lovely.”
This just kept getting better and better. “Thanks. I’m going to go kill myself now.” I stalked off.
He caught up with me in the herb gardens outside the kitchens. “We’re no’ calpa, Olivia. The Gods gifted us to oppose them, so I swore I’d reincarnate until mortal kind needed me. Yet I never imagined I’d find a mate. Time ever separates the few with our powers.”
“We’re not mating,” I snapped. “And how do we fight the demons? By turning everyone else into our zombie love slaves before they do?”
“Our presence nulls the calpas’ allure powers.” He started glowing again, and it actually hurt me to look at him. “Why willnae you accept me? I feel your desire in every look.”
“Yes, I want you.” There, I’d admitted it. “Your soul may be a thousand years old, but right now y
ou’re a kid, and I’m a grown woman. That makes it disgusting.”
He smiled a little. “I cannae shift nor mate until my body reaches manhood. We’ll wait, and take the time to ken each other. You’ve only to give up what parts us to feel easy with me.”
I frowned. “Explain.”
Teague did, and helped me manifest the rest of my power. When we walked back to the castle Kendric was waiting on us. As soon as he saw me he chuckled and shook his head.
“With all due respect, Master? Shut up.” I glanced down at my flat chest and skinny arms and legs before I met Teague’s gaze. Shifting my body from a woman’s to a girl’s had been a snap, but living like this was going to take some getting used to. “I don’t have to look thirteen for the whole six years, do I?”
Chapter 9
Grudge Match
Being the smallest, strongest girl on the Highland Angels made me the Frequent Flyer—as in I got to do all the scariest stunts. By the time I joined the squad I’d already spent fifteen years in gymnastics, so I had the training to handle it. Even after we jumped back in time to Scotland I worked out daily to maintain my strength and flexibility.
That also kept me ready for Cha-Cha.
Marina Chavez had been the squad’s former Frequent Flyer before me. After she’d taken a bad spill Coach Jennings made her a spotter and promoted me to flyer. Then, when we’d dropped into the fourteenth century, we’d both fallen for the same guy, who made matters worse by refusing to choose between us.
Now Cha-Cha came every day to the courtyard to work out with Val, while Stacy and I did the same—like it was a grudge match or something.
“If looks were daggers, Gracie, you’d be calpa bait,” Stacy whispered as we finished our warmups.
I glanced at my rival. I’m a short, brown-eyed, stick-straight blonde built for speed; Cha-Cha had the blue eyes, black curls and hot curves I’d always wanted. At State she’d won gold for her floor routine in gymnastics, while I nabbed it on the uneven. She had a rep as a tough girl, too. She’d nearly gotten kicked off the squad twice for getting into shoving matches with loudmouths from opposing squads.
Before we’d come to Scotland I’d avoided her so she wouldn’t find out what I’d been fighting. Now that we were stuck in the same castle, and on the same highlander, things were coming to a boiling point.
Cha-Cha stood staring at the gallery, where I saw Finlay watching us. He usually led patrols around the island, so he was probably off duty. From the way his gaze kept going back and forth he still hadn’t made a choice. I turned my back on him and concentrated on the new stunt we’d been practicing. Stacy planted her feet and braced herself with one hand behind her, and I launched into a flip off her knees and over her head. I landed in front of Cha-Cha just as she executed the exact same stunt with Val.
“Watch your ass,” she said, not moving an inch.
I showed her some teeth. “Isn’t that your job?”
“That’s enough, you two.” Val stepped between us. “Gracie, go cool off.”
I stalked outside to take a run down by the loch. By the time I reached the bank I felt comfortably loose, but I still hadn’t shaken my anger. I heard a rustling behind me, and spun around.
“You really want to do this?” I demanded as I glared at Cha-Cha.
She batted her big blue eyes like she was flirting. She’d figured out my secret.
I launched myself at her, knocking her onto her back and pinning her to the ground. She bucked under me, stronger than I’d ever imagined, but I was done playing nice. I slapped her so hard my palm exploded with pain. I would have done it again, but she tossed me off. I flipped over and scrambled up, but she grabbed me. Cha-Cha grunted as I kicked her, and then started dragging me toward the water.
One thing I couldn’t do was swim, so I went nuts. Down we went again, punching and kicking each other.
Dimly I heard Val and Finlay shouting, and someone yanked me off Cha-Cha. I turned to shove away who I thought was Val and looked into big blue terrified eyes.
“Calpa,” the other Cha-Cha shrieked as she dragged me back.
Finlay stepped in front of us and rammed his sword into the Cha-Cha I’d been fighting. She made a horrible noise and then started melting into a big pile of twitching goo. One of the other clansmen came running with a torch, which Finlay used to set fire to the remains.
Cha-Cha turned me to face her. She looked so scared I wanted to hug her.
“Oh, God, you’re bleeding.” She hugged me and dotted the side of my head with kisses. “Somebody get Doc Ivers.”
“I’m okay.” Confused now, I drew back and glanced at the blackened mess on the ground. “It looked like you, Cha-Cha.”
“No, it didn’t.” She frowned and put her hand to my cheek. “You were fighting yourself. I couldn’t tell who was my beautiful girl until I saw you bleeding.”
My beautiful girl? I thought, stunned. What the hell?
Finlay came and took us back to his chamber. There I sat staring at Cha-Cha while he warmed some water so I could clean up.
“I should have told you about my feelings before now,” she finally said. “Don’t hate me, okay?”
“I don’t, Marina.” I’d nearly died today because I was afraid she’d find out how I felt about her, so I confessed. “I’ve had a crush on you since I joined the squad.”
Hope replaced the shame in her eyes. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I took your place, and then the two of us fell for Finlay,” I reminded her. “I always thought you hated me.”
She smothered a sob. “I hated that I couldn’t be with you. I even got into fights when I heard the other cheerleaders shading your cupies. They’re perfect—like you.”
I caught a tear spilling down her cheek. “Coach said the monsters can look like the people we love.”
Finlay knelt in front of us. “’Tis why I couldnae choose between you.” He used the rag in his hand to clean the blood and dirt from my face. “In truth, I want you both.”
I chuckled. “A threesome? Really?”
“Caroline has one with Bear and his brother,” Marina said. “We all want each other, so it could work, right?”
Our highlander nodded, and I grinned. “If we don’t mind, why should anyone else?”
No one did. Finlay hasn’t been getting much sleep, though.
Chapter 10
Mr. Smith
The McGillean and Master Gowan came to speak to the elders about the calpa, and warn us of the danger to our village. The laird then asked how many weapons I might fashion. With more hands and iron, I told him, I might arm every soul at Dun Dorchas.
“I’ll send all the ore we’ve stowed,” the laird said, “and a druidess to aid you.”
I scowled. “’Tisnae work for wenches.”
Master Gowan eyed me. “As my mate would say, wait for it, lad.”
Later I went to hammer out my ire with my sledge. I’d avoided wenches since I’d reached manhood, when every unmatched village lass had cast her gaze my way. A man my size could not take a mate; my birth had all but killed my Ma.
The McGillean weapons master came with two carts piled high with fine ore and coke. The other driver wore a hooded cloak, and tumbled off the seat to flip over and land in front of me. As I frowned, hands pushed back the hood to reveal a fetching young face with soft brown doe eyes and a cap of black hair. She stood half my size, and thin as a wand.
“Hi, big guy.” She admired me with a glance. “I’m Roxanne Segreto. You’re Mr. Smith, right?”
“’Tis but Smith.” I regarded the weapons master. “Mayhap your jest ends now?”
He chuckled. “She loaded the carts, lad.”
“I’ll unload them, too.” The lass plucked my sledge from my grip and twirled it through the fingers on one hand. “Where do you want all these rocks?”
Once I showed her the bins she simply used her hands and arms to carry huge piles of ore to them. After gaping at her I joined in, and togethe
r we emptied the carts. The weapons master drove off snickering.
“I’m a spotter on my squad, and I have to catch girls a lot,” the lass said as she followed me into the forge. “Probably why my druid ability went to my hands and arms. Do you have a first name?”
I offered her a flask of cool water. “Smith, ’tis all, Mistress.”
“Roxanne.” She tilted her head back to drink. “I’m glad you’re big. I won’t accidentally tear off your arm, you know. The laird and his guys always look at me like I will.”
“Aye, ’tis the same with me.” I grinned. “The burden of the mighty, Roxanne.”
“Fire.” She glanced around. “So, how does this forging stuff work?”
A week later the lass and I surveyed the mounds of weapons we’d finished, both of us sweating, filthy, and as proud as parents of a new bairn. Roxanne had taken to smithing with ease, learning in days what had taken me years. Working together we found such harmony that we moved as one. She had an easy way about her that drew me as much as her beauty and strength.
“Nice work, Mr. Smith.” She ran a hand through her damp hair, making it stand on end. “Do we get a day off? I need to like scrub and soak for a week.”
“Likely no’, lass.” I shuttered the furnace where I had banked the day’s coals, and then regarded her. I’d wanted her from the first day, and soon we’d be done with our work. “There’s a spring behind my cottage.”
“You just want to get me naked.” Her smile slipped, and she ducked her head. “I shouldn’t joke. You’ve been so sweet, and you’re so hot, but I’m…scary strong.”
“I ken.” I glanced down at my own body. “The prospect of harming someone you wish to please… ’Tis easier to abide loneliness. I cannae match your strength, lass, but you’ll no’ easily break me.”
“Okay.” Roxanne came closer. “So, we’re springing it?”