His body had forgotten how to shift.
That wasn’t possible. The fox was in him, part of him. That would be like forgetting how to breathe.
And yet, here he was, unable to call the beast out.
Euann limped down the path into the woods, trying to ignore his sore knee as he went after the child. Though they had fought Helena and won, the idea of anyone hanging by her ruins was disconcerting. What if any of her residual powers still clung to the grounds? Magick was born of energy after all, and Helena’s magick had been some of the worst.
Helena was a wraith they had trapped in a statue in the mid-1700s, but before that she had been a woman in love with him. Euann had never returned that love. Like Charlotte, Helena had represented something he was missing—normalcy, hope, companionship. When a luck demon had attacked the family, it had been enough to wake Helena’s wrathful spirit from her stone prison. His family had been able to subdue Helena and set her spirit free, but Euann had not gone back to the statue since. He felt he was to blame for her sad fate. If he hadn’t pretended to feel more than he had for her, Helena would never have taken the dark path.
“Jewel?” Euann called. “It’s okay. No one is going to hurt ya. I can chase the gremains away. Please turn back around and come toward my voice.”
For some reason being reminded of Helena’s statue caused him to run faster, and he ignored the pain in his body. With a few notable exceptions, females who came in contact with the MacGregor family didn’t have the easiest of times. Helena turned into a wraith. Lydia was subjected to Erik’s obsessive behavior after a love potion went wrong. Jane had been attacked by her banshee mother. Charlotte went insane after they erased her memories.
Now Cora was frozen with Raibeart probably waiting to propose to her, and gremains were chasing Jewel.
“Jewel? Lassie, come with me, please. Let’s go inside where it’s safe.”
Euann slowed as he came to where Helena’s statue had once stood. It was now a pile of rubble on the ground, looking nothing like it had been.
Suddenly a rock flew at him. He dodged it, swatting his hand to knock it away. The laughter of a gremain followed the mild attack. The small, knobby creature poked its head up from the crumbled statue and launched another stone. This time, it hit Euann in the thigh above his sore knee.
“Ow! Stop that,” he ordered, batting another stone with his hand. “Jewel, where are ya?”
“Ju-elle.” The word was repeated back to him in a gruff, barely decipherable tone.
The gremain laughed again, this time throwing with both hands. Euann tried to dodge the projectiles but found his body frozen in mid-action. The stones stopped, hanging in the air as if time slowed.
This wasn’t like being petrified by a spell. He’d been hit with that whammy more than once. Usually, petrifying spells only stopped the person for whom it was intended, like Cora by the door. And typically, the mind froze and became unaware of what was happening. Euann was fully aware.
“Jewel?” The sound was distorted and long as if stretched over time. The blur of someone moving through the area went past. When the figure stopped, Euann glimpsed a familiar face.
Kenneth?
Euann tried to speak but couldn’t fight the hold the altered time had on his body. The moment only lasted a couple seconds, and he couldn’t be sure, but the man had looked like his brother.
Was this another of Jewel’s games?
Suddenly, two rocks pelted him—one striking his cheekbone under his eye and one his shoulder. The gremain cackled. Euann stepped forward, released from the spell. He ignored the annoying creature and hurried to follow the mysterious figure.
“Kenneth?” Euann limped as he searched the trees. “Kenneth, are ya out here, brother?”
Panic and fear filled him, tightening over his heart and drowning out the hope he wanted to feel. This was the closest any of them had come to seeing Kenneth. It made no sense that his brother would be in Wisconsin, arriving the same time as the phoenix child.
Was Kenneth trying to call out from another reality?
Euann stopped on the path. His magick tingled in awareness. He felt a tug on his pants. The sensation caused him to jump a little. When he turned, Jewel looked up at him. She was alone.
She curled her finger, indicating she wanted him to come down to her level. Euann bent over.
“We need to go,” she whispered. “He’s coming.”
Euann placed a protective hand on the child’s shoulder. “Who’s coming? The gremains can’t hurt ya.”
Jewel’s eyes widened as she stared over Euann’s shoulder, and she visibly gulped. “Hi, Daddy.”
Daddy?
Euann felt a presence behind him. Seeing the girl’s fear, he turned slowly so as not to startle whoever stood behind him.
“Step away from the child,” a man ordered. The hint of a Scottish accent touching his words.
Euann looked up. The fading daylight haloed the man from above.
“Kenneth?” Euann was too stunned to move from his place crouched on the ground. “Is that really ya, brother?”
“Euann.” Kenneth’s tone was flat. He nodded once and shifted his weight.
Euann had pictured reuniting with his brother in many ways, but this was never one of them. Kenneth’s hair was cut short. His eyes were lined with dark circles as if he hadn’t slept well in a long time. He wore khakis and a green polo shirt like he’d been trapped in a nine-to-five job in a boring office rather than a portal to the supernatural unknown, or wherever else he could have been.
Kenneth lifted his arm toward Jewel. Euann’s hand slipped from the child’s shoulder. Jewel lowered her head and stared at her feet as she moved toward Kenneth.
This was not the homecoming Euann had expected. He pushed to his feet. So many questions filled him in a rush. He was desperate to have answers. “Jewel called ya Daddy? Ya have a child? What’s going on? Where have ya been? We have been searching for ya for twenty-five—”
“I can’t be here.” Kenneth averted his gaze.
“You’re here, brother,” Euann insisted. “Ya have come home. Of course, ya can be here.”
“Tell the family not to look for me.” Kenneth reached toward Jewel. “They should have given up by now.”
“Why would we give up? We love ya.” Euann leaned, trying to force Kenneth to look at him. “We will never stop trying to help—”
“If ya want to help me, stop trying to help me.” Kenneth gave a sharp, angry motion as he beckoned Jewel to hurry.
“Jewel, I think Cora wants to play with ya. She’s waiting inside.” It was the only thing Euann could think of that might tempt the child. “The princess is imprisoned in stone and she needs ya to save her.”
Jewel’s face brightened, and she ran toward the house.
“Dammit, Jewel, wait,” Kenneth yelled after her. To Euann, he demanded, “Why did ya do that? Do ya know how hard she is to catch?”
Euann stepped in Kenneth’s way when his brother would follow Jewel. “She’ll be fine at the house. Ya and I need to talk first. Where have ya been? How is it ya have a daughter?”
“If ya forgot how babies are made, I can’t help ya.” Kenneth tried to step around Euann, but he moved to block his brother’s path to the house.
“Now is not the time for jests. That is not an answer. Ma and Da are searching for ya even as we stand here. They’re in West Virginia trying to summon ya back from wherever ya have been stuck, and now ya just show up…” Euann eyed the man’s clean-cut clothes. “Have ya even been in danger?”
Kenneth sidestepped him again.
When Euann moved to force his brother to talk to him, he found himself again frozen in time. The image of Kenneth blew past him in a blurred movement as Euann was trapped in place. It would seem his brother had picked up a few magick tricks while he had been away.
Chapter Seven
“That’s better. The stone curse is gone. Now Princess Cora can play with me.”
T
he sound of Jewel’s voice wasn’t comforting as Cora fell to her hands and knees on the marble floor of the MacGregor home. Tears threatened to fall as she scrambled back to press against the front door. She closed her eyes tight, willing it all to go away. None of this could be real. Any moment, she would wake up, and this would all be a vivid nightmare created by years of reading and maybe a fever.
“Shall we be pirates?” Jewel asked in a whisper, her breath tickling Cora’s cheek.
Cora gasped at the close contact and opened her eyes. She blinked in confusion as she realized no one was where she had seen them a second ago. The room was empty. Had she willed them all away? A chill settled over her body like a cold blast. Her hands shook. She didn’t feel like herself. Her nerves burned with a strange current as it stung her fingertips and toes.
Raibeart loomed over her with a wide grin. He wagged his brows, and his tone was low as if trying to be seductive. “How ya doin’, lassie? Is that a new power charge you’re carrying or ya just an inthrall to my magick?”
A small squeak came out of her mouth. Cora had no idea what that meant, but she could guess the gist of it.
Jewel sat down next to her by the front door. Cora jumped a little, startled, and leaned away from the powerful child. She didn’t want to be back under the girl’s control. She wanted to be home, in Oklahoma.
Jewel didn’t seem to notice any apprehension as she hugged Cora’s arm. The child laid her head against her. Small fingers worked against Cora’s skin as if seeking comfort.
“Daddy’s mad we ran away,” Jewel whispered. “He’s coming.”
That didn’t sound good at all. Maybe if Cora didn’t move, she’d melt through the door, and no one would notice as she ran away.
“Oh, wee thing, I’ll not let anyone harm ya,” Raibeart soothed.
“Who…” Cora took a deep breath, wondering if this was a new game. If they were princesses than Daddy was most likely a king.
Please let him be one of the good fairy tale kings. Not the kind who locked their daughters in towers, or pissed off witches, or…dammit, I need to read more fairy tales.
“Who’s Daddy?” Cora finally managed to get the words past her trembling lips.
Jewel pointed toward the dining room and then buried her face between the back of Cora’s arm and the door.
The man who appeared in the doorway hardly looked like a king. In fact, he looked very much like a dad, the kind that went to PTO meetings and coached soccer games. He hardly appeared to be a threat. Though, neither had Jewel.
“Kenneth?” Raibeart eyed the man for a moment as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. His hand trembled as he lifted it. Then, as excitement burst out of him in a loud shout, he rushed forward to hug the man. “Kenneth, you’re home!”
Kenneth stiffened and did not look pleased about the embrace. His hands balled into fists. He pulled back, and Raibeart let him go.
“Laddies,” Raibeart yelled toward the stairs. “Laddies, come look!”
Only Rory appeared at the shout, rubbing his eyes as if he’d gone to bed early. He wore pajama pants and an oversized t-shirt. His bare feet hit the steps with stilted purpose—two steps, pause, three steps, stop, one step, yawn.
“What is all the yelling about?” Rory demanded. Raibeart pointed a finger. Rory’s gaze followed it to Kenneth. “Who are ya—holy shit.”
“Rory.” Kenneth nodded once in acknowledgment even as he walked toward his daughter. “Jewel, come on. We have to go.”
“Go?” Raibeart demanded. “Ya just got here. We need to call your parents. They have been consumed with worry over ya.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t have time to explain,” Kenneth answered. He knelt beside Jewel and stroked her hair. “Time to go sweetheart. Ya know why.”
Cora felt the child’s fingers digging into her arm. “She doesn’t seem to want to go with you. Maybe we should contact the authorities and make sure—”
“Authorities?” Rory laughed. “What authorities would that be, love?”
“Police?” Cora thought that answer should have been obvious.
“And tell them what? Ya were forced to drive across the country by a magickal child?” Kenneth asked. His tone was not as pleasant as that of the others. She guessed he made for a very stern father. “Ya will be confessing to kidnapping.”
“Well, no, I mean…” Cora didn’t want to move, still of the hope that if she kept still everything might return to normal. “I didn’t kidnap her.”
“I know that, and I am sorry ya have been affected by my daughter’s play. Thank ya for taking care of her and keeping her safe.” Kenneth’s expressions softened briefly. “I can see she’s done something to ya. I would advise ya to stay here after we leave. My family will help ya.”
Cora reached her arm across Jewel to hold the child next to her. She wasn’t sure why, but the gesture came on instinct. “What will you do to punish her for running off?”
“I won’t harm her,” Kenneth said.
“Then why is she so afraid of you?” Cora demanded. “Why did she run away?”
Euann rushed into the front hall, breathing hard. “Watch him. Kenneth has new magick. He can slow time. Don’t let him get away.”
A bruise had formed on his chin, and he appeared as if he’d been in a fight. Cora met his gaze and held it. She wasn’t sure why, but she found comfort in his nearness. The churning inside of her calmed.
“I don’t have new magick. That was part of Jewel’s game. She wanted to confuse me so I couldn’t catch her,” Kenneth said. “She can’t control me directly, but she learned she can alter the time around me. Now that I caught her, the game is over, and I’m taking her home.”
“Ya can’t go,” Euann insisted.
“Everyone relax,” Raibeart commanded. “Kenneth, you’re home where ya belong. Ya will stay with the lassie here. That is an order from your elder.”
“Thank ya for the offer but—” Kenneth began.
“Did that sound like an offer? I’ll petrify ya if I have to,” Raibeart warned, “but ya will not leave this place until ya have seen your poor ma and put her at ease. Ya broke her heart when ya went missing.”
That seemed to dent the hard shell Kenneth obviously carried around his emotions. His expression changed into one of regret, or was it sorrow? Cora couldn’t be sure which.
“Are the protection spells enforced?” Kenneth asked.
“Yes. I’ve seen to them. With the power emanating from this land, they are stronger than ever,” Euann said. “You’re safe here.”
Kenneth didn’t look so sure. His eyes darted around the room as if assessing danger. His attention lingered on the door and windows. He finally nodded. “Maybe for one night.”
“We have a room set aside for ya,” Rory said.
“Ya do?” Kenneth frowned. “Why?”
“Because your ma never gave up hope of your return,” Raibeart said.
“None of us has,” Euann added. “Where have ya been, Kenneth? What happened? Please, ya have to tell us something.”
Kenneth didn’t answer.
“Jewel found me in Oklahoma,” Cora supplied. “If that helps?”
“Oklahoma?” Euann repeated. “Was it a portal? What happened? We lost your trail in West Virginia. We only made it that far because I tracked your credit cards.”
Kenneth still didn’t answer.
“It wasn’t anything magickal, was it? Ya just left us.” Euann’s eyes widened in realization. “All this time, ya never tried to contact us. Ya just left without word. That is why ya won’t answer the question.”
The feeling that settled over the front hall was impossible to describe. Silence filled the home, and even the air seemed thick and motionless. The only tangible thing pulsating over the room was the feeling of heartache.
Cora watched the members of the MacGregor family. When no one spoke, she asked, “May I ask something?”
All eyes turned to her.
“Why is everyon
e acting like this is okay and normal? I’ve been freaking out since the moment I met Jewel. Before then the most magic I’ve seen is from illusionists on a Vegas stage.”
“You’re thinking about magic tricks,” Rory said. “We possess something much older, real magick. All that ya think is impossible just became possible.”
“But don’t be scared,” Euann tried to reassure her. “We’re just like ya. We’re not bad people.”
“Only a few centuries older,” Raibeart put forth.
“Centuries?” The word came out an uneven whisper. “You’re nothing like me.”
“Ya think we would be better at explaining this to humans,” Euann mumbled.
“Jewel, let’s play the sleeping game,” Kenneth whispered. “I’ll give ya a head start.”
“One, two, three,” Kenneth and Jewel counted in unison, only to have Kenneth finish on his own. “Four.”
Jewel sighed, fast asleep.
Kenneth lifted the child off the floor, away from Cora. He looked Cora over, longer than she would have deemed appropriate. “I am sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Cora said, even though in a lot of ways nothing about this adventure was fine. “I’m sure she meant no harm.”
“Raibeart?” Kenneth nodded once at Cora.
“Aye, I see it,” Raibeart answered. “We’ll look after her.”
“What am I missing?” Rory asked.
“She needs to stay here, too,” Kenneth stated, not looking at Cora again. He adjusted his daughter in his arms. “Where can I put Jewel?”
“Rory.” Raibeart pointed up the stairs by way of a command.
“Ya can put her in Malina’s room. Follow me.” Rory led Kenneth up the stairs.
Cora pushed to her feet but stayed close to the door. She felt dizzy. “Why are you looking at me like that? What do you see?”
“Ya have a mark of sorts,” Raibeart said.
“Don’t scare her,” Euann stated.
Raibeart didn’t stop explaining. “Ya were in the presence of the phoenix for too long. But don’t worry. We can help ya.”
“It’s not just that,” Euann added. “She gave ya magick during one of her games. When ya were sleeping, she had me…”
Kisses and Curses Page 4