“But…but why?”
“If Dane has the power to use the Sword of Light, he has power within him. Take him to the Guardian.” He sucked in a sharp breath, releasing her wrist and laying back on the ground. “Stand together.”
“I can’t leave you here. Not with those things out here.”
“If you defeat…Ridgewood,” he said, “then you’ll defeat the hounds. Take this.” He pressed a dagger into her hand. “You may need it.”
She had no belt and the dress had no pockets so she tucked the small blade in her boot. Maybe it would come in handy later.
“Lord Perron!” It was Elwyn who had come to his side. She dropped to her knees next to Skye.
“Skye, come on.” Dane reached for her and dragged her to her feet. “We have to get inside the circle.”
“No, wait!” She turned back to Perron. “Stand with Naise?”
“Of course.” Elwyn looked at Dane. “He has untapped power. Go, then. I will see to the chieftain.”
Skye gripped Dane’s hand. “We have to help Naise.” She pulled him toward her as another flash of light shattered around them.
“Are you nuts? There’s nothing we can do.”
“Dane, Perron said if we stand with her, we can defeat him.” She reeled on him, gripping his arms.
“And you believe him?”
“Why would he lie?” She was taken aback. Was he jealous? “Don’t you understand? Now’s our chance. We can be done with him forever.” She nodded toward Ridgewood.
He paused, looking thoughtful as he considered her words.
“Please, Dane.”
He looked reluctant. “All right then. Let’s go.” The broadsword in his hand began to glow.
The sky clouded with dark black clouds over Stonehenge as Naise stood her ground. A cold, biting wind picked up, whipping through her long hair and her skirts. Skye stole a glance toward the circle, saw Ben clutching his daughter’s hand. Both of them watched the drama unfold with wide eyes.
“Naise!” Skye shouted over the din of the wind.
Naise and Ridgewood stared each other down as a mist swarmed their ankles. A white aura surrounded Naise while Ridgewood glowed a pale blue. Thunder vibrated the ground. Skye felt it all the way to the gums of her teeth.
“All I have to do is drop my arms,” Ridgewood said, “and they will attack.”
Skye and Dane paused next to Naise who continued to glare at the imposter. “Empty threats, Ridgewood.” She stood next to Skye, put one hand on her shoulder.
“I give you the power of wind,” she said low enough so only Skye could hear. “Search within yourself, make it come alive. Concentrate and let it unwind. Think of the land around you.”
Skye thought what it was like on a windy day in spring and when thunderstorms threatened to rip through town. She thought of the frightening gusty winds, the way the blackish gray clouds lowered and tiny tendrils reached toward the ground, ready to twist. And just then, the wind whipped up around them, tousling her hair and billowing her skirts.
Naise circled behind her to stand on the other side of Dane. She paused, placed a hand on his shoulder. “I give you the power of fire,” she said above the din.
“You are all fools!” Ridgewood cried.
“Channel it through the sword,” she said to Dane, ignoring Ridgewood. “We stand together against him.”
“As if you could defeat me.”
“Hold the sword steady, son,” Naise said. “With two hands in front of you.”
Dane did as she asked, stretching it out in front of him. Skye glanced over to see sweat rolling down his face. The sword glowed a blue-white light, illuminating the area around them while overhead the clouds darkened. Another thunderclap shook the ground and then a white lightning bolt split the inky black sky. It sent a jolt through her heart, making her nearly jump out of her skin. The large boulders of the outer circle shook, yet remained intact. A strangled gasp caught in her throat.
“Um…Dane?” But her voice couldn’t be heard over the wind. Her wind.
“Hold steady,” Naise shouted.
“Defeat is not possible.” Ridgewood’s voice was high-pitched and nearly a screech. “I release the hounds.”
The snarling creatures charged and Skye mentally braced herself. The wind whipped through them while Dane’s sword glowed brightly. She waited for the impact to come but it never did. Naise had placed a ward around them, protecting them.
Ridgewood’s eyes widened in horror as his animals were deflected from the three of them. He growled, fisting his hands at his side.
“You will not rob me of my power,” he shouted.
Skye never saw him move but felt the punch square in her chest. She stumbled backward, the breath knocked out of her but managed to stay on her feet.
“Skye!”
“Stay steady,” Naise warned. “Or he will break through the barrier.”
“I’m all right.” Skye regained her place next to Dane, her chest aching. She focused again, the wind gusting around them. She heard the howl of one of the creatures, making the hairs on her neck prickle. It was a mournful sound.
“Absolute power corrupts absolutely,” Skye shouted.
“It’s time we took him out.”
Dane lifted the sword toward Ridgewood as another thunderclap shook the ground. The sword wavered in his hands, his arms and hands shaking. Skye watched as it drooped toward the ground, as though he had lost the strength to hold it.
The creatures howled again, braying to the black sky. Ridgewood lifted his arms toward the heavens, as if to pull power from them. Lightning shot from the clouds and it seemed as though he held it in his palms before turning them on the three before him.
“Brace yourselves!”
The barrier around them shuddered right through her. She felt the vibration from the roots of her hair to the soles of her feet. She reached for Dane, clasped a hand around his forearm.
“Point the sword at him,” Naise said and even though her voice was low, Skye could still hear her. “Do not let him win.”
Dane pointed the blade directly at Ridgewood. Naise reached for Dane’s other arm, holding onto him. The three had joined and in that one final moment, a streak of light shot from the tip, striking the man in the center of his chest. Skye almost felt sorry for him when she saw his eyes widen. He stumbled backward but couldn’t escape the magic. He clutched his chest then lifted his arms to the sky again.
Naise sent another streak toward him. He convulsed, his body quivering in an unnatural way before finally falling to the ground.
With his death, the hounds stopped. Thunder rumbled the sky and Naise remained in place. The hounds’ heads lolled to one side of their grotesque bodies. Then, one by one, they fell to the ground. Dead.
All movement outside the circle ceased. Skye stared wide-eyed at the animal carcasses littering the ground, then at Naise. Her arms were by her side as she stood there. Only the breeze ruffled her hair and her long skirts.
Dane lowered the sword, sweat rolling down his face.
“Skye, you okay?” Dane asked.
“I’m…fine.” And I’m pregnant. “What just happened?”
Her heart fluttered madly in her chest. She pressed her hand against her abdomen, forcing herself not to blurt out the news.
“I think we had front row seats to the end of our nemesis,” he said.
Perron limped toward them, Elwyn at his side. He looked awful and held one arm against his side.
“Good work, Naise,” he said.
“Lord Perron, are you hurt?” Naise gave the chieftain a cursory glance.
“I will live.”
“It’s time we close the portal, now that we have our future Guardian.”
Perron’s brow glistened with sweat. “What of the girl?”
“She is here.”
“Where is she then?” Perron glanced around. “I want to see her.”
Naise’s gaze went over the small group then turned to the
sheriff and his daughter standing near the edge of the circle. She pointed to Lara. “There.”
“Bring them.”
“No,” Naise said. “We will go to them.”
Without waiting for Perron to reply, she walked toward them who waited at the east side of the stone circle. Skye slipped her hand in Dane’s as they headed there.
“Dane…they keep saying she’s the future Guardian.” Skye nodded toward Lara. “Perron told me they’d been looking for her for a while, that she should have been born to them but was somehow lost.”
“So they opened the portal and brought us all here,” he said.
“They opened the portal because Ridgewood coerced them into doing it. He meant to kill us here, Dane.”
“I know.” He squeezed her hand in reassurance. “At least we don’t have to worry about him anymore.”
I hope, she thought. In their time, before her parents were murdered, Ridgewood and Conner Dade were both still alive. But that was something Skye wasn’t prepared to think about.
“You know what this place is, don’t you?” he asked.
“Stonehenge,” she said, finally placing the familiar standing stones.
She stared at the mammoth stones, eyeing them. The Stonehenge she knew was ruins. Of course, this was the real thing before time etched away what Stonehenge really was. And it was the most magnificent place she’d ever seen.
“And there’s something else. I was in the circle earlier. The magic radiating from the stones. Can you feel it?”
“There is magic in the stones?” she asked, eyeing him. “You believe in that?”
“I do now. And you should, too, after what we just witnessed. If there really is a portal, like what they’re talking about, there could be a chance we can get home.”
“I thought of that, too.” She chewed her lower lip. “Does Ben still have the time bender?”
“He gave it to me. It’s in my pocket.”
Relieved to know her father’s invention was with them once again, she knew it still wouldn’t help them. The faulty time bender wasn’t going to get them home. Hopefully they could convince Naise and Perron to send them back.
Naise stopped, looking Ben up and down. Then her gaze paused on the little girl standing next to her father and reached for her.
Ben took a wary step backward, gripping his daughter’s hand.
Naise gave him a small smile. “She is the one. The girl is the future Guardian.”
“Guardian? What does that mean?” Ben’s gaze flickered from Naise to Skye and Dane, question in his dark eyes.
“Come. You will bring her into the circle. To the Altar Stone.” Naise looked at Perron then. “We must close the portal.”
“You’re not taking her anywhere.” Ben put his arm around her shoulders, holding her close.
“Pa.” Lara spoke for the first time. “I want to go. It’s all right.”
Ben looked down at her, surprise flickering over his weathered face. “Lara—”
“These aren’t the bad people. He was.” She pointed where Ridgewood’s body lay.
“You’re not taking my daughter.” Ben looked back at Naise and Perron.
“The girl belongs with us. She has the foresight. She knows things before they happen. Surely, you’ve seen this in her.”
Ben glanced down at the girl with her halo of blonde hair. He placed his hand on the crown of her head.
“Her mother died in childbirth, did she not?” Naise asked.
“She did. How would you know that?”
“We know.” Clearly, Naise wasn’t going to elaborate.
“You were right. She’s always been able to sense things before they happen.” Ben met her gaze. “But I can’t leave her here with you folks.”
“I assure you she will be unharmed.” She held out her hand to the girl and Lara wiggled away from her father to grasp it. “She is the one.” She cupped Lara’s chin, smiling down at her with a bright twinkle in her eyes.
“My other children…”
“Are safe, I assure you. We can send you back through the portal to them.”
“And she stays?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Lara?” He kneeled down to her level and held his arms out to her. She sat on his knee and smiled up at him. “You want to stay here with these people?”
“I like it here. She’s nice and pretty.” She pointed to Naise and then hugged his neck. “It’s all right, Pa. I know she won’t hurt me.”
“You aren’t going to…?” Skye couldn’t even finish the question.
“Gods, no, child,” Naise replied. “She will live a very long life. You have found your rightful place in the world at last, haven’t you, child?”
Lara, her bottom lip caught between her teeth, merely nodded. Naise granted her a quick wink, and then turned her attention to Ben. “She will remain here.”
He hugged her tight, fighting back tears, before releasing her and standing up. He wiped his cheek with the back of his hand and Skye could tell he was trying to be brave.
“I’m not sure it’s the right thing to do.”
“Your daughter has the potential to be quite powerful. This will not be the last time you see her.” Naise gave him a reassuring smile.
“Will she be safe here?” Ben eyed Lara who now clung to Naise’s hand.
“Of course. The young lady will become a Guardian, which is her true calling, and someday take my place.”
Lara spun on the ball of her foot and skipped toward the center of the circle. “I can feel it! Can’t you?” she called.
Ben gave Naise a wary glance.
“She will be fine.”
“If you harm one hair on her head—”
“We won’t.”
Ben nodded, clearly choked by emotion. “I’ll wait for you.” He thumbed toward the center.
“Wait, sheriff,” Dane said and the sheriff paused. “This Fields guy you want Clarabelle to marry? Don’t make her do it. Find someone more suitable. I don’t think cattle are worth more than your daughter.”
“And John needs some guidance, too,” Skye put in quickly.
“I’ve lost one,” the sheriff said. “I’m not going to lose the others.”
He entered the stone circle then, disappearing beyond the stones.
Naise turned to Skye and Dane. “Come, my friends. Once I return Lara’s father to his rightful place, I can send you home as well.”
“Tell me about the portal first,” Dane urged.
“There are many portals,” Naise replied, a small smile lingering on her lips.
“Naise, I command you to silence,” Perron said.
“But only one is open now. One that has led the girl and you to us, as I knew it would.” She glanced at Lara. “But now the time has come to close the portal.”
“But Ridgewood—” Dane began.
“An imposter,” Perron said.
“I had no idea he could harness the powers of hell.”
“And it was almost your undoing,” Perron said.
“If we hadn’t allowed him to think he was all powerful, we would have never retrieved the girl. And as for you…” She glanced down at the sword still in Dane’s hand. “You have the magic of Druids in your veins.”
“I’m no Druid.”
“There you are wrong,” Elwyn said. “I sensed it in you the moment I saw you in the circle. You were drawn here, were you not?”
“Enough of this! We must go into the circle and finish what has begun.” Perron brushed past them, impatient.
“By your command.” Naise bowed to Perron as he and Elwyn walked into the circle.
But Naise held back, still eyeing Skye and Dane. “Tell me. What is your wish?”
Skye and Dane exchanged a knowing glance. Now’s our chance, she thought.
“If you can send the sheriff home, then send us home,” he said.
“And where is home?” Naise asked, her eyes never wavering from Dane’s face.
; Before Dane could answer, she reached for him again, pressed her fingers into the flesh of his forearm and closed her eyes.
“I see a great city, full of people. Tall buildings. There are other things I see I cannot name. Strange things. Wondrous things.”
Skye glanced at Dane, whose eyebrows rose. He looked at her and she could read the incredulity in his face. Naise named things in their world only they could know about. Tall buildings and a great city. Skye was amazed she could see their home just by touching Dane.
“I can send you through the portal,” she said.
“We have another request,” Skye said. “We want to go back to a certain time.”
Naise turned her gaze on her then and for the first time, Skye felt as though she wanted to shrink away. “And why is that?”
“We need to save her parents before they’re killed,” he said.
The woman looked at them thoughtfully. “I cannot send you back to a time when you will cross paths with your former self. It is against the laws of time. Even your father knew that, Skye Ransom.”
Skye stood there blank, amazed and suddenly frightened. How would she know about her father?
“Nonetheless, there is possibly a way.” She paused, thinking. “It is Samhain, when the power of the stones is at its greatest. I can send you both back to your lives as they were before. Your souls will be returned to that time you seek. But know this…there are serious consequences. Things will not be as they are now. Things you know will be forgotten.”
“Are you saying we’ll lose our memories?” Dane asked.
“You will not know each other as you do now. However, I will grant only one of you to retain your memory. If you wish to risk it, I can send you back before we close the portal.”
“Give us a minute to decide.”
With a nod, Naise left them there and entered the circle. Dane gripped her hand and tugged her from the standing stones, down the slope and up again, hurrying as far from it as they could get.
“Where are we going?”
“Away from here.”
She didn’t want to talk, to think, or decide. Maybe he didn’t either, she thought, as he walked with a purposeful stride closer to the woods, past the dead carcasses of the animals and Ridgewood’s crumpled body. He paused and dropped the sword before clutching her to him, hugging her close. It felt like a goodbye. And she hated goodbyes.
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