by Linsey Hall
“Shit,” I said. “Stop the car.”
Aidan pulled to a halt.
“That’s it ahead, but we need to approach on foot,” I said. We were about as close as we were going to get in the car anyway. “I have a feeling this is going to be a problem.”
“Her abductor didn’t take her far.”
“No. He must not have a transport charm.” I used them occasionally, but they were damned hard to come by. “And even if they did, this is a good place to hide out. If it’s what I think it is, it’s very protected.”
I climbed out of the car. Sharp wind cut through my leather jacket. I shivered. Even in summer, the Highlands were chilly. And night was falling. Sunset would come any second now.
We made our way silently up the mountain, careful not to let rocks slide beneath our feet. When I neared the flat wall that protruded from the mountainside, the electric zip of protective magic streaked across my skin. It prickled uncomfortably, warning me away.
“Strong magic,” Aidan muttered.
“Yeah,” I whispered. “The ancients who built this were good with protective spells.”
My gaze roved over the stone wall. I could see no door or hidden entry. Just a flat expanse of stone blocks. I skirted around it and gestured to Aidan to follow me. I scrambled up the last bit of the mountain toward the dome at the top, trying to keep my footing on the steepest bit.
I reached the edge of the dome. Because we were standing above the main part of the temple, the magic was even stronger here. Tiny electric shocks skittered all over my skin. If we screwed with this kind of magic or tried to break in, the protective spells would put up a hell of a fight. Might even collapse the temple, sealing in its contents.
And Amara.
Damn, it was getting dark. I glanced back over my shoulder to see that the sun had disappeared beneath the mountains. We needed to make this quick.
I turned back to the dome. There was enough light to see that the great stone blocks were fitted carefully together to form the gracefully curved shape, a feat of ancient engineering that impressed even me. Stone blocks of a darker shade of brown spelled out Camhanaich.
Dawn in ancient Scots Gaelic. I couldn’t speak the language, but I’d raided two Dawn Temples before, so I recognized the shape of the word even if I couldn’t speak the language.
Disappointment pierced me, sharp and bitter, and my shoulders sagged.
I wanted to stomp my feet and scream my frustration to the night, but I didn’t want to alert whoever was inside the temple. They probably wouldn’t hear me through all the rock, but better safe than sorry.
“We gotta get out of here,” I whispered. “Back to the car.”
“We can’t just leave her.”
My heart twisted at the idea of the little girl trapped in the temple. “I know, damn it. Just trust me for now.”
We made our way down the mountain, careful to keep our steps quiet. When we slipped back into the car, Aidan turned to me.
“What the hell was that?” he asked.
“That was a Dawn Temple.”
“A what?”
“It’s locked until dawn. And I mean locked. Those enchantments are serious. I didn’t want whoever was in there to hear us talking, though it was unlikely.”
“What’s a Dawn Temple?”
“They were built thousands of years ago by a group of Magica who worshipped the sun. You know how human archaeological sites like the Mayan pyramids are built to allow the sun’s rays into a special chamber at the solstice?”
“Yeah. This does that too?”
“Worse. These temples were built as places of worship. Like many religions, they had holy relics they wanted to protect. I’ve raided a couple. They took a page out of the humans’ book—or vise versa, I don’t know—and made it so that these temples will use the sun’s rays to trigger a spell that lowers the protection spells at dawn so that it can be entered.”
I pointed to the flat stone wall we’d passed that had looked like it had no door. “That’s the entrance. It’s the only part of the temple that’s not made of mountain, besides the dome at the top. We’ll still have to figure out how exactly to get in because I don’t see a normal door, but at least we’ll have a shot once the protections are lowered.”
He nodded. “And the dome is the part that catches the sun’s light. That’s why it says ‘Dawn.’ It triggers a spell.”
“Yep. You speak Scots Gaelic?”
“Yes.”
“Talented.”
“You have no idea.”
“And cocky.”
“It’s not cocky if it’s true.” His grave gaze turned back to the temple. “So you’re saying we can’t get in until dawn.”
“Right. It’s impenetrable. The protective spells are too strong.”
“I felt that. I might be able to blow through the top. Or move the rock somehow.”
“Possibly, but whoever built this took Elemental Mages into account. Even if you could get in, it wouldn’t be without a big mess. It’d alert whoever is inside. If they have a transport charm, they could run with Amara. Or hurt her.”
“Agreed. The risk is too great. They don’t want to kill her because they need her. So we’ll come back tomorrow at dawn and sneak in.”
“Yeah. We’ll still have to figure out how to get in, but the worst of the protective magic should be dropped.”
“Once we’re in, we won’t be able to get out until the next dawn, right?”
“Depends on the spell. Most of the time, they just wanted to keep people out. We won’t know until we get in if we’re going to have to wait till the next dawn to leave.”
“We’ll deal with it then. In the meantime, we need to find a place to stay the night. Close enough that it’s easy to get back here early.”
“I’m not going back to Glencarrough.” I shivered. We hadn’t driven past any towns between here and the stronghold, but no way I’d go back there. We’d have to find something. “What’s near here?”
His shoulders tightened and his knuckles turned white where he gripped the wheel. I could almost feel his tension.
He sighed. “I know a place nearby. No one will bother us there.”
He started the engine, then did a three-point turn on the little road.
“But you don’t want to go there,” I said. “Why?”
“Not particularly, but it’s safe and close. That’s more than we can say for anything else around here. It’d be stupid not to take advantage.”
I frowned when he didn’t answer the why in my question, but dropped it. “Okay.”
About thirty minutes later, Aidan pulled the Range Rover onto an even smaller gravel road. A sharp zing of protective spells zipped through me, like a thousand pricks of a pin. I wanted to turn back immediately, which was no doubt the purpose of the spell.
“Ouch. You weren’t kidding about this place being protected.” The way the magic pricked against my skin was enough warning to stay away.
I glanced at him. His brow was furrowed and his fists gripped around the wheel. “You feel it too? Aren’t they your protection spells?”
If so, he should be exempt. Like how I could enter Ancient Magic when it was locked up, but other people couldn’t.
“They aren’t my spells,” he said. “They’re old. About twenty years. But they were made to allow me to enter. If they weren’t, they’d have knocked me and you on our asses about a hundred yards ago. They’re just so strong that they even affect people who are allowed to be here. It’ll pass.”
Weird. I’d never heard of protection spells that strong. From what I could feel, it was like an invisible force field that repelled anyone who wasn’t Aidan or his invited guest. That took a lot of magic. Considering how swank his place in Ireland was, I couldn’t wait to see this place. Must be a castle.
The car slowed as we reached a collection of small buildings. Though it was dark, the moon was full enough that I could make out the stone structures with thatched roofs.
They were tiny and run down. When Aidan pulled the car to a halt in front of the largest building and got out, I frowned.
This was the place those badass protection spells were guarding? It was a hovel compared to his house in Ireland. It was a hovel compared to pretty much any house. Whoever had owned this place didn’t have a lot of money, so why had they spent such a massive amount on protection spells? Spells this strong usually took a few Magica to create. They’d be pricey.
Aidan got out of the car and I followed.
The chill night air hit me. I wrapped my arms around myself. “What is this place?”
Aidan grabbed the bags from the trunk and headed toward the front door.
“Aidan? Did you hear me?” I ran to catch up.
“Yeah.” His voice was gruff. “Sorry, mind wandered. It’s just a place I own.”
He stepped onto the stoop and ran his hand along the perimeter of the wooden door, no doubt unlocking another protection spell. When he removed his hand, some of the prickling on my skin dissipated, like the spell had deactivated. It was now almost comfortable to be here.
Almost.
Aidan pushed open the heavy wooden door and stepped over the threshold. He waved a hand and a few lanterns burst into flame, sending a dim glow around the small cottage.
“Being an Elemental Mage sure is handy,” I said absently as I took in the room.
He grunted and walked to the rustic kitchen in the corner and put the bags on the small counter. I couldn’t see a microwave or anything modern like that, but there was an ancient fridge, and the rest of the space was equally old-fashioned. There was a tiny living room with no TV and a dining nook with a sturdy oak table.
“So this isn’t your hunting lodge?” I asked. It was the only thing I could think of for a place as remote as this, but I couldn’t imagine a guy like Aidan here. He was rich as hell and this place wasn’t charming rustic. It was just rustic rustic.
Added to that, he really didn’t seem happy to be here. His shoulders were tense, and he wasn’t usually so silent. Worse, his magic felt more chaotic, like he had less control of it. The sound of crashing ocean waves that I usually associated with his magic but didn’t often hear was thunderous. And his magic’s forest scent was stronger than ever, like a rainstorm had stirred up the evergreen.
“No,” he said. “I’m going to go get some firewood.”
Bemused, I watched him stomp out the door.
Very weird.
I touched the silver charm at my neck, using my magic to ignite its spell. I had a cellphone, but international fees were a bitch, so I preferred using my comms charm to get in touch with my deirfiúr when on jobs.
“Nix?” I said. “Del?”
There was a crackle and rustle, then Del’s voice came through. “Hey! How’s it going? What’s the job? Are we rich yet?”
I almost laughed, but the thought of Amara crushed it.
“Cass? Del?” Nix’s voice came through clearly.
“Hi, Nix,” I said as I walked to the sunken couch and sat.
“Hey. How are you? Are you being safe?”
“Yes.”
“What’s the job?” Del asked.
“Is it dangerous?” Nix added.
My voice caught in my throat. “It’s a little girl named Amara. She was stolen from the Alpha Council stronghold.”
There was silence at the other end.
“Shiiit,” Del finally breathed.
“That sucks.”
I told them all about the Heartstone and Amara’s role in tending it. “And I’ve found her. I just can’t get to her until tomorrow morning when the protections around the Dawn Temple drop.”
“Damn. But at least they need her alive so that she can tend the stone, right?” Nix asked.
“Yeah.” It was the only thought keeping me going, honestly.
“Where are you now?” Del asked.
“Some weird, ramshackle cabin that Aidan owns. But it’s surrounded by more protection spells than even his estate in Ireland. But it’s a dump. It totally doesn’t fit with his lifestyle of private planes and estates. Honestly, it’s more our speed.”
Until we’d settled in Magic’s Bend and started making some decent money off of Ancient Magic, we’d stayed in a lot of places like this. Hell, this was nice compared to the barns and abandoned shacks we’d lived in our first couple years on the run.
I glanced down at the little wooden table next to the couch. My eye caught on a carving. I leaned closer.
Aidan.
The name was scratched in awkwardly, as if by a child.
“Holy shit,” I breathed.
“What?” Nix demanded.
“His name is scratched into the table. I think he grew up here.”
“Weird. So he didn’t come from money.”
“No. He made it himself. He told me that much before. But he never mentioned he grew up like this.” The prickle of the protection spells that affected even him popped into my mind. “It’s not the poverty. It’s the protection spells I’m weirded out by.”
“Yeah, that’s strange,” Nix said. “Ask him about it.”
“Yeah, I will.”
“By the way,” Del said. “That scroll is still sitting in your trove, right? Along with the Chalice of Youth.”
“Yeah.” I knew I needed to find a safe place for the two dangerous items I’d recovered on the job I’d done with Aidan last week. “But if he gets the scroll, he can read it and find out that you and Nix are FireSouls as well.”
It was one of the big reasons I didn’t want to give it to him.
“I know,” Del said. “But if we trust him with your life, we trust him with ours. You know he’s the best person to take care of the scroll. He could lock them up in some super vault he probably has.”
True. It was literally Aidan’s job to protect stuff. But still, Del was always the least wary of us.
“I don’t know, Del. Your life is more valuable to me than my own. And Nix’s. I’ve got a lot to lose here, so I’m wary. There’s so much I don’t know about him. He’s too good to be true, right?”
“That house doesn’t sound too good to be true,” Nix said. “Talk to him some more. Learn about him.”
“I actually like that his origins are closer to ours. It’s the protection spells that bother me. Whoever lived here was poor. If they put so much money into buying these spells… That says nothing good.”
“Ask him about it,” Nix demanded. “Seriously. Not just for your own curiosity. We need a place to store that damn scroll and the Chalice of Youth. It’s dangerous having it in your trove. If you trust him, I trust him.”
“Okay, okay. I will,” I said. “Look, I’ve got to go. I’ll get in touch with you soon.”
“Thanks for checking in,” Nix said.
“Yeah. And good luck with the kid.”
“Thanks, Del. Talk to you guys later.” I pressed my fingers to the charm again and the connection broke.
I couldn’t help but run my fingers over the Aidan carved into the table before I stood and went to the little kitchen. What had his childhood been like, living in this place?
There was too much I didn’t know about him. Maybe if I fed him, he’d be more inclined to talk.
I sorted through the bags on the counter, putting the one full of Amara’s clothes to the side and digging some chips out of one of the canvas bags full of snacks. I peered into the cooler and found a dozen big sandwiches and tiny foil packets of mustard and mayo. I silently thanked Matthias and the Alpha Council for being so well-prepared. There was enough here to eat and still have plenty left over for tomorrow when we got Amara.
I dug out a few sandwiches and some drinks—cans of the Scottish soda Irn Bru—then grabbed the chips and carried them to the table. I was setting them down as Aidan entered, his arms full of freshly split wood.
He kicked the door shut behind him and carried the wood over to the fire.
“You’re pretty good with an axe,” I sai
d as I watched him lay the pale wood in the fire.
“Had some practice,” he said as he waved his hand at the wood. It burst into flame.
“Why did you need to get the wood? Can’t you just make fire?”
“Yeah, but it’s easier if there’s something to burn. This way, I can just ignore it once it’s lit.” He shook out his arms, as if an uncomfortable chill had raced over them.
It was weird to see him out of sorts. Normally, he was so relaxed and in control of a situation. But this place had him on edge.
“I got us some dinner,” I said, gesturing to the food on the table.
“Thanks.” He took the chair next to me. Up close, there were shadows in his eyes.
I unwrapped my sandwich and bit in, giving Aidan a chance to get some food in him before I interrogated him. I sure as hell wouldn’t answer painful questions if I was hungry, so wouldn’t he be the same?
Also, I didn’t like talking about difficult stuff. I had enough bad shit in my past that I liked to focus on the good.
I swallowed the last bite of my sandwich. “So, did you grow up here?”
Aidan’s gaze met mine and he stopped chewing. After a second, he swallowed and said, “Why do you ask?”
“Your name is carved into that little end table over there.”
“Yeah. I did.”
“That’s cool.”
He glanced around at the place. “Not really.”
“This place is fine,” I said. “You should see some of the places Del, Nix, and I have lived. Yikes.”
“Yeah, but none of them were locked down like Fort Knox. Even I can feel the prickle of the spells.”
I winced. This was the tricky part. “That’s true. So, uh, why all the protection spells? I haven’t felt anything like this before. Not even in tombs filled with tons of gold. I mean, unless you’ve got some treasure locked away in those other buildings, it seems pretty intense.”
And by intense, I meant utterly nuts. It was like the human equivalent of building six lava-filled moats around a shack in the woods. And I could feel that there was no treasure. My dragon sense usually picked up on that kind of thing.
“Intense is one way to put it. And those other buildings are just a workshop and a piecemeal gym. There’s no treasure, so don’t get any ideas.” Despite the shadows in his eyes, his mouth tugged up at the corner.