The sound of murmuring voices came from the television, but they’d stopped paying attention to the show. They heard Jim’s paws running playfully around on the floor. The dog was obsessed with a squeaky hamburger toy Bruce had brought him.
“All it takes is a dash of destiny, and everything can change,” she answered.
Rory chuckled.
She leaned back to study him. “What?”
“That’s rather deep thinking,” he said. “You’re being philosophical, and I was thinking about…now I’m not sure I want to say.”
“Now you have to say,” she skated her fingertips along his arm, drawing aimless patterns.
He grinned. “How beautiful your arse is.”
Jennifer laughed. “Your arse isn’t too bad, either.”
“I like that phrasing.” He kissed her neck. “All it takes is a dash of destiny.”
“It was the last thing my mother said to me,” she admitted. “Though, I don’t want to talk about her right now when we’re lying here like this.”
“Do ya want your clothes?” he offered.
“I want your kisses before I have to get up and get ready for my shift,” she said.
“Gladly.” Rory leaned over and kissed her.
Jennifer reached for his face. She intended to keep him close, but her fist clenched.
“Oh, ow, love, that—” Rory reached toward where her hand pulled his hair.
Her hand shook, and a white heat ran down her arm. When it hit her shoulder, the sensation exploded into her body in liquid hot rage.
Jim began barking, the high-pitched yelp sounding distressed.
“There you are,” she ground out, unable to stop the words.
An outside force took over her body, causing her limbs to spasm. Jennifer kept hold of him as her free hand slapped against the mattress. Her fingers splayed, searching.
“Jennifer? Love, it’s me. Rory. Ya don’t want to do this.” He dug his hands underneath her grip on his hair and tried to pry them away from his head.
“There you are,” she said through clenched teeth. This was not what she wanted to say. This was not what she wanted to do.
“Jennifer, please,” Rory begged.
Jim barked louder.
“Hey, is everything all right?” Maura yelled as pounding started on the door.
Bruce and Maura charged into the room.
“Jennifer, no!” Maura shouted.
A yellow light flashed. Jennifer’s body began to stiffen.
“There you—”
“Ow,” Rory grunted.
Jennifer became as hard as a statue beneath him at the petrifying spell his sister cast to stop the attack. Her fist still gripped his hair.
“Please tell me you’re not naked under those covers,” Maura said.
“Aye,” Rory answered, trying to pry himself free. “A little help here.”
“Maura, get scissors,” Bruce instructed.
“Aye,” Maura answered. Rory heard her footsteps hurrying from the room.
Rory braced his weight and called forth his magick to clothe Jennifer’s statuesque form. His energy was weak, but at least it worked now that she was immobilized. The second that she’d attacked, he had been unable to fight her.
“So, what did ya do?” Bruce appeared next to the bed holding Jim.
“It’s the spell. It traps me and leaves me helpless to…” Rory grumbled, trying to pull the hair from his head to break free. Jennifer’s face was trapped with a snarling expression. Her eyes were narrowed as if they still stared at him, but he knew she couldn’t see in her current state.
“Helpless to?” Bruce prompted. “I didn’t quite catch that last part.”
“Helpless so she can stab me with a knife,” he answered.
“Knife?” Bruce walked around to the other side of the bed. “Oh, what do ya know. She’s holding a knife. When Maura comes with the scissors, I wouldn’t move around too much. Ya might stab yourself in the side.”
Maura rushed back into the room. “Don’t move, Rory.”
“Oh, aye, I was just about to pop out for a movie,” Rory answered.
“Don’t take your bad mood out on me,” Maura said.
“Oh, wait,” Bruce said, grabbing their sister’s arm as she tried to lean onto the bed. He took out his phone and snapped a picture.
“Dammit, Bruce,” Rory jerked his head to no avail. “This isn’t a joke.”
“No, but it is kind of funny,” Maura said. “Send me a copy.”
“This will be my entry for the family Christmas card this year,” Bruce said. “Unless she kills ya. Then it would be in bad taste.”
“Hold still,” Maura instructed. “I don’t want to cut ya.”
He heard the scissors slicing through his hair as the grip on his head eased.
“Careful, there’s a knife near your side,” Maura said as she cut the last of his trapped hair. He sat back slowly, barely missing the blade Jennifer wielded toward him.
“I’d be happy to teach ya about pleasing a woman,” Bruce offered with a snicker. “Ya know, so this kind of thing doesn’t happen again.”
“This isn’t funny,” Rory stated.
“No, it wouldn’t be funny if she stabbed ya. As it is, she merely tried to stab ya, and that’s a bit funny,” Bruce countered.
Rory saw his kilt on the floor and gestured toward it with his hand, magickally dressing before he came from under the covers.
“She looks…” Maura angled her head and studied Jennifer. “Outraged.”
“Aye.” Rory rubbed his sore head, feeling the uneven locks. He didn’t care that they were cut.
There you are.
He couldn’t get that creepy voice out of his mind.
“This is too close,” Maura said. “I know ya wanted to stay here to make sure she was better, but this isn’t better. She came close to succeeding in her mission.”
“It’s not her mission. She’s under a spell,” Rory denied. Even as he said it, he stared at the blade. A few seconds more and he would’ve been impaled upon it. “This isn’t Jennifer’s doing. She’s being used.”
“Regardless, ya know we need the help of the others on this,” Bruce said.
“She doesn’t want to go to the mansion.” Rory sat on the bed next to her and touched her stony face.
“I understand that ya want to honor her wishes, but it’s no longer her call to make.” Maura patted his shoulder. “It’s time we took her to the mansion. Look at her face, Rory. See for yourself how strong this spell is.”
Rory stroked Jennifer’s face. He didn’t want these days sequestered with her to end, but as he looked into her angry, statue eyes, he knew that it was already over.
“I love her,” Rory said.
“We know.” Maura touched Jennifer’s fist where soft strands of Rory’s hair still splayed from between her fingers.
“I don’t want to be without her. Even if it means she’ll kill me,” Rory said. “If I have to die—”
“How about we leave the dramatics of star-crossed lovers for Shakespeare?” Bruce interrupted. He still held Jim. “We can put her in the back of the truck. I have a tarp and some tie-downs. Everyone will think we’re transporting a Greek statue.”
“Good idea,” Maura said.
“Wait—” Rory frowned. “She’s not furniture.”
“Do ya have a better idea? She’ll weigh a ton in this state, and we can’t exactly bend her knees to make her sit in your car.” Bruce arched a brow as he awaited an answer that didn’t come. “I’ll pull around front. Try to get her ready to transport.”
Bruce left the room carrying Jim.
“I’ll call ma and let her know we’re coming,” Maura said. “We should try to get that knife out her hand before she thaws.”
Chapter Sixteen
Jennifer felt heavy. She couldn’t lift her arms or legs. Her vision was blurred, and though she was sure she blinked, she couldn’t detect the gentle pressure. Patterns of light s
hifted and moved in front of her, but she couldn’t make out the exact shapes.
“I think she’s coming to.” Cait MacGregor’s voice was the last thing Jennifer wanted to hear.
Had they drugged her again?
Were her lungs taking in air?
Why couldn’t she move?
She started to panic. What kind of new hell was this?
Someone pried at her hand.
“Got it,” Cait said. “Angus could you put this horrible knife somewhere, anywhere? Maybe take it through the mirror portal to Erik’s house and tell him to keep an eye on it for us. The vault isn’t working, and we need to keep it away from her if possible.”
“Aye. Margareta is already there visiting Lydia,” Angus answered. “They say they’re coming up with tea blends, but I know they’re playing with potions.”
“Better not be love potions. I can’t handle more of Erik’s singing,” Euann said.
The blurry shadows moved, but Jennifer couldn’t turn her head to watch them. However, she could follow what they were saying, but she knew there was more to the story she didn’t understand—mirror portals and love potions?
“Do ya think she can hear us?” Euann asked.
Yes. Yes, I can hear you.
A steady rhythm bumped against her shoulder several times.
“Hey, stop that,” Rory ordered.
“She looks angry,” Euann observed. “I almost don’t recognize her with that expression.”
Rory? What’s happening? What’s wrong with me?
“Is that our Jenny Greentooth?” Raibeart’s voice sounded far away. “Looks like she put on a little weight.”
Hey!
Well, they had been eating a lot of fast food lately, but still…
“Ya better be careful, brother,” Murdoch said. “This lassie knows how to wield a knife.”
“Petrifying spells tend to add a few hundred pounds,” Bruce said. “We had to haul her in the back of my truck just to get her here.”
She again had the vague impression that someone touched her, this time patting her head.
Hello. I’m right here. Why is everyone talking around me?
They didn’t answer. Jennifer hated this. She felt as if she screamed through a fog.
Am I dead?
“Don’t ya listen to him, Jennifer,” Murdoch said. “Ya are lovely.”
No. No, that can’t be it. They’re not talking like I’m dead.
Hello? Rory? Rory, can you hear me?
“Stop looking at me like that, ma. I know you’re stupid rule about not petrifying each other, but I had to do something,” Maura said.
Petrify? Like fossilized wood or something? Is that what happened?
“She was going to stab Rory,” Maura continued.
“We were lucky to get there in time to stop her,” Bruce added. “Thanks to Maura’s quick thinking.”
Oh, crap. Did I try to kill Rory again?
Jennifer remembered being in bed with him, kissing him.
Hear me, Rory. Hear me. Connect with my mind.
Jennifer didn’t expect her mind-meld experiment to work, but hey, it was worth a try. She concentrated on projecting her thoughts to him.
Rory. Rory. Rory.
“What happened to your crocheted jumper monstrosity?” Rory asked.
“Och, don’t mention that devil’s garment! It might have looked good, but after a time, the breeze holes weren’t so breezy,” Raibeart said. “Yarn against the man-baubles is not an inspired idea. They’re meant to be flashed, not chafed.”
“Is that why you’re walking like ya just hopped off the back of a horse?” Euann teased.
“Green Vallis is a respectable place,” Cait insisted, “not a nudist colony. Naked runs in the forest are one thing, but ya cannot keep going into town without clothes.”
“I don’t know. I think some of the locals could use a little naked time,” Maura put forth wryly.
Laughter met her statement, but somehow, even without being able to see, Jennifer guessed Cait wasn’t one of those laughing.
“Just yesterday, we had this woman pretending to be interested in renting rooms by the hour,” Maura continued, “but it was more like she wanted me to admit we would do it. She kept winking at me. It was unsettling.”
“About this tall, short gray hair, and a pencil tucked behind her ear?” Euann asked.
“Yes,” Bruce answered. “That’s her.”
Callister. It’s Callister.
“Mrs. Callister,” Euann stated.
I knew it!
It was like she was a child, and Jennifer had to be quiet while the adults talked over her. She found it annoying.
“Mrs. Callister thinks she’s a journalist. She has a gossip blog and likes to make up lies about people,” Euann said. “I bet ya a hundred dollars she’s about to post a story about the prostitution ring you’re running out of the motel.”
“Ah, and I wanted that guest services’ feature to be a surprise,” Maura pouted.
A choking noise sounded.
“Ma, that was a joke,” Maura said.
“Ya were not blessed with humor,” Cait stated.
“Raibeart, why don’t ya take one for the town and go ask that Mrs. Callister if she’ll marry ya,” Rory asked. “Keep her busy and off the internet. Jennifer said she’s been posting lies about them as well, implying they take men to the back room during their shifts.”
“That’s one woman I don’t want saying aye to my proposal,” Raibeart answered. “If that is who my friend Fate had in mind, I’ll throw that miserable fish back into the ocean.”
“What is her obsession with prostitution?” Euann wondered aloud.
“What are ya grumbling about?” Rory asked. “She has a crush on ya, and only writes nice flowery poetry about her sweet Euann. What did she call ya? A breath of fresh Scottish air? A kilted example of masculinity?”
“Not since I married Cora,” Euann said. “Now, I might be a pickpocket.”
Hey, guys, anyone want to tell me how long I’m going to be stuck like this?
Jennifer hated this. All she had was her blurry vision and the sound of their voices moving around her.
“Ya should let me fix that haircut while we’re waiting,” Cait said. “Ya look like your sister hacked ya with a chainsaw.”
“Stop fussing. It’s fine, Ma,” Rory dismissed. “I don’t care about my hair. We need to focus on breaking Jennifer’s enchantment the second this petrifying spell wears off.”
“He’s right, Ma,” Bruce said. “We can all see she loves Rory.”
“Aye,” Maura agreed. “Until the enchantment takes over. Then she wants to kill him.”
“Some would say that’s how true love works,” Murdoch joked.
That’s not fair. I didn’t say that yet. I mean, yes, sure, I have feelings for him. Yes, I probably do love him, which kind of scares me. And he did tell his siblings he loved me, but we haven’t had that talk. It’s not a talk I want to include his poisonous mother on. Rory and I are still getting to know each other. We’re still in the fun sex phase of things. I mean, have ya see Rory naked? It’s a little hard to think of anything else.
“Oh, aye, lassie, I have seen Rory naked,” Raibeart said. She felt another pat on her shoulder. “He is an unfortunate looking lad, but ya have a good heart to love him like ya do.”
Wait. What? Did you hear that, Raibeart?
“Of course I heard that,” Raibeart answered.
“Heard what?” Rory asked. “Who’s unfortunate looking?”
“Raibeart?” Cait insisted.
What’s happening to me? Jennifer thought.
“I’m talking to Jennifer,” Raibeart said. “Someone should. Ya have all been ignoring her.”
“Ya can hear her?” Rory asked. “What’s she saying? Is she angry? Is she in pain? Is she scared?”
“Ya can’t hear her?” Raibeart asked.
“What’s she saying?” Rory insisted.
�
��She’s thinking of your naked arse,” Raibeart answered.
I didn’t say that!
“She says mine is better,” Raibeart continued. “And she says she’s been seriously considering my marriage proposal.”
What? No, I—
“He can’t hear her,” Rory dismissed. “She would never say that.”
Raibeart, tell them you can hear me!
“I can hear her,” Raibeart said, “and she has a thing for me, as all the ladies do. Obviously, we’re connected.”
No, tell them you can hear me for real.
“For real,” Raibeart added.
“Do ya need to be here?” Rory asked his uncle. “This is serious.”
No, don’t go. I’m scared. Tell Rory I’m afraid. How long will I be like this?
“Laddie can’t take a joke,” Raibeart said, and she felt that he’d leaned closer to her.
Tell—
“Oh, aye, Jenny, I’ll tell them. I can hear her. She’s in love with ya, but she’s confused like most bog wenches. I think it’s all that time they spend suspended in the muck. Unlucky lot. Tend to go mad. Touched in the head, but it can’t be helped.” Raibeart chuckled. “She doesn’t care for ya much, Cait.”
What? No, don’t say that! Jennifer continued trying to mind-tell him to shut up even as he kept talking.
“I think she’s plotting against ya cause she doesn’t want me to tell ya she called ya a poisonous—what did ya call her? I’m having a little trouble with all the yelling.”
“Jennifer, love, if ya can hear me, everything is going to be all right. We’re back at the MacGregor home. Maura put ya in this state so we could stop the enchantment from killing me. It will wear off, and ya will be fine, I promise. But, for now, I think we need to stay here until the next episode hits.”
“Jennifer, it’s Cait,” Rory’s mother spoke loudly next to Jennifer’s face. “I did not try to poison ya. That was a small potion to bring out the truth so that we could help ya.”
“Don’t lie to her, Ma,” Maura said. “Ya did it to help Rory, not Jennifer. She deserves to hear the truth.”
“Help both of them,” Cait said, only to add louder, “Jennifer, I did it to help both of ya. I didn’t know it would bring the truth out in such literal terms. Choking on peat is very telling, though. It means ya have the bog witch inside ya, affecting ya.”
A Dash of Destiny (Warlocks MacGregor Book 8) Page 14