by Jennae Vale
“That was fine when your uncle was there with you, but a woman alone shouldn’t be sleeping out there with all those men.”
“But this is yer room, Dylan. I cannae take it away from ye.”
“You’re not taking it from me. I’m giving it to you. I’ll sleep in the barracks.”
They arrived at the door to his bedchamber and Dylan opened it for her. He didn’t step through, instead letting Maggie go in and then he stood in the doorway.
“Would ye like to come in?” Maggie asked shyly.
“No, it’s okay. I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll just head off to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.” He leaned in to give her a brief kiss goodnight, and suddenly found himself glued to the spot. Sweet, sweet Maggie. How could he even think of leaving her here by herself? The kiss lit a fire in him, warming him from head to toe. His hands moved of their own accord, rubbing over her shoulders and down her arms, while hers were planted squarely on his chest. He wanted her so badly it hurt. Pulling her even closer, he savored every taste, every touch, and every tantalizing sensation that rushed over him. When he finally managed to come up for air, he spoke breathlessly. “Maggie, I have to go, before we do something you might regret.”
“I’d never regret it, Dylan. Yer the man I want to be my first,” Maggie gazed up at him dreamily.
“You’re first!” Dylan was blindsided by this announcement. “That’s a huge responsibility, Maggie. I think we should definitely wait.” What was he thinking? He’d never said that to a woman before – not once in his life, but here he was, trying to protect Maggie from himself. Why hadn’t she mentioned this to him when they were at the waterfall? If he’d known, he would never have let things go so far. No, he was determined to wait. And why am I waiting? He groaned aloud, when Maggie reached down and brushed her fingers along his hardness, which protruded from the front of his kilt. “Maggie, please. You don’t know what you’re asking.” He was practically panting with desire now. She had him worked into a frenzy and if he didn’t bolt now, he never would. Dylan backed up to create some distance between them.
“Don’t ye want me, Dylan?” Maggie appeared hurt by his rejection.
“Oh, Maggie, no! I want you more than I can say, but this is not right. I want to be your first, I really do, but I… I…” He had to leave – now. “Chester, stay here with Maggie.” Dylan spun on his heels and strode away, leaving Maggie standing in the doorway, confused and forlorn.
* * *
“WHAT JUST HAPPENED?” Maggie said to Chester. She slumped heavily onto the bed, wondering if she’d been too forward with Dylan. Chester curled up on the floor next to the bed and gazed up at Maggie with sad, dark eyes. She was a bit embarrassed by her actions. She had thought for sure that Dylan would like what she was doing, and he had, at least for a little while and then – boom – he had taken off down the passageway as if his kilt was on fire. She had a lot to learn about men. Maybe Dylan was right. This might not be the best night to learn. She couldn’t help but wonder though, had she misread the signs and the things he’d said to her? Her inexperience in these matters was showing and it was doing a number on her self-confidence. She needed another woman to talk to, but unfortunately, they were all miles away. Uncle Angus was a good listener and he gave good advice, but he wasn’t here either and this wasn’t a conversation she wanted to have with him, anyway. Thoughts of Angus abruptly made her feel guilty and selfish. She reached out to him with her mind and she could sense that he had not been harmed, but she could also feel Brielle’s malevolent intentions swimming around his psyche.
Maggie got undressed and snuggled into the bed, pulling the furs up and over her head. As a child, this had always been her way of hiding from the world and tonight she wanted to be that carefree child once again, hiding from all the bad things out there.
It wasn’t working. Her head was full of both possible and impossible scenarios, and none of them ended well. Was she having premonitions of things to come, or was she just feeling unworthy of the responsibility that had been placed on her shoulders? Her thoughts swirled around and around, resembling leaves caught in an eddy. “Good night, Chester.” Closing her eyes, Maggie focused firmly on good thoughts and outcomes, until she was finally able to fall asleep.
* * *
LOUD POUNDING on the door startled Maggie out of a sound sleep. “Maggie!” called Robert.
“Aye,” Maggie answered. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and squinted at the sun shining through the windows, landing directly on her. She noticed that Chester was gone and the door stood slightly ajar.
“May I come in, lass?” Robert asked. From the sound of his voice, Maggie knew it must be urgent.
“Aye.”
The door flew open and Robert entered, closing it behind him. “Maggie, Brielle is in the courtyard and she has Angus. She’s threatening to kill him, if ye dinnae join her immediately.”
“I’ll be right there. I must dress first,” Maggie replied. She glanced around for her clothes, remembering she’d strewn them about the floor with no regard before getting into bed. Robert observed her search and understood what she needed. He bent down and picked up her belongings, throwing them onto the bed. Maggie blushed. “I need a moment of privacy, if ye dinnae mind.”
It was Robert’s turn to appear embarrassed, two spots of color appearing on his shaven cheeks. “I’m sorry. Of course. I’ll be waiting right outside yer door. The men are gathering in the courtyard, to be of service to ye if need be.”
“Thank ye,” Maggie put one leg out from under the covers tentatively and watched as Robert backed out of the room. This is it. No escaping it. She threw her clothes on quickly and upon opening the door, discovered that Robert had been leaning on the wood as he almost fell into the room. He caught himself just in time, and took her by the arm to lead her outside. Maggie really didn’t need his help, but he had such a tight grip on her arm, she decided not to try to free herself, instead running along at his side. It was apparent from his haste that he was deeply worried about the situation they faced.
As the castle doors opened, Robert turned to her. “We’re here to help ye, remember that.”
“I will,” Maggie said. She drew herself up to her full height and emerged into the sunlight, taking a deep breath.
A dozen large highlanders stood at the base of the castle steps, waiting for her. Others lined the battlements. They were all there – Dylan, Cailin, Cormac, Latharn and many others whom she’d met in the past few days. It gave her confidence a boost as she stood looking out over all of them. They were armed to the teeth with swords, bows and dirks. She had no doubt they would fight to the death, to rid their world of Brielle. Maggie didn’t have any more time for self-doubt, so she addressed them with the most confidence she could possibly muster. “Thank ye all for yer support. ’Twill nae be easy, but I believe we’ll be the victors.”
The men all cheered and raised their weapons high in the air.
“Does anyone have my weapons?” Maggie asked quietly.
Dylan stepped forward, carrying the weapons she had brought with her from Glendaloch. The same weapons Uncle Angus had trained her to use and that had been magically charmed by her Aunt Edna. Maggie briefly closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She came down the steps and walked to the center of the courtyard to face Brielle, who stood about fifty feet away. The men followed, forming a solid wall behind her. Spotting a large lump next to Brielle, Maggie realized that it was Angus curled up in a ball. Why wasn’t he standing?
“What have ye done to my uncle?” Maggie asked, deliberately making her voice loud enough so that Brielle would hear from her position near the gate.
“He’s merely resting,” Brielle answered. It seemed obvious to everyone that she was lying. Why would he choose this moment to rest? It was more likely he was under some spell Brielle had cast.
“If ye wish to fight me, I’m here. Let Angus go. He has no part in this.” Maggie did her best to keep her voice from quivering a
nd her legs from shaking.
“He has much to do with this. He will stay where he is.” Brielle no longer appeared to be Maggie’s doppelganger. She stood before them in what Maggie suspected was her true appearance, but as they watched, she turned herself into an innocent-looking young girl of roughly twelve years of age. Maggie knitted her eyebrows together as she watched. She’s trying to make us see her as a sympathetic creature, so we won’t harm her. Maggie wasn’t about to fall for that and as she glanced back at the men, their expressions confirmed they were of the same mind.
“Maggie, I am going to give ye a choice. I can give ye yer uncle and we’ll agree that I am the victor, or ye can continue on with this ridiculous battle yer auntie has arranged.” Brielle announced this in the sweet voice of a child and with the laugh of an evil witch. Her eyes glowed and embers shot from them, landing on Angus’s body. Brielle raised her hand, and as if she were a puppeteer pulling the strings of a marionette, Angus began to rise at her side. He was unconscious, limp and obviously unable to stand on his own. Maggie and the others couldn’t tell if he was alive or already dead.
Maggie fought the urge to run to him and instead waited where she was, for Brielle to make her next move. Patience was needed and she dug deep to find it.
“Well, what’s yer answer?” Brielle tapped her foot impatiently and spun Angus on the spot like a top. “Do ye wish me to harm him, or nae?”
“Nae. I dinnae wish ye to harm him, but how do I know ye havenae already done so, and how do I know ye willnae harm us all once ye have yer way?”
“Hmmm… Mayhap yer right. Ye dinnae ken. Ye’ll have to trust me, willnae ye?” Brielle began lifting Angus into the air.
As Maggie watched, his feet left the ground, and Brielle, seemingly fascinated as she sent Angus higher and higher into the air, watched avidly as well. It was obvious that this was not going to end well, so, while Brielle was preoccupied with her handiwork, Maggie grabbed her bow and one of the charmed arrows Edna had provided and took aim. She needed to shoot straight and true if she were to pierce Brielle’s heart. Her own heart pounded in her chest and her hands shook with the effort, but Maggie still pulled back on the bow with all her might. Just as she was about to let the arrow fly, Brielle turned and glared at her. Eyes the color of molten lava, she transformed back from the young girl to the evil old witch in the blink of an eye. Maggie quickly adjusted her shot and sent the arrow sailing in Brielle’s direction, just as the witch flung a helpless Angus towards them, followed by dozens of flaming arrows that appeared out of nowhere. Maggie’s own arrow dodged to the right and left as it travelled through the air, avoiding the flaming missiles and seeking Brielle’s heart. Brielle spun away and moved in a different direction, but the arrow continued on its path, straight towards her. The men behind Maggie began to duck and dodge the flaming missiles as they approached their positions. Angus hit the ground with a sickening thud, the sound sending shivers of apprehension through Maggie’s skin. Dylan and Cormac risked themselves to drag Angus out of harm’s way and shielded him from the burning arrows that rained down around them. Maggie stood her ground, firm in her resolve to rid the world of Brielle’s evil. She watched Brielle intently and the flames of each arrow fizzled out as soon as they reached her vicinity. She was beginning to understand her own level of power and could sense that she was a far stronger witch than she had ever imagined. The expression on Brielle’s face confirmed she knew it too. She had obviously thought that she could beat Maggie easily and now, Brielle was beginning to realize that was not going to be the case.
In that moment of realization, Maggie’s magical arrow reached Brielle and Maggie couldn’t tell if it met its mark, or if Brielle had simply disappeared. A cloud of black mist where Brielle had stood spun like a miniature tornado and then it was gone. Maggie’s arrow lay on the ground where Brielle had been standing, still in one piece. Maggie ran across to the spot where Brielle had been. She searched the ground for any clues to confirm she had been successful, but there was nothing to be seen. Dylan ran to her, astonishment clear in his expression. He scanned the ground as Maggie had, but he came up with something she had missed. There, hidden by the fletching of the arrow, was an onyx amulet attached to a thin black ribbon. Dylan picked it up and nearly dropped it when it seared his skin. Maggie quickly took it away from him and passed her hand over the burn, healing his hand instantly.
“Was that hers?” Dylan asked, staring at his healed hand in wonder.
“Aye. I believe ’twas. I’m nae sure what to do with it.” The amulet lay in Maggie’s hand, the heat not affecting her at all. It was an unusual piece. Not much to look at, but there was something about it that left her wondering. Where was Brielle? Why did she leave this here? “Do ye think my arrow hit its mark?”
“I don’t know. It was hard to see anything. As soon as the arrow reached her, that black tornado appeared. Do you think she might have gotten away?”
“Not if I truly hit my mark, but I’m afraid I didn’t and she probably escaped unharmed. As for this amulet, I’m going to save it to give to Aunt Edna. She’ll know what to do with it.” Maggie looked back and seeing Angus motionless on the ground, asked the question she was afraid to hear the answer to. “Is he alive?”
“Yes. He’s barely breathing though,” Dylan took her hand and they rushed across to where Angus lay, surrounded by the Breaghacraig men.
No one said a word as Maggie knelt beside Angus and took his hand. “Uncle, speak to me,” Maggie pleaded, but he didn’t utter a word. She passed her hands over him, in an attempt to heal any broken bones or other invisible wounds, but it was to no avail. Maggie was very frightened. What had Brielle done to him? She knew Brielle was capable of putting someone into a deep sleep, but this was something far different. Angus’ breathing was shallow and his skin was cold to the touch. Maggie didn’t know what she could do to save him, so she did the only thing she could think of and talked to him.
“Uncle Angus, I hope ye can hear me. I need ye to stay here with me. Remember we were going to take care of each other. I ken I have nae held up my end of the bargain, but I cannae imagine my life without ye, Uncle. Auntie Edna needs ye as well. Yer the one man who can calm her frazzled nerves. She listens to ye and nae one else. I dinnae ken what would happen if ye left us.” Tears fell from Maggie’s eyes and she attempted to wipe them away, but they fell faster than she could catch them. Dylan put a comforting arm around her shoulders and she lay her head on his chest and cried even harder. Robert quietly told the men to disperse and leave them be. They shuffled away with many a backward glance.
“Maggie, my dear, let Cormac and Cailin carry Angus inside to a soft, warm bed,” Robert suggested. Maggie nodded her agreement, but kept a tearful eye on the men as they carefully lifted Angus and brought him inside.
Maggie knew she looked a mess – red, puffy eyes and a tear-stained face most likely. Using the hem of her cape, she did her best to scrub away the tears and by doing so, regained her composure. Her uncle needed her to be strong now; falling apart wouldn’t help him or anyone else. She sniffled one last time and said, “I dinnae believe Brielle’s dead, nor do I think she’s gone. I can sense her presence.” Maggie cast her gaze around the courtyard and on past the gates. “She’s gone just far enough away that I can’t get to her, but close enough that I can still feel the evil emanating from her.”
“How will we find her?” Dylan’s brow wrinkled as if he was worrying about what might come next.
“We won’t need to… Brielle will find me. She’ll want her amulet back.” Maggie nodded as if she were agreeing with herself. “I must leave Breaghacraig. Brielle’s already done enough damage here. If I can draw her away – somewhere so she can’t harm anyone else, then it will be a fair fight.”
Dylan shook his head stubbornly. “I’m going with you, Maggie. We’re a team.”
“Dylan, I must do this alone. I cannae risk any harm coming to ye because of me.”
“And I can’t risk any
harm coming to you, because I’m not there to protect you.”
Maggie bristled at the suggestion. “I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself,” she snapped.
“I know you are and I didn’t mean to imply you couldn’t, but I’d feel better, knowing I was there if you needed me.” Dylan knew he had to keep his male ego in check. He wanted to protect Maggie and take care of her. He’d never felt that way about any other woman before Maggie came into his life and he didn’t quite know what to do with those feelings. Hanging around with a bunch of medieval highlanders hadn’t helped. They were all about protecting their women, but both Cormac and Cailin had somehow learned how to deal with strong-willed women from the future and still protect them, without Ashley and Jenna protesting. He made a mental note to ask them how they did it.
“I’m sorry.” Maggie twirled her hair around her finger. “It’s just that I’m afraid she’ll hurt ye, like she did Uncle Angus.”
Dylan smiled. The way she played with her hair when she was nervous was very endearing. “I can’t guarantee that I won’t get hurt, but I’ll do my best not to. I want to do this with you. I want to be there with you when you take her down.” Dylan tried to gauge Maggie’s reaction to what he was saying. She didn’t say anything in response, but he suspected she might be softening to the idea. He decided to plough on and bring up a worry he had over the amulet. Who knew what it was and what it could do? “One question, though. What would happen if you destroyed the amulet?” Dylan wondered if by destroying the amulet, it would somehow destroy Brielle. But if that were the case, why would Brielle have left it when she disappeared?
“I don’t really know. I think she left it behind on purpose. I think I’ll need it to locate her. If I destroyed the amulet, it possibly would destroy Brielle, but I cannae be certain of it. It could be that she left the amulet here accidentally and that mistake will lead to her downfall, but I’m going to have to take a wait and see approach.”