by T. M. Cromer
“To a large degree, yes.”
“So, you’ve never been our true butler and Teddie really isn’t my aunt?” Sebastian asked, wrapping an arm around Mackenzie’s waist, as if he needed comfort, too. “It explains the godawful scones.”
“All good fun, boy.” Nathanial’s sparkling eyes practically illuminated the cavern all on their own. “And you are correct; Teddie is no blood relation to you.”
“Aunt Gwennie?”
“Is really your aunt. She’s a formidable woman and insisted on helping us in our cause to keep the Enchantress entombed.”
“What is Teddie’s real name, Grandpa Nate?” Spring asked, her head tilted slightly and her face full of undisguised curiosity.
Their two-times-great-grandfather smiled his approval at her, giving her a quick hug in turn. “Teddie’s true name is Evelyn. Evie to family and friends. She’s been my one-and-only love throughout time.”
Spring’s beatific smile widened as if he’d confirmed some fact she already knew.
Mackenzie shook her head and patted his arm. Maybe she had to touch him to make this seem real, but it felt like she was in the midst of a bizarre dream. “How is it you’re this old and still so healthy?”
“The Aether.”
“I don’t understand.”
Alastair stepped forward, cutting off any reply. “How about we shelve this conversation for the moment? I believe this would be better over a brandy and sitting next to a blazing fire.”
“You’re getting weak, boy.” Nathanial’s expression was teasing, but he turned and led the way toward the sound of the running water. “Come. I have just the thing.”
They followed him in silence, each of them most likely trying to process this revelation like Mackenzie was attempting to do. It wasn’t until they were around the stone wall and passing by the iridescent aqua waters of a pool that she registered the beauty of the underground grotto.
“Holy hell! You had no idea this was here, Baz?”
“None.” His tone was troubled, and she placed a hand on his arm, halting him.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m not fond of surprises, and we’ve had quite a few recently. I wonder how many more we’re in for.”
“Does it bother you Nathanial has been here in disguise the entire time?”
“Yes. No.” He sighed and ran a hand over his face. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
“Want to talk about it?”
His attention was fixed on the others as they crossed the bridge over the shimmering pool. “I’m not sure how I feel at the moment. Confused, mostly.” He turned his dark gaze on her and grimaced. “I suppose I should be happy there’s a powerful warlock watching over us, but it almost feels like a betrayal of trust. Why not tell us before now?”
“Seems like Gwennie knew. She could’ve spoken up.” Mackenzie wasn’t trying to be difficult, but he had to see the responsibility wasn’t only on Nathanial or Evie to reveal themselves. “There has to be a good reason they kept it quiet, don’t you think?”
“Perhaps.”
“You’ve every right to be upset, Baz. Essentially you were lied to your entire life. When you became laird of your little clan, you should’ve been made aware of the facts.”
His expression softened as he cupped her cheek. “Thank you for understanding. Let’s go have that drink. I don’t want to miss the origin story.”
* * *
Sebastian was more disturbed by Nathanial’s revelation than he cared to let on. The elderly butler had been a fixture in their home for as long as he could remember. As had his Aunt Teddie. Later, when he was alone, he’d examine his feelings on the matter and decide how to get past his sense of betrayal. The lies and subterfuge had to stop, though. Moving forward, they all had to be of one mind to defeat Isolde. If they weren’t, the results could be catastrophic.
As they crossed the bridge to join the others, Mackenzie kept casting him worried glances, as if she sensed his underlying anger. Perhaps she did. His beautiful wife was in tune with most things. Maybe due to her abilities, maybe just because she cared, but either way, he appreciated her empathy.
He captured her hand and gave it a little squeeze. His way of assuring her he was fine for the moment. She returned the gesture. Her way of supporting him.
Before the dedication gala for Georgie Sipanil, Sebastian had only met Mackenzie a handful of times in passing. He’d been struck dumb by her loveliness, but she hadn’t so much as cast a glance his way. Then, right when he was feeling his lowest about GiGi and Ryker’s reunion, she showed up at Alastair’s estate and served to remind him how much he’d desired her from the second they met. Since that day, she’d danced through his dreams, conjuring fantasies of the two of them locked in a passionate embrace.
Last night, as they made love, he recognized snippets from those previous dreams, making him wonder if they hadn’t been fated from the start. To think, if he’d let down his guard before this weekend, they may have been together sooner. How much of his life had been lived from behind his reserved wall?
“You ready?”
Sebastian lifted his head at Mackenzie’s softly spoken question. “Sorry. Woolgathering.” He took a steadying breath. “Ready.”
She smiled and would’ve turned had he not tugged on her hand and spun her back to face him.
“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Mack. I love you.”
Happiness shone back at him from those incredible, expressive eyes of hers, and her smile widened. “I’m glad. I feel the exact same way about you, Baz.” She gripped his shirt and tugged him forward until there was no space between them. Stretching up, she placed her lips on his.
Taking advantage of the moment, he kissed her. Theirs wasn’t the savage, passionate kisses from mere hours before; instead it was one of love and promise. He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her until they were at the same level.
She ended their kiss, placed a palm on either side of his face, and locked gazes with him. “I can’t see past this week, Baz, and it scares the life out of me. But never give up hope. I’ll always find a way back to you.”
His heart seized. Hers was a premonition of sorts—he could tell by the serious, sad quality in her eyes—and that glimmer of warning was all he needed to resolve to fight to the death to keep her with him. Whatever the cost, he’d pay it. A small shiver shook her body, and his arms tightened with his desire to ward off her demons. “And I you, love. Always.”
She rested her forehead against his. “Thank you for loving me, Sebastian Drake. My time with you was all I ever imagined and more.”
Moisture stung his eyes, and he struggled to hold back his tears. He, too, had felt the ache of loneliness in the past, as he somehow sensed she had. “It’s absolutely my pleasure, Mackenzie Drake. Thank you for loving me.”
She dropped a quick kiss on his lips and grinned. “We’ll readdress pleasure when we get back to our room later.”
“No doubt about it. I say we lock ourselves away and discover all the pleasure there is to be had.”
Her hips pressed forward, and his eyes nearly rolled back in his head from the exquisite feel of her delectable body against his. He eased her to the ground, sliding her front down his as he touched her everywhere.
He buried his nose in the hollow of her throat and gave her a small love bite. “Want to skip this little party and return upstairs?”
“Hell. Yes!”
“Are you two coming?”
They both groaned when they looked up and saw Spring at the far end of the bridge with her hands on her hips.
“Apparently not anytime soon,” Sebastian said in an aside to Mackenzie.
She laughed and threaded her arm through his. “Should I leave you here to cool off, darling?”
“No, I’ll picture Leopold’s, er, Nathanial’s pickle socks. That should do the job nicely.”
Sebastian didn’t fail to notice Spring’s knowing smirk as they met up with her
.
“Based on my cousin’s glowing face, I have a good idea what is now beneath that kilt of yours, Mr. Drake.” Her laughing gaze bounced back and forth between Mack and him. “Knox definitely has to get one of those.”
“I’ll set him up with my tailor.”
Chapter 21
Everyone remained quiet as Nathanial described the summons from his parents at the behest of Isis. He told them of his leaving his youngest siblings under Evie’s care in America and returning with his brother Andrew to the battleground where the Six were to fight the Enchantress. Once there, he’d caught the attention of Isolde and probably would’ve been her next victim had Damian not shown up when he did.
“I brought Damian to Evie, so she could look after him as she’d volunteered to do for my siblings Chase and Lottie. It seemed I was gone only moments, but when I returned here to help, the devastation was complete.” Deep sorrow was reflected back at them from his darkening eyes. “My father was killed with Isolde’s first strike. Drew, in trying to protect him, was gravely injured.”
Their group remained silent as Nathanial ran his hands up and down his face as if trying to wipe the memory away.
Mackenzie could almost see the scene in her mind, maybe it was a residual memory from when Isolde had possessed her, but it seemed as clear as the brightest day. Bodies lay strewn in the garden. Pillars were overturned, and small fires dotted the landscape around them. Isis looked the worse for wear, and Isolde knelt, bound by a thick chain. It pulsed a dark, glowing red, indicative of the deep magic used to hold her.
“How many were lost?” she asked in a low tone.
Nathanial sat down across from her, resting his elbows on his thighs and dangling his large hands between his knees. His haunted eyes gutted her.
With a light shrug belying the horror he’d witnessed, he said, “I never learned the true count, but it was great. Souls from the Otherworld were obliterated.”
“What does that mean, obliterated?” Sebastian asked sharply. His fierce frown emphasized his worry. “As in no more? Can Isolde do that?”
“She can, and she did to feed her power.” Nathanial looked from one to the other in their small group. “Obliterated, in this case, means no way of reincarnating. The energy of the soul is no more. Think of it like a nuclear-bomb explosion; it destroys everything within a certain radius. I found out later, the only ones who survived were protected by the Goddess’s quick thinking.”
Spring gasped and looked at Knox. Her husband’s face grew pale as he returned her look. These two were true soulmates, and the import of a soul destroyed meant future lifetimes with an empty hole in place of their heart. No true love to guide them or make them stronger. No feeling whole. Ever.
Mackenzie reached for Sebastian’s hand. “We can’t let her be resurrected again. We can’t.”
“Don’t even think it, Mack,” he growled.
“Baz, if I’m the only pawn she has, I have to be removed from the board.” She directed his attention to Spring and Knox. “Their souls have been entwined for thousands of years. One isn’t whole without the other. Can you imagine having that torn away?”
Sebastian placed a hand on her jaw and directed her gaze back to him. “Yes, Mack, I can.”
She pressed her lips into a tight line and swallowed her urge to rage at him. He was telling her he didn’t want to be without her, but she couldn’t risk her family being forever unhappy and alone. It came down to her happiness with Sebastian, or everyone else’s as a casualty of her actions.
“It’s no contest, Baz. I can’t do this to them.”
His eyes cooled, and he dropped his arm to his side. “Of course. I understand how tight the Thornes are.”
“It’s not like that.”
“Isn’t it?” His expression hardened. “I don’t consider myself a selfish person, Mackenzie. I would never put my happiness above the others. But forgive me if I don’t want to see my wife sacrifice her life due to a half-baked idea that may not work.”
Frustrated with his stubbornness, she pulled away and crossed her arms. None of her family spoke, but they each looked at her with censure.
“What?” she snapped. “You all think we should take our chances? Did you not hear Grandpa Nate’s account of the fight? Souls obliterated.” Anger and restlessness drove her to her feet to pace. “Obliterated! Do you think I could live with myself if any of you were to die because I’m to be the key to that psycho bitch’s prison? Do you?”
“Mackenzie.” Alastair’s understanding, love, and compassion were all rolled into her name.
She closed her eyes and swiped at the moisture on her cheeks. Until that moment, she hadn’t realized she was crying. Fury at herself for giving into the useless emotion vibrated in her voice when she said, “I can’t do this, cousin. I can’t. I’m not strong enough.”
“We’re here to help you, sweet girl.”
“You don’t understand. None of you do. I’m strong enough here…” She pounded a fist against the center of her chest, indicating her heart. “But I’m not strong enough magically or mentally. She’s weakened after a two-hundred-year slumber, and yet she’s more powerful than I am. She’s gotten in my head multiple times already.”
Sebastian surged to his feet and wrapped her in his tight embrace. “We will win, Mack. We have something she doesn’t: allies. People who love us. People determined to see she doesn’t win.”
She hugged him back for a brief moment, soaking up his comfort, courage, and strength before jerking away. “But at what cost to our loved ones, Baz? Seeing Spring and Knox separated forever? Seeing your own sister die? Seeing my family cut in half?”
He had no argument, because deep down, he had to know she was right.
“I need a moment alone,” she said.
Nathanial stood and caught her arm as she moved to pass him. “Mackenzie. Don’t go far. Please.”
She shot him a glare, furious to have her movements curtailed. “And why’s that? Are you going to stand there and order me not to ‘sacrifice’ myself, too?”
“No, dear heart, I’m not. I think that should be a decision we make together, when the others are present, but I’ve noticed Isolde can sneak into your mind easier when you are in a highly emotional state. If you’re alone and she gains control, there’s no telling what she can do.”
The wisdom of his words sank in. Mackenzie took a calming breath and focused on his hand on her forearm. With the exhale came visions of Nathanial’s past: On the riverboat when he heard the news he’d been recalled home to battle the Enchantress. His goodbye to Evie. Young Damian, looking up at him with trust and all-seeing eyes. And finally his return to England, to the devastation Isolde had created. The last images were in line with what she’d imagined when he told the story, and it broke her heart to bear witness to the scene.
She met Nathanial’s kind, understanding gaze. “I don’t want to hurt anyone. Please don’t let me.” She lowered her voice for his ears alone. “Please, Grandpa Nate. Don’t let her win. If you have to…” More tears rolled down her cheeks, and she angrily swiped them away. “If you have to, you know, promise me you will.”
He kissed her forehead. “I promise, Mack. She won’t use you to hurt our family. Not while I’m alive.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, dear. Try to calm yourself now.” He ran his thumbs under her eyes and smiled softly. “There’s pictures over on the shelf that you may care to see. Pictures of the family. Of Alastair as a boy.” He leaned in close. “I’m sure there’s one of him with a gap-toothed grin and a dripping ice-cream cone that you can use it to poke fun of him later.”
“I adore you.”
Nathanial grinned. “What can I say? I’m exceedingly adorable.”
She crossed over to the shelves as he turned back to the others, who had been talking quietly amongst themselves. The entire time she wandered and explored Nathanial’s chambers, she felt Sebastian’s sad gaze trailing her. Deep within her, sh
e knew he viewed her potential actions as giving up on them as a couple. But she needed to find a way to show him any steps she took to stop the Enchantress were meant to keep his family safe, as well as hers.
“Grandpa Nate?”
Nathanial held back to speak with Mackenzie as the others filed by them to cross the bridge. He gave her a signal to wait and called out to the others. “There is an elevator to the left. Save yourself the trek up the stairs.”
As one, the group spun back to face him. He found it difficult to hold back the laugh at their disgruntled expressions.
He shrugged. “Yes, I could’ve told you before you came down, but where’s the fun in that?”
Spring gave a chirp of laughter.
Mackenzie simply shook her head and stared at Nate. “You really are Alastair’s twin. It’s eerie.”
“Who do you think taught him how to make the most of life?”
As Nate watched her beautiful, animated face turn serious, his heart grew heavy. Poor Mackenzie bore the weight of the world on her shoulders and was having a difficult time coping with the eventual possibility that she’d fail in the fight against Isolde.
“What is it, dear?”
She shot a glance toward Sebastian, who stood on the opposite side of the bridge. “Will you find a way to make sure he doesn’t suffer should the worse happen to me? I don’t want him to be alone as he was before I came.”
“I can’t make him fall for someone else, Mack.”
“I know. But maybe you and Damian can remove his memories of me. Make him whole so if he meets someone, he’s not haunted by what went down here.”
Nate lifted her chin with his knuckle. Her earnestness spoke of her pure soul and honest intentions. Mackenzie wanted nothing more than for those around her to live their best life and be happy. “I don’t think Isolde could’ve chosen a witch any more opposite than she is.”
She gave him a tight smile, and Nate felt a pang. Like her, he’d had to make tough decisions. One had cost him his father’s life and his brother’s respect. Another had made him miss out on knowing this generation of his family.