Tritus waited with bated breath.
The goddess curled her tongue around one of her tusks as if cleaning the bone of carrion. Her eyes bore down on them with relentless precision. “You are a glib-tongued warrior, honeyed enough to earn your life. Let it be said that Cailleach is a goddess that is generous to those who favor her.” She paused, cocking her head to the side. “However, I have never approved of a hunt on my land so close to the onset of winter. It goes against the laws of nature to subject my creatures to death when they are close to hibernation. If I were to allow this transgression, I need to be certain that you deserve the reward. Thus, I would know your soul.”
Before Tritus had time to digest her demand, she had taken a step forward and reached out a gnarled hand, twisted and bony, and firmly grasped Drust’s shoulder as he knelt in supplication. And as she stepped forward, the earth seemed to ricochet in response, the naked limbs of the trees waving erratically as another random frigid gust of wind shrieked through the forest.
The hand that held Drust emitted a soft periwinkle glow, the light reflecting the motes of the dappled sunlight. He shuddered, and Tritus shot his gaze to his friend’s face, bewildered at the look of blissful euphoria. Drust's expression slackened as if relaxing into her hold, and Tritus dared a glimpse at Cailleach.
Her eyes were closed, as though lost in contemplation. But as he stared upon that haggard, gray face, her eyes opened, and they were full of simmering silver energy. Her words were soft and slurred. “Your heart is true, warrior. You have passed my test.”
She released Drust’s shoulder and turned to Tritus, releasing a guttural snarl. “I wonder—will you also pass the test, Druid from across the sea? I am ambivalent, given I have seen many of your people plunder and destroy my home, kill my animals, and burn my trees to the ground. Why would you be any different?”
Tritus froze at the coldness in her tone, not thinking to censor his next words, reacting purely on instinct. “It is true, I came from across the salty sea, from a people who merely wish to settle new lands. I have noticed there are similarities between our people, but also some differences. However, all that aside, I assure you that I am not my people—I am but one man, and my actions should be judged on those alone.”
The silence that fell was ominous before she broke it with a wheezing crow. “You boast with the balls of a hundred men,” she guffawed, her breath rasping through her thin lips. “I like it. Very well, Druid. The time has come for the truth. Come forward, for I would know you.”
Tritus leaned forward slowly, his body stiff and unyielding. He saw Cailleach lift a hand and braced himself for its fall. When it came, it was like a heavy weight. His limbs felt like stone, but his mind—it was alive. His memories were being rifled through his mind’s eye, like the constant flap of a bird’s wing. The effect was dizzying, disorientating, and he felt his gorge rise as the memories continued to flash at an alarming speed. But then, as abruptly as it started, it ended. The memories ceased, and darkness reigned peacefully in his mind once again.
He felt the weight on his shoulder lift, and he opened his eyes, blinking in the dappled light. Her voice rent the air, a boom of sound that echoed around the forest.
“I see you, Druid. I see you have killed many, raided, pillaged, and repeatedly taken that which is not yours. But those kills were taken for survival—to aid yourself or those you love. I did not see you waste a kill, nor give yourself over to the sport of hunting for pure enjoyment. But I am confused by this revelation for there are many men in this world who do not follow this decree.” She paused, and Tritus felt her weighted contemplation on the back of his bent head. “For that, Druid,” she continued, “I consent that you have passed the test. You will be allowed to hunt my lands, but you may only kill one deer each—no more, no less. And should you exploit my hospitality, there will be consequences.”
Tritus didn’t need to qualify what those consequences would be. He knew they would be permanent.
Drust spoke up quickly. “Thank you, my lady. You honor us with your decree, and we will honor your offer.”
“See that you do.”
21
Brydie
I awoke to a constant murmur of vibration and blinked in the dim light. It took me a moment to realize I was lying on a seat, fully reclined, a blanket over my lap.
“Good morning.”
I cut my eyes to the sound, meeting the hard, cerulean gaze of the man who sat opposite me. Gage.
His statement was disorientating. Hadn’t I gone to sleep in my villa last night? Confused, I asked, “Where are we?”
His brow lifted as if it was obvious. “On a plane.”
What? I scrambled into a sitting position. How the hell was I on a plane? But there was no denying it; that constant drone was the sound of the engines. I slowly unclipped my seatbelt, my chest painfully squeezing as I asked the question I already knew. “Where are we going?”
“Scotland.” His face was an emotionless mask. “I did what was necessary.”
“No,” I whispered.
How was it possible I had slept through the ride to the airport, through customs, through boarding? I flung the blanket to the floor, swinging my feet over the side of the chair. That was when I realized I was still in the same clothes that James had attacked me in, the same clothes I had worn to bed.
How was this so? The last I remembered, I’d been in bed at my villa. We weren’t meant to have left Hamilton yet—Gage had granted me two days! The thought settled like a dead weight in my stomach. My voice was strained, disbelieving, “Did you kidnap me?”
Gage said nothing; his features etched in stone.
My fingers clenched and unclenched on the seat arms, the reality of what he’d done hitting home. “You bastard! How dare you? That wasn’t your choice to make!”
I’d begun to trust him. I’d promised to go to Scotland with him. I’d only asked for a few days. Why hadn’t he waited?
“I did what needed to be done,” he bit out, his mouth hardening in a thin line. “It was already too late. Talorgan had found you! You weren’t safe and hadn’t been for a while. If I’d given you those extra days—you’d be dead.”
I shivered at his blunt statement, noting the white brackets at the corners of his mouth. I could almost taste his anger.
I didn’t care. I was angrier.
The dam of emotions that had been building as a result of his actions finally burst. I heard my scream as I launched myself at him. But my attack was short-lived, for his hands snaked up to clamp my wrists, his physical strength easily outweighing my own. He roughly held my arms behind my back, his hard length pushing against my breasts.
“I hate you!” I grunted, not caring how petulant it sounded.
His face was inches from my own, his blue gaze boring into mine. “You need to calm down. We don’t have time for tantrums.”
“Oooooh!” I kicked his shins, not stopping my physical attack, swinging my arms however I could. Before I could get in another blow, his voice reverberated around the cabin, shuddering through me, low and urgent.
“STOP!”
I froze, caught mid-struggle, unable to move my arms or legs. My eyes widened. What was wrong? Why couldn’t I move? The anger evaporated in a sudden torrent of panic.