I nodded at his warning. It was more than Gage would give. I felt relaxed in Ian’s presence. He was friendly in a non-threatening way. And god knows, with Chloe on her trip, I needed a friendly face at the moment.
Chloe!
There was stabbing guilt in my chest. I hadn’t spared a thought for my best friend since I’d arrived in Scotland. So much had happened since she boarded the plane. And the crazy thing was that Chloe would have arrived in Europe at the same time I awoke on the plane.
Thinking of her made me realize how desperately I needed to hear her voice. She was my rock, and even with the threat of danger hanging over my head, I knew that, selfishly, I needed her in this one. There had to be a way of keeping in touch without putting her at risk.
I cleared my throat. “Ian, could I ask a favor? I need to call someone, and I’ve left my phone in New Zealand.” Technically that wasn’t true—Gage had left it behind. “Could I use yours, please?”
He froze. “What for?” he asked carefully.
My chest tightened at his response. I stared at him, wondering if he was going to deny me. “Am I a prisoner here?”
He suddenly looked uncomfortable.
“Well?” I persisted.
“Yes—no! Well, not inside. Gage gave me strict instructions to keep you in the apartment.” He sighed, as if coming to a decision. “He didn’t mention talking to anyone, though. Look, there’s a phone in my bedroom. Come with me.”
Without giving him time to second guess his consent, I quickly followed him down the hall. There were three other doors leading off the small hallway—one at the very end and two on either side. Ian turned to the lone door on the right and pushed it open.
As we entered, the first thing that drew my eye was the huge four-poster bed that looked ridiculous in the small space it was crammed into. One wall was dedicated to a collection of photographs assembled in a floor to ceiling collage; the other walls displayed black and white pictures of Scottish icons, including Edinburgh Castle, the Highlands, and the native flag.
The photographs were a strange mix of pictures depicting ancient weapons and landscapes. And right in the center of the collage were two women. The one on the left was ethereal in form and naked, dressed only in her long, ash-blond hair, which had been arranged in a thick braid that lay over her left breast, effectively covering the vee between her legs. She was in stark contrast to the picture beside her, which was of an old crone.
I couldn’t help pausing to peer intently at the old woman, noting the tusks that curled out of her mouth, long and pointed. Her large, beady eyes stared back, and I shivered at the cruelty conveyed in their depths. It’s just a picture, I told myself, breaking eye contact.
Ian was rifling through his bedside drawer and he patted the bed, motioning at me to take a seat.
“I know Gage won’t like what you’re about to do, but I can understand the need to talk to a friend,” he murmured quietly. “You’re lucky he’s asleep right now, or you would never have been allowed to leave the kitchen.” His brown eyes were huge behind the lenses of his glasses. “But you must use common sense. You need to be smart, Brydie, for your own safety and that of others. And what you must never do is tell anyone where you are.”
His face tightened, and he seemed about to say something else, but then decided against it as he passed me the phone. “Spend no more than five minutes on the line. We don’t want the call to be traced.”
The warning caused a chill to race down my spine. It was a blatant reminder that my new life was filled with danger, each move weighed and assessed. I forced the panic down again. Chloe. I just needed to talk to Chloe.
I nodded at Ian and murmured my thanks.
He seemed to sense I was on an emotional edge, for he handed me the phone and exited the room without another word. The door closed quietly behind him, and finally, I was alone.
As I punched in the number for Chloe’s cell phone, I realized I had no idea how I was going to explain everything that had happened, and what exactly I could tell her without putting her in imminent danger. The past few days had been completely unbelievable. If I was struggling to accept it all, even though I’d been a witness to every event, how was she going to take it?
As the phone rang on the other end, I understood that no matter how I phrased it, there was no easy way to discuss what had happened. Not in five minutes. Besides, it didn’t matter anyway—I just wanted to hear her voice and believe that somewhere in the world, life was just as normal as mine had been before Gage entered it.
Anticipation caused my stomach to roil, but the phone just continued to ring. Finally, her voicemail kicked in. Disappointment, hot and heavy, constricted my chest. I strained to keep my voice light as I left a message. “Chloe, it’s Brydie. I was wondering how your first few days have gone. I would love to hear all about it. You’re obviously busy, so I’ll try you again soon. I miss you!”
Pushing end, I placed the cell phone back on Ian’s bedside. I hadn’t considered that she wouldn’t answer. But maybe she’d been hesitant to accept my call because it was an unknown number? And if she checked it soon, there was still a chance she could call me back on Ian’s cell phone. Especially if Gage was still asleep, because I knew that if he was awake when the call came through, there was no way in hell I’d be allowed to take it.
When I returned, Ian was enjoying what looked like his third cup of coffee as he read the newspaper at the kitchen table. At my approach, he raised a brow. “That was quick.”
“No answer.”
A shadow flickered across his face before he gave a jerky nod. “Want some breakfast?”
Not wanting to delay what I had in mind, I took a breath and asked, “Actually, I’d love to go outside for some fresh air.”
Ian put his mug down carefully. “I told you before that you can’t leave, Brydie. Gage wants you to lay low while he’s asleep.”
I stiffened. “I really am a prisoner then?”
He frowned. “No. You’re free to come and go provided Gage accompanies you.”
“Are you telling me he’s the only one who can protect me?”
I couldn’t believe Ian accepted those conditions. Was he offended that Gage didn’t have confidence in his abilities to look out for me? What was the worst that could happen anyway? Gage had said that Talorgan would need to lay low for a day or so after what happened with the security guard.
As if he’d heard my internal question, Ian replied, “Gage’s skills in combat surpass mine—in fact, they surpass everyone’s. He’s inherited gifts that enable him to protect you outside of the Estate. You’re putting yourself at risk if you go with anyone else.”
My chest burned. Whether I liked it or not, the prophecy had firmly entwined my life with Gage’s. I didn’t want to spend more time with him. There was a simmering attraction there that I was trying to deny. Anger turned into frustration. “I understand. It doesn’t mean that I’m happy about it, though.”
Ian breathed out through his nose. “I know this isn’t easy for you, especially since you’re coming into this now. We’ve all grown up with our legacies in mind, knew we were Druids when we were old enough to understand. And even if only a few of us are touched by prophecy, we all understood there is one and that some of us would be affected if destiny played its cards. Because you haven’t had the luxury of that knowledge, you don’t understand the full breadth of what it is you face. Talorgan is powerful—one of the biggest evils in this world. His main goal is to kill you, to completely eradicate your line. You’re always going to be in danger, Brydie, always looking over your shoulder. Your safety is of utmost importance to us all, but most especially Gage. He’s tied by prophecy to protect you. It’s a need he can’t deny. Therefore, he’s always going to be the best person to keep you safe. Don’t begrudge his role, either. It’s not an easy one. And just remember, we’re all on the same side, and we’re all in this together.”