I winced as Ian’s hands clenched tightly, biting into my shoulder. “She isn’t Nora, Gage. Brydie’s been constantly in our presence for the last few days. You know nothing has happened—it wasn’t warranted!”
Gage’s eyes glittered as he replied softly, “We don’t know what took place before we found her. After what I saw in New Zealand, she could be hiding his presence. McKenzie is the best person to test her. If you can’t live with the rules here, Ian, you’re welcome to go.”
Ian stiffened beside me, the silence tense. I lifted my gaze to his and murmured, “It’s fine, Ian. Just leave it.”
Ian locked his gaze with mine. His jaw was firm as he gave Gage a sharp nod.
“Good choice,” Gage murmured, turning back to McKenzie, who’d watched the interlude with interest.
Ignoring them, Ian rubbed a hand down my arm. “You all right, Brydie?”
I nodded., “I think so.” I felt a little shaken, but my head no longer hurt. “What was that about?”
It was McKenzie who responded. “A necessary precaution. We test everyone who enters our home. If this place is breached, we’re all at risk.” She glanced meaningfully at her son, who stood beside her, a silent observer. “I’m sure you understand, given what happened to Mac. They breached our wards—"
“McKenzie!” Gage interjected sharply. “That’s enough.”
Oh no, this wasn’t going to be swept under the carpet. “What’s she talking about?” I insisted. “Who’s Mac?”
I tried not to flinch at the cold mask Gage turned my way. “Mac is what we called Nora, and sharing what McKenzie’s talking about is pointless. There’s nothing you can do to help us.”
Asshole! He was such an asshole! I caught McKenzie’s smirk and clenched my fists, keeping my mouth shut with effort. He was right—right now, I was useless. I had no magic, no experience, and no knowledge of what I was involved in.
“All you need to know at this point is that McKenzie is more than just a housekeeper—she’s one of the descendants,” Gage added.
“I know, Ian told me,” I responded shortly.
Gage stilled, and I felt the tension rachet up another notch. “Is that so?” he asked, eyes moving back to Ian.
Ian shifted on his feet beside me but remained silent.
McKenzie broke in. “Apparently, my ancestor was around at the time of this cursed prophecy.”
Which meant she was also Druid, but I’d known that already after what Ian had told me, not including the little stunt she’d just pulled. “Where’s your tattoo?” I demanded, taking satisfaction in the fact that the tables were turned, and I could now test her.
McKenzie’s answering smirk told me she knew what I was doing. But she didn’t hesitate to unbutton her long-sleeved shirt and shrug it off her shoulders, standing nude in her bra and jeans, perfectly gorgeous with her creamy skin and beautiful red hair. I felt the spark of interest from the two men beside me. Ignoring them and the show she’d put on, I walked closer to inspect the band of blank ink circling her left bicep. It contained a series of Celtic marks—now familiar symbols formed in the runic script—cleverly interwoven in a circle around her arm.
“What does it mean?”
“Hope.”
I mulled that over. What hope could she bring? Her powers? Or her premonition of a possible future?
At my silence, she lifted a brow. “Satisfied?”
I gave her a sharp nod. McKenzie shrugged back into her shirt and began buttoning it up.
Gage’s voice broke the silence. “McKenzie’s tattoo emerged almost immediately after she arrived at the Estate. We all thought it was Nora whom we’d been responding to, but even though our tattoos were evolving, hers never did. We’d begun to think all five descendants needed to be in Nora’s presence for her own to evolve until we found out about your existence a week ago.”
I assessed McKenzie. “You ‘found’ them all those years ago. What does that mean?”
McKenzie shrugged. “I trust my gift enough to know when to listen to it. I’m a Dream Walker, and when I saw the Estate in my dreams, I knew I had to come here. Even the wards weren’t enough to deter me.”
Of course, Ian had said that McKenzie had the eye, was able to see the past, present, and future in her dreams. A powerful gift. I inclined my head at her in thanks for her straight answer before turning to the boy at her side. “And who’s this?”
McKenzie pulled the child even closer, bestowing a hand on his shoulder. “This is my son, Aiden.”
I turned a bright smile on the child, hoping I didn’t look as uncertain as I felt. I didn’t have much experience with children. “Hi Aiden, it’s nice to meet you.”
He eyed me distrustfully, a mirror of his mother’s greeting a few minutes before. His eyes were the same dazzling shade as McKenzie’s, and his black mop perfectly matched Gage’s strands. I couldn’t help sneaking a quick glance at Gage, catching the soft expression on his face as he looked at the boy.
The silence stretched.
“Aiden,” McKenzie admonished, her tone and facial expression conveying more than her words. “This is Mac’s granddaughter, Brydie. Make her feel welcome.”
His gaze flicked to his mother. “How do we know for sure she isn’t touched?” he asked bluntly. The dog’s ears twitched at his owner’s voice and he cocked his head to look up at the boy.
Ian snorted behind me, and I caught Gage’s lips twitch. I was shocked by his question. Was this what it was like to have grown up with the prophecy? Was a normal childhood a luxury?
“Your mom just screened me, Aiden. It seems I passed the test. Besides, Gage and Ian have never left my side the whole way here.”
Aiden turned to Gage, his eyes wide. “Is that true? She was never alone?”
Gage nodded.
Relief washed over the boy’s face. “Okay then, you can stay.”
My lips twitched at his consent. “Thank you.”
He frowned suddenly. “Are you staying in Mac’s old room?”
I hadn’t thought about where I was staying. The thought of staying in Nora’s room disturbed me, though. “Ah, I’m not sure. If your mother hasn’t made the room up, I would rather stay somewhere else.”
I glanced at McKenzie, relieved when she gave a nod. “I made up another room as Nora’s is still full of her things. We thought you might like to go through them when you have the time.”
I hesitated, not sure whether it was necessary to share what kind of relationship I’d had with Nora. “Thank you.”
Aiden seemed satisfied that introductions were complete, for he turned to Ian with a huge grin. “Want to see the stones I found down by the river? I think I’ve finally found a Cairngorm gemstone!”
Ian smiled at his infectious exuberance. “Sure! But only if that’s all right with your mother.”
Aiden sighed and rolled his eyes. “Mom won’t have a problem with it. She loves it when I’m playing with anything other than the iPad. Don’t you Mom?”
McKenzie looked up at the ceiling as if seeking patience.
Ian hid his smile as he ruffled Aiden’s head. “Your mother is very wise.”
He turned to face me. “Looks like I’ll have to leave you here with the sharks as I have important things to do with young Aiden here.” Tone light but face serious, he asked, “Will you be okay on your own with them?”
Gage growled. “Careful, Ian.”
I squeezed Ian’s upper arm. “I’ll be fine,” I assured him.
He must have seen something in my eyes, for he smiled and added softly, “Welcome home, Brydie.”
I gave him a smile in return, thankful that one person had my back.