I exhaled in a rush of anger, “McKenzie! Brydie’s already struggling with failure to overcome the wall. How could you?”
She grimaced. “I’m sorry, but I can’t countenance her lack of progress any longer. I’m worried for Aiden. His future depends on Brydie coming into her magic.”
I bit back the reprimand because I understood what it felt like to want a future for your child, to ensure their safety. Every night, Saul was always my last thought. And I couldn’t deny that there had recently been a pressing need to check up on him. I wasn’t one to ignore my sixth sense, and I knew I would be calling my brother to collect Saul soon. It was near time to see to my own legacy.
But first, I needed Brydie to manifest her magic. The physical training was well in hand, but this missing piece was pivotal, and I refused to do anything else until she had coaxed her magic forth.
“I understand your concern, McKenzie,” I replied softly. “But she needs our support more than anything right now. How can you expect her to succeed if we don’t believe in her?”
“She’s not alone, Gage,” McKenzie said pointedly. “Ian is doing a good job of bolstering her confidence.”
I nodded curtly, well aware of that budding relationship. Too much so. It gnawed at my insides every time I caught them together. I pushed it aside. “Just try, McKenzie. That’s all I’m asking.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line as she conceded, “All right, I’ll try.”
“Good.” I released a breath and turned to the reason for her visit. “Now, what did you want to see me about?”
“The fifth descendant.”
Chloe. Brydie’s best friend who had boarded a plane to Europe about four weeks ago. I’d been caught in a quandary, unable to follow her as I had to protect the Daughter of Winter. However, I’d been keeping an eye on her through McKenzie, and the plan was to recover her once Brydie came into her magic. If McKenzie was coming to see me about her, it didn’t bode well. “What’s happened?”
“I can’t see her in my dreams anymore.”
My pulse raced. “What do you mean you can’t see her anymore?”
“I can’t call her up. Every time I think of her, there’s nothing—just darkness.”
“When did you last see her? Was she still in Europe?”
“I have no clue. The last time I saw her a few days ago, she was in Italy.”
Fuck! Now was not the time to lose the fifth descendant.
McKenzie’s voice intruded into my racing thoughts. “What’s the plan? What are you going to do?”
I clenched my fists, relishing the bruises on my knuckles. They were a clear reminder of what I’d doled out to Brydie today, and this only cemented my decision. “Nothing. The Daughter of Winter is my first priority, and I can’t leave her—not without her magic.”
McKenzie nodded as if expecting that response. “Are you going to tell her?”
“No.” It would be detrimental to tell Brydie about Chloe at this point.
“Then, when?” pushed McKenzie in a parody of what Ian had asked me weeks earlier.
I looked past her to the Estate, unerringly fixing my gaze on the window that was Brydie’s room. I caught a glimpse of a shadow moving behind the curtains—she was back from visiting Ian in the library. Something tight released in my chest at that confirmation, but I brutally shoved aside the truth of that emotion.
“Gage?” McKenzie prompted at my continued silence. “When will you tell her that her best friend is the fifth descendant?”
I dragged my gaze back to McKenzie. “That depends on Brydie.”
And when she came into her magic.
17
Tritus
3rd Century BC, Ancient Scotland
“This is what you’ve been doing with your time?” Cailleach gasped.
Tritus jumped and spun around, surprised to see his lover standing behind him. “How did you sneak up so quietly?” he glared, reaching behind him for a soft cloth to hide the amber stone he’d been working on. “And why are you here? You aren’t meant to be back so soon!”
She giggled impishly. “I wanted to see—let me see!”
Tritus let out a loud sigh, rolling his eyes toward the roof of the cave. “I told you, it’s a surprise! That means you aren’t meant to receive it until it’s finished.”
Childish delight crossed her face. “I’ve never had a surprise! This is so exciting.”
He didn’t have time to reply, for she was already pushing herself into his arms, pressing her back against his chest. Tritus enveloped her in a tight hug. The wet length of her hair dampened his tunic. “Did you not stop to dry yourself, woman? You’ll catch your death of cold!”
She tilted her head back and stuck her tongue out at him. “No, I won’t, lover. The cold can do me no harm—I don’t feel it. You forget that I can control the elements. Besides, I couldn’t relax on the carlin stone today, knowing you were working on something secret.”
Tritus shook his head with a wry smile. “I should never have told you. Is nothing sacred around you?”
“No, and you’ll do best to remember that.” She shot him a sweet smile to temper her tone, then reached up and grabbed his chin, pressing a hard kiss against his lips. “You must never forget that you are mine.”
Tritus’s gaze softened as he looked down at her. He couldn’t help taking another taste of her lips. Lifting his head, his gaze shifted and locked on the special gift he’d hastily wrapped in the folds of cloth when she surprised him earlier. There was a reason for the gift, and he decided that, given her impatient nature, she would find out sooner or later. It was better it was on his terms than her own. Another reminder that he also held power over her, and it was not always the other way around.
“I’ve been meaning to tell you something,” he began softly, maneuvering her more comfortably in his arms.
Her eyes narrowed at the serious change in his tone. “Yes?” she asked cautiously.
Seeing the wariness in her gaze, knowing it was well-founded given what he had to say next, Tritus took a breath and shared, “My family have finally arrived from across the salty sea, but my father is dying. Drust told me a few days ago on his last visit.”
She stilled, the smile slipping from her face. “You want to see him, don’t you?”
“Yes. Before it’s too late.”
“When?”
“I’m leaving tomorrow,” he said gently.
“You’re leaving me?” she whispered, face leeching of color. Then her brows drew together. “No, I forbid it! You’re mine! Talorgan will be there, and I know how far he would go to be rid of you! You are to stay here—with me.”
Tritus shook his head. “He won’t be there, my love. It’s the first moon past winter—he’ll be here on this mountain, serving his sentence.” He considered her. “Have you not felt his presence?”
Her cheeks glowed pink. “No, I have been distracted.”
Tritus hid a small smile at her confession. Oh yes, she’d been very busy. And very happy. He tightened his grip on her arms, squeezing her tightly. “Good distractions, I hope.”
She gazed at him, her heart in her eyes. “Good distractions,” she agreed softly, leaning in to kiss him.
Pulling back, Tritus added, “That means that if he’s here, I will have the month to visit my family and return. The time is opportune. We will be unlikely to cross paths while he is here, and I am there.”
He watched as she considered this, the play of emotions flitting over her face so quickly that if he blinked, he would miss the complexity of her thoughts. Finally, she said, “I understand the need to visit your family, but I think it best that I come with you. We will go together.”