His voice was tense. “Don’t cry; it’s going to be okay, Brydie. Gage will find them.”
I lifted a hand to wipe my tears, appalled at the depth of my emotion. “I hope you’re right.”
Ian reached out and gave my hand a squeeze before turning back to look through the windshield at the blazing castle. But his frame immediately tensed. I shifted my gaze to follow his. Was it Gage?
But it wasn’t his lithe form coming toward us; Ian’s attention was focused on the flames that had suddenly erupted in the west wing of the castle. They were seemingly everywhere—on all floors of the building. What was wrong with the fire? It was as if it had been exponentially enhanced…as if by magical means.
I frantically searched the windows for a shadow of movement. But I couldn’t see Gage’s form anywhere. I turned back to face Ian, determined to enter the castle, but there came another loud boom, and the Rover was buffeted in a replica of moments before.
The west wing had collapsed.
No one and nothing could survive that.
I had no breath to scream; fear seized all rational thought. I didn’t think, immediately reaching for the door handle again, but Ian’s hand was a vice on my arm, keeping me locked in position. “Stay here!” he barked out viciously.
I sat there frozen, in absolute denial as the backwash of smoke and debris cleared. All that now remained of the Estate was the original entranceway. In one breath, the spire rose tall, dramatically picturesque against its red and orange backdrop, and in the next, it too collapsed, crumbling backward.
I heard a loud keening wail, not aware that it came from me. I refused to acknowledge what had just happened. Refused to acknowledge that Gage may have been trapped inside. That we’d lost them—McKenzie and Aiden included.
There was a buzz in my right ear. Ian was talking to me, but I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the ruined castle. My hand was painfully squeezed as Ian barked, “Put your seatbelt on! We need to leave—now!”
Numbly, I shook my head, still not bothering to look at him. “No.”
“Brydie!” Ian shouted. “Listen to me! We need to get out of here. That fire is not natural! If someone’s breached the wards again, you could still be in danger. Gage told me to keep you safe, and staying here any longer is foolish.”
Again, I refused to look at him. “No.” I should have saved him, should have followed him into the castle. “I’m not leaving. They could still be alive, Ian.”
Grunting, Ian leaned over, yanking my seatbelt over my chest and cinching it tightly. I didn’t stop him; I couldn’t move anyway, my body numb with shock. His hands grabbed hold of my face and turned me gently to face him. “Gage will have found them. It’s going to be okay, but the longer we stay here, we won’t be. Whoever did this could be coming for us next.”
“How do you know?” I asked, my voice bereft of emotion. I was holding the tide back with every ounce of my being.
Ian lifted his inner wrist and tapped it, right where his tattoo was. “Because I would have felt it.”
I stared at his wrist, at the accursed Celtic script, and blinked. Of course. Closing my eyes, I concentrated on my lower back and felt an answering tingle. It was no longer burning as it had been before but was rather a gentle, familiar simmer. The link hadn’t broken—the connection remained. Gage was still alive!
The truth hit me in a rush of all-consuming relief, and I twisted in my seat to throw my arms around Ian’s neck. Without hesitation, Ian’s arms wrapped around me, holding me tight. I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply, letting the truth sink in, his polished wood scent a balm against my fragile composure.
I pulled away, feeling the wide smile that stretched across my lips, and opened my eyes to find he was right there, his face a hairbreadth from my own. Before I had a chance to realize what was happening, he leaned in, and his lips touched mine.
28
Gage
My eyes fixed on the Rover as soon as we cleared the fallen west wing. I felt the tightness in my chest ease now that I had my eyes on my charge. I could feel Brydie inside the dark interior, knew she was unharmed. Ian was there too.
I headed straight for the passenger door, McKenzie and Aiden close behind. Ripping it open, I leaned in. The vision slammed into me.
Brydie and Ian. Together.
I pulled back reflexively, slamming the door, but the image of them in a tight embrace was already imprinted in my mind. Dark emotion surged into my chest. I clenched my fists at my sides, ready to let loose an irrational rage. Appalled at my reaction—a reaction I wasn’t meant to have—I stepped back from the vehicle and blindly walked away.
Ian jumped out of the Rover, his face split in a huge grin as he quickly moved toward me. “Gage! Thank god!”
I tried not to flinch as he leaned in and clapped me on the back.
He gestured to McKenzie and Aiden. “You found them!”
Teeth gritted, I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Ian didn’t notice, moving quickly over to McKenzie and giving her a tight hug. He then lifted an arm, beckoning to Aiden, who didn’t hesitate to rush in.
Brydie emerged from the car, a slash of red across her cheekbones. Her eyes immediately cut to mine. I stared back at her, hating the maelstrom of violent emotions swirling in my chest.
“You ran into the building,” she said slowly. “It was on fire. I thought—I thought you were dead...”
“I’m not,” I said harshly, my voice unforgiving. “My magic protected me.”
She flinched, and her gaze skittered away, catching sight of McKenzie and Aiden. “You found them!” she breathed.
I didn’t respond, my body granite, my emotions held in check. She stepped back instinctively as if realizing my rage was barely leashed. “What is it?” she asked.
The question floored me. Did she not know that I’d just caught her in an embrace with Ian? Had she been so engrossed in him that she’d missed the door slamming? I shut the thoughts down. Now wasn’t the time. Now would never be the time. Besides, the task at hand was more important. We had to leave here as quickly as possible. The Daughter of Winter was no longer safe.
“We need to go,” I bit out coldly. “The Estate has been compromised.” I gestured at the Rover. “Get in the back.”
She blinked up at me, face pale. I could see the danger of the situation turning in her mind. Good. She needed to think on her feet. Then she surprised me by not questioning my order, simply opening the back door of the Rover and slipping inside.
I turned to McKenzie and Aiden, Jack clutched tightly in the boy’s arms. I motioned for them to join her.
Ian looked at me as they followed suit. “Where are we headed?”
“I know a place we can go.”
Ian nodded and chucked me the keys. “Good. You drive.”
He slipped into the passenger seat while I climbed into the driver’s seat. The interior of the cab was silent as I started the Rover and turned it back down the driveway. I couldn’t help taking a look in the rear-view mirror. The building I’d lived in for the last twenty-two years was a smoldering, smoking ruin.
I clenched my jaw, aware that it was all my fault—the whole fucking deal. I’d forfeited Cailleach’s Lore Book, I’d lost the fifth descendant, I couldn’t awaken Brydie’s magic, and now I’d failed to protect the only safe place we had.