Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World: Book 2 Page 11

  Reese opened her mouth and closed it. She shook her head at something, muttering under her breath, then admitted, “It’s nice to see you and Phoedra, but I’m not happy to be here. I was not consulted about this destination.” Fingers curled into fists, Reese declared, “I am so gonna kill him.”

  Phoedra asked, “Who?”

  “Quinn.”

  “That’s not nice.” Phoedra said it with a tease in her voice, giving Lanna the impression these two used that phrase often, because a smile twitched at Reese’s lips.

  Then Reese opened her arms to Phoedra who hugged her. Looking over Phoedra’s shoulder, Reese sent a weary smile to Lanna. When they broke apart, Reese said, “That man is making me crazy.”

  “Cousin can be difficult sometimes, but he always cares much about you, Phoedra, me, and all he considers family.” Lanna hoped to remind Reese of Quinn’s big heart. “Beladors and dragon are family, too. Cousin has much room in heart.” Lanna turned toward the castle. “Come inside. We will have tea.”

  As the other two fell into step beside Lanna, Phoedra fidgeted with her fingers. “I’m sorry he makes you mad, Reese.”

  “Oh, honey, the truth is this is all me. I can’t stand near him without losing my temper.” Reese sounded embarrassed.

  When Phoedra didn’t ask why, Lanna took a stab at what she believed was going on. “Is hard to keep secrets, Reese.”

  Reese stopped, forcing Lanna and Phoedra to turn to her. “What are you talking about, Lanna?”

  Flashing a look at Phoedra, who dropped her eyes, Lanna smiled at Reese. “I think Cousin knows truth.”

  A group of four guards walked past them. One slowed and asked, “Is everyone okay?”

  “Yes,” Lanna quickly replied with a smile, sending them along. She turned a knowing look on Reese. “Secret makes you angry all the time.”

  Phoedra lifted her gaze. “Lanna’s right, Reese. We can’t keep this hidden any longer. It’s not fair to ... him.”

  Hearing Phoedra call Quinn him and not dad or father pained Lanna, but this was not the time to tackle that subject.

  Reese’s eyes swam with tears she would not let fall. “That’s why I’m so mad ... at me. The guilt is killing me and I take it out on him because I don’t want to hurt him, but I’m doing just that. I know that sounds crazy. Consider the source right now.” Then she gave Lanna a suspicious look. “Wait, you said you think he knows?”

  “Yes. Cousin would not be careless, but something must not have worked. I think he knows you carry baby. He will not leave you to do this alone.”

  “We were careful, dammit,” Reese muttered. “That freaking InchKeith has to be at fault.”

  That would explain a lot.

  Lanna recalled hearing how Quinn and Reese had been put through a difficult time to gain information on locating Phoedra only the InchKeith could provide back then.

  It was up to Lanna to fix this for Quinn. No man could be more honorable than her cousin. First she had to find out why Reese had not told him yet. “Yes, I remember you two went to New Orleans and were inside InchKeith realm. Cousin said it was difficult time.”

  Walking over to the castle steps, Reese turned and sat on the second one up. Phoedra took the spot next to her.

  Lanna stood so she could see both of their faces.

  Reese leaned back on her elbows and stared up at her. “That InchKeith jerk played games with us the whole time. Half the time I didn’t know what was real and what was illusion.” She tipped her chin down. “But I swear Quinn and I both thought the condom was real.”

  “Eww.” Phoedra covered her ears. “I don’t want details.”

  Reese smiled and patted Phoedra’s knee. “Uncover your ears. I don’t want to go into details either, but I do need you to know I would not put him in this situation again for anything and he would not have put me at risk.”

  Pulling her hands down, Phoedra looped an arm around Reese. “It’s going to be okay, really.”

  Reese just gave her a sad smile then asked Lanna, “But how do you know what’s going on? Did Quinn tell you?”

  Phoedra groaned. “I told her. I trust Lanna. I’m sorry. I was worried about you, both of you.”

  Lanna would not have betrayed that trust by telling Reese that Phoedra had only confirmed what Lanna had figured out. She assured Reese, “I will say nothing about this unless you give me permission. I keep secrets, but I think you need to talk to Cousin. Garwyli tutors me each time I visit Treoir. He said InchKeith is old and has dark sense of humor, but can be busybody friend. Maybe thought he was playing matchmaker. Did InchKeith think you and Cousin were more than friends?”

  “No, yes, maybe,” Reese grumbled. “Let’s say yes.”

  “InchKeith could have thought he was doing favor.” Lanna held up a hand to stop Reese from exploding. “I do not defend him. Does not matter. Phoedra is happy for baby. I am happy for baby. Cousin will be happy for baby.”

  “No. Quinn is not going to be happy to find out he’s been tricked twice. I didn’t trick him, but the outcome is the same and he has every right to be angry.”

  “Cousin will understand and will not blame you for this. I think he will be more worried about you and baby staying safe. That is probably why you end up here. Treoir safest place for you, baby, and Phoedra.”

  Reese sat up. “Damn. Now everything makes sense. Instead of badgering me about why I got sick at the apartment before we teleported, he put up with my bad mood. He does know. He did ask me if I was okay and I snapped at him ... maybe more than once. He didn’t lose his temper.” She covered her face. “I suck. This won’t do.”

  “Why not?” Phoedra asked. “I think we can make this work and Lanna is right. He’s really nice.”

  Lanna added, “He will be wonderful father to baby and ... ” She turned a warm smile to Phoedra. “To you also.”

  Phoedra’s cheeks pinked with embarrassment. “I know.”

  Reese asked Phoedra, “Would you mind getting me a glass of water, Snook? I’m really dry.”

  “I’ll get it!” Phoedra jumped up and ran into the castle.

  Lanna smiled at Reese using Phoedra’s nickname.

  The minute she was out of sight, Reese stood and leaned close to Lanna, keeping her voice down. “I would never keep the baby secret from Quinn, but you don’t understand. He can’t be anywhere around me when it’s time to give birth.”

  Icy chill ran over Lanna’s skin. “Why not?”

  “I can’t carry this baby to term.”

  “I will—”

  “No, Lanna. Listen to me. I know you’re powerful and how much you care, but this is not something you can fix. I’ve been cursed, for real, and already lost one child a long time ago. The only reason I didn’t die at the same time was because the person who has been Phoedra’s guardian for all these years kept me hidden from demons. He’s also Phoedra’s guardian because Kizira asked him to protect her baby. He’s the one who put me on a path to meet Phoedra. Quinn can’t be around me or he won’t survive either. The father of my first child didn’t want me or the baby, but he survived only because the guardian kept me somewhere no one could touch me. I may have to go back to the guardian. You told me you would protect my secret. You have to help me keep Quinn away and watch over Phoedra when I’m gone.”

  “I will not leave you or the baby to die.” Lanna’s heart cried at the possibility. She had power. She could do something.

  “The baby doesn’t have a chance.” Reese struggled with those words, but she caught her breath and pushed on. “The baby will grow to full term then ... ” She choked and covered her mouth with her hand. Tears pooled in her eyes. Voice cracking, she said, “I’ll lose the child. That will be hell to go through again, but even worse if something happened to Quinn or Phoedra. I want your word you will help me protect them by keeping them away from me when the time comes if I can’t get to Phoedra’s guardian again.”

  Lanna had never been handed such a difficult task. She lived to ma
ke things better for her family and friends. Tears burned her eyes. “Please let me try to help you, Reese.”

  “You will help me if you do as I ask. Your word.” Reese’s voice hardened. That strong woman shoved her emotions deep and stood with the steel backbone she’d shown time and again.

  Struggling to get the words out, Lanna whispered, “My word.”

  “Great. I need to get out of Treoir and vanish. That’s the best way to keep everyone I care about safe.” Reese pinned Lanna with a look that caused her to swallow hard. “I’ll convince Phoedra to stay here to wait for her dad. Maybe those two can finally live together.”

  “What will you tell Phoedra?” Lanna twisted her hands, frustrated she couldn’t use her powers for the ones she loved.

  “I have a plan,” Reese said, sounding determined, but not offering more.

  “Lanna?” Garwyli called out. He stepped aside as Phoedra rushed past him carrying a glass.

  Handing the water to Reese, Phoedra glanced at Lanna with an expectant look. Quinn’s daughter wanted encouragement that Lanna would make everything right for Reese and Quinn.

  Rather than lie, Lanna smiled and winked at her. She turned to look up at the old druid standing on the top landing and froze.

  Energy surged and pulsed around Garwyli. Lanna couldn’t pull her eyes from the druid’s turquoise aura now charged with a fiery red.

  Reese and Phoedra chatted comfortably behind her.

  How could they not see or sense the power gathering around Garwyli? His eyes burned with a fury she’d never witnessed.

  What was going on?

  Chapter 16

  Casidhe shifted the packed backpack and stopped to tighten the strap. The three heavy books in it along with a change of clothes and a few toiletries, plus the sword felt as if she carried a person on her back. She would have liked enough time to shower and change out of this soiled white shirt, but every second she’d spent in her cottage she’d feared some deadly being showing up.

  Her hand trembled when she released the strap.

  She’d barely escaped from the ancestral centre today before an unknown being entered. She had just opened the secret doorway to the tunnel exit and changed her mind, deciding to wait a little longer for Cavan.

  A blast of energy that swept through the building sent her scurrying through the opening and pulling the bookcase door shut.

  She’d closed it as softly as she could, but it still made a soft snick sound. Holding her breath, she’d watched through a peephole to see if Cavan had been the one to arrive.

  No. It had been that damned giant stranger again. He’d barreled into the back room incredibly fast.

  Well, that had solved her dilemma.

  Cavan had clearly been watching the building when she left yesterday to go home. If he’d arrived and observed the centre this morning, he would have seen her intruder. When she got her hands on Mr. No Name who broke into her cottage, she’d throttle him for screwing up her meeting with Cavan on top of everything else.

  What if Cavan entered the centre next and ran into her late-night intruder?

  Cavan had captured the guy’s friend. Could he kill her intruder? Worry stabbed her.

  Why? Maybe that guy should stop breaking and entering. She didn’t have a back door to her cottage. How had he entered her cottage and the centre without making a sound?

  Logic hit her between the eyes.

  Had her intruder teleported?

  Probably. What other explanation could it be?

  She blew out a loud sigh.

  In that case, good thing she hadn’t slowed down since leaving the centre again. She made her fastest trek ever through the tunnel.

  Her toe caught on a root and she lunged to maintain her balance. She scraped her hands grabbing a tree no thicker than her wrist to keep from faceplanting.

  Now would be a good time to pay attention.

  She’d hiked about four miles since hiding the boat on this side of the river.

  She couldn’t risk being seen going to the airport she’d just traveled from recently or she’d take a faster route.

  With Cavan searching for her, and now the dark stranger, she had to be careful and not make a mistake that would lead any of these beings to a Luigsech family.

  If she managed to reach the one she had in mind without any incident, she’d hide out a day to be sure no one had followed her. Then she’d stay with them a couple more days while she researched that grimoire and tried to track down Fenella.

  Miserable majik book.

  Had Cavan really intended to meet with her? If so, why hadn’t he been at the ancestral centre early this morning?

  Had he been around to see what happened at her cottage last night?

  Did he have Fenella?

  If he didn’t, then where had that woman gone?

  Casidhe had to stop piling questions on an already difficult situation.

  She hoped Fenella would find the tiny paper message Casidhe had left under a wadded-up rag and realize they had a problem. Then Fenella could go to one of her squire families and send word to Herrick. Fenella was no fool and had a crafty streak. She could get out of County Galway without notice, too. She knew far more of the squire family connections than Casidhe.

  All those thoughts should have quieted Casidhe’s fears, but they didn’t. Fenella could just as easily be dead.

  She struggled to breathe.

  How could she face Herrick again if Fenella was dead? He would blame her, the person he’d trained to be a protector.

  No. She shook her head, refusing to accept Fenella’s death. Not without indisputable evidence. She swiped a runaway tear from her cheek. No stopping until she found Fenella and had her in a safe place.

  Dragging in a raspy breath, Casidhe embraced the surge of determination to push harder.

  Weaving her way through the tangled forest snagging her clothes and hair, she searched for the next opportunity she could hide her tracks. She’d wiggled through a tapered opening in a rock wall, which had been a small cave with two entrances years back. Erosion since then had worn the outcropping down until little more than a narrow passage had been left.

  If she hadn’t known this spot existed, she wouldn’t have found it so easily.

  After snaking her way through that hollowed-out path, she ran ahead twenty feet and stepped into a drizzling stream of water snaking through the woods. Not enough water to qualify as a creek in her estimation, but she continued downstream for five minutes then stepped out.

  If anyone following her had the ability to track like an animal, that trick would do little to slow them down.

  But it made her feel better to hide her footsteps.

  She had another ten miles to cover by foot before she would reach someone who could help her travel by vehicle. More important than that, the people she headed for would hopefully be able to find out if Fenella had been in contact with any of the other squire families.

  If not, she'd have them get word to Herrick.

  She would do all in her power to locate Fenella. To find out if Cavan had captured her. Casidhe wouldn’t bring Herrick in to rescue Fenella unless she had no other choice. He would come if called, but doing so would expose him to supernatural threats like that murdering red dragon.

  Casidhe had to protect Herrick and their people at the castle just as much as Fenella.

  She would do as much as she could with the resources available to her. If Cavan had Fenella, then Casidhe would focus the full force of her energy on finding that book.

  What majikal formulas in that grimoire could be so important?

  Would Cavan, or the stranger, use it to harm others?

  Even if she found the grimoire, there was no guarantee Cavan would leave her and Fenella alone once he got it. That created a whole new set of worries. She kicked a clump of dirt out of her way and stomped on.

  Who was this Cavan to upend her life this way?

  She’d find that book, but no one was getting it until
she knew why they wanted the grimoire. She’d threaten to use it against Cavan if he harmed one hair on Fenella’s head.

  Little wind threaded through this forest, but it felt as if all movement had died. She took three more steps. Her skin tingled with that creepy sensation of someone watching her again.

  Don’t panic, she silently told herself.

  Pausing to take a breath, she let her gaze roam the area around her.

  Her stomach growled. She dug out a meal-replacement bar and ate it quickly. She couldn’t run for long on crackers and snack bars. Shoving the wrapper into her pocket, she convinced herself she had energy again.

  If only that were true. She watched for glowing yellow monsters.

  And demons.

  Her fingers itched to pull out Lann an Cheartais.

  She’d like to think the sword had bonded with her after last night, but she had no idea where she stood with Shannon’s sword. The air smelled of damp moss and rich woodland.

  No sulfuric stench.

  She climbed up on a thick log left from a tree that had fallen long enough ago the upper limbs had dead leaves. With a look around, she jumped down on the other side.

  Her knees suffered a jarring hit from the weight on her back.

  Every tiny sound snatched her attention. Her heart pounded more from sensing eyes on her than from the exertion. Keep moving. The sooner she made it through this forest and over the next mountain, the better.

  Wading through knee-deep undergrowth speckled with white flowers, she plowed ahead.

  Her thoughts kept returning to her late-night intruder who battled demons and crazy yellow beings without a second thought.

  Who was he and what did he really want with her?

  Had he been stalking her for the grimoire?

  Or was he trying to find Herrick? If so, she could be walking into a trap by asking Herrick to do anything. Yet another reason she had to keep all this to herself.

  But none of it made sense.

  Like when hunting for a book or tiny piece of historical detail, she needed more information.

  A twig snapped. That wouldn’t have seemed significant, but the woods had gone quiet again.

  Too quiet.

  Adrenaline shoved her fight or flight impulse into gear. Bad idea to give into flight if a predator stalked her. She took a couple calm steps, kept watch of her surroundings, and tried to breathe quietly.