by Anne, Meg
Flashes of his past ran through Lucas’ mind, and for a moment, it was as if he was standing back on that Chicago balcony with Skye for the first time. He could clearly see every second of that night, right down to the strands of hair blowing across her face in the chilly air.
He needed his future with her, needed to know what it would be like to grow old and share a love that would last a lifetime. That was where his power came from, his ability to love others rather than destroy them. Something the asshole in front of him would never understand.
If a Druid’s power was tied to the essence of life itself, that meant it could only be strengthened by love.
Love is what gives life meaning.
No matter what this bastard thought, being surrounded by people you loved would always be a strength.
Still connected to the others, Lucas lightly tugged at the strands of power, careful not to overdraw. Inhaling deeply, he opened his eyes.
“You’re wrong,” he choked out, slamming his palms into the Druid’s chest.
The Druid flew back, landing in a heap several yards away. Lucas stalked toward him, his hand already wrapped around the hilt of the runed dagger tucked into his waistband when the man who’d once been his Pop rolled onto his back. Without hesitation, Lucas attacked, slamming the dagger down into the bastard's chest.
The Druid gasped, gurgling as bright red blood trickled from his mouth.
Lucas twisted the dagger, and the Druid gave a jolt beneath him before going limp.
“Have fun in hell, asshole,” he murmured.
Just as he was about to stand, a wave of pure power washed over Lucas, knocking him off the Druid and into the mud. The world tilted and spun around him, one giant whirl of color, before everything went black.
Chapter 30
Lucas
Lucas stood alone in the center of the stone circle; the others were nowhere to be found. Electric blue power swirled around him and the ancient stones, linking them in some kind of magical light show. Wind roared as the power pulsed and spun, making it nearly impossible to hear anything but his own thoughts. What the hell happened? Did he send me back to the Wasteland?
Without warning, the magic converged, turning into one single beam that shot toward him. Lucas fell to his knees as power surged into his veins. His body spasmed, eyes rolling back in his head as the shared consciousness of his entire Druid line poured into him through the solid stream of magic.
“Accept your inheritance,” a multitude of voices whispered, surrounding him with the sound.
“Our power is now yours.”
“Use it wisely.”
So many voices layered over one another, making it impossible to single out any individual speaker.
Lucas screamed, pain ripping through him as his body was assaulted by magic—both the light and the dark—pouring into him and rearranging the very molecules of his body. Just as he was sure it was the end of him, the pain subsided, and the wind died down, leaving him gasping for breath on his hands and knees in the center of the circle.
“Feels good, doesn’t it?”
Opening his eyes, Lucas scrambled to his feet as the soulless black gaze of his twin stared back at him. The emptiness of the stare shook him just like the first time he’d seen him, back when he absorbed the power hidden within the O’Leary journal.
His twin grinned, the smile entirely too reminiscent of the Druid for comfort. “I told you our power would make or destroy us.”
“What the hell are you talking about? I’m fine.”
His twin cocked his head to the side. “Are you?”
Lucas glanced down at his hands, which glowed with the magic running through his veins.
“All that power…imagine what you could do with it. The good or…” his twin trailed off, shrugging and still smiling that same half-demented smile.
Lucas didn’t need him to finish his sentence to understand the implication. He could feel the truth of his twin’s words radiating through him, the endless possibilities that came with ultimate power. All of the things he was capable of now…and there would be no one to stop him. He was the last of the Druids.
“You have to choose a path.”
Lucas’ gaze shot back to his twin. “And you’re here to help me do that?”
“I’m here to remind you what’s at stake.”
In an instant, the clearing changed, and they were no longer alone. Where there had once been green grass, now only carnage. Everywhere he looked, the ground was coated in dark red blood, the bodies of those he loved strewn across the turf, slaughtered where they’d stood.
“No,” Lucas gasped, stricken as his eyes landed on Lizzie’s lifeless body. Her arm was flung out toward Matthews, as if she’d reached for him even in her final moments. And her eyes—normally so full of life—were frozen open in a horrified stare aimed directly at him.
“This is what awaits you if you choose the wrong path.”
“No, I don’t want this! What am I supposed to do? Tell me what to do!”
“There is more than one host for the MacConnell line. Times are changing.” His twin began to fade, and Lucas rushed toward him.
“What the hell does that mean? I thought the Druid was dead?”
“You are the Druid now.”
Lucas shook his head. “I’ll never be like him.”
“That’s yet to be seen.” His twin disappeared with a soft chuckle, and the world faded away.
“Lucas!”
“Lucas, stop fucking around and wake the fuck up!”
Lucas blinked open his eyes. Skye and Lizzie’s pale faces swam into view, their eyes wide as they looked down at him. Both women scrambled away as he sat up.
“Lucas?” Skye whispered softly.
So much power. I could do anything with this much magic at my disposal…
“Lucas, come back,” his Nan called, taking a step toward him.
‘You are the Druid now.’ His twin’s warning came back to him, and Lucas scooted away.
“Get away from me,” he warned as dark thoughts continued to fill his mind: blood-soaked grass, his sister’s sightless eyes. And then there were the voices.
‘You don’t need them.’
‘They make you weak!’
“What can we do?” Lizzie asked, panic lacing her tone.
Lucas turned away. He couldn’t risk looking at them. Not when a dark part of him wanted them gone—forever.
“‘Tis too much power for him alone,” Giles answered.
“Then tell us what to do!” Skye screamed.
Lucas could do nothing but stare at his hands as his new power lured him into the dark. Fighting for control, he replayed the words his twin had spoken. ‘There is more than one host for the MacConnell line. Times are changing.’
What the fuck did it mean?
“Snap the hell out of it, Lucas!” Lizzie raged at him, and Lucas’ eyes flew open.
“Lizzie!”
She straightened, clearly stunned that her outburst had gotten through to him. “What?”
“I need you,” he ground out as the voices filled his head once again.
“Do not waste your power.”
“Use what is rightfully yours.”
“Need me for what?” she asked, taking a hesitant step away from him.
He must’ve looked as nuts as he was starting to feel.
“Please,” he pleaded.
She gave him a long stare but slowly began to walk toward him.
“I need the blade.”
Matthews stepped forward and stopped Lizzie with a hand on her arm. “For what?” he asked, looking at Lucas.
“Stop fucking around!” Lucas roared. His time was running short, and he knew without a doubt what he had to do before he lost control completely.
“I’ll be fine,” Lizzie assured Matthews, before pulling the runed dagger from the Druid’s chest.
Her movements were unhurried, casual even. Had Lucas not been on the verge of falling into th
e abyss of his power, it might have pissed him off. The truth was, in the state he was in, they should all be afraid of him. Hell, at the moment, he terrified even himself.
“Here,” Lizzie said, handing him the blade.
After wiping it on his jeans, Lucas ran it across his palm. “Hand,” he ordered.
Lizzie hesitated.
“Give me your fucking hand, Lizzie! Please,” he added when she jumped. “I don’t know how much longer I can hang on.”
Something in his eyes must have proved his words because Lizzie held her hand out, palm up, and Lucas sliced through the delicate flesh.
“Fuck, that hurts,” Lizzie hissed.
Tossing the blade aside, Lucas gripped her hand with his injured one so their wounds touched, mixing his blood with hers. Staring at his sister, Lucas murmured the words that would forever change both their lives.
“A roinnt mé mo chumhacht.”
I share my power.
Lizzie’s eyes blazed the same electric blue as the power that had swirled around Lucas in the circle. She gripped Lucas’ hand hard as the excess power drained out of him, surging into her through their joined hands. As they held hands, more power flowed around them, cocooning them in a multitude of color as their heritage was shared.
Alone, the power was too much for him, but with Lizzie, they could each carry a portion of the burden. Two halves of the same whole.
“What’s happening?” she called to him, terror lacing her voice.
“It’s the only way,” he yelled back.
‘There is more than one host for the MacConnell line.’
After a moment, the vibrant colors encompassing them died down, and Lizzie stared back at him, understanding shining in her bright blue eyes. MacConnell eyes.
“What the hell just happened?” Matthews asked, rushing toward them. “We couldn’t get to you!”
Lizzie smiled at Lucas, who finally felt more like himself. No more power-hungry, murder-everyone, rule-the-world thoughts filling his mind. For the first time since he’d killed the Druid, Lucas turned to Skye, whose lips were curled in a soft smile.
“The power was too much for him to handle alone,” she explained.
His Nan gasped, covering her mouth with a hand. “Ye made Lizzie a Druid.”
Lucas nodded, winking at his sister. “The first female Druid in history.”
Lizzie beamed, staring down at her hands. “Fuck yes.”
Chapter 31
Lizzie
Lying in bed, Lizzie stared down at her hands. How was it she could feel so different inside, and yet still look exactly the same on the outside?
It was as if the power Lucas transferred to her had burrowed its way down into her very soul and become just as much a part of her as any of her limbs. She could feel the life force of everyone and everything around her, strands she could examine and know she was never alone.
The world was brighter now, her power coating everything in a beautiful filter that amplified the colors.
Not to mention, having power was awesome as hell.
Seeing Lucas wake up with black eyes had certainly been amongst the scariest things she’d ever seen, but now that he was back to normal, she couldn’t keep the smile from her face.
They’d won! They’d actually beaten the Druid bastard who’d tried to kill them multiple times, and who’d tortured one of her best friends. It was all behind them now. Finally, they could move on with rebuilding their lives. Eventually, they’d travel back to Chicago so she could rebuild her diner, and things could go back to the way they were.
Better even.
Now, she had James. Her eyes traveled over to the slightly ajar door to the bathroom, where he was showering. Their future would hold so many incredible things that had nothing to do with her newfound power, and everything to do with being together.
Glancing back at her hands, she sifted through the Gaelic words of power that she suddenly knew as if it had been her first language. The knowledge must have been transferred to her along with the power. Apparently, she was the next best thing to Google Translate…at least when it came to the English and Gaelic languages.
“Solas,” she whispered. Her palm blazed with white light, and Lizzie smiled as she flexed her fingers, causing the orb to dance and cast its flickering shadows on the wall beside her.
For so much of her life, she’d been powerless. First with her ex, and then again when the Druid started tormenting them.
Now, she’d never be powerless again.
Not with half the MacConnell Druid power running through her veins.
The shower turned off, and Lizzie looked up from her little ball of light. James was still on the other side of the door, wet, naked, and probably warm.
A slow smile spread across her face.
What good was having power if you couldn’t have a little fun with it?
Slipping out of bed, Lizzie crept to the door just as James finished tying a towel around his trim waist. It took all her self-control not to abandon her mission and slip inside to coerce him back into the shower.
Where they could both get wet and soapy.
There will be plenty of time for that.
James faced the mirror and started to run a comb through his messy hair.
Waving her hand, Lizzie mouthed, “Titim.” She grinned when James’ towel dropped to the ground, revealing the rest of his gorgeous, tan skin.
“What the fuck?” he muttered, bending to pick it up.
Lizzie stepped away, covering her mouth and trying like hell to contain her fit of giggles. Once she’d managed to compose herself, she returned to the crack in the door to find James had re-covered himself with the towel. Lizzie repeated her joke, and it slipped once again from his waist, falling to the tiled floor in a messy heap.
James cursed again as it fell, and Lizzie had to step even further away to keep him from hearing her stifled laughter.
Sneaking back to the door, she spied James as he bent over and retrieved the towel a second time. Unable to resist toying with him some more, Lizzie gestured to the towel again, this time murmuring, “Teacht chugam.”
Come to me.
The towel slipped from his waist and flew out the door, right into her waiting arms.
James turned to where she stood, a knowing grin on his face.
Lizzie burst into laughter. Her sides hurt as she backed toward the bed, eyes watering from laughing so hard.
“Think that’s funny, huh?” James asked calmly, leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed and a wide smile still in place.
“I really do,” she said with a snort, which only made her laugh harder.
“You know, I may not be a Druid, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have magic of my own.”
The way his hazel eyes narrowed on her face had Lizzie’s mouth watering. “Oh yeah? Prove it,” she teased.
“I think I just might have to.”
She threw the towel at him and turned to make a run for it, but James caught her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her up against his still slightly damp body. Lizzie’s laughter turned breathless when James’ fingers dug into her ribs, tickling her mercilessly.
“Not fair!” she cried.
“You want to talk about fair? You stripped me naked three times, not even giving me a chance to return the favor.”
He pressed a kiss to her neck, and Lizzie cocked her head to the side, unable to resist the feel of his lips against her skin.
“I didn’t realize you needed help getting me naked,” she joked.
“The least you could do is not use your unfair advantage on me.”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
She spun, and he released her. James continued crossing the room after her, and Lizzie backed up until the backs of her legs hit the bed.
“You will pay for that,” he said, leaning down so his mouth was only a breath away from hers.
“You promise?” she asked, lifting an eyebrow.
/> “I promise.” James leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. Wrapping an arm around her, he laid her back against the mattress and climbed on top of her.
“I think I should remove your towel more often,” she whispered against his mouth.
James pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. “Only if it means you’re removing your clothes, too.”
Lizzie grinned. “Deal.”
“I love you, Lizzie.”
“Love you, too, James.”
Closing the distance between them, James took her mouth again, and Lizzie wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him close.
If amazing sex is what he considers payback, I’m going to have to screw with him more often.
Chapter 32
Skye
Skye listened to the sounds of Lucas and Lizzie’s bickering with a grin. Since returning to Chicago, the two had been at each other’s throats about using their power. Lizzie was of the opinion that it only made sense that they enhance their lives with their new gifts, while Lucas was hesitant to touch his more than absolutely necessary.
Skye couldn’t blame him; after everything they’d faced, and witnessing firsthand the power’s ability to corrupt, wanting to tread carefully only made sense. Not that Skye had any lingering concerns that Lucas would ever misuse his power. He’d already proven otherwise.
“I should probably get in there before they whip out the rulers,” Skye said with a grin as she turned to her computer screen.
Skye tried to fight back a laugh. No matter how many times they’d tried to tell her that she just had to talk facing the screen, Maggie couldn’t seem to get the hang of it. Currently, Skye was staring up at her nostrils.
Maggie’s mouth stretched across the screen as she leaned into the tiny webcam to ask, “Why would they need rulers, lass?”
“Never mind. I’ll explain when I pick you and Giles up from the airport.”
“Sounds good, dear. Ye take care now. Looking forward to this weekend.”
