by Dianna Love
After half a minute, she got up, muttering, “Nothing recent there.” She went to the bathroom.
Daegan tapped on the walls, listening for a hollow spot to indicate an escape route.
Reese came back into the bedroom and stared at the space. She dropped to the floor next to the bed, sitting in her usual cross-legged style. Every ten or fifteen seconds, she’d scoot to a different position, but with her eyes closed.
She banged into a corner of the bed frame. “Ouch.”
“Reese?” Quinn called from the other room.
She sagged with a heavy sigh. “Would you tell him I’m not freaking dying?”
Daegan smothered a smile at her aggravation with Quinn. He called out, “Reese is safe. Stop irritatin’ her so she can work.”
Silence answered him.
Reese laughed. “I like you. Okay, let me try this spot then I’ll keep moving if nothing pops up.”
In the next location, Reese remained in one place for a longer period. Her shoulders relaxed and she leaned back against the bed with her eyes closed. That fluttering motion behind her eyelids from before happened again as she began whispering.
“Luigsech stood where I’m sitting. She was here only a second, then raced out to the other room where she searched for something important. She pushed busted furniture around in a panic, then gave up and came back to this room. I can’t tell what she was hunting.” Reese squinted her shut eyes, then her face relaxed. “She’s now looking for ... a backpack? That’s it. She unloaded three books from the cream-colored tote into her backpack, strapped it on then—”
Daegan held his breath, hoping this resulted in something useful.
“Luigsech ... shoved her sword into her backpack? That can’t be right. She ... okay, I see. She has some kind of sheath inside her backpack. She pulled the sword out, thanked it for some reason, then put it back in the sheath.”
Reese blew out a lungful of air as if just tracking Luigsech’s movements tired her. “Well, hell. That’s how she opened the trapdoor from inside the cottage.”
Daegan had never possessed the measure of patience he had before this moment when he waited as Reese muttered a few more things, but no intelligent sentences.
He started to call Quinn in when his Maistir walked up, standing next to him as he studied Reese.
All at once, she shook her head and came awake or whatever happened when she had seen all she could. Her gaze touched on Quinn, but she addressed Daegan.
“Everything started moving fast so I just sat back and watched to be sure I didn’t miss anything. I found how she gets out of here.”
Daegan squatted. “What did she do?”
“I’ll show you.” Reese got up and stepped to the opposite side of the bed where it was closer to the outside wall. “Both of you move back.”
Once Daegan and Quinn were out of the way, Reese leaned over and shoved the bed before anyone could help her. She grinned when the wood floor beneath the bed moved with the frame, exposing a three-foot-square trapdoor.
Daegan came around and lifted the trapdoor. Luigsech’s scent rose from the hole. He froze, confused by how her scent had him inhaling to pull in more. She must have cleaned up. Her distinctive smell came wrapped in lilac this time.
Ruadh normally remained quiet, but alert, with no threat nearby. His dragon stirred suddenly and made a soft rumble.
What the hell was that about?
Daegan closed the lid and pushed the bed back into place, preventing Luigsech from realizing he’d found her escape point.
He straightened. “That was how she escaped so quickly last night and must have left with only her sword. From what Reese saw at the ancestral research centre, it sounds as if Luigsech returned to the cottage for her backpack with a compartment for her sword.”
“That’s not the only thing she left,” Quinn added. He lifted a mobile phone into view, turning it to show the backside covered in bright flowers.
Daegan crossed the room to where Quinn stood in the doorway. “Where did ya discover that?”
“I almost didn’t see it until I moved her sofa.”
“Ah!” Reese snapped her fingers. “That must have been what she was hunting for in the other room.”
Hope filled Daegan’s chest at the single discovery. “Tristan tells me we have people who can gain information from those phones. What about this one?”
Quinn tapped on the buttons more than once. He lifted a disappointed look to Daegan. “I'm not skilled at retrieving information from a mobile phone, but we have Beladors in Atlanta who are exceptional techies.”
Raking a wad of hair off her face, Reese said, “Here’s what else I saw just now. Your woman escaped through that tunnel and ran for a long stretch. I can’t always tell distances when I do remote viewing, but it seemed like it was not terribly far from the cottage.”
“Dammit. She’s in the wind again,” Quinn groaned.
“Not exactly,” Reese countered. “When she got out of the tunnel—”
“What did the exit point of the tunnel look like?” Daegan asked, interrupting her.
“Another trapdoor. It was that place I told you about next to a boulder. When I saw the spot this time as she emerged from the tunnel, the boulder hid her from easy view unless someone was standing really close to it in the woods. After she closed the lid, she moved weeds and grass to camouflage it really well. You could walk over that trapdoor and never see anything out of place.”
“Quite an operation.” Quinn sounded impressed.
Reese agreed, “She’s pretty slick with her escape routes. Both of them required her to walk hunched over through long tunnels. You two would have a tough time getting through quickly. This last time, she took off into the woods and eventually the ground turned downhill for a short distance to a riverbank. She stopped about fifteen feet short of the water to pull weeds and branches off of something like a jon boat.”
“What is this boat?” Daegan asked Quinn.
“They are flat-bottom boats of different sizes, but most are around eight to twelve feet long and intended for two people out fishing.”
“Right,” Reese said, moving on. “Luigsech climbed in and headed down river, paddling with the current. Again, I can tell some distances when I have a reference like how far the boat was from the water, but I don’t know how far she went downstream. She turned at one point, paddling to a bank on the opposite side where she got out and dragged the boat up an incline and then hid it in the weeds again.”
“Was someone waiting for her?” Quinn asked.
“No. She climbed the bank and took a freaking convoluted route through the woods. That’s why I sat back and just watched. She went through a cave, then she turned by two trees that had fallen in an X pattern. After that, she went underground a short distance. That woman is half mole.”
How could Daegan follow that path?
He could not risk his dragon until after dark and that would only be if he knew for sure no one was around. He asked, “Can ya be more specific on the route Luigsech took through the woods?”
Reese puffed her cheeks and blew out air, staring at the wall with a thoughtful look. “Well, it’s not like telling you where to turn on streets in a city.”
All Daegan heard in her tone was dead end. “Do ya have a visual of where Luigsech got out of the boat on the other side?”
“Yes and no. I can see that spot, but it looks like so many she passed I don’t know what drew her to that specific landing. The one thing that struck me were all the blue flowers growing around a half-submerged tree trunk. They were small with white star-like centers. I’d like to say I could nail the location, but I don’t trust what I saw enough to try that. I could make it through the tunnel easier than you two. If I did that, we could find the river entrance.” She swung to Quinn. “Don’t you dare say one word about it being too dangerous.”
“Wouldn’t dare,” Quinn grumbled and turned to leave the room. “That reminds me, I need to check the outside
again.”
Daegan decided to join Quinn for another look through the front room.
The glass window shattered behind him on the other side of the bed.
A demon dove through, going for Reese.
Chapter 11
Cathbad teleported to a rooftop across the street from Luigsech’s ancestral research centre. He cloaked himself as soon as he appeared above the bakery pumping out a delicious aroma. He’d have to visit and try out their sweets on another trip.
He’d arrived at half past ten intentionally, curious to see if Casidhe Luigsech had opened his book to the spot he wanted translated.
If she had, then she put little value on the life of her friend Fenella. That would surprise him, but it wouldn’t be the first time someone had placed their own interests first.
He wanted to see Casidhe’s true colors right up front.
That allowed him to know how to take what he wanted from her.
While he waited a moment to observe the building, a white-haired woman in a pink dress and matching shoes stopped to tap on the door. She ducked her head, moving it back and forth like a bird searching for seeds inside then walked on.
Probably someone who knew Casidhe and Fenella.
Why had no one answered the door?
Casidhe would not have missed this meeting, would she?
When the woman in pink walked away, Cavan teleported into the reception area he’d visited twice before. Those times, he’d entered at street level through the front door.
The first thing he noticed was his book on dark druids nowhere in sight. Shielding his presence from view, he opened up his senses, calling to the book.
It was not here.
Neither was Casidhe Luigsech.
She had certainly surprised him.
He did not believe she would defy him without cause. She had clearly feared him yesterday and he still believed she cared too much for Fenella to put the older woman at risk.
What had changed for Casidhe since yesterday?
Why would she steal his book? If she’d read as much as he believed she had, she would know the danger of crossing a dark druid of his caliber.
He closed his eyes and opened his senses again to search for preternatural residue.
He picked up a lingering trail of energies.
Casidhe had been here recently.
So had that red dragon and two others, one was a being he’d sensed before but could not immediately identify.
Now he understood why Casidhe might have run with his book. Having the red dragon involved changed everything. Cathbad took his time, searching through the library of impressive volumes. Some books had either been moved around or taken, based on clean areas left with a film of dust disturbed near those spots.
How many books had she taken?
Which ones?
His best guess would be something connected to the grimoire. As he moved through the library full of scents from a time long gone he normally smelled only in his own archives, he considered teleporting to the cottage.
Why would she take the books there when he could so easily find her?
He’d located her cottage after his first visit to the ancestral centre when she took off for five days. Locating that cottage had been simple. It was not as if she tried to hide her life, but he had restrained from entering her home in case she had a way of discerning if she’d had unwelcome company while away.
How had she escaped this building after his first visit without notice?
He and Brynhild had remained close by after their first visit. They’d waited for him to see what action Fenella, or Casidhe, who had hidden from them, would take. He’d felt Casidhe’s power as she likely had spied on him and Brynhild when they presented themselves as the Cavans.
But Fenella left the centre that day and no one else.
Only Fenella came in for the next two days as well.
Casidhe didn’t show until yesterday, entering through the front door. She had clearly left by a secret exit the first day he visited. He’d placed a majik tripwire by the rear exterior door that first time. No one had opened the door since then.
The Luigsech squire family had been humans, but Casidhe was not, which created a new puzzle.
Just who was Casidhe Luigsech? What powers did she possess besides translating lost languages?
He kept turning in place as he thought, taking in every angle of the room, especially around the floor and back wall.
Where would be the best place to hide a secret exit from this building? He found nothing disturbed on the floor. He turned his attention to the back wall covered entirely with heavy bookcases.
Running his fingers up and down each shelving unit, he searched for a secret latch of some sort. Nothing.
A thought kept digging at him.
Had Casidhe gone to her cottage?
He should leave this place be and teleport there. Shaking his head at this odd development, he started to walk away, but ... he gave that back wall filled with books one last look.
Then he took a couple steps to the center of the room and faced the wall. Lifting his hands, he tapped telekinetic power to pull the bookcases toward him.
All the cases shuddered and creaked with strain, but the right side of one closest to the center trembled more. The middle of the structure bowed out.
Could that one be moveable?
He focused his power on the right side and doubled down.
First a screech of metal, then a pop sounded. The bookcase broke free, swinging open on hinges.
Smiling, he stepped over and pushed the secret door wider and opened his senses again.
Daegan had not been in this spot, but Casidhe had and not long ago.
Cathbad leaned in. If she’d left this way with his book, he still needed to know where she’d gone.
He’d warned her to be here when he arrived.
She could not outrun him. He would find her, and when he did she would learn the price to be paid for her arrogance.
Chapter 12
A gray-skinned demon with one long horn curved over the back of his head and sickle-shaped claws crashed through the window.
Reese had already leaped sideways and rolled up on her knees.
Daegan turned as Quinn flew past him, diving into the room.
All that happened in a micro-second as Reese shoved a blast of energy at the demon. Glowing red eyes bulged. She’d hit the demon with the power of a lightning strike.
The unnatural creature exploded into fire, then orange ashes.
Daegan couldn’t get over how she’d moved faster than he could teleport her.
Quinn jumped up, his normally well-groomed hair looking as wild as his eyes. He lunged for Reese and lifted her to his chest, holding her close.
Daegan told Quinn telepathically, There could be more demons and possibly Imortiks.
“You’re right,” Quinn said, raking a shaky hand over his hair.
Reese shoved away from Quinn, hands fisted. “Right about what? Are you two talking in your heads?”
Daegan saved Quinn by explaining, “Time is dwindlin’. Can ya give me a better description of where Luigsech got out of the boat, Reese?”
The expression on her face floored Daegan’s hope.
“I told you all I know. I should go with you to help, because even if I could tell you how to find that spot, there’s no way I can describe her exact path once she took off on foot again.”
“I could enter your mind and view the image,” Quinn suggested.
That brought her back to life. She jumped up. “Hell. No.”
“Why not?” he pressed. “You know I would not raid your mind and it would be far more expedient. Daegan is not taking you any farther on this hunt.”
“Why not?” she demanded. “I’m pretty damn useful. What about you, Quinn? Is he taking you?”
“I shall continue with Daegan while his backup is still captured.”
Daegan allowed power to surge in his voice, to elimi
nate any argument. “Ya can clearly fight off demons, Reese, but I am not so sure about Imortiks. They would definitely want to turn someone with your abilities. Demons and Imortiks showed up all at once last night. I would like to get ya out of here before that happens. Quinn is correct. I would prefer to not take ya along. I cannot be sure we will survive. I need to know ya are safe.”
Her face fell when she looked over at Quinn. She twisted her hands together, struggling with a decision. “You can look into my mind, but only images from the point she left the tunnel and went to the river, then where she disembarked. That should get you there.”
Quinn gave her a curious glance, but agreed. “I will always respect your wishes.”
She closed her eyes. “I’m replaying those images in my mind. Go now.”
Evidently, she ordered Quinn around as much as anyone.
Quinn focused on Reese for less than a minute. “I have it. Your recall is quite precise. I feel we can find that location.”
She blinked her eyes open. “Fine. I get that I can be a liability. I’ll head back if you don’t need anything else from me.”
Quinn sent a short message to Daegan mind-to-mind. Please teleport her to Treoir so I know she’s safe while I’m gone.
Daegan acknowledged that by saying, “’Tis all we need for now, Reese. I appreciate everythin’ ya did today.”
“You’re welcome.” She gave Quinn a loaded stare. “Be careful.”
“I will. Take care of yourself as well and ... get some rest.”
“Oh, for crying out loud. I. Am. Fine.” She turned to Daegan. “Teleport me now. Please.”
She vanished in the next moment.
Daegan had expected her to ask where he was sending her, but she likely assumed she would be returning to Atlanta. “I sent her to Treoir.”
“Thank you.”
“I doubt she will thank either of us when we see her again.”
Quinn gave him a grim nod. “That is my problem. I will explain you only did as I asked.”
“Is something wrong with Reese?” Daegan needed to know if Quinn would be distracted.
Washing a hand over his face, Quinn stared off for a minute then shifted a look at Daegan. “I shall explain more later, but Reese is pregnant.”
