Spirits and Spells (Warlocks MacGregor Book 5)

by Michelle M. Pillow

  Wind rattled the house, threatening to tear it apart. Trees cracked, thick limbs rolling over the yard. Leaves swirled like blizzard snow.

  “I should have made you leave,” Lydia said.

  A loud thud sounded overhead and Charlotte looked up the stairs. Daylight returned to the windows. The memory was over.

  “That’ll be Erik,” Lydia said, coming from the kitchen. She touched Charlotte’s shoulder as she passed. She started up the stairs.

  Charlotte looked around the living room. It was put back into order. Lydia didn’t seem to notice what had happened.

  She took a deep breath. The memories of that night were back. Some a little hazy, but there if she concentrated hard enough. Angus MacGregor had ordered his son to erase her mind because she had been terrified. When Niall took that night from her, he’d also taken her back from the edge of insanity.

  Charlotte remembered the look on Niall’s face as he’d come for her. He’d been so sad, so sorry. He’d keep that look from his family. At the time, she’d been so scared that she hadn’t been able to comprehend what was happening to her.

  “Lydia,” Erik called.

  “Here,” Lydia answered on her way up the stairs.

  “Is Charlotte still with ya?” Niall appeared on the stairwell, rushing down past Lydia. His panicked eyes met hers. He hurried to the kitchen, checking the house, before he rejoined them. “We need to go.”

  “Niall?” Charlotte asked in confusion.

  “It’s not safe,” Erik insisted, taking Lydia’s hand.

  “Charlotte, it’s all right. Come on.” Lydia motioned that she should follow.

  “What is going on?” Charlotte asked Niall as the other two went up the stairs. “Where did you come from? I didn’t hear the door open.”

  “We need to get ya back to the mansion. There is a portal mirror in Lydia’s room that will take us there.” Niall hesitated before taking her hand. “Trust me. Please.”

  Charlotte felt the heat of his palm against hers and nodded. “I trust you.”

  At that, Niall smiled and nodded. He gestured for her to go up the stairs first, staying behind her as if to protect her from anything that might come. She went to Lydia’s room. Upon entering, she gasped at seeing her friend disappear into the antique mirror one of Erik’s relatives gave her as an engagement gift.

  “It’s safe. Like stepping across a threshold.” Niall poked his hand through the glass, bringing it back unharmed.

  “That is so cool,” Charlotte said, to his obvious surprise. She went to the mirror and put her hand into her reflection. When it didn’t hurt, she closed her eyes and stepped through. Her foot found firm footing inside the mirror and when she opened her eyes, she was in the MacGregor mansion. A torn painting of Erik indicated it must have been his bedroom. Lydia motioned for her to follow as she went through the door.

  Niall stepped in behind her. “The family will be downstairs.”

  “Wait.” Charlotte grabbed his arm. “I remembered the night Erik shifted and made that storm hit the house.”

  “I will explain, I promise, but—”

  “Let me say this,” she interrupted. “I know you did what you thought you had to. You weren’t sure you could trust me and I was…”

  “Broken,” Niall supplied.

  “That’s one way to look at it,” she said. “I know your father ordered you to take my memories. I know that you were worried I’d say something, or do something. I just wanted you to know that I understand why you did it.”

  “It wasn’t just about the memories. I was trying to take your fear.” Niall glanced at the door seconds before it opened.

  Erik poked his head inside. “Niall, coming?”

  Niall nodded. “We can talk about this later. Right now, there is another threat to our family.”

  “Our?” Charlotte tried to hide her smile. She liked the sound of that.

  “Ya are like a sister to Lydia, that makes ya family,” he explained.

  Her pleasure lessened somewhat at his explanation. He guided her by the elbow toward the bedroom door.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Helena is back.” Erik’s announcement hung over the silent room like a noose. The family gathered in the library, the one room that had been protected from invasion. Centuries of spells and residual magick radiated from the old books and herb jars to form a protective shield over the immediate area.

  Euann and Rory sat on a couch. Cait stood behind them. Angus leaned against an oak desk next to where his wife sat behind it. Lydia motioned to Charlotte to sit next to her in an oversized chair. The two women fit snuggly next to each other but neither seemed to mind.

  “Where are the others?” Niall asked.

  “Iain and Jane are on their way,” Euann said with a worried glance at Charlotte.

  “She’ll be fine,” Niall answered. “Won’t ya?”

  Charlotte nodded at his prompting.

  “Murdoch is handling the water sprite migration,” Cait said to explain her husband’s absence. “I thought it best not to call him back.”

  “Agreed,” Angus said. “Best to keep the sprites on course.”

  “Raibeart is, uh, indisposed,” Euann said.

  “What do ya mean?” Angus demanded. “What is more important than this?”

  “He better not be running around naked, not tonight, not with a wraith threat,” Cait added.

  Rory began to laugh. “For some reason, Raibeart is convinced a giant chicken is roaming the woods, and he’s dead set on having the biggest fried chicken ever known to man.”

  Niall cleared his throat.

  “Oh, good gods,” Margareta muttered in frustration. “And where is my daughter?” They glanced around the room at each other. “No one told Malina we were meeting?”

  Niall watched as his family shook their heads in denial. “It’s probably for the best. Dar is the reason Helena is so powerful right now. His dose of bad luck for the family boosted her consciousness enough to set her free.”

  “How do ya know it is Helena?” Angus asked his sons.

  “Erik and I saw her,” Niall said. “We went to the forest to track down the wraith like Cait ordered me to. We found Helena.”

  “She threatened us.” Erik turned to Lydia and Charlotte. “She seeks revenge by hurting those we care about.”

  “No offense,” Rory sat forward, placing his elbow on his knees, “but what does this have to do with Charlotte? If Helena wants to hurt the family, why would she go after Charlotte?”

  “Gee, none taken,” Charlotte mumbled under her breath.

  Niall refused to look at her, not wanting to give their relationship away. Charlotte had made it clear she wanted to keep it a secret.

  “Helena knows we are protecting Charlotte. She knows that she is important to the family,” Erik answered.

  Though his oldest brother knew better, Niall was grateful Erik didn’t give away his secret. He didn’t want to suffer teasing from his family if they found out he was in love with Charlotte, especially since she did not love him back.

  “Helena said—” Charlotte began to speak, only to stop. She lowered her eyes. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

  “What?” Margareta prompted.

  “Helena took me to where she’s trapped,” Charlotte said. “Gramma Annabelle said something about slipping into me and trying to make me walk downtown to hide her spell bags. I’m guessing that’s what Helena did. I saw her in the forest and the next thing I know, I’m waking up on a slab of stone in the forest. She said I couldn’t trust you. If I did, I would end up like her, imprisoned in a statue.”

  “We would have seen this sooner if someone hadn’t used my surveillance cameras for target practice,” Euann muttered, glancing sideward at his cousin. “I had that entire area covered.”

  Rory looked guiltily away.

  “Stop bickering,” Cait ordered. She lifted her hand in warning. A yellow glow swirled around her fingertips as she threatened to pet
rify them. Rory and Euann looked properly scolded.

  “We think she’s coming for Charlotte first,” Erik said.

  Charlotte’s eyes rounded. Niall would not have told her as bluntly as his brother, but she needed to know she was in danger.

  Niall looked at her until she met his gaze. “We won’t let anything happen. Ya are under the protection of this family.”

  “Aye,” Angus agreed. “We have stood as caretakers for Helena long enough. It is time to end this.”

  “What happened to Helena?” Lydia asked. “I’ve heard the name mentioned, but I don’t think anyone has told her story. I’m assuming she had her memories erased like Charlotte?”

  “Not like Charlotte,” Erik said.

  “We were not as versed in the mind as we are now,” Niall added.

  “There is no story to tell,” Margareta stated, stopping all explanation. “The past is the past. Today we fight and end this. It is what is best for all involved. There is no saving a soul once it succumbs to the rage of a wraith. All we can do is set it free.”

  “We tried reasoning with her.” Niall wanted this to be over. He wanted Charlotte safe. He wanted to hop on his motorcycle and ride away from Green Vallis until he forgot what she looked like. He wanted to rid himself of the hold she had over him.

  “If she is strong enough to threaten us, then she is aware enough for us to catch her.” Cait moved to the shelf and began tapping her finger along the spines of the books she found there. “I believe there is an amulet that might help.”

  “The wraith potion did not affect her,” Erik said.

  “Maybe ya missed,” Euann said. “Are ya sure ya hit her with it?”

  “We did not miss,” Niall said in irritation. “She was hit with it twice and merely laughed.”

  “Cait,” Margareta stated.

  “Aye, we’ll make a stronger batch,” Cait answered. The two women had known each other long enough to be able to fill in the blanks of their short discussion.

  “We’ll work through the night,” Margareta said.

  “What about Dar?” Charlotte asked. “If he gave her good luck, can he just give her bad, too?”

  “Too unpredictable.” Niall shook his head. “She’s awake now. There is no telling what luck would do to her.”

  “Bad luck for a wraith could affect a lot of innocent people. Those things have a way of spreading.” Margareta joined Cait by the bookshelf, taking a volume and opening it.

  “What if she comes tonight?” Charlotte asked.

  “Ya will be safe as long as ya are in the house,” Angus assured her. “Euann, will ya stay with Char—”

  “I’ll keep Charlotte with me. I won’t sleep tonight. She can have my bed.” Niall was not about to let his brother stay with Charlotte for the night. He wanted to make sure she was safe.

  Erik suppressed a grin. Euann wrinkled his brow while Rory whispered something in his ear.

  “Perhaps that is best,” his da agreed. “Ya have dealt with this wraith before.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Charlotte looked over the carpet picnic set up in Niall’s bedroom. Since the family focused their magick on repairing the home, they had yet to materialize furniture and there was no dining room table downstairs. The idea that someone could simply will a dining set into existence was incredible to think about.

  Instead of asking her what she might like, Niall brought a variety of food. There was a bowl of pasta, deli meats and cheeses to make sandwiches, chips and dip, and a bottle of whiskey. Euann had insisted on ordering pizzas, so a tray of different slices was also provided. Despite the circumstances, it was actually quite romantic. All that was missing was candlelight and a date who didn’t pace in front of the window looking for trouble.

  “So, I have a question.” Charlotte eyed Niall’s back.

  “Only one? I would assume ya have many,” Niall answered, still looking out over the evening landscape.

  “Fine, I have many questions,” Charlotte acknowledged with a small laugh. “When you said you got me a new king-size bed, did you buy me a bed? Or did you will it into existence with a two-second spell?”

  Niall chuckled. “Actually, I had it delivered. Malina has the gift for materializing. My talents lay in other areas.”

  “Why don’t you come away from that window?” Charlotte patted the floor next to her, indicating that he should join her. “Your family seems to think I’ll be safe in here. Besides, there’s enough food for the both of us and an army.”

  Niall studied her for a long moment before finally joining her. His kilt covered his thighs, but left enough of his legs exposed to make her view interesting. He made sure to keep his distance and sat across from her, keeping the food between them.

  Charlotte wondered at that but didn’t ask him to move closer. “That’s probably a good call, sitting over there. I do have a tendency to bite.”

  “It’s not your bite I’m worried about, love.” He leaned over and pinched a tortilla chip between his thumb and forefinger. As he lifted it to his lips, the gesture was more seductive than it should have been. She found herself staring at his mouth and licking her own lips.

  The way he looked at her gave the impression he knew exactly the effect he had on her. How could he not? Whenever he was near, her breathing deepened and she had to tell herself not to stare too long. Knowing they had been intimate, knowing she wanted to do it again, left her trembling and excited. She knew he wanted her. Charlotte liked to think a woman instinctively understood those kinds of things when it came to a man’s attention and affection. It may have taken her a while to realize it, but then again, she had been mentally unwell, so it’s no wonder she missed the chemistry flowing between them.

  “What is your next question?” His voice sounded gruff but she had come to realize that was just his way. Niall was not one for small talk. He kept his emotions hidden and thoughts to himself.

  Charlotte eyed the chips, wondering if his lips would taste salty if she leaned over to kiss him. The first time he’d brought her food, he’d picked up all her favorites. “What is your favorite food?”

  “No one has ever asked me that.” He hummed thoughtfully. “Funnel cake with powdered sugar.”

  At that, she arched a brow and laughed. She picked up a piece of cheese and nibbled on it. “That’s not real food.”

  “Says who?” he defended.

  “Every mother ever,” Charlotte argued. “What is your second favorite food?”

  “Giant corndogs in sweet ketchup.” He ate another chip, not even pausing to think as he answered.

  “Third?”

  “Funnel cake with strawberries.”

  “Fourth?” This was just getting sad.

  “Beer-battered cheese curds.”

  “Fifth?”

  “Giant turkey legs.”

  “Sixth?” At this point, she kept asking just to hear his answers.

  “Vanilla ice cream shake.”

  “Do you like anything that doesn’t come from the county fair?”

  He shrugged. “I like fairs.”

  Niall clearly wasn’t one for elaborating without a little prodding.

  “I never would have guessed you for a fair guy.” She looked over his rugged demeanor. “I would have guessed biker bar, or a motorcycle club, but not a—”

  “Ya think I’m just some thug.” He took a napkin and wiped the chip dust from his fingers.

  “No.”

  “Just a slumlord then.”

  “I shouldn’t have said that. I was angry. I hadn’t been sleeping, and the water kept leaking on me, and I thought you didn’t care. I was wrong. Please accept my apology for that.”

  He nodded. “Accepted.”

  “So why do you like fairs?” She reached for a slice of beef and mushroom pizza.

  “What’s not to like? The unusual vegetable competition, the pie-eating contests, butter sculptures,” Niall paused, as he lifted the whiskey bottle, “kids having a good time without a
care in the world, men trying to impress their girlfriends by winning stuffed bears, and the funnel cakes.”

  “You are a lot more than you seem, Niall MacGregor.” Charlotte set down her half-eaten slice of pizza and held her hand out to take the whiskey bottle. She opened it and took a small drink. The liquor burned and she gave a light cough before handing it back.

  “And ya are not half as crazy as everyone believed, Charlotte Carver,” he teased.

  Charlotte laughed. “You’re nothing like I expected.”

  He started to speak but then lifted the bottle, cutting off his own words.

  She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I can’t explain how wonderful it feels to remember things again. To feel like my mind is not running away from me.”

  “Ya have not had the easiest go of it.” He took another drink.

  “Neither have you.” She held out her hand to take the bottle from him and set it on the floor, out of his reach.

  “What makes ya say that?”

  “I see it in your eyes. I feel it when I’m close to you. There is so much inside you, so much that is buried deep and kept restrained.” Charlotte stood. “I’m going to say this and hope that it makes sense to you. I have all these strange memories swimming around in my head. I know they’re real. I know they scared me. I can feel every other emotion, but I know that you took that fear from me. It’s because of you that I can face what happened. So, I guess my next question, Niall, is what happened to that fear? I see your face when I close my eyes. I hear you whispering in my dreams, but I can’t hear what you say. Or if I do hear it, I can’t remember when I wake up. You’re always there, even when you weren’t.”

  He didn’t speak.

  She held out her hand to him. “I like you. I like being with you. I feel safe when I’m with you.”

  “Charlotte, what you’re feeling is—”

  “I have never been clearer in my life. And trust me when I say that coming from me, that says a lot. I know what it’s like to not know my own mind. I know myself better than I ever have. I know what I want. And right now, I want you to stand up, walk over here, and kiss me.”