Angus

by Melissa Schroeder

  “Nice to meet you. Come on, everyone’s waiting.”

  “Everyone?” Angus asked.

  “Yes, everyone.” Anice leaned down so she was eye level with Jack. “Master Jack, would you escort me into the house?”

  He glanced up at Maggie, waiting for permission. She wanted to tell him no. It was a knee jerk reaction that had saved them more than once, but she knew she could at least trust the woman this far.

  “Go on.”

  Anice smiled as she straightened. “Come on, Jack. You’ve had a long trip.”

  He readily moved forward, taking Anice’s hand, he kept up with her as they walked toward the door.

  “It was quite a long trip, but I slept a lot of the way. Mummy says that is the best way to handle a long trip.”

  “Oh, does she?” Anice asked, as if being enthralled with the greatest of stories.

  “Yes, and she is always right, according to her.”

  She felt her face heat as Angus studied her, a smile curving his lips.

  He offered his arm, a bit of an odd gesture in this day and age, but she took it and walked in behind her son and Anice. When she stepped over the threshold, she found herself facing another group of faces. The expressions ranged from inscrutable to irritated to welcoming. She felt a wave of dizziness hit her. Blinking, she tried to gain control. A wave of nausea hit her. It was like the old days when she would get a premonition. It always left her feeling unsettled and cold. She shivered.

  “They don’t bite,” Angus said, his breath feathering over her ear. He was so close she was surprised she didn’t feel his lips. Sensual heat surged through her at the thought.

  “It isn’t that. The long trip seems to have gotten the best of me.”

  Thankfully he said nothing else. They stopped as Jack went from person to person introducing himself. It gave her time to study the Lennons. She had seen the man with the inscrutable look before. He must be Callum. He was listening to Jack as he talked in that way that always amused adults. Mainly because they didn’t know he was probably telling them the truth. Beside him was a plump blonde, with a sweet smile, a pair of glasses and a scholarly air about her.

  Behind them stood two men. One was dressed in a pair of chinos, a loose white shirt and his hair was a bit mussed. All of them looked related to each other, but this one had to be Angus’ brother.

  The other one was tall, wearing a pair of jeans, and, lord, cowboy boots. He had his arms crossed over his broad chest and a cynical twist to his lips.

  “I guess I should introduce you. The glum fellow with the angel next to him is my cousin Callum and the angel is Phoebe.”

  Callum nodded, but Phoebe stepped forward with a smile. She took Maggie’s hand and offered her a smile. “So nice to meet you, Maggie.”

  “Thank you.”

  “And the rather tall wanker wearing the cowboy boots is Fletcher, and then, the other chap is Logan, my brother.”

  Phoebe stepped back so that Fletcher could say hello. His cynicism dissolved into a charming smile. This one set off alarm bells. “Nice to meet you, Maggie.”

  She nodded but said nothing else. He wasn’t Magickal but there was something very different about him.

  Logan then stepped forward with a smile. “Nice to meet you and Master Jack here.”

  Jack moved up on the other side of her and took her hand. He did that because he was worried about her. There was something wrong with a child who was so perceptive of his mother’s feelings at such a tender age. She had often worried about it, but at the moment, she took the comfort he offered.

  Callum looked at their joined hands as he took control of the situation.

  “Ms. O’Conner, you must be exhausted.”

  She could tell he wasn’t being solicitous. Just as Angus had said, Callum Lennon was a businessman. They all looked at the world in black and white. Getting her well rested would move the plan forward. Usually, she liked to keep them on their toes. But she was bloody tired and a good rest would do her a world of good.

  “I am.”

  Phoebe Lennon slipped in front of her husband and smiled. “Of course you need a rest. And I always need a shower after a long overnight flight. Come on, I will show you to your rooms.”

  Angus opened his mouth but Phoebe stopped him with a shake of her head. Maggie had an idea that Phoebe ruled the family with a velvet wrapped steel spine.

  “I hope you don’t mind, but I think Jack and I will share a room just fine.”

  She smiled in understanding. “It’s more of a suite with two rooms, but I promise you that the king bed is big enough for both of you if you choose to both sleep in the main room.”

  Phoebe showed them down a large hallway filled with antiquities. As they turned to go up the stairway, Jack stopped.

  “Jack?”

  “Look. The Bruce’s sword.”

  She followed his line of vision, up to a massive claymore hanging above an arched door. It was definitely an antique. The hilt of the sword had one brilliant diamond in it.

  “You’re right of course, Master Jack,” Phoebe said with a smile. She gave Maggie a wink. “That was a Bruce sword, or so my husband’s family claims. Of course, it’s hard to verify, but I assure you, it is that old.”

  “And you would know that, how?” Maggie asked genuinely wanting to know.

  “I’m an archeologist with lots of PhDs. That’s my family business. You might have heard of my parents, the Chiltons?”

  Of course she had. Most in the business of acquiring jewels knew of the Chiltons and their research. “Didn’t you work with them?”

  Her smile faded. “Up until my marriage. They were not amused with my choice.”

  “You marry a very successful man who has more money than God but they aren’t happy?”

  She shrugged. “My choices were not what they wanted for me. I pursue things they believe are a waste of my very substantial mind.” She motioned to the stairs. As they started up, she continued. “See, I like Celtic myths and legends. My parents think it is a fool’s mission.”

  “Indeed. We can’t always make our parents happy.”

  She had proven that. But she didn’t add that her Mum never forgave her for marrying Ian. She had been right in that quarter, but she wouldn’t have Jack without Ian, so everything had been worth it.

  “They see my pursuit as silly.”

  “But don’t they spend their time going after legends when they search for antiquities in Egypt?”

  They stopped in front of a door and Phoebe smiled. It was such a lovely smile that Maggie couldn’t help but respond in kind. “I think I’m going to like you a lot. I would love to chat more, because I know everything but I don’t know about Magick. Not enough and I would like to pick your brain. Callum would grumble though.”

  “But he wouldn’t get mad. He can’t stay mad at you.”

  Phoebe laughed. “That is very true. It is a bit intoxicating to have a man like that at my beck and call, but I try to not let it go to my head. Much.” She opened the door and stepped into the room. “These are your rooms.”

  Jack’s hand slipped from hers as he ran into the room. “This is bigger than our entire flat in America!”

  And for that one little moment, he sounded like the little boy he was. He pushed open the curtains to look down below. Maggie followed him to look down on the back of the house. A massive grass yard stretched out behind the house. A boy could have a lot of fun running there.

  “It is,” Maggie said.

  “And through here is the bathroom you will share with each other and another room.”

  Jack followed Phoebe, slipping his hand into hers much as he had done with Maggie. She watched as they walked into the bathroom and into the other room. She found their bags sitting neatly next to each other beside the wardrobe. Two little suitcases were all they had left in the world. She fought back the tears. She didn’t have time for this; she only had time to figure out what the bloody hell they were going to do.

>   “So, I will let you get settled, take a nice bath and relax. That flight from the states is horrible.”

  “Jack?”

  “He’s in his room, playing. When Callum found out that you were coming with a boy, he had some toys put in the room.”

  “Thank you so much. I…”

  “You don’t have to explain. Just know that this family is different, but they are good people. I had my doubts when I arrived, but know they will do nothing to hurt your boy.”

  “I wouldn’t have come otherwise.”

  “I have to admit, that it’s going to be fun having him around.”

  “You are very good with him.”

  Her face flushed and pleasure brightened her eyes. “Yes? I was hoping, but I wasn’t sure. I was never around children much even when I was one, so I have been wondering if I would be good around them.”

  “It’s something a lot of newlyweds think about. I know I did.”

  “Oh, I thought I was the only person who thought that way.” Relief filled her tone. “Well, I will let you get some rest. I’ll send up some snacks for you and Jack.”

  Phoebe headed out the door, closing it behind her quietly.

  “She has a nice aura,” Jack said as he walked into the room holding a wooden train. “All warm colors, like yours.”

  “Yeah?”

  He nodded. “And they all see her as kind of a mother, you know. Well, not Callum. He loves her.”

  “You got that after just a short time with them?” she asked shaking her head and sitting on one of the wingback chairs. Jack climbed up on her lap without invitation because he always knew he was welcome.

  “I could have had more if you hadn’t been so tired, Mum. You need to get rest.”

  “I plan on that. I need a shower first.”

  “And then you rest.”

  She looked into those worldly eyes and smiled.

  “Yes, I will rest.” Then she would try to figure out just how to get out of this bloody mess.

  Chapter Eight

  Angus had been taught by his father to always assess the battle before facing the enemy. He just never realized he would view his family as the enemy. From the varying expressions on their faces as they came into Callum’s office, he had a few allies and, of course, a few enemies. It would have probably amused him, but he was bloody tired. He wanted a shower and then his bed.

  Fletcher was the first to let into him. “What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing bringing a stranger into our home? A thief at that.”

  “She wouldn’t come, otherwise.”

  Which wasn’t exactly true. They could have easily found a secluded safe house for her and the boy but for some reason, that hadn’t set well with Angus. He wanted her there, under their protection, under their roof. And in his bed.

  Bloody hell, he needed to stop thinking that way. He didn’t the complication of taking the witch to bed and he definitely didn’t. That was a lie. He wanted her, more than was good for him. She wasn’t the kind of woman a man like him would ever mess with. She was…illogical. She calmly sat there in the plane talking of Magick as if it were the same as talking about the color of her hair.

  “Money would have gotten her here,” Fletcher said.

  “Not everyone is as greedy are you are, brother.”

  That came from Anice. Her voice was calm, but the expression in her eyes told him she would have gladly conked Fletcher on the head with the computer tablet she was holding. Brother and sister were always at odds.

  “And I think you need to hear the whole story,” Logan said.

  Angus gave his brother a thankful nod. They might not always get along, but when it came down to it, they would support each other.

  “I don’t know why you dinna call us before you left New York. It’s not like you couldn’t have done that,” Callum said. He gave no indication to which side he stood, but it was easy to know which way the stodgy old man would fall on. Hell, he had fought having Phoebe there to begin with.

  “I’ll tell you why. He was too busy thinking about how he was going to shag her with her son around.” Venom dripped from each of Fletcher’s syllables.

  That caused all of them to start yelling at once. Confusion reigned as they all argued with each other. It wasn’t uncommon, and he half expected something to end up broken.

  “Excuse me,” Phoebe bellowed. It was so out of character for her, that everyone stopped talking and turned to face her. “Lord, you are bloody loud. When you get an argument between your teeth, none of you want to let go.”

  “Well, English, we don’t like to back down,” Callum said with a smile.

  This earned him an eye roll. “I swear to God, if you call me English one more time, you’ll be sleeping in another bed for the night.”

  There was plenty of heckling from all the cousins and Phoebe had to yell again.

  When they had finally quieted down, she drew in a deep breath and more than likely said a quick prayer.

  “I’m not sure we’ve a problem at all with our newest addition,” she said.

  “She hasn’t been truthful with us from the beginning,” Fletcher argued.

  “I don’t know if she’s had time to be truthful with us. And what did she know of Angus? Some man shows up with a Scottish accent and then follows her to her apartment, and she isn’t supposed to lie. If it had been me, I would have called the authorities.”

  “She didn’t do that, did she? She was packing up to go on the run. Still can’t trust her in my book.”

  “I’m not saying to trust her completely, but when you are keeping secrets about the family, can you really blame her?”

  “What do you mean?” Angus asked.

  “Did you tell her about the family, the curse, and the real reason for going after the jewels?”

  Deathly silence greeted that question.

  “So, what should I have done, Phoebe? Tell her we are a group of immortal highlanders looking for a jewel? Oh and by the way, we need you to steal it? That would have gotten her here without a problem.”

  Angus didn’t even try to hide the sarcasm. His skin was crawling with irritation.

  “No. Of course not, but then again, none of you have accepted what you are.”

  “What do you mean, love?” Callum asked.

  “You all like to pretend there is nothing wrong with you. As if it’s normal for people to live centuries. You tiptoe around it, afraid to say what you are.”

  Anger surged before he could think better of it. “What the bloody hell are you talking about, Phoebe?”

  Her eyes widened at his tone and he immediately felt like an ass. Phoebe hadn’t grown up in a big family and her social interactions with others had been limited. He sometimes forgot that she wasn’t like them.

  “I think you need to think twice about using that tone with Phoebe,” Callum said. He would allow for a lot, but attacking Phoebe was one thing he would kill over. It was a testament to just how tangled up Angus was about the entire situation that he lost his focus.

  “I apologize.”

  She shrugged and smiled. “I know, and I appreciate it. Some of you are so careful around me…you don’t have to be. I’m made of sterner stuff than that.”

  “I willna allow Angus to speak to you that way,” Callum said frowning at him still.

  She winked at Angus before saying, “I don’t think I asked.”

  When Callum muttered something graphically obscene she just laughed. “No, truly, I don’t mind having people yell at me. Remember, love, it’s one of the things that drew me to you. I like that Angus is comfortable enough to yell at me. Like I am family.”

  “Of course you’re family,” Anice said.

  Phoebe shook her head. “I’m not sure any of you realize just how cut off you are from the rest of society. You interact, but you don’t truly see yourselves as part of it. It is as if you have no identity.”

  Angus shook his head knowing that Phoebe was trying to get to a point. The profess
or in her made it hard to take a direct route however. Everything was a teaching moment.

  “What would we be?”

  She smiled as she looked around the room. “You’re Magickal.”

  Something buzzed in his ears as he tried to come to terms with what she was saying.

  “We aren’t witches. I might have married one…” Callum muttered.

  “I’ll take certain things from all of you, but if you call me a witch, Callum, you will be sleeping alone. And back to what I was saying, you are Magickal. You’ve lived centuries, and that puts you in the column of being legends.”

  “We don’t do potions, love. I’m sure if any of us could, we wouldn’t have been living all this time.”

  “I mean that in order to fight Magick, you are going to need Magick. All of you have it within you. Something. And, you, Angus, have brought us a witch.”

  He wanted to scream, and then he wanted to leave. The woman was talking in riddles. That’s what love did. She had lost her focus all because she had fallen for his cousin.

  “A witch, of course she’s a witch. You sent me there to get her.”

  “And you felt a need to bring her and the boy to the house.”

  “Yes. First, you told me to convince her to come, and even if we didn’t need her, thanks to our rooting around about this, we’ve put her in danger.”

  “In what way?” Fletcher asked.

  “I told Callum, someone broke into her apartment. I think it has to do with her husband.”

  “Might be. But you said the guy fell two stories and then got up and walked away. How did he fall out of the apartment?”

  “We were fighting and we both fell toward the window, he crashed through the glass.”

  But he knew he had been five feet away from the intruder.

  “You had help didn’t you, Angus?” Phoebe asked. Before he could answer, there was a sound at the door.

  “He did have help. But not what you think.”

  * * * *

  Maggie was still trying to gather her thoughts when everyone turned to face her. Bloody hell, she should have stayed in her room. It was safer there. Easier to hide from the things she was set to accomplish.

  “You’re right. He shouldn’t have brought us here, from your point of view, but I’m not about to leave.” She didn’t want to admit that for the first time in a long time, she felt safe. It was as if she belonged in Scotland. She had always sensed that she still had a lot of Scots in her blood every time she was in the country.