He only yanked harder as he made a low growling noise. “Witch,” he muttered, pulling her harder.
She swallowed a lump in her throat. Not an hour ago, he’d wished to marry her. It wasn’t that she wished to be with him but she’d hoped to use emotional ties to gain some help.
Haggis deposited her in a tent alone, then left without a backward glance. She wished to be back with the other girls. They provided some measure of comfort and knowledge. She wished to see Nick and she wanted to know who and what The Lady was. Laying her head on her hands, she tried to hold back her tears. Her breath came out in ragged gasps as she took large gulps of air.
Haggis didn’t return and neither did anyone else. She was grateful for that but as darkness began to fall, she was tired and hungry, her fear making her worried.
How would she ever get out of this mess?
CHAPTER 9
NICK STOOD at the edge of the field as the sun set. Ewan and his brothers were just behind him. He turned back to look at Ewan. “You’re sure we can’t get her tonight?”
Ewan shook his head. “During the day, the witch must hide from the sun. She stays in her tent. The night is her time.”
“But what if she harms Arianna?” Unease made Nick shift his weight from one foot to the other.
Ewan didn’t look at him but continued to stare ahead. “She won’t harm her tonight. She can’t touch Arianna and it will take some time for her to figure out how to break through the magic.”
“Magic?” Nick sucked in his breath.
Ewan turned to look at him then. “Arianna’s grandmother has cast a protection spell.”
Nick’s shoulder’s slumped in relief. “Excellent.”
Ewan’s mouth turned down. “Unfortunately, it leaves her Granny unprotected.”
Nick sucked in a breath. “I was supposed to keep Arianna safe. Now that I’ve failed…”
Ewan placed a hand on his arm. “You are just one man. You cannot fight a sorceress like this. It will take all our powers combined and another generation of magic besides.”
“Another generation?” Graham repeated as stepped up next to Ewan. “This doesn’t end with us?”
Ewan took a breath. “I am sorry to say it doesn’t. You have magic in your family like I do in mine. Your line is older and more diluted. But you weren’t chosen to fight by happenstance. Each of your brides carry magic as well. You feel it, it calls to you. It’s why you fall in love so quickly and completely. And joining two magical families allows your children to access their powers.
Will scratched his head. “I knew that Eirwen was magical when I met her and of course Graham and Charlotte’s son holds magic. But Tom? His bride isn’t—”
“Her uncle did not become an alchemist by accident. He is drawn to magic because it flows in his blood. Hers too.”
Tom made a menacing growl deep in his chest. Nick winced on his brother’s behalf. Tom did not like magic and he was the most resistant to their fate.
“To be clear,” Tom moved to Ewan’s other side, “our children will be magical and they will have to fight magical beings as we have?”
Ewan did not answer as he looked into the field. The sun’s last rays were piercing the sky and a howling began at the other end. He turned then, back toward the wood. “We need to hide.” Ewan was already moving deeper into the forest. “We’ll find a willow tree. It will protect us.”
Graham grumbled. “I thought I was done hiding in willow trees.”
Nick gave him a slap on the back. “At least we know they provide protection.”
Graham gave a single nod. “I wish Charlotte were here now. It was much more fun to hide in the branches of a tree with my beautiful wife on my lap.”
Nick appreciated his brother’s attempt to soften his complaint. They’d discovered that willow trees provided protection from magic but every time they were in one it was because they were being hunted by a sorcerer or sorceress. “We’ll see you home to Charlotte,” Nick answered.
Graham gave his brother a nod of approval. “And we’ll see Arianna returned to you.”
“We will,” Will answered as he stopped, staring in the distance. “I see the branches of a willow.”
Nick squinted but couldn’t see what his brother saw. Not that he needed to. He trusted Will’s vision implicitly. As a huntsmen, he saw what others didn’t.
They climbed into the branches of the tree. “They’ll go on a hunt tonight. Even now, the witch is trying to find the source of Arianna’s protection.”
“Is Granny safe?” Nick’s skin itched with the need to race to Granny’s aid.
“She’ll be fine tonight. She’s enough protections in place.” Ewan whispered as his large, dark eyes stared into the distance. Though young, he often seemed older and wiser than any of his elders. Tonight, as he spoke, he seemed more tired than Nick had ever heard him. “When the camp is empty, you will retrieve Arianna. Bring her back here.”
“Then what?” Nick whispered. Something wasn’t sitting right.
“We hide in the willow until dawn. Arianna’s brother is cursed by the witch. He has stronger magic and the witch sensed it. We collect him and flee. Continue spreading the glass.”
“Why curse him?” Nick asked but Ewan didn’t answer as the sound of wolves howling and drums beating grew louder. Nick turned toward it to see a woman leading a large group of men dressed as wolves through the forest. The moon shone off her skin in the oddest way. It looked as white as alabaster.
For a moment Nick thought they might march directly under the willow but the witch’s eyes flicked to the tree and she veered in another direction, the herd behind her following.
Once they’d disappeared, Ewan nodded to Nick and the brothers all jumped from the branches of the tree.
Silently they crept back toward the camp. A row of at least twenty tents lined each side of the camp and Nick wondered where to begin but Ewan started down the right side, hiding in the trees. When they reached a tent halfway down the line, he pointed to one and Nick didn’t hesitate.
Circling the tent, he pressed against its side, checking the field. A wolf man walked by and Nick ducked low. Once the guard had passed, Nick slipped into the entrance. It was dark and he didn’t hear anything for a moment until the sound of shallow breaths caught his ear. Turning, he saw a figure hunched in the far corner. “Arianna?”
“Nick?” Arianna gasped.
He ran the few steps across the tent, and began undoing her bindings. Once she was untied, he gathered her in his arms.
“Are you all right?” He was already picking her up, and checking to make sure there was no guard, he exited the tent, racing back toward his brothers.
“I’m fine,” she let out a little gasp. “She, she had magic. I’m sure of it.”
“Who?” Nick could see his brothers.
“The Lady of the Ise.” Arianna gasped as they reached the others.
Ewan stepped up to them. He was about to speak when he stopped and then his eyes rolled back into his head. For several seconds he stayed exactly like that until finally, he looked directly at Arianna. “Are there other girls?”
Arianna looked at Nick, who nodded for her to answer. “Yes, six. I was supposed to be the seventh. But she said that I wasn’t suitable. She tried to touch me and couldn’t.”
Ewan grimaced. “Do you know where the girls are?”
Arianna nodded. “In one of those tents. I can’t remember exactly which one.”
“We need to rescue them.” Ewan turned to Will, Graham, and Tom. “It will have to be you. Get them and return them to the village. Fly like the wind.”
“Would it be better if we stayed together?” Will asked.
Ewan shook his head. “If she finds a seventh girl, she’ll perform the ceremony of virgins. There will be no stopping her if she does.”
“I beg your pardon?” Tom stepped forward. “What is—”
“There is no time to explain the actual ceremony, but it is how she stren
gthens herself. She draws her energy from the life force of others. It’s a dark ritual but powerful.”
“I thought we weren’t getting involved with the sorceress tonight,” Nick squeezed Arianna tighter. “Just rescuing Arianna.”
Ewan sighed, long and deep. “I’ve never faced a foe like her and I fear I am not strong enough. But if she completes the ceremony, I know I cannot win. I must do it tonight.”
Arianna reached for the boy’s hand. “Can we help you?”
“You already have,” his smile was sweet. “And Granny too. Even now, she is planning to help us both.”
“How?” Arianna’s breath caught as she asked.
But Ewan had turned away. “Find the girls. Return them home.” Looking back to Nick, he called, “We’re going to Granny’s cottage.”
“But the wolves. They were going there.” Nick began following Ewan, who was plucking plants as he walked. He was still holding Arianna. After being tied up for hours, he was worried she wouldn’t be able to walk.
“Yes, I’m afraid so.” Ewan pulled a canteen from his belt and dropped several herbs in it. “Here, Arianna, drink this.”
“What is it?” She asked, taking the flask.
“It will give you energy and help cure your ailments.” He waved his hand. “Drink it all. Hurry. We’ll need to run.”
ARIANNA HELD the canteen in her hand, doubtfully sniffing the brew. It smelled fresh enough, quite lovely, really, but how could it possibly help?
Then again, Haggis had gotten frostbite from a single touch in the middle of summer.
“Ewan is our greatest friend and ally. It will only help,” Nick whispered.
“I trust you,” she returned and then took a sip. Finding it delicious, she took another and a third. Enthusiasm coursed through her veins as all her aches disappeared.
Wiggling a little, Nick set her down. She missed his heat, the feel of his body, but her legs wished to move.
They raced through the woods, not stopping until they were at the estuary near her grandmother’s cottage. Even from this distance, she could hear the crowd surrounded the house.
“What do we do?” Arianna whispered. She’d wanted to help her grandmother but now that she was here, she couldn’t see how the three of them would be able to do a thing against the wolves.
Ewan waved them forward and they crept up the hill to where the house sat. Fear pumped in her chest as the clearing came into view. The wolves circled the house as The Lady stood by the front door. “Come out, Granny,” she cackled. “Your good friend, Haggis, told me you were home.”
Arianna covered her mouth with her hand but she wanted to yell to her Granny to stay inside. Nick grasped her hand in his.
“Magic is a thing,” Ewan said, not bothering to whisper. Arianna looked over at him, her breath stuck in her chest. “When not in the body, it moves of its own accord and picks its new host. Nick has seen it.”
Ewan looked at Nick. “The mirror that you’ve been spreading about the ocean. We’ve made a mistake. The magic still lives in the glass and so it will find its way back together. We’ve only delayed it.”
“Mirror?” Arianna looked to Nick.
“It was the source of another sorceress’s magic.” Nick winced. “Without it, she is powerless.”
“But the mirror is not.” Ewan glanced over. “It’s been talking more, hasn’t it?”
“Yes,” Nick winced.
“This place.” Ewan looked around. “It’s full of magic. It’s why you had your first vision, that Nick and Arianna could stave off The Lady. But The Lady can feel the magic here too and she is trying to take it for herself.”
“We can’t let her.” Arianna said before she’d thought it through. What could they do?
But Ewan didn’t answer. Because the door to the cottage rattled and then slowly opened. Gran stood in the entrance.
“No,” Arianna gasped as Gran stepped onto the porch.
Gran stopped on the steps. “Do your worst, wolf woman.”
Arianna didn’t think, she raced out of the woods toward her grandmother. The Lady stood between her and Granny and the wolf men crowded in but a great flash of light lit from The Lady’s hands and as it shot through the darkness, her grandmother cried out.
“No,” Arianna screamed.
Every set of eyes turned to her, even The Lady’s. “Well, well, well,” she looked Arianna over from top to bottom. “You silly girl. Why would you come here?” The Lady stepped closer. “It has only just occurred to me that it might have been your grandmother’s magic that kept me from touching you. I wonder if I tried it now, would you still be able to hold me off?”
The Lady was moving toward her even as Nick and Ewan stepped up behind her. The Lady raised her hands again but Arianna didn’t look. She didn’t want to see her end. Instead, she glanced past The Lady to where her grandmother slumped on the ground. A sob tore at her throat until she noticed something odd. Hovering above Gran was a ball of light.
It wasn’t cold and blue like the light from the Lady’s hand. This had a soft, warm, yellowish glow about it. And it bounced along. Arianna could swear she heard it laughing. A giggle of sorts.
The Lady heard it too and she dropped her hands, to turn and stare.
Ewan stepped forward. “Remember what I said. Magic is a thing.”
The Lady gasped and as the ball floated toward them, she tried to grab it but it bounced away from her, skipping toward them.
“Where is it going?” Arianna asked, both delighted and a little afraid of the ball.
Ewan only smiled. “It’s for you.” He held her hand then. “A gift from your Granny.”
“Is Granny gone?” she asked, glancing back to where her grandmother lay motionless.
Ewan nodded. “I’m afraid so. She gave herself willingly for you. It’s a gift that will keep you safe.”
As he said the word, the ball stopped in front of her. The Lady charged toward them but just as she was about to reach Arianna, the ball sank into Arianna’s belly. It didn’t hurt; in fact, it filled her with warmth and love. “Oh,” she gasped as The Lady stopped just in front of her.
Ewan’s grip on her hand tightened. “Tell the others to leave.”
“Leave,” Arianna said but her voice seemed to echo, filling the clearing. “This is my home, you’re not welcome here. Go back to your families.”
The Lady let out a scream but it was deadened by the air so that only Arianna knew she gave it. Slowly, the wolf men began to disperse. Nick had stepped up to her other side and she grasped his hand too, wanting to be connected.
As she did, the glass began to whisper. “Make me whole.”
The witch reached out her hand to grab at the satchel but jerked it back when light sparked from her fingers. “Ack,” her eyes flew to Arianna. “You’re protecting them.”
Arianna shook her head. “You give me too much credit.”
“Tomorrow, you will see what I am capable of. I shall turn you to dust.”
Arianna took a deep breath. The lady had needed seven girls to perform the ceremony she had none. “But your girls are gone and your wolves are gone.”
The witch raised her hands again and suddenly they were bathed in her light. It made her skin itch it was so cold and her cheeks felt as though they might freeze off. But as suddenly as it had come, it disappeared and so did the witch.
“Where did she go?” Arianna asked. But Ewan didn’t answer as he sank to his knees.
“The glass saved us.” Ewan gasped. “Your magic and mine wouldn’t have been enough.”
Nick, still holding her hand, crossed in front of her and used his free hand to grasp Ewan by the elbow and lift him up. “Are you all right?”
“It took all my magic and Arianna’s grandmother’s and the mirror’s. But I’ll be fine.” Ewan slowly rose. “The witch used all her power too, or most of it. She’ll miss her opportunity to perform the ceremony. I will have to research to find out when she can perform it again.” He t
ook a shuddering breath. “But she knows about the mirror and she wants it for herself.”
Arianna leaned against Nick. “And me?”
“Your grandmother has given her life to make sure you remain protected.” Ewan gave her hand a small squeeze. “I am sorry for your loss. I don’t know if it’s a comfort but she knew what she was doing and she did it willingly.”
Nick kissed the top of her head. “Are you all right?”
Sighing into his chest, she closed her eyes. “I think so. I will miss her so very much but she has given me a gift that is beyond anything I could have dreamed.”
“Let’s go inside.” Ewan tugged their hands. “We must rest tonight and tomorrow we will begin our plans.”
CHAPTER 10
ONE WEEK LATER…
NICK STOOD under a trellis that Tom had just finished constructing. He was a carpenter by trade and the piece was as beautiful as any Nick had ever seen. Two willows had been planted on either side of it and others had been planted on the edge of the clearing.
His brothers stood to one side and Arianna’s family on the other. A man of the cloth waited next to him as Arianna walked toward him on her father’s arm.
The men had returned to the village within two days of The Lady of the Ise leaving. Though none of the boys would admit to being part of the wolf pack, Haggis had spent some time in the stocks. Life was quickly returning to normal.
Which meant that Nick and Arianna were free to marry.
She wore a long silk gown, pale green in color, which made her auburn hair sparkle in the sun. Indeed she seemed to glow with radiance as she came toward him.
Her father handed her over to Nick, who clasped both of their hands in his. “I love you,” he whispered. He hadn’t said the words out loud but it seemed the perfect opportunity.
She squeezed his hands with hers. “I love you too.”
The ceremony began and Nick never took his eyes off his bride. Later, he couldn’t remember the words that they’d spoken but he’d never forget the feeling. It was love and trust, and this sense of belonging. No one, nowhere had ever been more right for him.
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