Serena felt, rather than saw his nod. Her attention was fixed on the woman who seemed to have all the answers. Phoebe turned to her.
“I think you have something to do with it.”
“Me? I’m not a McLennan.”
“No, but the passage that the two people going after the jewel have a foot in two worlds. That describes you and Fletcher.”
She glanced at Fletcher, then back to Phoebe. “How so?”
“Fletcher is immortal, but man born. You are also human born, but a faery. Fletcher is over two hundred years old. I will not guess your age, but you are not in your thirties.”
She shook her head. “No.”
“So, see, it makes perfect sense.”
Fear so deep, it almost left her breathless, but she realized it wasn’t just hers. It was also Fletcher’s. She looked at him, their gazes locking. Yes. They were both afraid, not of the mission, but of what could happen. The fragile life in Phoebe depended on it.
He broke eye contact first.
“You said the ruby is in Ackergill. Who has the ruby, Phoebe?”
Serena felt her heart almost stutter to a stop. Even before she said the name, she knew who it was going to be.
“Aileen McDougall.”
The name of her enemy, the one she had sworn to destroy. She looked from Phoebe to Fletcher, whose gaze rested on Serena. She felt Jack squeeze her hand. She tore her attention away from Fletcher to look at Jack.
“It will be all right,” he whispered.
As the ramifications hit her, she understood that her revenge might just cost the McLennans not only their chance to break the curse, but also the life of the next generation.
Chapter Five
The sound of footsteps broke into Serena’s meditation. Two people were approaching her door. From the way they moved, she knew it was her friends Meghan and Maggie. The M and M’s, she thought with a smile. Normally, she hated to be interrupted when she was meditating, but she had been having a hard time of it. Usually, she slipped right into a meditative trance without a problem. Thanks to the issues she was dealing with, along with her preoccupation with Fletcher, she seemed to have lost her mojo.
She slipped off her bed and went to the door. Maggie had her hand up to knock just as Serena opened the door.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, woman,” her friend exclaimed. “I told you not to do that.”
“I doona have to listen to a paltry witch,” Serena said with a smile.
“Don’t push your luck today,” Maggie said as she pushed her way inside of the room. Meghan smiled and followed her in.
“You look tired, Rena.”
She said nothing to that comment and closed the door. When she turned, she was confronted by a united front. The M and M’s were there to discuss serious matters. Bullocks.
“You both know that this is when I meditate.”
“And?” Maggie said, irritation dripping from her tone. Oh, something had upset the little Irish witch. She was definitely itching for a fight.
“What is so important that you decided to interrupt me?”
“Do you want to tell us why you went pale at the name Aileen McDougall?” Maggie demanded.
She fought the chill that raced down her spine at the sound of the demon’s new name. She glanced at her friend out of the corner of her eye. “I doona do pale.”
Meghan chuckled then quickly sobered. “You did tonight, and it almost scared the bejesus out of the two of us. Please tell us what is going on.”
Maggie crossed her arms. Her frown turned darker. “Jack knows what’s going on, but that boy of mine isn’t talking.”
“So, you think I should?”
Maggie wasn’t that big in stature, but she made up for it in personality. She was a fierce Irish witch who could definitely take down a half-fae like her. But she wouldn’t because she loved Serena and they both knew it.
“I doona like the idea of having to work with Fletcher.”
“And it would take you away from whatever you’ve been plotting,” Meghan said.
She shot the Siren Witch a death look, but her friend’s smile widened.
“That’s no concern of yours.”
“Bullocks,” Meghan said.
“You’ve been spending too much time with these Highlanders, Meghan. Definitely taking on your husband’s way with words.”
“And don’t tell me being away in romantic Ackergill doesn’t appeal to you, especially since you get the very handsome and romantic Fletcher McLennan as a companion.”
Turning away, she walked toward the window. “He is a handsome man but not made for the likes of me.”
“What the bloody hell does that mean? Did he say that?” Maggie asked. “I’ll turn him into a newt.”
Laughter bubbled up and Serena looked at Maggie. “Really?” It was just like her friend to go from threatening Serena to threatening Fletcher.
“Yes,” she said, settling her hands on her hips. “That stupid immortal—who is too tall for his own good—needs to be taught a lesson, and I’m just the witch to do it. Imagine living eternally as a newt. He’d hate it.”
Serena shared a look with Meghan. Her eyes danced with laughter.
“What?” Maggie asked.
“Nothing. I do love both of you.”
Meghan stopped laughing. “Oh…I don’t like that. You said that once before.”
“I’ve told you both I loved you several times.” Granted, they had told her hundreds of times, but it was hard for Serena to voice her affection for anyone. Until she met the M and M’s, even being friendly had been difficult. While at the orphanage, Serena had learned early on it was considered a sign of weakness.
“No, that tone.” Meghan looked at Maggie. “It’s like that time she left us in Dublin and we thought we would never see her again.”
Bloody hell. These two knew her too well. It was years earlier, before Jack or the McLennans had entered their lives. Serena had been so sure that her family’s killer was in Rome. That had been a lead that had proven false. Even then, she’d been ready to lose her life to the demon bastard who took her family from her.
She still was.
Serena packed that thought away.
“You’re worrying over nothing.”
The M and M’s shared a look, but it was Maggie who spoke.
“Please, tell us Rena.”
She had never told a soul of her quest. If she had wanted to, it would have been these women. She was alone on this earth, not one person shared true blood with her, except for a few faeries who laid no claim to her. These women were closer to her than anyone she knew. Now that they were happily settled, she felt comfortable with letting them go.
“I told you. I never thought to be a part of this…quest. It’s a lot to deal with.”
Meghan snorted. “You mean Fletcher is a lot to deal with.”
“True. He dreamed he kissed me.”
“Wait. What?” Meghan screeched. “Tell me everything. Did you have clothes on? Was tongue involved? Do we need to sterilize any counters or tables?”
“Control yourself, woman,” Maggie said laughing. “But, yes, answer all of that.”
“It was late last night. I got hungry.”
“You always do in the middle of the night,” Meghan commented.
“Shut up,” Maggie said. “Go on, Rena.”
“He was a bit pissed. I guess he met up with a friend last night.”
“Yes, I heard he had a date,” Maggie said.
“He did?” And why did that make her heart sink? She had just said he wasn’t for the likes of her and here she was sad because he might have had a date.
“Yes, but Anice said that nothing happened.”
Serena glanced at her friend, trying to hide her happiness. “How does she know that?”
“He came home. From what they say, he doesna make it home before daylight if he’s with a woman. And he definitely doesna drink. Go on.”
“We were talking and all
of the sudden, he spaced out. He was just staring off into space, like a daydream. Then, I was sucked into his vision and I was being kissed.”
“But not in real life?” Meghan asked.
“I said it was a dream.”
“But it affected you,” Maggie said. Not a question.
She nodded. “After he left the kitchen, my lips still tingled, and my knees were so weak I was afraid to stand.”
“Oh,” Meghan said. Then she clapped. “And you are leaving on a trip with him.”
“So, you see the problem. I cannae have entanglements like that.”
“That’s not what you said,” Maggie said. “You said he wasn’t made for the likes of you, like you aren’t good enough for him. Why would you think that?”
She couldn’t tell them. She wanted to. The burden of what she held in her heart threatened to overwhelm her. But she couldn’t do that with her friends. They had their mates, and they would be protected against the coming battle. If she told them, they would insist on helping. The two best people in her life couldn’t be threatened, and this McDougall woman would know that.
“Rena?”
“You know me. I can’t settle for one man, especially one like that one. He’s too pretty for his own good.”
“He is that. All of them are, truthfully,” Meghan said.
“Stop worrying. I’m fine. Fletcher and I will fetch the ruby.”
“And then return home,” Maggie said.
“Yes. Of course.” She hid her thoughts because Maggie would definitely pick up on them.
“Okay, but don’t think this conversation is over,” Maggie said.
“Does he know you know that he kissed you in a dream?” Meghan asked.
“No, but if you send him a note in class tomorrow maybe he’ll tell you,” Maggie said with a laugh. “Come on. Let’s get out of here so Rena can meditate.”
Meghan smiled but said nothing else as she followed Maggie out the door. Once Serena was alone, she didn’t get onto her bed to meditate again. Instead, she walked to the window and looked out on the night. In the distance, the lights of Edinburgh shone against the dark night. The rain had lifted, but the dreary feeling was still present.
Life would be so much easier if she could give into the desires Fletcher stirred within her. She had never been a woman who ignored her sexual cravings. Faeries were known for their unquenchable appetites, and it went against her nature to ignore them. She knew that if she spent too much time with Fletcher, she’d either give into those needs, or she would end up hurting because of it. Either way, it was going to make it difficult to concentrate on the two tasks that lay before her. She would help him get the ruby, and she would get her revenge.
Serena prayed that she wouldn’t have to choose one over the other, because in the end, her family would always come first. She owed them that much.
* * *
Fletcher poured himself a second glass of whisky when he heard the door to Callum’s office creak open. He knew without looking that it was Anice.
“There you are.”
He was sitting in Callum’s big comfy chair with his feet stacked on the desk.
“Here I am.” He sipped his drink, enjoying the smooth burn as it slipped down his throat.
There was no light in the room, except for the moon and lights from outside of the house.
“You’re getting pissed again? Two nights in a row is a bad precedent to set.”
“I’m not pissed.” Not yet, but he really wanted to be. He wanted to sink into a bottle and not come out for a week. Maybe then he would figure out how to deal with the woman who had been occupying his mind.
His twin said nothing as she came around the desk, grabbing a glass on her way over. After pouring herself a healthy portion of whisky, she slipped up on top of the desk.
“So, you want to tell me why you’ve been acting like an arse?”
He smiled. It was so like his sister to be blunt. She was their PR person, the one who fielded all the questions from reporters. In her job, she had a silver tongue. With her family, Anice had the delicacy of a sledgehammer. They were all like that, but after spending a couple of centuries together, they tended to get on each other’s nerves.
“I’m not happy that I’m the next one.”
“Or is it that you don’t know how you’re going to control yourself around Rena?”
He said nothing, trying not to let her know she was exactly right. Time away from the family, just on their own posing as a couple was going to be hard. He couldn’t lose himself in the woman when they had a more important duty to his family. He needed that ruby and he wouldn’t let a woman get in the way. Not again.
Anice leaned closer and watched his face. He knew that even in the dark room she could read him. “Ah, so it is that.”
She leaned back and sipped at her whisky as she studied him. It was enough to make him want to fidget. She was really the only other person in the world who could do that to him.
“What’s the problem?”
“With what?”
She was facing the window, so there was enough light for him to see Anice roll her eyes.
“Rena.”
He said nothing else, and she pushed against his feet.
“Fletcher, come on. Talk to me.”
They had always been able to communicate. His mother had said they had their own language before they were one, and even though it was odd for the time, they were particularly close through childhood and adolescence. Lately, though, he felt as if a chasm had opened up between them. It seemed to be growing daily, and he didn’t know what to do about it.
“It would complicate things.”
She snorted and took another sip. “Like it did for Callum and Phoebe? Or any of the rest of our cousins.”
“They were true loves.”
“What if Rena is yours?”
“I don’t believe in that.”
“You don’t think it’s for you, but you think it’s for your cousins?”
“And you. I want you to be happy, Anice.”
“But not you?”
“I’m not built for long relationships.”
“This is because of Laire, isn’t it?”
He said nothing as he turned away to look outside and sip his whisky.
“Bloody hell, Fletcher, how long are you going to punish yourself for that?”
“I cost us a lot.”
She let out a frustrated groan, then jumped off the desk to stand in front of him.
“I knew that you had a little chip on your shoulder because of that, but I didn’t know that it was to this extent.”
“I’m not a good judge of women. I learned that lesson. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
She studied him, and he tried to ignore her and look out the window. Unfortunately, as he had thought before, no one knew him as well as his twin.
“Fletcher.”
A soft demand to look at her. Anice was loud and bossy, but when she was serious, she was quiet. He didn’t want to do it, because he couldn’t hide things from her most of the time. If she wasn’t looking beneath the surface, it was easy. But when Anice paid attention, she would dig down deep and expose his belly.
“We’ve all avoided getting entangled with the opposite sex because of our situation, but you have been doing it for another reason entirely.”
“Stop prattling on, Anice and go to bed,” he said, looking away from her and draining the rest of his whisky.
“Fletcher McLennan, you look at me right now.” Damn, she’d moved onto being loud. That meant that she would not leave him alone until she got her answer. He did as she ordered, but he made sure to give her a good frown. “Tell me.”
“I don’t think I’m built for monogamy. You know that.”
“No. That’s not what is holding you back. Rena is not a woman who shies away from her sexual needs, and she is definitely not someone who demands everlasting love for a good night of sex.”
He winced.
“I know we are close, but this is a little too close for comfort.”
“Stop that. What I mean is that she has never said that she is looking for more. Not to me at least. Not even sure how her kind do that.”
“You mean marriage. They do. Her father did.”
“So, she’s told you.”
“She’s mentioned that her mother was from India and that her father’s family shunned them because he married a human.”
“Interesting.”
“Not really.”
“Not the information—well, that is interesting. I meant that she revealed this to you. I know that Maggie and Meghan probably know, but she is tight lipped.”
At the mention of the M and M’s, Fletcher smiled. “I’m sure they know.”
“So, what are you going to do, Fletcher?”
He heard the worry in Anice’s voice and knew what she was asking. He hated that she even felt the need to ask him.
“Doona fash yourself, Anice. I’ll be going to Ackergill with Rena. We will get the ruby, and then it will be your turn.”
She picked up her whisky and downed the rest of it in one quick gulp. “Doona remind me.”
Her comical reaction had his lips curving. “Ah, so you’re not so keen either.”
“It isn’t that.”
“Then what is it?”
“The idea that I will probably be paired off with some man I’ve yet to meet. It makes me nervous. Add in the fact that all of it will rest with me getting the last jewel, and I think that I have a good reason to be worried.”
He took her hand. “You’ll not have a problem.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because I know you. We always say you are the best of us, and it’s true. If it weren’t for you, we’d still think we didn’t have a way out of this.”
She squeezed his hand, then let it go to fill her glass again.
“Do you think people would judge us for hating immortality?”
“What do you mean?”
“Most people would think it would be a wonderful thing, living forever. Never fearing death.”
He thought about it for a few moments. “It’s easy to judge from the outside.”
Fletcher: The Cursed Clan: Book 4 Page 5
