Sebastian helped Mackenzie to her feet and took an extra moment to run his thumbs beneath her eyes, wiping away the evidence of her crying.
She gave him a grateful smile and faced the Aether.
Damian spoke first. “What happened? I received a call from Alastair, instructing me to meet him here.”
“He should be arriving in a bit,” Mack assured him. She relayed her experience from moments before. Sebastian followed it up with an explanation of her earlier attempt to leave the estate.
Damian’s expression indicated he was five seconds away from losing his cool. “And neither of you thought to call me the first time my mother waltzed her way into your mind?”
His barely suppressed rage tingled along Mackenzie’s nerve endings, and she shuddered at the knowledge of all the raw power he held inside. His magic far surpassed hers, and if his mother possessed even half of what he did, Mack was in deep shit.
“Actually, we did,” Sebastian assured him. “We were scarcely recovered from the first before this second… incident happened.”
Damian’s sharp dark gaze darted between them. Abruptly, he nodded. “Fine.”
Mackenzie squirmed under his penetrating stare. “What?”
“So we’re clear, the first time was just a fleeting thought?”
“Yes.”
“This time, she hijacked your mind completely?”
She swallowed and nodded.
“Where did you go?”
“Pardon?”
“Where did you go, Mack? Were you in there with her? Did she trade places with you? As in, were you in her body in the tomb?”
“I don’t think so, but I don’t know for sure. It was like being in a black room with no light,” she recalled, struggling to pull forward any memory other than the terror she’d felt.
“Did you smell anything?” Damian continued to push for answers as he fixed her a cup of tea.
His gesture seemed out of place to her, but she appreciated his consideration. The small kindness tempered his harsh rapid-fire questions.
“Smell?” She started to shake her head, but the memory of a faint scent lingered. “Wait. Maybe. Like a blend of lavender and a spice I’m not familiar with.”
“Was it earthy?”
“Yes, I believe it was, but there was another mustier scent.”
Damian’s expression darkened, and he turned away to stare over the yard. “Ruta, or Rue as it’s called now, I would imagine.”
Mackenzie shared a confused look with Sebastian.
“Where do you think Mack went, Dethridge?”
“I don’t know that she went anywhere other than her own mind, but it’s possible she traded places with my mother.”
The idea of being inside a two-hundred-year-old tomb was repellent and grossed Mackenzie right the hell out. She clamped a hand over her mouth to stop her urge to scream.
Sebastian rubbed her lower back. “Come again?”
Damian turned from the garden and locked gazes with Mackenzie. “It’s possible you and my mother exchanged bodies for however long she was able to possess yours.”
“Fan-freaking-tastic.” She gulped down her tea in one swoop. “Admittedly, I know nothing about this type of thing, but if Isolde is able to pull a Freaky Friday, she clearly has use of her magic.”
“Freaky Friday?”
“It’s a movie. Never mind.” Mackenzie waved a hand in dismissal. “We need to come up with a solid plan to lock down my body. Make it a no-entry zone.”
Sebastian’s choked cough caught her attention. Heat crept up her cheeks as she realized how her words sounded. A quick glance showed her Damian struggled against a smile.
“Pfft. Men. Always with their minds in the gutter. Am I right, cuz?”
The sweet sound of Spring Thorne-Carlyle’s voice floated to Mackenzie, and she gasped her delight. Her cousin was as brilliant as the day was long, and if anyone could figure a way out of the mess Mack had found herself in, it was Spring.
Rushing to embrace her, Mackenzie registered the presence of Spring’s husband, Knox, along with Alastair and Aurora. The tension within her uncoiled from the knowledge her family would have her back. One by one, she hugged them tightly, gushing her gratitude for their timely arrival.
Spring hugged Damian. “It’s good to see you again.”
“None of us expected it to be this soon though,” Knox added as the two men shook hands.
“Dire circumstances and all,” Damian countered with a grimace.
“Right.” Alastair waved a hand, and the bottle of Glenfiddich floated up to pour a dram of his favorite whisky into a tumbler. “Why don’t you start from the beginning, and leave nothing out.”
Mackenzie and Sebastian took turns relaying all that had happened since she set foot on the Drake estate. Damian remained silent during their explanation, even when Alastair shot him the occasional questioning glance.
“You married Drake?” Alastair’s eyes reflected a sadness, and Mack wondered if it was because he’d wanted to give her away in a more traditional ceremony.
“It was an impulsive decision.” She glanced down at her lap, where her hand was joined with Sebastian’s. He gave her a light squeeze, and Mackenzie knew she’d done the right thing regardless of timing. “I’m sorry we didn’t think to include everyone.”
A slow, pleased smile spread across Alastair’s aristocratic features. “You have nothing to apologize for, child. You followed your heart.”
She nodded. “I did.”
His sapphire gaze shifted to Sebastian and narrowed slightly.
“I did, too,” Baz assured him so quickly Mackenzie almost laughed.
“I believe you, son.” Alastair took an unhurried sip of his drink and stared into the crackling flames of the hearth. “What’s our next step, Dethridge? I assume you’ve been working on a plan.”
“Not much of one, I’m afraid. I’ve been unable to get a clear read on any of the unfolding events, and Isis refuses to answer my summons.”
“We’re going to need reinforcements,” Alastair said with a resigned sigh. “I’ll call Ryker, Nash, and Quentin before I try to summon Preston.”
“Of course with the arrival of the guys, their other halves will follow,” Knox said with a chuckle. His grin widened when Spring elbowed his side. “What? You know it’s true. I’ve yet to meet a Thorne female who doesn’t dive right into trouble.”
“It’s because we’re the smarter of the pairings and are always there to get you guys out of the messes you create.” Her arched brow and smirking mouth dared him to argue.
With a deep, rumbling laugh, he hugged her close. “Whatever you say, sweetheart.”
“There’s an intelligent man, who knows how to surrender the field,” Sebastian whispered in Mackenzie’s ear.
“Better for their sex life all around, I imagine,” she murmured in return. “I heard a rumor that she once filled his mouth with dirt for being an ass to her.”
Sebastian buried his chuckle against her hair.
The blinding headache struck without warning, and she cried out.
Sebastian watched the color drain from Mackenzie’s face and released her in an instant. “This is what happened before—”
Mackenzie’s head whipped up, and a calculating look crossed her face as she noted the people around her. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at Damian.
A sense of dread started low in Sebastian’s gut and spread from there. “It’s Isolde.”
She shot him a side glance and winked. “Hello, lover.”
Rising, she crossed to where Damian sat in a wing-backed chair by the hearth. Her expression softened marginally as she reached out a hand to touch his face. He, in comparison, remained still as a statue, showing no emotion at all.
“My boy,” she whispered. She used her thumb and index finger to shift a lock of his hair from his forehead. “You’ve grown to be a beautiful man, haven’t you, Damian?”
He stood and gave her such a look of pity Sebastian’s heart almost ached for him. “This is no longer your time, Mother. Leave Mackenzie alone. For all our sakes.”
“No!” Her expression hardened, and an ugliness came into her eyes. “This vessel is perfect for my use.”
“She’s a person, not a vessel,” Alastair snapped, surging to his feet.
Aurora said his name, heavy caution in her tone.
Isolde turned on him in an instant, hands raised, ready to strike. Confusion flooded her features, and her questioning eyes bounced back and forth between Alastair and Damian. “You’re the Alastair Thorne from my dream,” she said softly. “My boy’s savior.”
“He did save me, Mother. Only last week.” Damian stepped between them and ducked a little to capture her attention, which was locked on Alastair. “Because of the spell you wrote.” His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Because of the love you held for me.”
A sad look stole across Isolde’s face. “I had to save you from the Beast. He wanted you then, and he wants you now.”
“Yes. But you can stop it, Mother. By going back to sleep.”
Her rage was palpable as she knocked his hand away. “No!”
They all felt the slap of her power and jerked in place.
Sebastian’s skin began to burn, as if he’d been in the sun too long.
“Isolde,” Knox spoke to her, and the tone held the voice of authority.
She spun to face him with a snarl on her lips. Sebastian had the fleeting thought that she looked like a cornered mongrel.
Knox repositioned himself between her and Spring. “If you don’t leave Mackenzie right now, I’ll fry your ass.”
From Sebastian’s vantage point, he saw Knox draw molecules together to form a ball of electricity behind his back. Everyone who knew the man, knew he’d been gifted the power of a god by Isis, lifetimes before. That ancient magic was fused with his very soul, and he was reborn with it in every incarnation. Everyone also knew he’d do whatever it took to protect his wife, who had been his soulmate for thousands of years.
Sebastian’s heart started hammering at such a rate he couldn’t catch his breath. Mack would never survive being electrocuted. Surging forward, he grabbed Knox’s arm. “Don’t,” he whispered. “You’ll kill her.”
Knox’s arctic expression said he was well aware of the consequences.
Unacceptable, as far as Sebastian was concerned. He released Knox’s wrist and moved forward until he was within a foot of Isolde. Truth be told, he was wary of getting closer.
“Mackenzie is stronger than you,” Sebastian taunted. He didn’t know if he was doing the right thing or if she had the power to smite him on the spot, but he had to try to loosen her hold and encourage Mack to fight to return to them. “She is, and she’ll eventually destroy you.”
Isolde’s hands curled, palms up, and fire flared to life. “Not before I destroy you first.”
“My Mack will never let you hurt me, Isolde,” he assured her.
She positioned her hands to attack, but surprise flashed across her face as the flames were extinguished. Her eyes went blank and rolled back in her head.
He got to Mackenzie as she collapsed, catching her before she could fall. His knees suffered rug burns as the full weight of both their bodies crashed to the floor.
“Goddess preserve us,” Alastair muttered as he hiked up the legs of his trousers and squatted beside them. “That took courage, Drake. Even I felt a momentary unease.”
Sebastian almost laughed at the “momentary unease” comment. Alastair was always calm, cool, and collected in the face of any adversity. Unfortunately, this incident was no laughing matter. If they didn’t find a way to contain Isolde, and soon, they were sitting ducks.
As he watched Mackenzie, waiting for her to come around, he smoothed back the scarlet hair from her pale face. Unconscious like this, she seemed so fragile. Of course, she’d scoff at him for even daring to think it. And yet, he knew she was strong, because she’d pulled Isolde back down.
“Why isn’t she waking?” Spring asked, trying to fight Knox’s hold to move closer. “Will you let me go, you over-bearing tool!”
“No. Not until we are sure she’s gone.”
“I will feed you up a mountain of dirt if you don’t let me get to Mack.”
“I swear to the Goddess, woman!”
“Swear all you’d like. I’m tending to my cousin, Knox.”
With a pained sigh, he released her.
Spring joined Sebastian and Alastair on the floor. “Should we call Aunt GiGi?”
Sebastian looked up to consult Damian and swore. “Where did he go?”
“Hopefully to fire-bomb that damned garden holding Isolde’s body,” Spring said. “I’m calling Aunt GiGi.”
She jumped to her feet and ran out to the terrace, cellphone in hand. Knox was hot on her heels.
When they were alone, Sebastian allowed himself to express his fears to Alastair and Aurora. “This is three times today. I’m terrified for her.”
“I know. I can feel it. Try to remain calm, son.” Alastair placed a hand on Sebastian’s shoulder. “If I can sense it, I know Damian and Mackenzie can as well. She doesn’t need anything else to distract her in this battle.”
“Where do you suppose Dethridge really went?”
“If he’s smart? To get Sabrina out of the country. Perhaps hide her in a Monastery outside the farthest reaches of civilization, where he can fortify the place.”
“You’re not instilling confidence in me, Thorne.” In fact, the idea of Damian running away, downright terrified Sebastian.
A gold light shone out of a widening rift to their left. The Aether stepped through and gave them both a look of such disgust, Alastair chuckled.
“Really, Al? You thought I’d run off with my tail between my legs?”
“You disappeared awfully fast, Dethridge,” Alastair mocked. “I mean, I always believed you were a stand-up guy, but could be that you’ve grown soft.”
“Sod off, why don’t you?” Damian handed him a small ceramic pot with a lid. “GiGi will want this salve when she arrives.”
Alastair accepted the jar with a nod. “Thank you, my friend.”
“Sebastian.”
The serious note in the Aether’s voice brought Sebastian’s head up.
“What you did took courage, Drake. You put a lot of faith in Mackenzie’s ability to defeat my mother. It worked this time, but I doubt it will again.” Damian’s somber gaze dropped to Mack’s still face. “She’s a fighter. I pray it’s enough, but you need to be prepared for the worst.”
“As long as I draw air, I’ll fight for her.” Sebastian traced her cheekbone. “She’d do the same for me. I know she would.”
“Take her to her room,” Alastair said in a low, gentle tone. “When GiGi arrives, I’ll send her up.”
Damian strode for the glowing rift. “You can relax for a bit, Drake. Isolde isn’t strong enough to return this soon. She’s expended all the energy she can by possessing your wife this close together.”
“Then why retry so soon?”
“Wouldn’t you if you’d been entombed for centuries?”
Sebastian slowly nodded. “Yes. I suppose I would.”
“Take her and go rest now,” Damian said kindly. “Also, that salve will help the burns on your face.” The portal between their residences sealed shut after he crossed through.
“I don’t suppose I’ll ever get used to him being nice to me.”
Alastair chuckled and helped Sebastian rise with the burden of Mackenzie in his arms. “Don’t assume it will last, son. Dethridge is unpredictable at best.”