The five of them rushed through the forest, avoiding tree branches and briar bushes that reached out to snag their clothing and scratch their skin. Fiona could hear the creatures close behind.
The group rushed into the fast-flowing river in time to see the riverbanks lined with hideous MBs who appeared intent on getting to them.
“Don’t go in too deep,” Lorcan warned. “Being saved from nasty beasts won’t matter if we’re all drowned.”
“I’ve never seen anythin’ that disturbin’,” Arianna admitted.
Darius nodded and wrapped his arms around Arianna. “Could you use hellfire on them, my wee witch?”
“Even normal fire would destroy them.” Lorcan nodded. “But your hellfire would likely set this entire forest on fire, too.”
“I don’t think it was random that they found us,” Fiona said. “I believe they might’ve been sent after us.”
Lorcan stared at her. “What makes you believe that?”
“Just a feelin’. Do you think Jaycee might have…I don’t know, commanded them to follow us?”
The others looked at her with various levels of uncertainty.
“They do appear to loathe you,” Arianna agreed.
“Why does everyone keep sayin’ they?” Fiona asked.
“How would they command supernatural creatures?” Rohese asked a question of his own.
“They certainly know how to employ feminine wiles to get what they want,” Lorcan said. “Plus, their kind was responsible for the first sinful deception in that infamous biblical garden.”
“If someone doesn’t reply to my query, there’ll be another magical creature in a temper that you might not wish to deal with,” Fiona warned.
“I think our granddaughter may have inherited your temper, my wee witch,” Darius whispered to Arianna.
“There’s two of them, Boomer, maybe more. Clones, twins, triplets, we don’t fucking know! But we saw two Jaycees.”
Fiona put her hands on her eyes and shook her head. “Perfect! Just what we need!”
“Why do you use such profanity in front of our granddaughter?” Darius asked.
“It’s just the way he talks to everyone.” Fiona waved her hand dismissively. “I barely notice it anymore.”
Arianna looked at Fiona. “Tell me, is Boomer somethin’ sexual?”
Fiona smiled. “No, it’s just his pet name for me.”
Lorcan looked at Fiona and smirked, too. Rohese did not.
“Back to Jaycee,” Lorcan said. “I also didn’t tell you that I saw her at Mystique’s shop. Could she or one of them have gotten a spell that gave her power over MBs? Maybe spirits, as well?”
Fiona shrugged considering that and remembering Jaycee had mentioned Rohese getting a potion from Mystique, too. One opposite to the fountain of youth.
The beasts surrounding them previously snorting, began making other disturbing sounds, gnashing their teeth together like they were hungry. There was no time to discuss their theories.
Arianna lifted her hand and several creatures were encased in purple flames.
Fiona’s eyes widened in awe. She’d seen Arianna use that astonishing ability when they’d trained for the battle. Unlike most fires, water would only fan the blaze. Her grandmother must have used her skill instinctively.
“I think you’d best refrain from that, my wee witch,” Darius said. “I’d not want the entire forest to burn. We’d have no way out of this river and the current has grown stronger.”
That was true. Fiona was having trouble staying upright in the water. “I’m going to try to create a portal so you two can go home.” Fiona pointed to Darius and Arianna. “I wish we could’ve spent more time together but if you’re saved today, I believe we will get to know one another in the future.”
Darius’s face creased. “How could we simply leave you, Fiona?”
He was protective, too. All guardians were.
“I’ll be able to think clearer if I know you’re safe and not going to be burned alive or eaten by these vicious beasts,” Fiona admitted.
“What if the nasty wee bitches turn up here?” Arianna said.
“We will deal with both Jaycee Orms.” Rohese sounded more confident than Fiona felt.
“Yeah, we fucking will!” Lorcan gave a thumbs-up.
“Take care of our granddaughter,” Darius warned, throwing a stern look at both Lorcan and Rohese.
Arianna embraced Fiona and a loud spark was emitted.
“Go home to one day create my lovely mama,” Fiona said. “Raise her to be the beautiful, strong woman I knew her to be.”
“A girlchild!” Arianna beamed at Darius. “Aye. We will.” She placed a kiss on Fiona’s cheek.
Darius embraced her, too. “Since you’re able to create portals perhaps one day you’ll come visit us.”
“Maybe, Granddad.” Fiona nodded with a smile at the handsome younger man.
Fiona grasped Arianna’s hand and a swirling magical portal surrounded in silver light appeared. Arianna stated the date. Darius took Arianna’s hand as Fiona let go.
They smiled back at her as they stepped into the portal and disappeared.
Lorcan shook his head. “Don’t you think that went a little too well?”
“I think we’re due for somethin’ to go well for a change,” Fiona said.
“Fiona Maguire,” Rohese said, all business. “Are you able to create another portal to take us back to LAMB’s facility?”
“Do you honestly think I’d let her go back with both of you?” Jaycee’s voice, laced with bitterness, could be heard though she was nowhere to be seen.
Fiona’s heart sped when several other appalling beings appeared. She recognized them from drawings in LAMB’s handbook of MBs and the books in the library.
There were bodachs—who often foretold of death.
Rohese groaned espying redcaps—horrid little elven creatures with sharp teeth and claws who adored human or nearly any blood. Fiona saw boobries, malevolent shapeshifters, materialize on the edge of the water, too.
Lorcan nudged her. “Make that portal, Boomer. You and Goldilocks go back and I’ll stay here to…”
“No damn way,” she snapped. “We’re partners. I’m not leaving you here to die.”
“Leave no man behind probably doesn’t apply when dealing with the supernatural, Fiona.”
“I don’t believe either of the Jaycee Orms would cause harm for the demon or me,” Rohese said. “You should go back alone, Fiona Maguire.”
“Why the hell are you two so intent on keeping me safe? Do you think if you comply with her needs, she’ll just forget this demented vendetta against me? Because I doubt that’s true.”
A strange voice sounded. “I did warn you I’d make you pay for what you did to my coven, Demon.”
Rohese whirled around. “Who said that?”
Lorcan stared at him. “You heard it, too?”
Fiona’s mouth went dry as she looked around. “Was that Xavier?”
“The infamous ancient vampire?” Rohese asked. “But is he not detained in LAMB’s guarded facility?”
“I don’t know where the hell he is or even if there’s only one of him. Maybe Jaycee is just fucking with us,” Lorcan admitted.
A disconcerting thought came to Fiona. “Do you suppose they’re working together?” she asked. “It might explain how she’s able to lure MBs. What if he’s schoolin’ her in evil and hypnotism? Those MBs do seem to be under her control.”
“That would be bloody disturbing to think they’ve been consorting,” Lorcan said. “Just make a portal, Fiona.”
As Fiona concentrated on summoning her magic, she was startled to see that beyond the circle of terrifying nuckelavees and other MBs, several Highlander spirits had appeared. They seemed oblivious of the supernatural creatures but stared with their spectral eyes at Fiona. They even began pushing the beasts away or climbing over them.
“What the actual fuck?” Lorcan called yet again.
Maybe Jaycee was controlling the ghosts, too. Or trying to terrify them. Maybe mess with their minds.
“Malina?” This time it was Angus MacIntire in the flesh who called out. Fiona spotted him on shore. “Why are you in the water with those strange men?” He appeared appalled.
Did he not see the creatures or the ghosts?
The MBs leered and started for Angus. Fiona raised her hands and used her magic to call Angus to her. His eyes were wide as saucers as he was thrown into the water alongside them.
“Melina? What? How? You are a witch then?”
The nuckelavees began to step into the water.
“Shit, this river must flow to the sea,” Lorcan said. “The tidal water must be coming in. The river has more salt concentration now.”
“That will deter most MBs, correct?” Rohese said.
“Yeah. Most wouldn’t like it, but nuckelavees thrive in salt water,” Fiona said.
The creatures began making their way toward them. Walking and swimming.
Rohese pulled an arrow from his quiver, raised his bow and shot one nearest to them. It exploded before their eyes. The next turned to dust, and the third was sent flying into the forest in a ball of fire.
“I could use your help, Demon!” Rohese complained.
“I don’t have a fucking magical bow, Goldilocks. When they get close enough I have a silver sword but I still don’t have my demon abilities. And I didn’t get my gun back.”
For all her attempts, Fiona couldn’t make a portal appear. She used magic to lift several of the MBs. The nuckelavees’ skinless bodies broke apart as they hit the trees.
“Malina? I cannae understand what’s happening,” Angus called.
“Yeah. You’re not alone in that, Angus,” Lorcan said.
They all stared when the mysterious cabin appeared just beyond the stream.
“The Jaycee Orms are only tryin’ to tempt us there,” Rohese said.
Lorcan nodded. “Yeah, I agree.”
Fiona exhaled. “Maybe between the two of you, you’d be able to reason with her or them. She does seem to have the hots for both of you.”
“The hots?” Angus looked more bewildered.
“She wants them, carnally,” Fiona explained.
Angus cleared his throat. “Who? I cannae see anyone.”
This would seem completely unbelievable when there was no sign of any other woman. Yet Fiona could sense at least one Jaycee nearby. Probably in the cabin.
“Angus?” a demanding female voice called out. “You’ve found your betrothed? The wedding’s soon to begin. I’m not verra certain you should be marrying her if she keeps taking off. But she is Irish. They’re an unruly lot.”
“Jesus, Mary and Joseph,” Fiona whispered. She might rather face these MBs, and both Jaycees, than the domineering Donalda MacIntire. That was probably why the actual Malina had disappeared.
She glanced up to see both Jaycee and Donalda on the shore of the fast-running stream. If the Jaycees were controlling them, that would explain why none of the MBs were hurting her, but why wasn’t Donalda being attacked?
Was she testing them to see if they’d try to save the woman?
Jaycee waved her hand and the matriarchal woman, the Highlanders’ spirits and the MBs grew still and silent.
Fiona looked beside her to see Angus was like a statue, too. Lorcan and Rohese stared. How did Jaycee have this level of magic?
“All you have to do is agree to marry the bloody infatuated man.” The only Jaycee that Fiona could see gestured toward Angus. “Stay with him here in Scotland and never return to LAMB or your time. I’ll call off all my obedient little minions and let your two lovers return to the future unharmed.”
Fiona rolled her eyes. The thought of marrying Angus wasn’t terrible. He cared for her. Yet she believed he was fated to die in battle soon. Then what? She wouldn’t want to be controlled by his sister or left here in this unpredictable time and untamed country, forced to marry another who might not be as tender as Angus.
Besides there were her children and grandchildren to consider. How would her absence be explained? Could she even depend on Jaycee to tell the truth?
“Don’t you dare consider this, Boomer!” Lorcan warned.
Rohese shook his head and then nodded toward Angus. “The demon is correct, Fiona Maguire. You’ll not remain here or marry him.”
“What do you suggest?” Fiona asked. “Even if I do create a portal and we go back to LAMB, we all know Jaycee will continue to wreak havoc for me and others.”
“Tell me you aren’t interested in finding out how she/they managed all this, Boomer!” Lorcan urged telepathically.
“We will work together to ensure they cannot hurt you,” Rohese promised.
“What about Angus and where do you suppose the actual Malina is? Do you think Jaycee kidnapped or maybe killed her?”
“Not our problem, Fiona,” Lorcan called.
“Lorcan, wait!” she insisted. “We can’t leave them here to be eaten or terrorized by all these supernatural beings. I’m not thrilled with Donalda, but I can’t in good conscience let her be killed and Angus seems a good man.”
Lorcan shook his head. “If we stay we could all die.”
“The demon has a valid concern,” Rohese agreed.
Jaycee stood on the shore looking smug as though she’d won but Fiona whispered to Lorcan and Rohese.
“I believe she’s homing into dark magic and any hideous creatures associated with Scotland, but there are beautiful, mystical beings filled with light and goodness here, too. I’ll need to call to them.”