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Niall ran a hand through his hair. He was distraught because of the panic in his sister’s telepathic shout. He called to her once more...
-Maelíosa!-
Now he couldn’t sense his sister at all. His gut told him something had happened that was keeping her from answering his call. He tried one more time to reach out to her. -Maelíosa, damn you, answer if you can hear me.- Again, silence.
He’d never been so afraid of losing her. She was his twin. They’d tormented one another even while their mother carried them. It was a wonder their mother hadn’t died with them, but with their younger sister Darcy. Carrying twins was rare and risky, not unlike a mare breeding two foals in the human world. His connection to Maelíosa was almost as strong as the mate bond. The sense of nothingness when he tried to touch her with his mind made him fear the worst had already happened.
He’d tried to reach out to Felicity. She was his true mate and he could sense her, but they’d not yet been linked through the sacred ceremony, and even if they had, he’d only be able to communicate to her and sense her emotions, location, or scent at best. It wasn’t as if she’d develop telepathic abilities. Although, little was known about the true mate bond, which transcended ordinary mating. Only a few mates throughout their history had been destined for one another. He’d scarcely believed the phenomenon was even real until he’d experienced it with Felicity.
When he reached Dún Eochla, the ring fort was deserted. The cool wind carried the faint smell of blood, and a chill ran down his stallion’s spine. His heart hammered in his chest as his stallion tried to scent whose blood it was. If anyone had hurt Felicity or his sister, there would be hell to pay.
He followed the trail across the hard limestone ground to a stone smeared with Felicity’s blood. Niall swallowed the lump in his throat and picked up the rock. At least his sister was a púca and she’d have a fighting chance at surviving an attack. Felicity was fragile, human, and he needed to find her. But Maelíosa’s blood had been spilled, too. There was a darkened patch on the ground fifteen paces from where he’d picked up the rock.
Footsteps closed in behind him. Niall turned to find Tomas, who’d finally caught up with him.
Tomas eyed the stone in Niall’s hand. “Is that your sister’s blood?”
“No, it’s Felicity’s,” he said, tossing the rock to his best mate.
He caught it, and Niall watched as Tomas inhaled the scent of Felicity’s blood so his stallion could remember it.
“Shall I look for her?” Tomas asked.
“No, I need you to return to the Realm immediately. Send for Finn and Kieran. We could really use their help. I think something’s happened to Maelíosa. She won’t answer when I reach out to her.”
Finn and Kieran were the clan’s strongest warriors. He’d grown up with the lads, and he’d been tossed to the ground in stick-fighting battles by both of them more times than he could count. He trusted them like he did Tomas, and if he had to go into a fight with someone at his back, he’d stake his life on their strength. Niall wasn’t sure where Felicity or his sister had been taken, but he knew he’d need backup, given the clear indications of a struggle in the fort. The fresh scent of blood meant they couldn’t have been gone for very long. He had to follow the trail while Tomas went for help.
Tomas nodded. “Aye, and what do you intend to do?”
“Find Felicity and whoever hurt her, then break every bone in the bastard’s body—whoever did this is going to answer to me.”
His stallion whinnied and tossed his head in agreement.
Tomas eyed the rock and then shot him a knowing look. “You shouldn’t go alone.”
“That’s why I’m sending you for reinforcements.”
“And you should wait for them, too. Ye know yer father will be having me neck if something happens to you. In his eyes it’ll be all my fault, and then my wife, Mara, will be without a mate.”
“My mate is in trouble. You go fetch Finn and Kieran. I have no time to waste.”
Tomas looked like he was struggling with whether to obey Niall’s command. His best mate’s sentiment was appreciated, but Niall didn’t have time for disobedience. And if he was to take his father’s place as chieftain someday, he’d better be able to command the clan, even if it meant disagreeing with a lifelong friend.
“Aye, can I count on you, or will you disobey my direct order?”
Tomas straightened when Niall pulled rank. Niall was still the chieftain’s son, friendship or not. “No, you have my word. I’ll find Finn and Kieran, and one way or another we’ll finish this, mate.”
Niall clasped his hand. “Aye, we’ll find them. And then we’ll return to the Realm.”
“And to life as it should be,” Tomas said, his voice hard.
Their eyes met in solemn agreement. Niall knew exactly what he meant. The human world had always fascinated Tomas, but there was safety in numbers. They were supposed to be with their clan. The fast pace of this world, and their earthly troubles, were so different from his community. His sister and true mate were in danger, and he wanted desperately to whisk Felicity away to a place where they could grow old together.
-Let me know the minute you cross the veil to bring back Finn and Kieran,- Niall thought to his friend, then added aloud, “Tabhair aire.”
“Aye, and you as well,” Tomas said with a nod, and then left Niall to his task.
His stallion urged him to follow the scent before the trail grew cold. He prayed he’d find Felicity and his sister before it was too late.
