Gifted Thief (Highland Magic #1)(94)

Chapter Twenty Four




We stumbled back out into the stone clearing where Lily greeted us with a faltering smile. She looked from one of us to the other, her eyes eventually landing on me and staying there.

‘What happened, Chieftain?’ she asked. ‘Your nose is purple.’

I rubbed my forehead. ‘Integrity,’ I said tiredly. ‘Call me Integrity. And my nose will be fine.’ I could hardly complain about it given what else had occurred.

Lily glanced at the rest of the group. ‘Where’s Chieftain Kincaid?’

‘He’s gone.’

She absorbed this information then bobbed her head. ‘He was a bastard anyway,’ she said succinctly.

I glanced at Malcolm. His features were wan and drawn. ‘It doesn’t mean he deserved to die.’

Lily touched me gently on the arm and turned away.

Aifric frowned. ‘Malcolm’s in no fit state to do anything. We need to get him away from here as quickly as possible.’ He threw me a hard look. ‘We still need to find out what’s happened to the Foinse and the magic.’

‘If their gifts were precognition, how come they couldn’t foresee what was going to happen?’ I said, as much to myself as anyone else.

‘Some futures don’t reveal themselves,’ Byron told me quietly. ‘And William’s reluctance to cross the bridge the first time around…’ His voice trailed off.

I nodded. Maybe he had foreknowledge that he’d kept to himself.

‘We’re going to need to get Malcolm back to the Cruaich as soon as possible. But we have to untack William’s horse and clear up here.’

I saw an opening. ‘I’ll sort out the stuff here and follow you.’

Byron looked troubled. ‘I’m not convinced that’s a good idea. Someone is probably still trying to kill you.’

I laughed and waved at the steep mountainsides surrounding us. ‘I’ll see them coming before they see me. Anyway it’s probably be better if I’m not around Malcolm.’

His eyes searched my face; there was something unfathomable lurking in their depths. ‘You won’t catch us up on Barbie.’

I checked on my horse. She was edging towards Byron’s black stallion again with a look of determination. ‘Don’t underestimate her,’ I said. ‘But if I can’t get to you along the way, I’ll find you back at the Cruaich.’ I half turned to go but he grabbed my arm and pulled me closer.

‘Are you okay?’ he asked.

I bit my lip and nodded.

‘I mean it, Integrity. That would have been a traumatic experience for anyone. There wasn’t anything you could do.’

I jerked my head at Malcolm. ‘Tell him that.’

Byron sighed and ran a hand through his hair. ‘You won’t run off, will you?’

‘No.’ I wasn’t going to run anywhere. I was going to teleport.

He released me reluctantly and went to speak to his father. Aifric glanced at me and nodded. ‘Good idea,’ he said briskly. He dug into his bag and pulled out a bottle of water and some jerky. ‘Take this. With any luck, you’ll catch us up along the way. As soon as Malcolm is up to it, we’ll check on the Foinse.’

‘Thank you.’

Aifric’s bright blue eyes met mine. ‘If I hadn’t walked out onto the bridge, he’d still be here.’

I looked away. ‘We could spend our lives wondering “what if?”. What’s done is done. Look after Malcolm. He’ll be alright but he’ll need some time.’

Aifric straightened his shoulders. ‘Yes.’

I gazed up at the sky. Dusk was falling. Other than a few wispy clouds and the faint outline of the moon, there was nothing to be seen. ‘The Foinse will be fine, too. You’ll see.’

Aifric’s mouth twisted. ‘We will.’

I hung back, watching as Byron helped Malcolm onto his horse and the diminished group trotted back off through the narrow path. Lily stayed with me, refusing to join them.

‘You should go,’ I told her. ‘I’m not safe to be around.’

‘I can think here. Everything’s clearer.’

Perhaps the Foinse hadn’t spun off as far as we’d imagined. Its magic was still affecting Lily and there was no sign that anyone’s gifts had returned. ‘You can’t stay here forever, you know.’

She smiled enigmatically in response. ‘Tell me a joke,’ she said.

My chest tightened. ‘I’m not sure this is the time.’

Barbie snickered and Lily reached out. ‘Please?’

I stared after the departing Sidhe and thought of my role in William Kincaid’s death. ‘I’m sorry and I apologise mean the same thing,’ I finally said. ‘Except at a funeral.’