Page 124 of Crown of Tides and Fury

I sucked it up and slid my fingernail under the flap of the clearly modern envelope. A thick card, folded once, slid out easily, and suddenly, my mindset did a 180. If this was nothing more than a greeting, a thank you, or an apology for dragging my ass into all this, I was going to be pissed.

He couldn’t have wasted a whole box on a bible and a thank you card!

I flipped it open and read aloud, quietly. By the time I reached the bottom of the single paragraph, I couldn’t move. My brain was a machine whirring from a mile away, connected to nothing. No thoughts. No comprehension.

Flann pulled it from my fingers and read it aloud. By the end, he too sat in stunned silence.

It took a distant sound from outside the room to break the spell. He pulled out that extra dagger and we both jumped to our feet. I snatched the note back, and our eyes locked.

He returned the blade and scabbard into his back pocket and raised his empty hands. “It was reflex, my girl. Only a reflex. I’d rather hurt myself. Sure but the others feel the same--”

“You…you have to give me time.”

He tapped the side of his head. “I’ve awakened Brian. It was unconsciously done, I swear it.”

“Time,” I managed to say again, and crouched beside the fire. The flames hadn’t had much chance to spread, but there was enough to catch on the card. When it was half devoured, I stuck it between two bits of wood and trusted the fire to consume the rest. I had no choice. I had no time.

Go! Go! Go!

Flann resumed his seat while staring at me, like he expected me to sprout a second head. He waved a shaking hand. “Close the doors as ye go, love. I’ve reassured Brian, but he’s not buying it. I’ll…stall as long as I can.”

I was already pulling the doors together behind me. Though I heard movement from the far end of the hallway, I saw no one as I made a blind beeline for my room. I had to get out of the house and off the property before Brian could read his brother’s thoughts. It might already be too late.

I slipped into my room and locked the door. I stripped off the robe as I hurried into the closet. Jeans, t-shirt, jacket. I slipped my feet into my boots. No time for socks. I wouldn’t need them for long anyway…

I went to the nightstand, picked up the pinfeather, and rubbed it between my fingers while I stared at the money belt.

I couldn’t leave Hank for Persi. I couldn’t do that to her. He’d have to come with me.

I ripped open the zipper, pulled him out and stuffed him in my front pocket. The coating wouldn’t last much longer, but then again, it didn’t need to…

Someone shouted,“Tulloch Ard!”Chills crashed through my body, adrenaline through my veins.It was the war cry of the MacKenzie’s, and thanks to Urban, it had become the rallying cry of the household. Brian had roused the troops.

I forced air into my ever-contracting chest and ran out the door. The lights of the center hallway bled into the girls wing. Persi came up behind me and I tried to look clueless while we hurried together toward the center of the house. Suddenly, she stopped me with a hand on my arm. My heart nearly burst, thinking she’d read my mind, which was a talent she had, though I’d never known her to use it.

“You forgot your blades!”

I shook my head. “I’ll come back if I need them.”

She scowled, then told me to stay behind her. That suited me fine. At least she wouldn’t be trying to read my face or wonder why I looked like I was about to throw up, which I was.

Just get out the door. Whatever it takes.

Wickham and Urban were barefoot, armed with both broadsword and dagger, and wearing nothing but boxer briefs as they rushed toward the study, Brian hot on their heels. The fact that he spared me no attention renewed my hope that I might actually escape. Persi followed, and after she checked to see that I was safely behind her, I veered off to the left, into the foyer, which was still cast in shadow.

More footsteps in the hallway. I hurried to the Ficus tree and pressed my back against the wall, holding my breath as Everly, Meral, and Reem hurried past. A second later, Alwyn. I figured Ivy was keeping her younger sons safe. Rinky and Felicity probably didn’t know what a war cry meant, or maybe they hadn’t heard it, tucked away as they were in the farthest end of the girls wing.

Tears streamed down my cheeks with the knowledge that I couldn’t say goodbye to any of them.

Beside me, the closed doors to the living room…where one sweet Irishman held onto my secret for as long as he dared. I mentally blew him a kiss before I stepped outside and closed the front door behind me.

47

There Must Be No Mercy

Wickham would know the moment I stepped off the property, but I had no choice. If I went quickly, he wouldn’t yet know why…

It was still early. Shadow was just beginning to distinguish itself from dark of night. The black sky was still considering whether to change into its navy blue clothes as I stepped across the boundary. I turned to the right and ran as fast as my broken heart could bear, hoping to clear the curve before anyone came looking.

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