Every time Daegan lost even one Belador or those who allied with him, it felt as if a piece of his soul had been chewed away. But he had to keep moving forward. He could do no more back in Atlanta than Quinn or the rest of his Beladors.
At the moment, Daegan needed his Maistir here more than there. First thing, Quinn, I need ya to assign someone to take your place as Maistir until ya return, and for that person to coordinate the teams with Trey.
Quinn sounded ready with a plan. I say we put Evalle in that position. She’ll have Storm and Adrianna as backup.
Good thinking, Daegan agreed. He paused as someone walked up to the ancestral centre, but they didn’t stop. Next, I would like for ya to bring Reese here, but only if she comes voluntarily. She might be able to help me by usin’ her remote viewin’ gift. If askin’ her is a problem, say so now. I will not think less of ya for your honesty, Quinn.
After a short silence, Quinn said, It’s her choice. I would not make that decision for her, nor would she allow me. I need an hour or so to locate Reese and my daughter, Phoedra, then make arrangements. I’d like to send Phoedra to Treoir where she’ll be safe while we’re both gone.
Daegan walked around to loosen his stiff joints. Of course. Your daughter is welcome to shelter in Treoir as well as any others ya feel are vulnerable.
Thank you. I would also like to send my cousin, Lanna, to be with Phoedra.
Daegan had no issue with that and agreed with his thinking. Quinn would be more at ease here with the young ladies safe from any supernatural threat. Brina will be happy for the company of them both.
Quinn’s voice picked up energy. Excellent. Once I have Evalle and our Beladors set, I’ll send Phoedra and Lanna on their way, then I’ll let you know when I’m ready to teleport with Reese.
Daegan suddenly recalled Reese becoming ill last time when she used her gift to track a bounty hunter as they hunted Evalle’s kidnappers. Either that had made her sick or some other reason. Guilt pushed at him once he’d remembered the incident. He added, Please make sure Reese knows I will understand if she does not wish to do this after her physical reaction last time.
Quinn replied, She might say no if only I asked her, but I seriously doubt she will refuse a request from you.
When Quinn's presence disappeared out of Daegan’s mind, he felt his first flicker of hope.
Reese had an unusual ability of visual projection, which had allowed them to track someone if Reese could sit in the last spot where that person had sat, stood, or fallen.
The Luigsech woman only thought she’d escaped.
Chapter 3
“No, no, no,” Casidhe moaned, rushing down the last part of the hill to Fenella’s farmhouse.
Fenella had to be here.
But every time Casidhe searched the darkness for a light inside, she saw none. The white farmhouse with a red door and red shutters remained dark, the outside lit only by a dusting of moonlight.
Nothing made a sound.
Casidhe kept staring at that front window, trying to will a glow to be there.
Fenella left the fixture over her sink on every night, refusing to go to bed until she changed a bulb if it had burned out.
Squinting, Casidhe could make out cows bedded down in the pasture. Chickens were free to roam during the day, but they normally returned to the roost at night. She couldn’t see or hear any goats, baby or otherwise.
Fenella would have still been up feeding the kids.
“Maybe she didn’t get the goats tonight,” Casidhe told herself in a whisper. Talking made her feel not so alone with her fears. “Maybe she’s asleep.”
Fenella tended to be an early-to-bed, early-to-rise person, but what about the missing light over the sink?
Stepping on the short path of flat stones leading to the front door, Casidhe knocked firmly.
No answer.
Every new confirmation of Fenella being absent drove her pulse higher. Casidhe rushed around the left side of the house. At the window to the bedroom, she tapped on it, softly calling, “Fenella?”
She slapped the glass hard enough to wake the dead. “Fenella!”
No freaking sound inside.
Heading back around the front of the house, her heart kept tumbling with fear. Denial drove her to continue to the right side of the house, checking every window on her way.
No one inside. This path led her to the barn. She skidded to a stop. Where was Fenella’s beloved truck?
No truck parked by the barn.
No light in the kitchen.
No Fenella.
Casidhe considered other possibilities. Fenella hated to drive after sunset. What could have happened?
Maybe the truck had broken down.
Fenella would have walked home or to the goat farmer’s house for help, depending on the shortest distance. She would not stay at the goat farmer’s place. Old man Peadar would have given her a ride home. Or she’d have flagged down someone.
Everything pointed to Fenella having had plenty of time to reach her farm by now.
More than all of that, she would have called Casidhe to come help her.
What now?
Casidhe had a choice between heading for the goat farm to look for Fenella’s truck along the way or going in the opposite direction toward the ancestral research centre.
If she reached the farm and did not find Fenella, she would have gambled and lost. She might make it back to the centre in time, depending on how long it took to reach Peadar’s farm, a far more demanding route.
Cavan expected Casidhe to be at the centre by
