“Sure thing.” Popping up from one of the chairs near the window, she pointed at the spot Quinn had suggested could be Casidhe’s place to read. “You want me there, right?”
Daegan nodded.
With Reese’s initial burst of irritation having passed, she sounded calmer. She walked over and paused, giving the chair a once-over before turning to sit. Clutching the thickly padded arms, she murmured, “Man, this thing is broken in and super comfortable. I’d like to find one like it back home.”
Daegan held his breath when he would normally be ordering one of his warriors to get busy, but not a woman, especially one helping him.
That didn’t stop his mind from screaming to take action, save Tristan and Devon. How many others were in jeopardy while he hunted Cavan? He would not forsake Renata and any others as well. But first he had to take care not to lose Reese or Quinn.
His jaw muscles felt hard as stone from keeping them locked.
It was do that or he’d sound like the madman living in his brain.
Ruadh had never possessed patience, but he spoke in Daegan’s mind. The gryphon is strong. He will survive.
Even so, Daegan suffered over what Tristan might be having to survive.
Nothing moved fast enough for him.
Quinn asked, “Are you sure you want to do this, Reese?”
She lifted her face to Quinn and had an argument going on behind her eyes, but she shook it off. “I'm fine, really.” Then she reached over the left side of the chair to pick up a small cushion from the floor she shoved under her left arm. It matched the one next to her right hip.
She cleared her throat and announced, “Let’s give this a try.”
Stretching her hands out along the chair arms, she clenched the leather again and leaned back. Closing her eyes, her fingers slowly relaxed. Then her forehead creased with what appeared to be confusion. She stayed that way a moment, then cocked her head as if looking at something only she could see.
Then she shoved the cushion on her left off the chair.
What had that been about?
She had just made a point of picking up that very cushion.
After a few seconds, Reese began speaking softly in a monotone as she had done at another time.
“Luigsech was alone ... sitting cross-legged. She pulled a book from the table to her lap. Then she cleaned her hands on a cloth and ran her fingers over the strange letters, or symbols maybe, on the cover. I think she’s wondering about the title. She said something like ... Before An, no, Before Ainvar.” Reese gave a little headshake as if confused. “Luigsech kept turning pages. The text is full of strange shapes and symbols.”
Daegan crossed his arms, struggling to remain still. He needed action and results.
Still mumbling along, Reese said, “This woman went back to the first pages and held two fingers together like when you salute someone. She ran her fingers over the text and ...” Reese gasped.
Daegan jerked, startled. He checked Quinn to see what they should do.
Quinn didn’t hide his concern, but shook his head to not disturb her.
Sounding awed, Reese’s voice went up. “The letters glow and change as they lift off the page. What the hell? The woman is running her fingers as fast as she can back and forth. I don’t understand any of it. I think ... she’s translating the text with power.”
Quinn spoke to Daegan telepathically. I believe that answers one question about this Luigsech woman. She must have some significant power to do that sort of translating. She is definitely not human, as you said.
Daegan nodded, unable to take his eyes off Reese, who went on to describe how Luigsech stopped reading at a point late in the day. She got up, tidied up the office, lifting her mobile phone, which had a photo of yellow flowers covering a field on the phone’s display, then her backpack, and a tote bag. She locked up and put the tote in the basket on the handlebars of her bicycle.
Reese had been seeing what happened yesterday right before Daegan began following the Luigsech women.
At this point, Daegan relived what he’d seen as Reese continued describing Luigsech through her remote vision as the woman pedaled through the village and stopped at the grocery.
He leaned forward, listening for any hint to what Cavan might have said or his identity.
Reese’s jaw tightened and her words came out angry. “That man grabbed Luigsech’s arm. She’s pissed. She’s talking. ‘What do you want, Cavan?’ Then she tried to yank away, but he held her like he had a steel grip.” Reese paused and cocked her head again as if listening to someone and her frown returned. “The man is threatening her if she does not meet him and ... find a grimoire.”
Even after what happened last night and Luigsech vanishing on Daegan, his blood boiled at any woman fearing for her life.
With every word Reese shared, it began to sound as if Luigsech had told the truth when she said she’d done nothing to bring this on her.
Now Daegan felt bad about what little intimidation he’d tried at the cottage, but in truth, the deadly woman had not been overly impressed.
He allowed Reese to repeat the conversation, which clearly sounded as if Cavan would harm Luigsech’s friend if the woman failed to do his bidding. Now he understood Luigsech’s need to be here on time.
But what had happened?
When Reese spoke the words, “Immortuos Grimoire,” Daegan sent a telepathic message to Quinn.
The minute Reese finishes the conversation and the woman rides away on her bicycle, I know everythin’ that happened yesterday from that point until Luigsech vanished durin’ the battle at her cottage.
Nodding, Quinn waited until it was clear Cavan had departed from the grocery building. He leaned
