The witch smiled and Marcus slid to her side, squeezing her hand. “Is this going to harm her?”
The witch placed her hand over his. “These spirits are Ella. All they have ever done is protect her. This separation will not hurt physically. Now relax…both of you.” The witch continued, “Okay, when you’re ready, Ella, invite the spirits here.”
Ella closed her eyes, sinking into the soft couch and resting her hands on the material. She took shallow breaths as she called out to the women who had been her friends. Her guardians. A persistent buzzing surrounded her, and Zephra’s soft voice faded away. Ella could hear birds chirping and feel the soft breeze touch her skin. Gone was the cozy living room. She found herself in a forest filled with evergreen trees, and a carpet of bluebells covered the ground. Stooping, she touched the dainty flowers. Home. She knew as she ran her fingers over the wildflowers that this place was where her first life began. Wales.
“Aye, you’re right. I spent hours here as a wee girl, gathering them flowers,” Gwen said, facing her, more real than ever before. “It’s been my duty to help carry the past with me. To look after the others who followed. But you don’t need me anymore.”
The gentle woman grabbed her hand and stroked her cheek. “I’m happy for you, child. You’ll never be alone. You have a family who love you so much.”
Staring at the woman’s lines carved into her face and her sad, watery eyes, Ella wondered about her life. “Did you have someone special?”
Gwen sighed and glanced around, smiling a little. “Oh, don’t fuss about me. I found love, maybe not the lasting kind, but I was happy…for a time. Ask your question, child, and I will answer.”
“Were you a witch? Do I have your power in my veins? Do the others have magic too—”
“I did say ask your questions, didn’t I? Yes is the answer. I never cast evil spells. I only practiced the healing arts, wanting to help others.”
They spoke for a while, but Ella sensed the time had come to say good-bye as Isabella and Lady Elizabeth approached.
“What I knew of love was fleeting, but it was real…Robbie may have betrayed me in the cruelest way, but he was weak. I forgave him. His life afterward was not what he hoped. He was sad and took to drink, passing away far too young. I like to think from a broken heart.” Isabella smiled.
Ella stared at the dainty creature, the smallest of the three women. But Lady Dempsey grabbed her hand and ran her fingers over the moonstone, staring at her with tears in her eyes, and sniffed.
“Raven gave that to me.” Lady Elizabeth raised her eyebrow. “I was such a foolish, naïve girl when I met him, determined to be a good wife to Sir Charles. But it did no good, and we paid the ultimate price. You cannot outrun destiny.” She lifted her sapphire eyes, staring right at Ella, her gaze tracing every inch of her. “Take care of him.”
Ella nodded as tears hovered. “We don’t talk about the past. Marcus had a hard time accepting any of this when I first met him.”
“Raven gave up his life for me, and I suspect Marcus would do the same for you. That kind of love is worth fighting for. Don’t you think?”
Ella’s heart twisted at the young woman’s confession and she hugged her. Eventually, she let go and the women gathered close, giving her a farewell kiss on her cheek. She felt their warmth, along with the overpowering scent of lavender.
“Goddess, we call to thee.”
The women chanted over and over until their outlines shimmered with a golden radiance and bright light bathed each of them. The women smiled and, moments later, vanished.
Ella stood alone, but her blood pulsed with a boundless energy and the moonstone on her amulet glowed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Marcus trudged through the damp forest. The sun had yet to make an appearance, but that didn’t matter. Ella had lifted her hands, calling out to something beyond him and creating a vivid blue shaft of light that afforded them sight. The buzz of insects and flutters of colorful butterflies accompanied them as they made their way back home. He tunneled his hand through his hair, watching the shadows as branches snapped underfoot, sticking to Ella’s side, but she wouldn’t slow down. They had been testing her magic all night and the rigid set of her slim shoulders told him she was far from done.
“Ella, slow down. You’re wearing yourself out like this,” Marcus said, and she spun around, clenching her hands into fists. He had never seen her as angry as she was right now.
“The Morrigan is coming for me…I hear her voice calling to me.”
The venom in her voice caught him. The feral woman he met at the coffee shop, fighting for her life, was back. He pressed his hands on his hips and clenched his jaw, struggling with his feelings. He wanted to know what was going on inside her head, because she was not listening to him and had effectively shut him out. Watching her face twisted in anger, he knew she still didn’t trust him, and his patience evaporated.
“We’ve been up half the night, traipsing around in these blasted woods, testing your magic, and you’re exhausted. You need to rest.” He touched her shoulder with his hand, but she shrugged it away.
Ella screamed, scaring the flock of birds perched on the tree, making them fly away. “I can’t rest! The Morrigan haunts my dreams. Time
