Highlander's Magic (Highlander Heat #2)

“You ready for more?”


“No.”

“Killian makes his demand clear, that he’s there to court me. Abelard rises and states his desire to court Hope, except a lot more brutally than what I just said. Things get pretty heated.”

“Holy moly. Do I even want to know what happens next?” I didn’t, except best friends didn’t let each other down. “No. Don’t answer that. Just tell me.”

“My skill doesn’t work on me, and my forewarning kept blurring because I couldn’t keep my focus from myself. Then when I finally shoved it back on Hope so I could get some clarity, Donaldo stood and boomed his agreement. Killian and Abelard are slayers.” Her face paled. “They kill the enemy just for the sheer pleasure of it.”

“Wincrest is such a dictator.”

“Davio and Silas—” She gulped. “The war between our nations already rages. Hope and I want to see peace prevail. I can’t have this problem added to it.”

“Hold on. You’re only eighteen. Why would Wincrest agree to a courtship this soon?”

“No one knows Hope and I have mates, and it’s not like we can spill the news. My guess is we’re fair game in Killian and Abelard’s eyes.”

“What about your father or aunt? Can’t they help?” Alexo and Goldie were loyal to Wincrest, but they also revered the bond. Alexo had lived without his wife for eighteen years, fearing Wincrest would find and remove her. He’d never inflict the same pain on his daughters. It was probably his only redeeming quality, in my eyes.

“Nothing changed when I factored them into my forewarning, yet the moment I did with you, bingo, the forewarning dissolved. Somehow, you’re the key. It’s you who has the ability to halt what’s about to happen.”

“How am I the key?” I wobbled, and she propped an arm under my shoulder.

“You’re the last person I want dragged into Dralion’s business, but I can’t prevent what’s about to happen, and it seems no one else can, other than you.” She shuddered. “I don’t want Killian courting me, not when I’m mated to Davio. My soul is bound to his, and I’d never survive losing him.”

“Okay, but you’ve gotta give me more than ‘I’m the key.’”

“That’s not how my forewarning works. It’s you who figures out a resolution. I can only say you’re the one who discovers it.”

“I seriously, seriously hate your skill.” A student dashed past us, nabbed his bike from the bike bay and rode through the gate.

“Every decision we make can alter the course of our future. It’s always in flux, but to fix what’s coming, I need you. Please.” She squeezed my arm. “Let’s work together.”

I couldn’t let Faith down, not with this massive problem on the horizon. Even with Dralion involved, I had to do what I could. “Hope has to be brought into the loop. I can’t leave her out of this since your forewarning involves both of you.”

“I don’t want to leave her out of it either. I’ll take you to her in the outback, but you’ll have to keep a low profile. Warriors ’port in and out of Wincrest Station.” The station was one of Dralion’s off-world ventures. Faith had been raised here in New Zealand with her mother, and Hope in both Dralion and their Australian holding.

“That’s all right. I’ll simply be your friend from Earth.”

“That’ll work. Let me check exactly where she is.” Her eyes glazed as she focused with her forethought. It was such a rare skill, one only held by the two ruling families of Magio. It was also the skill which had begun our world’s war a thousand years ago, and still wreaked havoc today. “Found her. She’s in the yard near the corral.”

“So, we’re good to go?”

“Yes, I’ll ’port us from behind one of the furthest trees.” Her gaze cleared, and the deep Wincrest violet denoting her strong line shone through.

“Sounds good.” The coach blew his whistle and the football team jogged to the bright blue changing rooms off the gym. Most of the students had gone home, and only a few stragglers remained near the bus bay. “On a brighter note, I’ve always wanted to visit the outback.”

“I doubt you wanted to visit it like this.”

“Try never, but I can deal.”

“That’s why I love you, Silvie.”

“Oh, so now you’re trying to butter me up?”

“Yep.” She tugged me to the tree she favored with its wide trunk. “Because the place is in drought, and it’s hot enough to melt the soles of your shoes if you stand in one place for too long.”

“Don’t worry. I love a hot day.” I squeezed her hand. “I’ll be careful.”

“You’re the best friend I could ever have.” She hugged me, and then everything darkened as she ’ported us, as she made the jump through time and space.

We arrived in the blinding sunshine. Oh yeah. Heat. Beautiful.