Gifted Thief (Highland Magic #1)(83)

‘If their gifts were precognition, how come they couldn’t foresee what was going to happen?’ I said, as much to myself as anyone else.

‘Some futures don’t reveal themselves,’ Byron told me quietly. ‘And William’s reluctance to cross the bridge the first time around…’ His voice trailed off.

I nodded. Maybe he had foreknowledge that he’d kept to himself.

‘We’re going to need to get Malcolm back to the Cruaich as soon as possible. But we have to untack William’s horse and clear up here.’

I saw an opening. ‘I’ll sort out the stuff here and follow you.’

Byron looked troubled. ‘I’m not convinced that’s a good idea. Someone is probably still trying to kill you.’

I laughed and waved at the steep mountainsides surrounding us. ‘I’ll see them coming before they see me. Anyway it’s probably be better if I’m not around Malcolm.’

His eyes searched my face; there was something unfathomable lurking in their depths. ‘You won’t catch us up on Barbie.’

I checked on my horse. She was edging towards Byron’s black stallion again with a look of determination. ‘Don’t underestimate her,’ I said. ‘But if I can’t get to you along the way, I’ll find you back at the Cruaich.’ I half turned to go but he grabbed my arm and pulled me closer.

‘Are you okay?’ he asked.

I bit my lip and nodded.

‘I mean it, Integrity. That would have been a traumatic experience for anyone. There wasn’t anything you could do.’

I jerked my head at Malcolm. ‘Tell him that.’

Byron sighed and ran a hand through his hair. ‘You won’t run off, will you?’

‘No.’ I wasn’t going to run anywhere. I was going to teleport.

He released me reluctantly and went to speak to his father. Aifric glanced at me and nodded. ‘Good idea,’ he said briskly. He dug into his bag and pulled out a bottle of water and some jerky. ‘Take this. With any luck, you’ll catch us up along the way. As soon as Malcolm is up to it, we’ll check on the Foinse.’

‘Thank you.’

Aifric’s bright blue eyes met mine. ‘If I hadn’t walked out onto the bridge, he’d still be here.’

I looked away. ‘We could spend our lives wondering “what if?”. What’s done is done. Look after Malcolm. He’ll be alright but he’ll need some time.’

Aifric straightened his shoulders. ‘Yes.’

I gazed up at the sky. Dusk was falling. Other than a few wispy clouds and the faint outline of the moon, there was nothing to be seen. ‘The Foinse will be fine, too. You’ll see.’

Aifric’s mouth twisted. ‘We will.’

I hung back, watching as Byron helped Malcolm onto his horse and the diminished group trotted back off through the narrow path. Lily stayed with me, refusing to join them.

‘You should go,’ I told her. ‘I’m not safe to be around.’

‘I can think here. Everything’s clearer.’

Perhaps the Foinse hadn’t spun off as far as we’d imagined. Its magic was still affecting Lily and there was no sign that anyone’s gifts had returned. ‘You can’t stay here forever, you know.’

She smiled enigmatically in response. ‘Tell me a joke,’ she said.

My chest tightened. ‘I’m not sure this is the time.’

Barbie snickered and Lily reached out. ‘Please?’

I stared after the departing Sidhe and thought of my role in William Kincaid’s death. ‘I’m sorry and I apologise mean the same thing,’ I finally said. ‘Except at a funeral.’

Lily swung her hair. ‘That’s not really funny.’

‘No,’ I agreed sadly. ‘It’s not.’

Working together silently, we untacked William’s horse. Lily unclipped a rope on his bridle and connected it to Barbie on one side and her white mare on the other. She patted her horse’s mane. ‘I really would have liked those bells.’ She shook herself.

I scooped up the last of the rubbish and glanced around. ‘I think that’s it.’ I took out Aifric’s jerky and offered her a piece. She examined it for a moment then shook her head. ‘I’ll take some of that water though.’

I unscrewed the bottle and passed it over. Lily stared down at its contents, a tiny smile playing around the corner of her lips. ‘You need to avenge your parents,’ she said suddenly. ‘You can’t let him win.’

Uneasiness rippled through me. ‘Let who win?’

Her smile grew. ‘Bottoms up.’ She tilted her head back and gulped, draining the entire bottle then wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. ‘Everything will be alright, Chieftain. You’ll see.’ All at once she started to choke.

‘Lily?’ I slapped her on the back, assuming she’d swallowed some water the wrong way but she only got worse. Becoming more alarmed, I grabbed her shoulders. Her cheeks were turning puce. ‘Lily? Lily!’ I shook her.

Saliva frothed at the corners of her mouth. Her eyes met mine in one final smile and then she slid out of my grasp and crumpled in a heap. I knelt down, moving her head to one side, hooking my finger inside her mouth. My hands were shaking and desperation clawed at me. Perhaps something was caught in her throat. I thumped her chest but nothing happened. She let out a faint gurgle.