Last Wish (Highland Magic #4)(52)

I released the breath I was holding and did what she asked, pulling her magic inside me. The force of her Gift almost overwhelmed me as it flooded my system. I fell back, dizzy and sick and gulping for air, just as Morna’s hand dropped and she went completely still.

Tipsania gave a choked sob. Through blurred vision, I saw Angus reach down and close Morna’s eyelids. No. It wasn’t going to happen like this. I wasn’t going to let it. I threw back my head and screamed. ‘Bob!’ Then Angus was by my side and hauling me up to my feet and away from Morna’s body.

Taylor rushed round and grabbed my shoulders. ‘Don’t do it, Tegs.’

‘Bob can get here. I still have a wish left. I can…’

He cupped my face and forced me to look at him. ‘It’s wrong. You know it’s wrong.’

I didn’t give a toss. Bob had told me before that he didn’t have the kind of power to resurrect people but I’d make him do it ? no matter what it took. I opened my mouth to yell for him again. This time I’d make damned sure the genie heard me.

Taylor slapped my cheek, stunning me into silence. ‘Morna wouldn’t want this.’ His voice hardened. ‘You don’t want this.’

I stared at him for a long moment then I sagged against Angus, barely able to hold my own weight. That’s when I really started to cry.





Chapter Twelve


I don’t know how much time passed before I finally stood up again. I declined Taylor’s offer of help and brushed myself off, then swung my head with bitter malevolence towards the two supposed Fomori demons. They were encircled by a large group of stony-faced MacQuarries. The Chieftain stood to one side, his arms folded and his expression grim. I walked over, forcing my arms to remain loose by my sides.

‘Chieftain Adair.’ He inclined his head. ‘Words cannot express my sorrow. We granted Morna Carnegie sanctuary and failed. This loss is ours to bear.’

‘It wasn’t your fault,’ I said dully. ‘I’m the one who sent her here with Tipsania.’ I glanced back at my old nemesis who was still kneeling beside Morna’s body, her face slack with shock. ‘And besides, if we’re going to go down that road then Lily’s death was down to me.’ I tilted up my chin and met his eyes. ‘And we both know that’s not true.’ I knew that the guilt about what had happened here would affect me for the rest of my life but I also knew that I hadn’t wielded the blade: I hadn’t killed Moira. I was going to have to work hard to remember that.

Straightening my shoulders, I walked over to the two captives. ‘Who sent you here?’

The nearest one hawked up a ball of phlegm. Before he could spit it in my direction, a MacQuarrie Sidhe cuffed him hard on the side of his head. He reeled down to the ground, making a demon-shaped dent in Morna’s pretty heather.

I shook my head. ‘Don’t.’ I hauled him upright and stared into his eyes. They still looked like Fomori eyes.

‘They’re demons,’ Chieftain MacQuarrie said. ‘We should execute them and be done with it.’

‘They’re not demons,’ I replied. ‘Not that that should make a difference.’ I pointed to the brilliantly blue sky, which had only a few fluffy clouds scudding across it. ‘The sun is shining.’

If the MacQuarries were confused, they didn’t say anything. I ran my tongue across my teeth and took a deep breath then I grasped ahead with the full force of my soul, ripping away the last of the magic that remained there. Morna’s killer let out a howl of anguished pain. I just prevented myself from flinching and turned to his companion and did the same to him. Then I stared at them. They weren’t demons but neither were they Sidhe. I crouched down by the first one. ‘Hey,’ I said softly. ‘Remember me?’

Ramsay, the surly human who’d been on Chandra’s crew when I was ambushed on my way to my Clan Lands, glared at me. ‘Thought you were dead,’ he grunted.

‘Ta dah,’ I answered with a grim smile. ‘I’m not.’

‘Fucking Sidhe.’

‘That sentiment would make more sense if you weren’t a hypocrite about it. If you really hated all Sidhe, you wouldn’t have taken the contract to come here. You wouldn’t have let a Sidhe wrap you in their magic so all this could be blamed on demons from beyond the Veil.’

His mouth flattened. The same MacQuarrie as before raised his hand as if to hit him again. I flashed a frown and his fist dropped.

‘Who hired you?’

A glint of stubbornness lit his expression. ‘Soon as I tell you, you’ll kill me.’

I remained calm. ‘I’m not the murderer here.’

‘Unless reading minds is one of your blasted Sidhe tricks, you’ll never find out the truth.’

I considered this before looking at his companion. His head hung low so I reached over and gently put my fingers under his chin to force him to meet my eyes. He still wouldn’t do it. I pursed my lips; I could work with this.

Digging out my phone from my back pocket, I found Chandra’s number and dialled. She answered almost immediately. ‘Designs by Chandra,’ she trilled. ‘How may we be service of you?’

‘It’s me.’

She dropped the phone voice almost immediately. ‘Hey. What’s doing?’