Last Wish (Highland Magic #4)(66)

He grimaced. ‘No. My Plan B was to use a Truth-Seeker like Molly Kincaid to help us.’

‘Moncrieffe minds think alike,’ I said before I could stop myself.

His jaw tightened. ‘No. They don’t.’

A small bunch of belligerent Sidhe peeled away from the main group and raced towards us. I counted at least three different violent Gifts among them. ‘We don’t want to hurt you, Byron!’ one of them yelled. ‘But your father was right. She’s done something to warp your mind. She’s trying to bring down our country!’

Bob popped up beside me holding a stick with a charred marshmallow on one end. He took a delicate lick and gazed at us. ‘Some of those Sidhe are on your side, Uh Integrity. More than you’d think, especially after what you did in saving the Steward. Some are a bit doubtful. Many, however, still want to kill you. Crowd mentality prevails. Wanna wish?’

I considered. ‘Nah. Let’s run. When things calm down, maybe more sensible heads will prevail.’ I thought about what Aifric had said. A Fomori army was preparing to cross the Veil; there wasn’t time to worry about what was happening here – not any longer.

Bob nodded and tossed away the marshmallow. ‘Amen to that.’

As the first Sidhe thundered towards us, we sprinted away. I was done talking anyway.





Chapter Fifteen


I’d never seen Brochan look so ill. In fact, when Speck and Lexie’s tiny fishing boat pulled up alongside the massive ferry which held the trolls, he was so terrified that his hands seemed unable to release their grip on the side.

‘You need to let go. We have to get away from here as quickly as possible,’ I said, trying to be gentle.

Bob, now wearing tiny red Speedos as if he were auditioning for a part in Baywatch, opened his mouth to speak. I narrowed my eyes warningly and he pasted on a look of mock hurt and shrugged. ‘I’m going to check on Taylor,’ he declared and flew upwards onto the deck of the ferry.

‘Just give me a minute,’ the merman wheezed. Then he leaned over and threw up.

‘Don’t be a wuss, Brochan,’ Speck said cheerfully.

Brochan pushed himself upright and gave Speck a look which would have felled the Sidhe on our tail. ‘You have every phobia under the sun,’ he growled. ‘We pander to your fears all the time. I’d have thought, of all people, you would understand.’

Speck sniffed. ‘When I’m scared you roll your eyes and tell me to get over it. You seem to think that approach works on me so why shouldn’t it work on you?’ He shrugged. ‘Besides, I think Lexie is rubbing off on me. I don’t feel half as jumpy as I used to.’ Something splashed in the salty water beside him and he shrieked, leaping towards Brochan and cowering against him. ‘What the hell was that? What was it? I’m allergic to shellfish! Don’t get me started on jellyfish either! In fact…’

I held up my hand. ‘Take a look behind you.’ Brochan and Speck did as I asked. ‘You see all those boats? The ones heading for us?’ They nodded. ‘They’re full of magically endowed Sidhe who are hell-bent on seeing us dead. Get into the bloody ferry.’

Brochan and Speck exchanged looks. ‘Someone got out of the wrong side of bed this morning.’

I sighed. ‘Speck…’

He offered me a lopsided grin. ‘Don’t worry, Tegs. I’ve been practising.’ He lifted up his chin and pointed towards the mini armada. ‘Paneste.’

From out of nowhere, a wave between us and the Sidhe fleet began to swell, rising up in their direction. I licked my lips nervously. ‘We don’t want to drown them.’

‘Don’t we?’ Brochan asked. Apparently I wasn’t the only one becoming more blasé about hurting people.

Speck patted my arm. ‘Don’t worry. This is a warning shot.’

Unfortunately for us, the approaching Sidhe sent out their own warning shot in return. As the wave grew in size and threatened to engulf them, one of them slammed out their own Gift, making the wind pick up and smash the little fishing vessel against the ferry’s starboard side. As the Sidhe yelled and tried to avoid the wave, there was a sound of splintering wood from our boat. We had seconds.

I ground my teeth. ‘Get out.’

Brochan finally worked up the courage, reaching up for the flimsy rope ladder and pulling himself up. Speck followed on his heels and I took up the rear. Hands hauled me onto the deck and I spun round. The Sidhe were drenched and their boats had been pushed back some distance by the force of the wave but they were still standing.

‘Sorley!’ I screamed. ‘Move this beast!’

Almost immediately, a foghorn sounded and the ferry shuddered, rolling away slowly then picking up speed. Several Sidhe tried to fling magic at us but the bolts of lightning and various other projectiles fell short.

‘Shall I send out another wave?’ Speck enquired.

I watched as we grew further apart. ‘No. It’s not their fault Aifric has a silver tongue. They’re only doing what they think is right.’

I sensed rather than saw Byron come up behind me. ‘You’re more forgiving than I am.’

I sighed. ‘It’s not about forgiveness. It’s about empathy.’

He ran a hand through his golden hair, which was damp with sea spray and curling more than it normally did. ‘That didn’t exactly go to plan.’