Falling for Angels - Hazel Hunter Page 0,24

Druids

I opened my eyes to see Griogair, the McGillean Clan’s Captain of the Guard, watching me with his stunning violet eyes. I also felt the ropes biting into my wrists and ankles, and my head pounding from the clubbing I’d taken. I couldn’t break free of the bonds, which burned my skin when I tried. Obviously I’d been abducted by calpa, the demon shape shifters trying to kill everyone on our island.

“Hey, babe,” I told the one pretending to be my husband, and batted my eyelashes. “Come here and give me a kiss.”

Not-Griogair must have heard about my power, because he backed away.

“Don’t give me spurn notice, honey,” I crooned. “I survived a plane crash and two time-travel trips to be with you, remember?”

The monster hissed something before he left the cave. From the salty smell of the air it had to be near the beach. I shook the hair out of my face and saw a druid boy chained to a big rock. He had a blindfold that covered most of his face, but long garnet-colored hair. It had to be Teague.

“You okay, kid?” I called.

“Aye.” He ducked his head. “You’re the captain’s lady?”

“Coco, yeah.” Since my best friend Deb had been snatched by the calpa, the laird had only allowed those with the strongest powers to leave the castle after dark. “What were you doing out at night? You’re like twelve.”

“’Twas necessary.” He sighed. “Cannae you break your bonds?”

“The ropes burn me when I try.” I watched him scoot toward me. “What are you doing?”

“If you’ll roll closer, my lady.” He turned around, reaching out his bound hands, and when I bumped into them he muttered under his breath.

The ropes binding my arms and legs flared bright blue, and then disintegrated. I picked up a big rock as I got to my feet, and raised it to smash the chains.

“Please, dinnae bother.” His body glowed, and the links slid off him and fell apart like my ropes.

“Nice work, kid.” I reached for the blindfold, but he grabbed my wrist. “What? You want to be blind?”

“I wish you were,” he said. “Dinnae look upon me. I’ve the same power as Olivia.”

Which meant I’d fall in love with him at first sight. Damn druids were nothing but trouble. “Can you turn it off?”

“No.” His shoulders hunched. “If the calpa discover my power, they’ll end me.”

I had to get him out of here. “Stay right where you are.”

I jumped on the rock, and did a right punch up. That knocked a hole in the cave roof big enough to us to climb through. I reached down and grabbed Teague, tucking him against my side.

“Hold onto my neck,” I told him as I crouched down and then performed a touch up jump. That let me grab the sides of the hold I’d made and hoisted us through to the surface. We were a few yards away from the shore, and when I turned around I could see the lights of the village on the horizon. The sound of splashing behind me made me run with Teague for the nearest trees, where we hid in a pine thicket.

“They’ve escaped, you fools,” a woman said, her tone furious. “Find them, and bring the druid to me. Kill the slut.”

That voice belonged to Deb, who had been my best friend since kindergarten. I loved her, but I also knew her. She could be mean, and even cruel sometimes, but no way would she turn traitor. The shifters had done this to her with their twisted magic, and I was going to kick their asses for it.

“Stay here,” I muttered to Teague.

He yanked me down to whisper, “You cannae free her yet. A dark spirit possesses her.”

I drew back. “You knew about this?”

“We suspected.” He turned his head to the side. “Kendric comes.”

The chill of the night air faded, and the damp ground began to steam. I glanced around the pine to see K-Pop walking out of the forest. Deb appeared at the top of a dune surrounded by big, wet horses with shark teeth. She wore dark robes and a tiara made of gleaming black pearls.

“Such bravery,” Deb said. “I want my son, Iloren. Bring him to me.”

“He’s no’ yours, Ruith,” Kendric told her. “Release the mortal and begone, or you shall be cast to the grove of stars.”

Now I understood why Teague had gotten himself abducted. He was K-pop’s bait for this meet and greet.

“You little weasel.” I shoved him aside and yelled, “Hey,