Falling for Angels - Hazel Hunter Page 0,29

the first halfling Ruith had. She called him Iloren, and he was crazy twisted. Even the other shifters were afraid of him. Ruith hid him away somewhere, but he got loose.”

“This older brother must have been born in human form.” I thought for a moment. “How did Velvet know Iloren was coming here?”

“He saw Deb last night,” Lacey admitted. “She came to the stables to warn him.”

“What does this Iloren want?” Kendric asked.

“All he’s ever wanted: to kill.” She looked sick now. “And, as you saw today, he looks exactly like Velvet.”

Chapter 24

Chilling

The other girls on my cheerleading squad said we’d be dank if we jumped back in time seven centuries to live with the McGillean Clan. Coach said because we were druid-blooded we’d get dope powers along with the immortal warrior boys. Only our plane from the States crashed into the portal. One minute I’m burning, then I’m stuck in old Scotland because going back = dying. No powers or boy for me. Then these calpa shape-shifters started to attack our island, and guess what their favorite snack is?

Us, raw.

I’m so beta I can’t even, and then this cray dark druidess stole my BFF, Deb. I’d do anything to get out of here now because duh. Last night I went to cry myself to sleep, and thought Deb came in, and then I had this weird dream. Only when I woke up everyone had gone—the squad and the clan. I climbed the watch tower to signal for help, but the village and the druid settlement had disappeared.

The whole island stepped off on me.

Everyone had gotten sick of Gayla’s endless whining after Bonfire Night, so we all avoided her. But when breakfast was over I went up to her chamber to drag her out, and found her bed empty.

“I can’t believe she’d run away,” I told Tory as the laird began organizing a search party. “Where would she go?”

“Gayla would never bolt, Coco,” Reggie put in. “She has zero survival skills. Also, Taxman.”

We all glanced at Ellar McGillean. Big, built, and as friendly as the IRS, he collected rent from the laird’s tenants. Gayla had been drooling over him lately, but he ignored her and the entire squad. I figured he had to be gay.

Jane joined us. “The doves just came back from the village and the druid settlement, Coco. They haven’t seen her.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “You feel that?”

The waft of cold air made me shiver. “Drafty old castle.”

A shout went up from the men as Ellar staggered away from the laird, frost covering his whole body, and then dropped. We all yelled when he vanished into the stone floor.

I couldn’t believe Ellar appeared out of thin air and passed out at my feet. He looked frozen, so I tried to drag him closer to the fireplace. The minute I touched him he shouted and jerked away.

“Chill,” I told him, and then felt silly because he was, seriously. “I mean, relax. Remember me? Gayla?”

“I couldnae forget.” Frost fell away from him, and he coughed out some snow as he pushed himself to his feet. “What did you to me?”

“I don’t have powers.” I pouted a little. “What happened?”

“A moment ago, we stood in the great hall devising a search for you.” Ellar looked around us and then his jaw dropped. “Gods. ’Tis the first Dun Dorchas.”

I frowned. “There was another one?”

He hurried over to a window. “The crith-thalmhainn hasnae come yet.”

“What’s a cree halaven?” I asked as I went over and peered out.

“’Tis what destroyed our first castle.” Ellar took hold of my hand and dragged me from the hall into the courtyard.

I smiled as he wrapped his arms around me. “So, you do like me.”

“Aye.” He tucked my head under his chin. “Stay still.”

I would have asked why, but then the ground began moving under my feet. Stones began raining down as the castle shook and swayed, and cracks raced up the walls. I squeezed my eyes shut, and then the quake stopped. So did everything else.

I looked up at Ellar, who had frozen into a statue, and then around us. The castle had stopped crumbling, but snow filled the courtyard now. I wriggled out of his arms as the ice on him cracked and fell away.

“Will you quit doing that?” I demanded as I brushed off my gown. “You don’t get sick, but I can. Also, freezing.”

“’Twasnae me, lass.” He pulled up his sleeve, revealing an upside-down U tat.

“You’re the master of horseshoes?” I