Falling for Angels - Hazel Hunter Page 0,31

little girls,” I assured the shaman. “No way did she come from the fourteenth century.”

“Our chieftain reckoned you lasses all came from one tribe.” Ruadri regarded Kendric. “You ken ’tisnae so.”

“No’ Deborah, nor Gabrielle.” The druid gave me a pained look. “I sense you two dinnae share the Angels’ bloodline. Your friend may share Ruith’s, which would permit her to reincarnate in Deborah.”

“Ruith wouldn’t have known about last Christmas. Deb’s still in there.” I wanted to kick down a wall, but that wouldn’t help. “Shaman, she told me to talk to the Skaraven, and to use the portal to go back and stop this. Does any of that make sense to you?”

“My battle spirit once sent Emeline and me back in time.” Ruadri sighed. “’Twas so we might witness a great tragedy in the distant past. We couldnae stop it, yet watching events unfold aided us in understanding what shaped our enemies.”

“All we know about Ruith is that she’s a dark druidess who got busy with a shape-shifter and died having his second kid.” I noticed Kendric doing the secret look thing with Ruadri. “Don’t play druid guessing games, gentlemen. Tell it to me straight.”

“’Tis what we ken about you, my lady,” the shaman said. “I recognized your bloodline the moment I looked into your eyes. They’re the same bonny blue as my Emeline’s. You’re of the McAra Clan.”

I frowned at them. “Why would my heritage matter?”

“The McAra share a bloodline with the most formidable shamans among druid kind,” Ruadri told me. “Their kin possess much favor with the Gods, and sway over the spirits of others.”

“You’ve ever guided the other Angels,” Kendric added. “The lasses come to you with their troubles, just as I reckon Deborah did. And Ruith made her appeal to you.”

I rubbed my forehead. “Better bottom line it for me, guys.”

“You’re a born shamaness, my lady.” Ruadri sounded almost sorry for me. “Your godly strength, ’tis only one of your powers. You’ll need training.”

“Deb is our problem,” I pointed out.

“You’re the light, and she the dark. ’Tis what drew you together.” The druid touched my hand. “Only you’re meant to be opponents, no’ friends.”

I got up and walked out, and kept going until I reached the river. There I saw a dark-haired woman standing on the bank. She turned to look at me with eyes exactly like mine.

“You’re Emeline,” I said.

“Aye.” She had a soft Scottish accent, and a smile just like mine. “Have the lads muddled it, then?”

“Pretty much.” I told her what they’d said, and then asked, “What would you do?”

“I can only tell you what I know,” Emeline said. “Love is the grandest power any of us have.”

I nodded. “I’m not giving up on Deb. Not ever.”

Emeline walked back with me, and we shared the clan’s morning meal before Kendric and I went home. Griogair stood waiting, and hugged me so hard I thought my lungs would collapse.

“Turns out I’m a shamaness,” I whispered. “Hope that’s okay.”

He kissed my brow. “As long as you always come home to me.”

Chapter 26

Dark Places

I knelt in the garden as I picked the last of the blaeberries before the birds got them. I was hoping to add them to a batch of bannocks, which was the closest thing to blueberry muffins we could make in the fourteenth century.

My gaze strayed to the old oak grove on the other side of the glen, and I felt a familiar tug in my chest.

Since rescuing me from the portal, Pherson McGillean didn’t like me going anywhere near it. Being thrown back in time after my plane crashed had trapped me between worlds in a ghostly state. Now that I’d rejoined the living, I had no intention of returning to that dark place.

Yet every time I saw the grove these days, I had the strongest urge to go and step in the circle of stones. That might get me stuck inside again, or take me back to my time, where I’d probably die instantly. I didn’t feel suicidal, though, and my friendship with Pherson was slowly blooming into a romance. I had every reason to stay.

“Told you Jane was out here.” Reggie came over and inspected my basket. “Can I take these to Cook? She’s making those muffin things.”

“Sure.” I handed them over and watched her skip back inside. The girl who had come with her stayed behind. “You need something, Lola?”

She tipped her chin at the trail by the water. “Take a walk?”

Lola’s druid power gave her the ability to