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Fern recognized the carving for the first time. It was the delicately carved stag’s head, and the eyes now shone with an incandescent green. She looked up at Calum and watched as his features shifted in front of her. She couldn’t identify what had changed, but something utterly primal now blanketed his face. Fern recognized the sensation from when she had visited the elven settlement on a research trip.
This was power.
Dr. Calum Welsh wasn’t human.
“Myth?” He repeated, taunting her. Fern paled and sat further back in her chair, as if she could put more space between herself and the professor. The migraine she had been battling since she arrived came back full force, and her breath was shallow.
He turned his head to the side as he studied her reaction before holding his hands out, almost like a showman, brandishing his cane.
“Do I look like a myth to you, Ms. Fern McEwan?”
The office disappeared, and all Fern saw was blackness.
Chapter Four
When Fern came to, she was staring at a man the size of a mountain.
“Jesus!” she jerked backwards. Fern was relieved when she didn’t fall over and settled further into the back of a comfy chaise. The man was squatting and looking at her with an intense stare. He had dark hair that curled right above his shoulders, and a powerful jaw covered in stubble. His outfit was like the one Calum had been wearing, without the jacket, and he was bigger—even crouched in front of her.
“I told you not to scare her!” Mara’s voice cut through Fern’s foggy mind. She squinted, turning her head and looking for the researcher.
“All I’m doin’ is standing here,” the male rumbled. He had a thicker brogue than everyone else she had met, and it surprised her. “Do you want a biscuit, lass?” She stared as the massive man reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a tiny biscuit, extending it to her like a peace offering. The proportions alone would’ve made Fern laugh if it wasn’t for the mild state of shock she was in.
“No, I think I’m good. I’d rather have some answers.”
“It’s a Walkers biscuit.” He stated the fact analytically, almost as if he were presenting her new information to reevaluate her decisions. “It’ll make you feel better.”
“The biscuit…?”
“Biscuits make everything better.” His tone was deadly serious.
“Umm, sure. Thanks.” Fern accepted it, watching as the man’s eyes lit up in response. She took a bite and let the buttery deliciousness absorb some of her panic.
Holy shit, I know Mara is probably not a researcher, but my god, this man is every academic I’ve ever met.
Fern took in the room. She assumed this was the faculty lounge. A couple of study tables and chairs sat in one corner, next to more old couches. The small kitchenette seemed only to exist as a catalyst for caffeine, whether it was tea or coffee.
The most prevalent feature of the room was that the clutter from the rest of the department hadn’t made its way in. There were a few books and newspapers spread over a coffee table, but only what was normal for a university staff lounge.
Fern’s eyes finally landed on Mara, who was leaning her hip against an armchair and smiling.
“We were just worrying about you.” She winked. Fern’s mouth fell open as her interaction with Calum came rushing back to her. “The big one who loves biscuits is Emmett.” Mara nodded in his direction.
“Nice to meet you.” Emmett smiled at Fern, his entire face lighting up as he did so. He stood up to his full height and Fern gaped.
“How fucking tall are you?” she sputtered. Mara let out a peal of laughter while Emmett kept looking at her with that same soft smile.
“Six feet six inches, I think? Give or take. I’m not positive if that’s the conversion.” His voice trailed off as he looked down at his feet, his lips still moving silently as though he was going through the calculations in his mind.
This is officially feeling like the Twilight Zone.
“What the fuck!” Fern sat up straighter, staring at Mara. “What kind of department is this? And where is Calum?” Fern’s mind was going too fast to keep up.
The last thing that she remembered was the distinct revelation that Dr. Calum Welsh had power—he had a lot. They had been sitting in his office when he had proven her wrong about the existence of Scottish magic, in quite a spectacular fashion.
Scottish magic.
“No,” Fern cut off Mara before she could respond, “what is Calum? What are you?” She pointed at the researcher before her eyes went to Emmett. “I’m sure you’re not about to tell me you’re from fucking Ohio.”
