Brushing back her golden hair, Brianna nodded and leaned down. “A Templar,” she whispered back. “And he was overcome.”
“Let’s get you home,” Michael interrupted. “Brianna, would you drive Sara’s car? You can follow me.”
Morgan stood at the edge of the group, silently staring into her own small globe of fire as Sara was belted into the front seat of Michael’s car. As they drove off, she lifted her head, her face hard.
Michael was silent for most of the way back. As they neared the city lights, he glanced at her. “Want to talk about it?”
Slowly she nodded and told him what she had seen in the cup, then she told him about the manuscript, and the appearances of Alan Caldwell and Lucas Ramsey.
“So you trust these guys?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” she answered. “Alan Caldwell has not even mentioned the manuscript. It could be a coincidence that heshowed up to do an article on medieval weaponry. In spite of my boss using the name “Mr. Smith” his collection is known to certain sectors of society.”
“And the other guy? Ramsey?”
She hedged. Instinctively, she wanted to trust Lucas, but she didn’t know how much of that was governed by her lust for him. And, Goddess help her, even after numerous lectures and admonishments to herself about her lousy track record for picking the wrong men, she was incredibly drawn toward Lucas. Lust was a part of it, but not all. She just couldn’t put her finger on what the other part was.
“He was honest about saying why he followed me to Dallas,” she finally said.
“Hmmm. Could be a red herring.”
“Why?” She hoped her voice didn’t sound bristled.
Michael gave her a quick look, but his voice was calm. “What could be more beguiling than saying someone’s out there who wants to destroy the world and you want to save it? Sounds a little much, to me. Let’s suppose Ramsey has a personal reason for wanting the Hallows. After all, power corrupts and total power—”
“He’s not like that!”
Michael raised an eyebrow. “Personal interest?”
“No,” she said quickly and tried to push away the earlier picture of Lucas’ bared broad chest and well-muscled arms. Arms that she would love to feel around her, holding her tightly, pressing her breasts against him, relieving the achy need that was building just from thinking about him. “No,” she said again and changed the subject. “You called the east quarter last tonight. How did you know about the Spear of Lugh before I even told you?”
He grinned at that. “I’m a warlock, remember? Your psychic shields were down. I just tapped in.”
Sara mentally raised a shield regarding Lucas and Michael stopped smiling. “Maybe I should meet this guy,” he said as he pulled over in front of her apartment.
There were problems with having mind-reading warlocks for friends. He’d sensed the shield and now his curiosity was hooked. And he could be tenacious, if nothing else.
“Whatever,” she said with a shrug and hoped she looked nonchalant. “So…back to the Spear thing?”
He gave her a tight smile that said he’d go along for the moment. “Well, when I saw the image in your mind, I just put the symbols together. Spears—wands in the Tarot—are symbolic for Intuition. Their element is Air. The quarter for air is east. It’s spring. Spring’s direction is also east, signifying beginnings. If you’restartinga search… I just thought having the god of Air and Light might be more powerful for your scrying if he came in last.”
“You outdid yourself there,” she said wryly as she opened the door and stepped out. “I could have done without that black monster riding at me.”
“Sorry about that,” he said and then grinned. “Do you want me to stay the night and make sure the bogeyman doesn’t bite?”
She shook her head, glad that he was back to lighthearted teasing. Or maybe he wasn’t. Sometimes she wasn’t sure. But she was saved from finding out with the arrival of her car and several of the ladies.
“We decided to stop and get some wine,” Brianna said as she handed over the keys. “You looked a little haggard back there.” She glanced at Michael. “Sorry, this is a girlie thing.”
He acknowledged her with a nod of his head, but his eyes were on Sara. “I’ll be by to meet your other friends tomorrow.”
She sighed as he drove away. Just what she needed. A suspicious warlock, a smooth-talking jock who wanted her help,and a roguish Highlander who looked an awfully lot like the Templar she’d seen in the cup.
****
After last night’s talk with Michael, Sara needed to spend some time alone to think. Away from Mr. Smith and Alan Caldwell and Lucas Ramsey. Especially Lucas. He haunted her dreams, and last night, after the vision, he’d been dressed in the Templar mantle, a slow grin on his face as he disrobed and stretched out naked beside her, his impressive manhood showing her how much he wanted her… Goddess, she was probably defiling some ancient religion by seducing a Templar. Even if it were only a dream.
She slowed the Mustang and turned off from U.S. 180, heading north on S.R. 4. In a few miles she turned west onto a small, one-track gravel road that led to a ranchette nestled in the hills and canyons of Palo Pinto County.
