A new day in Loren Brae was dawning, one where children could play on the banks of the loch again, and tourists could once more return to visit our beautiful wee town. It was both an ending and a beginning, and an important moment for everyone who lived here.
Even though Graham was being half-carried, a wide smile creased his handsome face. Faelan walked beside him, her hand pressed to his back, golden threads of healing magick pulsing into his waterlogged body.
“Stop fussing,” Graham muttered. “I’m fine.”
“You drowned,” Faelan said flatly. “Twice in two days. You are the opposite of fine.”
“I didn’t drown. I was temporarily not breathing.”
“That’s what drowning means, you bloody eejit.”
Sir Buster, having apparently decided that the processionwasn’t moving fast enough, came tearing down the slope toward us, his tiny legs a blur of motion, his tartan vest flapping. He skidded to a halt in front of the lead hedgehogs and began yapping at them with the fury of a dog ten times his size.
“Sir Buster!” Sophie groaned. “We talked about this. The hedgehogs are allies.”
Sir Buster ignored her, continuing his tirade until Lady Lola waddled up behind him and whirled, knocking him back with her fluffy Corgi bottom. Sir Buster looked immediately affronted, but he stopped harassing the hedgies.
“That’s one way to handle it,” Lachlan said.
The castle loomed ahead, its windows blazing with light. Brice was standing in the doorway, wringing his shaggy hands, and the moment he spotted us he let out a shriek of relief.
“The lass! The wee lass lives!” He came pelting down the steps, his patchwork overalls flapping. “I’ll get the blankets. I’ll get the tea. I’ll get the?—”
“Whisky,” Lachlan said firmly. “Get the whisky.”
“Whisky! Aye. Right away.” Brice disappeared into the castle in a blur of motion.
“I’m not sure I’ve ever heard him speak before,” I said, gaping at Lia.
“He rarely does. But this seems to be quite the special occasion,” Lia said, beaming. “And, I think we need a massive brekkie to celebrate, eh?”
“I would one hundred percent agree with that,” Luch said.
We filed into the castle and descendedinto Grasshopper, the only space that could accommodate all of us well enough.
Brice had somehow managed to light every candle, twinkle light, and lamp in the room, turning it into a blaze of light that hurt my eyes after the darkness of the loch.
Hilda marched over to wrap me in a blanket that smelled like lavender and wool.
“You foolish, brave, ridiculous girl,” she said, crushing me against her. “What were you thinking, going to that loch alone? What were you possibly thinking?”
“I was thinking I needed to break the curse.”
“By getting yourself killed?”
“I didn’t get killed.”
“Not for lack of trying!” She pulled back, her eyes bright with tears. “When Quilliam raised the alarm, when we realized you’d gone, I thought—” Her voice broke. “I thought we’d lost you.”
It appeared I’d reached the scolding point of my morning.
“I’m sorry.” The words felt inadequate, but they were all I had. “I’m so sorry. I thought it was the only way.”
“It wasn’t.” Sophie’s voice was sharp, and I turned to find her standing behind me, arms piled with blankets, expression thunderous. “It absolutely wasn’t the only way. We had a plan, Agnes. We were going to face this together. As a team. As an Order.”
“The curse was killing Graham. I couldn’t wait?—”
“So you decided to sacrifice yourself instead? That was your solution?”
