“Oh, right.” Sophie put her hands on her hips and surveyed where Graham and Ramsay glowered at each other. “Graham’s going to play tough guy, ignore the curse, and get himself killed.”
“Pretty much.” I winced.
“Och, I’m not going to?—”
“You are.” Lachlan sighed. “Bloody hell, mate. We all know you.” He stood and walked forward until he wasclose enough to put a hand on Graham’s arm. “You’re as stubborn as Clyde thinks he is funny with his jump scares.”
Graham sighed and pinched his nose, and I pressed my lips together, waiting to see what the group would say.
“So what’s the plan?” Finn asked. “How do we help?”
Sophie took over, sliding into her natural leadership role like putting on a comfortable coat. “First priority is keeping Graham safe while Agnes works on the curse. The loch will try to take him, and we need to make sure it doesn’t get the chance.”
“Graham Watch,” Liora said. “Maybe we should make T-shirts.”
“Ohhh, I do love merch,” Matthew said, perking up.
“I’m not a child,” Graham protested mildly.
“No, you’re a grown man with a magickal target on your back. You have an ancient curse trying to drown you,” Hilda said, her face wreathed in worry. “Agnes’s mum and gran had a few years with their men, but the Kelpies weren’t as aggressive all those years ago. Now…now I sense we have less time.”
“This is super fun,” Graham said, sighing.
“It’s not about it being fun, Graham. I’m trying to keep you alive,” I whispered, and Graham’s shoulders slumped.
“The rules are simple,” Sophie continued. “Graham doesn’t go near the loch alone. Ever. Not for any reason.”
“Define near,” Lachlan said. “The loch is kind of... everywhere around here.”
“Within sight of it. If you can see the water, you need a buddy,” Archie barked and everyone nodded along.
“What he said.” Ramsay pointed at Archie.
“A buddy.” Graham’s voice was flat.
“A companion. An escort. A chaperone.” Sophie shrugged. “Pick whatever word makes you feel better about being supervised.”
“None of those words make me feel better.”
“Then focus on the not drowning part. That should help.” Sophie sent me a look, and I nodded, agreeing with her.
Lachlan was already pulling out his phone. “I can set up a rotation. The lads and I will cover the daylight hours. Who’s got nights?”
“Agnes, presumably,” Orla said with a small smile. “Unless there’s something we should know about the sleeping arrangements.”
“There’s nothing anyone needs to know about the sleeping arrangements,” I said firmly.
“So that’s a yes on the sleeping arrangements.” Faelan laughed. “We knew it!”
“Moving on.” I cleared my throat and gestured with my hand in the air. “I’ve also got news. I, um, I believe I passed my first challenge.”
Cheers went up and Hilda beamed at me, causing warmth to spread through me. Even in this absolutely chaotic mess of my life at the moment, it seemed we could find some semblance of joy. Digging in my purse, I held up my pen.
“See? It happened after I told Graham the truth about the curse. The pen even glowed and everything.”
“Och, and look. There’s a wee mark on it. A key?” Orla turned the pen over in her hand.
“Seems to be.”
