Page 139 of Edge of Yesterday

“It’s a dangerous weapon.”

She stared at the spot the dagger had fallen into the water. “I wondered if it was me.”

His gaze snapped onto her, but she couldn’t tear her attention from the water. “What?” he demanded.

“The other night when I pricked my thumb, I felt very strange. I wanted to know if it was me or…” She shivered. “It was the dagger.” She looked up at him. “Why?”

His expression softened. “I’m not certain, love. He is a sorcerer. That is enough.”

She nodded and to her surprise, he hugged her tight again. He said nothing, but released her and led her to the stone vault. He grabbed Crowe’s staff and slammed it over his knee. The wood bent, but straightened, unbroken. Gooseflesh crawled up her arms. How was that possible?

"Bloody staff," Cailean muttered, and swung it at the wall.

The ruby bounced off the rock, and the staff flew from his hand and skidded across the stone floor. Cailean stared at the staff for a long moment, then drew his sword and stalked to where it lay. He picked it up and struck the wood. The magnificent blade should have shorn the wood in two. Instead, it bounced off as if striking stone. Cailean hacked at the staff to no avail. He finally sheathed the sword, drew the staff back like a spear and threw it into the water. The staff disappeared with a splash. Cailean started to turn toward her, then halted when the staff shot back up into the air and landed on the stone floor near the vault.

Cailean looked at the staff, then turned his gaze to her and said, “It seems the only way to deal with the damned staff is to kill Crowe.”

A chill snaked down her back at the icy note in his voice.

He picked up the staff and placed it back in the vault, then pushed the door closed and faced her. “Do ye know where those falls are located?”

“They are Reay Falls,” she said. “It is half a mile from Gregory and our men.”

“I’ll take you out that way.”

“What of Lennox? We cannae leave him.”

“He would be the first to insist that we get you to safety before I go looking for him. I can return through the falls and search for him.”

She shook her head. “I willnae leave him.”

“Julianna—”

“Crowe and Father Andrew are gone,” she interrupted. “It seems unlikely they will return. It should be safe enough for us to search for him. We must find him.”

“I am here.”

Julianna whirled to face her brother. Relief flooded through her. “Lennox, I am so glad to see ye.”

“I saw Crowe and Father Andrew in the tunnels.” He strode up to them. “They were here?”

“Aye.” Cailean pointed to the wall. “They have a secret vault. But we’ll tell you more after we get Julianna out of here.”

“I killed the man chasing me.” Lennox indicated the rowboat. “I suggest we leave on that rowboat. When we reach Gregory, we will send someone back for Kyle.”

Cailean nodded. “Ye read my mind.”

They boarded the rowboat and rejoined Gregory an hour later. Once they were far enough from the abbey that Lennox felt safe stopping. They ordered the men to stay, then walked far enough to escape eavesdroppers. Cailean and Julianna told Lennox what had happened while Julianna sat on a rock to remove her shoes and warm her feet.

“Crowe said he was in Heatheredge when Alex was a boy? This is strange business.” Lennox regarded Cailean. “Ye saw Crowe performing magic, but Julianna didnae see it?”

“Just me,” Cailean said.

“There was a red glow,” Julianna said. “What was that, Cailean?”

“The stone on the staff glowed,” he said.

Her eyes widened. “Sweet Jesu’.”