Page 106 of Dark Embrace

Footsteps sounded. They were alone in the great room, but Brie knew guards were at the exterior doors and that no one could enter who should not. The guards opened the doors and Nick Forrester sauntered in, dressed like a commando, carrying a backpack, a machine gun slung over his shoulder.

Brie gasped. It took her a moment to really assimilate that he was in the great hall at Awe in medieval times. The Masters weren’t the only ones who could time-travel.

Hadn’t she always sensed that there was more to Nick than met the eye?

Sam followed him into the hall, also in camouflage, with Guy Macleod escorting them as if their presence was an ordinary, everyday occurrence. Brie thought that maybe it was!

“You okay, kid?” Nick asked, looking Brie up and down quickly. He seemed as unperturbed by where he was as Macleod was to have him there.

Brie was so shocked she could only shake her head. Nick could fix this. He was a legend in the agency. They said he never failed a mission objective.

“Oh my God,” Sam cried, her eyes huge. She was staring at Allie and Tabby, obviously shocked to find them there, especially as she had left Tabby at home in New York City. Then she ran to Allie and hugged her, hard. “You’re obviously no worse for wear,” she said, looking across her shoulder at Brie. “Are you okay? Did that bastard hurt you?” She released Allie, her blue eyes narrowing now.

“I’m fine,” Brie replied. “Aidan needs our help.”

Sam stared for another moment and then turned to Tabby. “Well, this is a surprise, my lady.”

Tabby hugged her and said, “I am very happy.”

“I just left you at home,” Sam returned swiftly, “getting ready to go to school and teach your first graders!”

“I don’t leave until December of 2008,” Tabby said. “I have missed you so much,” she said, her tone rough now.

Sam suddenly seemed taken aback, and Brie knew it was hitting her that Tabby was going to find her destiny in the past and she’d miss her sister in the present. Brie turned to look at Guy, who wasn’t smiling. He carried one of the largest broadswords Brie had seen, and he looked exactly like what he was—a hard-ass, ruthless medieval warrior.

Sam shook her head. “Never in a million years would I match you with that.”

“Guy is my husband,” Tabby said reprovingly. “My boy-next-door days are over.”

“I’ll bet.” Sam’s eyes narrowed. “You do know that if you ever hurt my sister, I’ll make you pay.”

“Sam!” Tabby cried.

Guy gave Sam a cool smile. “I’d never hurt Tabitha or ye, no matter yer warring words and manly ways.”

Sam looked ready to explode. Allie said, “Sami, you’re about two hundred and fifty years too late. If you want to help Tabby out, you need to leap back a few centuries—not that she needs your help.”

“Okay, I hate to break this up, but enough of the dysfunctional family reunion,” Nick said firmly. He paused before Brie as if he was still her boss, which he was, sort of. “I need a debriefing. Yesterday works for me.”

Alarm began. “Aidan could die if we don’t help him.”

Nick smiled grimly. “He does die, kiddo. I’m sorry, but you read the history books.”

“I won’t let him hang!” Brie insisted.

Nick was still unperturbed. “Do you know why I’m here? I’m here because you work for me. You are my responsibility. Mine, not the agency’s. And there is no way in hell I’d leave you lost in the past.” His glance slid over Macleod. “Not that I wouldn’t mind chatting with Mr. Tabitha.”

“I am not lost, as you can see! I am here with my friends.” She flushed. “We are vanquishing a terrible demon and redeeming Aidan.”

“Since when do you work in the field?” His blue gaze was sharp as he took her arm. “You seem to have survived the Wolf. I’m impressed. But my mind won’t change. If his power is changing, good for you. But I’ve got lots of work to do at home and I am not leaving you here.”

Brie cried out, struggling to get free. “I am not going back to the future,” she shouted at him.

“Hey, Nick, wait,” Sam began, clearly about to defend Brie’s position.

Nick simply smiled. “Get over here,” he said to Sam.

Macleod looked at Tabby. “Should I stop them?” he asked.