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“Mark this day in history, Fi,” I said.
“Noted. There will be plaques in the Great Hall and bards will sing of this day.” She let loose another deep-throated laugh.
Her laugh was infectious, and I joined her, only to turn and find Arabella glaring at us from a few meters away. I ran at her and tackled her in a hug. We tumbled and transformed. Twisting in a playful scramble of fur and fangs. Her wolf growling and my lion snarling, both of us snapping and swatting until I managed to get my jaws locked around her neck and push her to the ground with a paw.
I released my hold on her and licked the fur on her head. Score one for me. It had been so long since we’d sparred like this, and longer still since I’d won. She growled and yipped.
Fiona’s laughter brought us back. We returned to our human forms and I threw an arm around Arabella’s shoulders as we paced back to the cottage.
“Thanks for that,” Fiona said as we approached. “Watching that almost felt like old times. And I can’t tell you how good it feels to laugh.”
“I should go see my mother and then be on my way,” I said.
“I wish you didn’t have to leave so soon,” Fiona said.
“I’ll return soon. And we’ll destroy Edric together.” I shot a glance at Arabella, who appeared to still be sore over my victory. “Or maybe we’ll just sit back and watch Ari do it.”
“Just give me a chance and he’s dust.” Arabella pounded her fist into her open hand.
A thin voice echoed down the hallway, and I frowned. “Coming, Mother,” I called down the hall.
Sadness filled Fiona’s eyes and Arabella just nodded. I turned and walked down the hall toward my mother’s candlelit room.
“Liam, my love,” she said, holding out her hand to me.
“Yes, Mother.” I sat by her side.
“I’m stronger than I look,” she said. “But you need to hurry. There isn’t much time. I’ll hold on as long as I’m able.”
“You deserve your rest, Mother. You’ve served us well.” I bowed my head and kissed her hand.
“You sound so much like your sire.” She ran her fingers through my hair, and I realized that my mane of wavy brown hair wasn’t that dissimilar to the messy white mop surrounding my sire’s head.
“I’ll be back soon,” I promised. Silently, I begged the Ancients for more time. This wouldn’t be goodbye. Not yet.
“Be safe,” she said. “And hurry.”
I nodded and stepped back from the bed. There wasn’t any time to waste. Confident enough to exercise my magic, I skipped the train and conjured myself directly to the dark corner of town where I’d left my motorcycle, hoping no one would be watching when I appeared out of thin air.
8
I had been staringinto the wardrobe so long that my mind had started to wander off, and all I could think was that everything I’d packed was terrible. A knock at my door snapped me back to reality. I left the wardrobe open and crossed my room to open the door.
“Hello, dear,” Aunt Vivian said when I peeked my head out into the hallway. “I just wanted to check on you and see if you needed anything.”
“I don’t know what I was thinking when I packed.” I sighed. “I have nothing to wear.”
“Now, now. I’m sure you have something suitable.”
I opened the door wider and waved her inside. She crossed the floor and stood where I’d been standing, facing the open wardrobe. She ran her hand over the hangers, then began sifting through my clothes. “Where did you say he’s taking you, dear?” she asked over her shoulder. She’d paused on the only fancy dress I’d brought with me.
“I suggested we just go to the pub. He says there’s one near here that’s very good.”
“Oh, yes! The Frog and Pêche! It’s not far, walkable on a nice evening, if you don’t mind a bit of a hike.” She frowned at the dress. “But this is a bit too much for a date at the pub. Let’s see.”
Watching her pour over my wardrobe, I realized I’d reached a new low in my dating game. Who lets their elderly aunt pick out their outfit before going on a first date?
She paused on a tight black sweater. “Hmm…” She slipped the soft cashmere off the hanger and held it up. “Yes, this will do. With jeans, and those boots of yours. The ones you were wearing when you arrived. And I have a lovely scarf that will pull it all together.” She handed me the sweater. “Get dressed. I’ll be right back.”
