Enchanted (22 page)

“Are you more of a fool than I thought?”

“No. If you tell her that there are none, she’ll wonder at her sanity. If you tell her yes, she’ll think she just didn’t see them last night.”

His king shook his head and strode to the window. He stared down at the driveway. Shay tensed, waiting for Rhys’s reaction.

“Tell me what happened last night? How did she react?”

She came all over
my hand.
Shocked at the thought, he shut the memories off. He didn’t want to take the chance Rhys would sense the impressions coming from him. “She did amazingly well. Much better than I expected.”

“Tell me everything. Did Myrielle see her?” He moved back to the chair. The tender expression on his face stirred guilt in Shay.

“Yes. The whole of our clan greeted her. She crossed the lake in a boat, and we went to the meadows. She liked the flowers.” He sat here, speaking to Caitlyn’s father, the one who blamed him for the loss of his daughter, with a straight face. Especially after what he had done with her? He’d become a bastard after all these years?

A warm smile flitted over Rhys’s face. “Did she?”

Shay nodded. He regretted it in the next instant. Sharp pains shot up his neck from his shoulder. Taking a shallow breath, he told Rhys most of what had happen. He deliberately left out the meadow part.

“Good. This is good.” Rhys pushed to his feet and wandered back to the window. Feet apart, he stared out. “Perhaps she could come home sooner than we discussed. One week isn’t enough time for her to solve the riddle.”

“No. I intend to ask her to help me solve it before we leave. Her curiosity is strong. Hopefully, she will figure out the answer.” Shay closed his eyes and rested his head against the headboard.

“Hopefully? No, she must solve it. Her very existence depends on the answer.” Rhys paced back and forth, his heels clicking on the wooden plank floor.

Shay heard the irritation in his king’s voice, and sensed the unbridled frustration. Hoping to calm him, he commented, “She’s intelligent. The riddle won’t be that difficult for her. Have a little faith. She is your daughter, after all.”

Rhys strode to the foot of the bed and stopped. “It’s not the difficulty of the riddle. Gwyneth had a purpose in making it simple. There is a trap in it. I feel it. I have no doubt she made sure the riddle had many secret meanings. The answer we believe it to be might not necessarily be the true one.”

“Yes, but Caitlyn will know the right one. She must know it.” Shay tried to speak with wholehearted conviction, but his words rang hollow between the two men. She would not succeed without his help. He fully intended to give it to her, regardless of the cost.

Chapter 25

Caitlyn sighed. As she watched the rain drizzle down the side of the car’s window, she tried not to think about Shay. The trip to the village had done little to distract her. Marcy, disappointment evident in her voice, had suggested they leave and Caitlyn hadn’t argued. Questions about Shay whirled in her, never leaving her alone.

Cold rain washed over the landscape, coating everything in a layer of water. It cleaned nature of any impurities. Why wasn’t it possible for her to do the same with her thoughts? No matter what, she hadn’t imagined the braids in Shay’s hair. Once they arrived in the village, she’d questioned the local people about the illusionist. Their answers hadn’t helped her discover anything new. Most were vague, and she soon realized they didn’t know Shay very well. They dwelled in the same geographic location, but didn’t live in the same world.

The local governmental office held some documents on the castle but none shed any light on whether the place had secret passages. She had grown more anxious with each passing moment. She wanted to find something new, something to explain all the strange events. Marcy must have sensed her unease. A mere hour or two into the day, she’d declared enough shopping and that she was ready to leave.

A hint of a smile played on Caitlyn’s lips. Her friend knew her so well. Even now she felt Marcy’s curiosity, but Caitlyn was determined to remain silent about what bothered her. Besides, there wasn’t any real explanation, so telling her wouldn’t help.

Marcy slowed down to take the turn onto Shay’s property. “We’re almost there. Caitlyn, what is wrong with you?”

Her smile widened, and she released a little laugh. Marcy never used her full name unless bothered. “You don’t give up, do you?”

She turned and faced her friend. Marcy shot her a quick look and continued. “You’re not acting normal. At least, not normal for you. You think I didn’t see what you did in the village, but I did. You talked to some plants. I don’t know about you, Catey, but in Los Angeles that’s grounds for an extended rest in a loony bin.”

Caitlyn laughed. Her friend frowned and gripped the steering wheel tighter. She opened her mouth to continue, but Caitlyn cut her off. “I’m sorry. Coming here, being away from the hustle of the big city has caused me to be more aware of what nature has to offer. The plants were pretty, and I couldn’t help telling them that.”

“That’s not normal. Don’t do it again. What do you think your boss would say if he knew about this? He’d pull you off this assignment quicker than you could blink.” Marcy bobbed her head. “Do you want that to happen?”

Caitlyn leaned her head against the headrest and stared at her friend. “Don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not, and I am worried. It’s Shay, isn’t it? He’s doing this to you. Catey, maybe you should go home. I feel like I don’t even know you anymore. You actually seem happy here.”

Raising a brow, Caitlyn tilted her head. “You make that sound like a bad thing.”

“I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just, this is not permanent. You shouldn’t let yourself get carried away. Shay doesn’t want you. He doesn’t want anyone. Dafydd told me.” Another quick up and down with her head, and Marcy shot her a glance.

Caitlyn sat up straight. “What did he tell you?”

Dread soaked through her skin. Dafydd knew Shay. She assumed he’d been with him for a while so he had to know a lot about Shay. She shouldn’t allow Marcy’s comment to affect her but she wanted her life to be like the dream.

“Oh, Catey, I didn’t want to say anything, but I can see it in your eyes. You’re falling for the guy, and he’s not worth it.” Marcy slapped the steering wheel with an open palm. “Dafydd told me Shay had a girlfriend a few years ago. She hurt him, and since then he’s never had another one. It’s like he’s still stuck on her.”

Marcy’s words swirled through her mind. An image of Shay sitting at the kitchen table appeared. That brooding quiet man was a stranger to her. He had to be the one Marcy spoke about. The one so hurt by a woman, he refused to attach himself to someone else.

Caitlyn opened her mouth to speak, but a loud crashing noise on her side of the road stopped her. A boulder slid down the embankment and rolled toward them. Time slowed down as the large rock came closer.

Oh, shit, it was going to hit them! In the second she formed the thought, she looked straight ahead as calmness came over her.

Within seconds, the boulder impacted the front of the car and the back end swung around. Shattered glass rained down from the side window.

Marcy’s scream echoed in the interior.

The rear fender struck the boulder as the vehicle veered, out of control. A gust of wind brought the rain through the broken glass. Unfettered by seat belts, her body swung toward Marcy. With the second impact, Caitlyn was tossed the opposite way. The door opened and unable to stop, she flew out. The ground blurred in front of her eyes, the dark, muddy browns mingling with the lighter shades of small stones, but she never landed. Waiting to hit the ground, she tensed for the impact. Anticipating intense pain.

Water logged fir limbs swept down, caught and cradled her, laying her on the soaked earth. Gasping, close to hysteria, Caitlyn raised her gaze to the fir tree. It had saved her.

“No, this didn’t happen,” she whispered. Hands trembling, she tried to stand. The muscles in her legs refused to stay strong enough to let her rise.

Marcy.

Adrenaline rushed through her veins. Weakened muscles gained instant power. She lunged toward the car.

Stopped on the side of the road, only a few feet separated it from a steep drop off the side of a ridge. When she reached Marcy’s side, her friend sat frozen behind the wheel.

Jerking the door handle, Caitlyn tried to force it open. It wouldn’t budge. Fear gave her strength. She braced a foot on the side of the vehicle and pulled. The door came free with a metallic screech.

“Marcy. Are you okay?” She leaned in and gazed at her friend’s white face. Tear tracks covered the blonde’s pale features. Fear and shock radiated from her. “Oh, Marcy, it’s all right. We’re safe.”

“C-c-catey,” Marcy whispered. “Catey, you’re not...” Sobs erupted and her head lolled against the wheel.

Even as she wanted to comfort her, Caitlyn wanted to get them away. She glanced up the steep incline they were on. Just around the bend, the castle waited.

“Come on, Marcy. Let’s get you out of here. Can you stand?” She wrapped an arm around her friend’s shoulders and helped her struggle from the vehicle. Once Marcy was out, she checked her. Except for a few scratches from flying glass and bruises dotting her skin, her friend seemed okay.

“Do you think you can make it to the castle? If you can’t, I’ll go and bring help.” Caitlyn brushed blond strands away from Marcy’s face.

“No. Don’t leave me.” Her jaw jerked with the aftereffects of the accident. Was the other woman going into shock? Oh Lord, what if she had internal injuries?

“Let’s go.” She helped Marcy stand. Together, with her holding Marcy upright, they started up the road.

Each step grew more difficult. Caitlyn’s muscles burned from the climb. Water drenched her sweater and plastered her hair to her skull. She shoved a lock of hair behind her ear. When she lowered her hand, crimson streaks marked her palm where she’d swiped at her forehead.

A tearful giggle escaped her. She was bleeding. Most likely, the blood had come from where the glass from the broken window had cut her. She hadn’t even noticed.

Gasping for breath, she pulled and prodded Marcy to the entrance of Shay’s home. The door swung open, and Fred greeted them. With one look, the older man stepped forward and picked up Marcy. He led the way, heading toward the nearest room.

“I’ll be all right. Caitlyn, let me lie down in your room,” Marcy pleaded.

Fred looked at Caitlyn, waiting for her answer. She nodded and followed behind him at a slower pace.

Despite being exhausted, she didn’t stop in the sitting room but continued to the bathroom. She grabbed a couple of towels and returned to the small sofa where Fred had laid Marcy.

Glancing around, Caitlyn noticed Fred had disappeared. Great, now he’d tell the entire household. Of course, how did she expect to keep the wrecked car a secret? She helped Marcy stand, wrapped a towel around her head and led her to the bathroom.

Stripping the soaked clothes off Marcy was a nightmare, like undressing a mannequin.

Grazelda called her name and a wave of relief shot through her.

“We’re in here. Can you help? Marcy’s not doing too well.”

Grazelda’s worried gaze traveled over both of them. Caitlyn tried to smile, but when she glanced in the mirror, she realized no matter what she did or said, the old woman probably would not believe her. Blood ran in watered streaks down the side of her face. Without thinking, she dabbed at the cut. Already bruising, a knot the size of a half dollar rose just above her left eyebrow. Strange, she didn’t remember striking her head.

“Oh, you sweet dearies,” Grazelda murmured, clicking her tongue. “I’ll tend to yer friend, love. You get yerself changed. Fred’ll be bringing some hot tea up here in a bit. It’ll help warm yer both while we wait for the doctor to arrive.”

“That sounds wonderful, but I don’t need a doctor. I’m fine. It’s just a little scratch,” Caitlyn said.

Frowning, Grazelda led Marcy out of the bathroom. Before she closed the door behind them, she looked over her shoulder and sent a small comforting smile to Caitlyn.

Peace came over Caitlyn and security surrounded her.

After a hot shower, she dried off and dressed in her nightgown and robe. Her muscles had stiffened and her body ached. By morning, she wouldn’t be able to move.

By the time she’d finished dressing and returned to the sitting room, Dafydd had arrived. He held Marcy while she wept against his shoulder. Soft murmurs came from him. Caitlyn blinked to stop the sudden sting of tears.

Death had threatened a second time, since she’d arrived in Wales. She walked to the matching sofa across from the couple and sat down, tucking her feet under her. Wrapping the robe higher against her throat, she leaned forward and poured steaming tea into a china cup.

The hair on the back of her neck bristled. She glanced toward the doorway, and her breath caught in her chest. Shay stood bracketed in the door’s frame, one hand braced on the wood.

She became lost in the deep purple eyes staring at her. He moved toward her, never releasing her from his concerned gaze. When he reached her, he sat on the table in front of her.