Page 59 of The Fae's Gamble

“What’s happened?” Calum was all business as he evaluated both Emmett and Mara, none of them even taking the time to comment on the sudden return of Scotland’s magic.

Emmett shook his head, his face looking as grave as Fern had ever seen it. The words he said next caused her stomach to fall to her feet.

“Eòin’s back.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Calum spent years imagining what it would feel like when Scotland’s magic returned. Would it feel like coming home? Would it be a relief? Would it be too overwhelming to comprehend? Over the years, his theories had changed about what would happen, but in the end, it wasn’t even close to what he’d experienced when Fern had accepted him as her mate.

When she kissed him in the study, his body nearly split in two with the strength of his magic returning to him. A dam broke, and Calum couldn’t even summon his wits enough to scream.

The only injury in his leg healed itself, and the familiar weight of his broadsword was heavy in his hand, which had been trustily masquerading as his cane for years.

Still, none of it mattered until he saw the acceptance on Fern’s face. She wasn’t afraid of him like this. She welcomed it.

As he ran through the crisp night air, Calum reconnected with the magic in the ground for the first time in centuries. The trees were singing as their prince ran past. He kept a tight grip on Fern’s hand as they maneuvered the city streets, and he made a list.

First, make sure everyone is okay. Second, the portals… We have to check the portals…

Calum didn’t even dare to think about what state Faerie might be in. One thing at a time.

He was still shocked when Emmett grabbed him by the shoulder and uttered those damned words.

“Eòin is back.”

Nearly three-hundred years of fury and fear flooded through Calum. He should’ve known that the return of their magic meant the return of their old threats too.

“Where?” Calum snapped. All sense of civility left his body as he began planning for the onslaught. He could see Mara comforting Fern out of the corner of his eye, but his focus was entirely on his general as he tried to evaluate the strength of the threat. The roar of the party continued behind them.

“He’s coming here, and he’s not alone.” Emmett bristled, his hand going to clutch one of the weapons at his waist. “Mara and I were on the way here from the department building when I caught his scent. They must be coming from Dunino Den.”

So the portals are working again.

“Get everyone out of here,” Calum turned and surveyed the party that was still underway on every floor of the library. Edinburgh’s entire magical population was inside its walls and most of them were intoxicated.

“There’s no time,” Emmett shook his head, “Besides, where would we tell them to go?” Calum’s mind spun through a dozen different potential outcomes at once. None of them looked good.

“How many men?”

“I can’t be sure. Two dozen, tops? It didn’t smell like a full battalion.”

“That’s something,” Calum growled. His chest expanded with hope as he looked at Emmett, lowering his voice. “Do you know if…”

Emmett shook his head. “I couldn’t tell if any of our people are with them.” Calum’s face flickered with disappointment before he buried it away. A slim arm wrapped around his waist, and Fern’s scent of tea and parchment flooded his senses. She hugged Calum tighter, and he could not refuse her. He bent down and pressed a kiss to her hair, letting her presence calm him.

By now, a few of the partygoers had noticed that Calum, Emmett, Mara, and Fern looked tense. A group of fae males jogged up the steps, already brandishing dirks. They had fought under Calum hundreds of years ago, and they were ready to do so again. Calum raised a brow as one of them approached.

“If our magic is back, then we’re still at war, are we not?” He shrugged by way of explanation, and Calum could only give him a curt nod.

And we might be in an even worse spot than we were in 1746.

“Calum,” Fern stepped away from him, her eyes wide with fear, “if Eòin is riding for war, then we’re not ready. It’s as simple as that. There must be another way.”

“There isn’t,” Emmett answered her, his voice rough and somber. “As far as magical societies and the fae are concerned, we’re under clan law.” Fern turned to Calum, her expression pleading as if she was hoping he would negate Emmett. Calum frowned.

“Emmett is right, Fern. We got trapped in a war and came right back to one. I should’ve been more prepared for—”

“Stop.” Fern held her hand up. “You did exactly what you were supposed to. We don’t even know how the curse was broken. You couldn’t have been prepared for your ancient rival to come riding through the streets of Edinburgh that same hour.”