Highlander's Magic (Highlander Heat #2)

Faith whizzed past then jogged back. “Thank you. I just need you to listen.”


“I’m not listening. I’m unfit, if you didn’t notice.” It was alright for her, being so highly skilled and all. She ran every morning at dawn just to get rid of her excess energy. Me, I snoozed. No use rolling out of bed until absolutely necessary.

“I’m really sorry about this coming disaster.”

“The disaster is Donaldo Wincrest.” Heck, saying his name out loud was enough to set me off. “I can’t stand him. Your grandfather’s always sending his warriors onto Peacio’s shores, with my people in the firing line.”

“We can’t choose who we’re related to.”

“It’d make life a lot easier if we could.” Bummer, though, that she’d found out she was a Wincrest. Eighteen years and she’d never known.

“At least we can choose who our best friends are, and you’re mine.”

“Geez, I hate your forewarnings. Why can’t we just have a regular school day? Death and disaster should be off limits.”

“My forewarnings don’t work that way.” She squeezed my shoulder. “My father is the last person any of us expected him to be, but I love him and I’m dealing with the cards dealt.”

“I’m dealing too, but not if it involves Dralion.”

“C’mon, pleazzze.”

I didn’t dare look into her eyes. Those stupid pleases of hers niggled at my heart and got me every time. “My king sent me to Earth to watch over you when we were kids, not your newfound family. Carlisio Loveria wouldn’t appreciate it if I ended up getting my nose stuck in the enemy’s business.”

“I can’t ask anyone else.” She tweaked my chin. “Hey, you’ve gotta look at me.”

“No.” Her voice was pitched just right too, making my “no” not nearly strong enough.

“You’re a sister to me, and Magio is all so new.”

Damn. Not the sister card. Stand strong. Don’t fold.

“Silvie, the battle between our nations, and the fact I have a mate I can’t speak about, is difficult, but at least I have you. We’ve always stuck together.”

“I can’t go against my country. Ask your mate for help. Davio loves slashing his sword around. Just mention Wincrest’s name, and my cousin’s your man.”

“I can’t tell Davio about my vision.” She paced in front of me, clutching the sides of her denim miniskirt. “I’ve already used my forethought and factored him into the problem. The results weren’t pretty. He’s one totally obstinate prince. I need you, not my mate.”

“Yours and Davio’s relationship is strong. He got over who you were related to. Give him more credit.”

“I do, but we have to take such care.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “I can’t work through this forewarning without you. This fight isn’t mine, yet I’ve been dropped into the middle of it.”

And it appeared, so had I. So not fair when I couldn’t keep ignoring her plea. We’d grown up together and always had each other’s back. “Argh, okay, give me some more information so at least I can think about it.”

“Is that a yes? We stick together?”

“It’s give me more information.”

“You won’t regret this.”

“I’m sure I will.”

“Right.” The wind blew her long blond hair about her face. She flicked it away. “So I got to the part before about Donaldo being involved.”

“Yeah, your tyrannical king who knows how to throw everything into chaos.”

“Just try to put your frustrations aside.”

I breathed deep, instilling some calm for Faith’s sake. Discovering her father was Dralion’s Prince Alexo when he’d returned to Earth for her and her mother had been difficult, but it hadn’t destroyed our friendship. Our eighteen years together counted. “Okay, I’ll try.”

“What happens, is Donaldo makes an announcement soon. One which involves Hope too. Heck, I still can’t believe I have an identical twin sister. It’s just as well our blood-bond cemented the moment we came together.” She blew out a long breath, as if needing a moment to calm herself. “Okay, so saying yes to me, is saying yes to her. We both need your help.”

“How is Hope involved?” I adored my brother’s new mate. I had to keep her safe.

“My forewarning affects so many people if I don’t get it sorted. Hope and Silas. Davio and me. We’re just the beginning.”

“Grrreat.” With all four of my closest involved, I barely had a choice. “Lay the rest of the details on me, and be gentle. Gen-tle.”

“Hope and I are in Donaldo’s grand dining room.” Sweat popped up along her brow and she wiped it away. “There’s a formal dinner and the leading eight are seated.”

“Dralion’s elite fighting force, right?”

“Yes.”

“Lovely.” Not only was her king involved, but the fiercest of the fierce. How could she possibly think I could help? I had no skills. “Your forewarning was bad enough with Donaldo in it. Now you’re adding the leading eight?”

“Only two of them, Killian and Abelard.”

“Oh, only two.” Sheesh. “That’s so much better then.”