I found Marcus visiting with his dad in the castle kitchen.

“Kate!” Marcus stood and moved to pull me into one of his award-worthy hugs that always made me feel like there was a little more love in the world than I’d felt like there was before he wrapped his arms around me.

“How are you feeling? Still no fever?”

I smiled as I pulled away from him. “Everyone is much too worried about me. I feel perfect now. No fever at all.”

David stood and reached out to touch my arm. “Just so you know, I told him. I think your mother is telling Laurel as we speak. As much fun as it was for the two of us to sneak around, I’m pleased that we can now be open about our love for one another.”

I decided not to mention to David that I’d already told Laurel. “Well, good.”

David gave my arm a gentle pat as he left Marcus and me alone.

The moment David was gone, I turned to Marcus for his reaction to the news. I recognized the expression of shock on his face all too well.

“Who would’ve thought, huh?”

I shook my head and laughed, and we sat down together on a long wooden bench. “Not me. But, I guess it’s pretty nice, right? Now that I think about it, I think they’re sort of perfect for each other.”

“Agreed, but that’s not what you came to talk to me about. What’s up?”

I’d known Marcus for so long there was no need for me to beat around the bush with him about anything. I got straight to the point.

“Tell me about the druid stuff. Why do they refer to themselves as druids? How did you know you were one? What did you learn when they took you away? Are you happy doing this? Is this what you want for your life?”

He smiled. “Which one of those do you want me to answer first?”

“Just explain this all to me.”

He shifted as he settled in to get a little more comfortable before beginning. “Okay. Well, as for the term druid, we don’t use it in the traditional sense. We’re really witches or sorcerers,” he paused and scrunched up his nose, “or would it be wizards?” He shrugged, gave me a quick smile and continued. “I’m really not sure. Point being, druids come from an ancient Celtic religion and are often known for their ability to heal or give counsel. They observe the solstices and equinoxes with special ceremonies.

“We do all of these things, too. We each hold an equal stake in the land here, so as lairds of the Isle we often give counsel and help in the management of the land. We heal those who are sick, although most of the time we don’t use magic for that. We also observe the changes of the seasons and moon cycles. But…” He held up a finger as he made his point. “We don’t practice the true druid religion. Our powers are just inside us, and we’re not sure where they come from or why.”

I held up my hand to stop him so I could ask a question. “So, even back home in Boston, you had magic inside you and didn’t know it.”

He nodded. “I guess so. That’s the issue Dad has, I think. He can’t seem to wrap his mind around it. And if I hadn’t been able to feel the magic awaken itself in me once I got here, I’m not sure I would’ve believed it either. In all honesty, there’s so much that we don’t know or understand about what we are. All of it is conjecture. Nicol has a theory, though. He believes that more people than you would think have these abilities, but most are never in a situation that calls up the magic inside of them.”

I interrupted him once more. “So, it just lies dormant until needed? And for most people—especially, in our time—that’s pretty much forever?”

“Exactly.”

“What about when they took you away for training? What did they tell you about your role here? Your purpose?”

He waited a moment. “Most days they just focused on helping me hone my powers. They did, of course, explain the duty we have to the Isle, and that our combined magic helps keep everyone that lives here safe.”

“And that’s it? You’re fine with that? You guys have just accepted that your lives must be lived together, while you always try to keep Machara locked away? What happens when Nicol dies? Do you continue guarding this place? What happens when all of you die?”

His tone was calm, and accepting. “The Eight will always be replaced with new men. It’s the reason that even now we are searching for a man with magic that can replace Calder. And while Nicol’s death is hopefully something none of us have to deal with for many, many years, it will change nothing. Machara will still be a threat that we can never allow to be released.”

I couldn’t wrap my mind around how all of them could be so docile about it. Their commitment to one another and to the Isle was noble, but it took away so much of their freedom.

“And you’re okay with that? You have always been so independent, Marcus. You loved Boston, loved your friends and your job, and your family. You’re really okay with spending your life here, dedicating it to this cause?”

“No, in all honesty, I’m not. And I think all of the men hope someday we will find a way to truly defeat her, but we all have to find a way to have some peace in our lives even if we don’t.” He paused. “And you’re wrong about Boston. I put on a good face. While I loved my job, I was floundering in it. I wouldn’t have been able to survive doing it another year. And as for my friends, my best one is here. Now, thanks to you, my family is, too. So, I’m okay. I’m still adjusting, but I really am okay.”

I frowned as my frustration grew. There was a soft push against the cracked door, and I turned to see Mr. Crinkles saunter into the room. I ran across and snatched him up as I smothered him with kisses.

“There you are.” Now that Mr. Crinkles had a whole castle to explore, it seemed like I saw a lot less of him.

Marcus smiled as Mr. Crinkles began to purr. “Look, I don’t want to bullshit you. I’m not sure this is the life I would’ve chosen for myself, but it is what it is.”

I looked up into his eyes, and a sort of dogged determination flared up inside me. I knew what it was like to have things you couldn’t change. I would never grow my arm back. I couldn’t go back to my life before the fire. I couldn’t change what it meant for my life now, having to live without a part of myself. If Machara’s hold on them was something these men could change, and I knew that it was, it made my blood boil to think that they weren’t doing anything about it.

But they didn’t know what I knew. Once they did, surely they would be on board, as well.

“Do you guys have some books around here? A library or anything? Don’t all old castles have a good library?”

He laughed. “I think that assumption has come from one too many viewings of Beauty and the Beast, but yes, there is a library.”

“Can I use it?”

He reached out to pull me into another hug. “Of course, you can use it.”

It pleased me to see that Marcus had at least settled in to feeling at home here.

“Thank you. I’ve got something I need to take care of first, but if anyone can’t find me later, that’s where I’ll be.”

Dusk would be here soon.

It was time for me to meet Freya.