Niall knew the wraith was toying with them. Her wailing screams came from all directions. It started just after dawn. He’d walked out of the house with his brothers, potion vials still warm in their hands from the cauldron. Cait had insisted they wear amulets of black obsidian for protection. The stones were supposed to help in the breaking of curses and ridding them of spirits who had become attached.

“Let me fly up and see if I can find her,” Iain suggested, trying as the screams came from yet another direction. He was able to shift into various birds of prey. But, like Niall, the wildness of their shifted selves could be hard to control. It wasn’t easy for Iain to know he could fly high above everything, wild and free. The right catalyst would keep him from transforming back into his human self.

“No,” Niall said, his tone not leaving any room for argument. “Ya will be too exposed. She’s too powerful. One gust and she could kill ya.”

“We have to do something.” Euann came from behind the statue of Helena.

Niall had noticed Euann wasn’t meeting his gaze. It was also obvious that his family suspected there was much more going on between Niall and Charlotte than he was telling them.

“It’s cracked near her heart.” Euann motioned to Helena’s likeness. “That is where she escaped.”

“It doesn’t matter how she got out, the fact is she’s here and she’s pissed,” Erik said.

“Maybe we should take these off.” Niall reached inside the neckline of his shirt and pulled out the amulet.

“Cait said not to.” Euann lifted his potion bottle. “They’re meant to protect us from the dark energy.”

“Maybe they are doing too good a job,” Iain said, agreeing with Niall.

“Leave the amulets on for now.” Erik leaned over and reached into the duffel bag he’d brought with him. He pulled out a large clear container of salt. He tossed it at Euann. “Draw a circle around the area, make it thick, but leave an opening. If we can get her to come to us, we might be able to trap her inside.”

“Aye,” Euann agreed, doing as Erik requested.

The wailing continued. Niall reached for his neck. Without waiting for permission, he jerked the chain holding the protection stone. The necklace broke and he tossed it toward Iain when the other two weren’t looking. His brother nodded at him and shoved it into his pocket.

The screaming stopped.

“Where is she?” Euann asked looking around.

Niall used his shifter hearing to listen to the wind. The sound of footsteps on the path caught his attention. A wraith would not be running.

“Crap,” Niall swore.

“What?” Iain and Euann asked in unison.

“Who’s out there?” Erik asked.

“Charlotte.” Niall knew the answer even before he saw her. The sound of her running was like a signature. He knew everything about her.

“What is she doing out here?” Euann demanded.

Tension rolled over Niall and his brothers.

“Erik, I have held my tongue,” Euann insisted. “Ya told me Niall would protect her if I backed off my suit. This is not protection. We have to get her out of here.”

“Euann, guilt is not love,” Erik said. “No matter how many times ya say ya love the lassie does not make it true. Ya do not love Charlotte, not in the way ya should.”

“He’s right, brother,” Iain added. “Every woman deserves a man who loves them fully.”

“It is our fault she’s damaged. She needs to be protected,” Euann said. “She can’t be out here. Not with Helena out of her prison.”

Niall did not answer his brothers.

Niall’s senses prickled in warning. Euann was right. Charlotte should not be in the forest. It was too dangerous. He went to the path and watched for Charlotte. He listened to her heavy breathing.

She came into view. Her steps slowed. “Niall—”

Helena flew from the trees, cutting off her words. She slammed into Charlotte, dragging her off the path into the trees.

Niall growled, shifting to run after them.

The darkness in Helena radiated from her, and he tracked them through the underbrush. He heard a thud and then running.

“Niall!” Charlotte cried out.

He ran toward her voice. He found her bent over on the forest floor.

“What the hell do ya think ya are doing?” The sound of his words was gruff as he came out of his shifted form, and barely understandable. He ran to her and pulled her into his embrace. His clothes had fallen off when he shifted and he didn’t bother to materialize them back on.

Charlotte lifted her hand to show him a potion bottle. “I’m here to help. Angus told me to use this.”

“Ya need to be back at the house where it is safe,” he ordered. “He should not have let ya leave.”

“She’s after me. I need to be out here with you.” Her eyes met his and they begged him to trust her.

“We need to lure her to the statue.” Niall pointed in the direction of his brothers.

Charlotte gave a slight smile at his instruction and nodded.

Helena flew down from the trees. Niall jumped in front of her. He braced his feet as the wraith slammed into him.

Charlotte took off into the trees, running the way he’d indicated. He tried to hold on to Helena. She lifted him off the ground. His feet swung as he tried to find footing. Suddenly, her body lost its corporeal form and he fell.

Niall landed on all fours. Pain shot up his wrists and ankles. He didn’t care as he leapt forward to chase after Charlotte. He saw her running and darted to join her.

Niall materialized a kilt on his waist to protect him from the whip of low branches. He swept his arm around her, lifting her over his shoulder as he covered ground faster. Erik came from the forest and joined them in panther form, running behind Niall.

Euann held the container of salt near the opening he’d left in the circle. Niall dug in his heels, stopping before they crashed into the statue. He dropped Charlotte to her feet. Her breathing was still hard and fast from the run, but he swore she gave him a small smile. Her eyes gleamed as the adrenaline pumped through her veins.

Niall resisted the urge to shift, and stood next to her as a man.

“You sure do know how to show a girl a good time,” Charlotte said. “If this weren’t so important, I’d be enjoying myself.”

Erik jumped into the salt circle. Helena chased him. She swooped down, flying to the side as she hit the barrier. She found the opening near Euann and came for Charlotte. Euann dumped the salt to complete the circle. Charlotte ducked. Helena hit the barrier and flew the other way, bouncing over them as she tried to break free. Niall pulled Charlotte close, holding her against him.

“Get out of the circle,” Euann yelled. He stood on the other side of the salt barrier.

Erik and Iain jumped out. Niall tried to lift Charlotte with him but Helena appeared, blocking them. The wraith appeared calm. Charlotte’s breathing was the only sound in the forest.

“They will only hurt you,” Helena said. “Break you down. That is what the devil does. Tricks you with sweet smiles.”

“No one wanted to hurt you,” Charlotte said. “They tried to help. They did not call the demon that night to hurt your grandmother.”

“How does she know that?” Euann asked. Niall ignored his brother.

“Helena, it is time for ya to move on,” Niall commanded, trying to draw Helena’s attention from Charlotte. He saw his brothers walking around the circle.

“You’re right. It is time I moved on.” Helena became a blur as she ran at Charlotte. The spirit slipped inside her body. Charlotte gasped, falling to her knees.

Niall went to the ground beside her, holding her. “Charlotte?”

His brothers gathered around them. Charlotte couldn’t speak as she fought the spirit taking hold. She lifted her hand, still clutching the potion. She tried to open it but couldn’t coordinate her movements. Niall did it for her, and Charlotte opened her mouth, indicating she wanted to drink it.

Niall didn’t hesitate. He poured the liquid into her mouth.

As she swallowed, Helena reappeared, jerking out of her body.

Euann and Iain tried to help Charlotte up. “Get her out of here,” Niall ordered.

“How?” Helena howled, clutching her stomach as she doubled over in pain. “The gaps within you are filled!”

“I am not you,” Charlotte croaked. “I found my lost memories. Niall helped me. He tried to help you, too, but you wouldn’t let him.”

Helena began to scream. Blue flames erupted over her translucent skin. They grew, consuming her completely. Charlotte covered her ears.

In an instant, the flames died, filtering to the sky in blue smoke.

Charlotte dropped her hands. Iain and Euann let go of her arms. Niall rushed to her side, catching her as she wobbled on unsteady legs.

“Is it over?” she asked.

“Aye. Ya set her free,” Niall said. “What was in that potion?”

“I don’t know, but Angus told me I’d know when to use it,” she said.

Niall held Charlotte closer, and had no intention of ever letting her go. Rocks hit the ground, and they watched as the statue crumbled to a pile of pebbles at their feet.