Looking down from high on the peak of Naica Mountain, Duncan saw his enemy approach. The advancing hoard, which had come to subdue him, enslave his people, and strip Caitriona of her power, was like a locust covering the land. There are so many of them, he moaned. With his anger fueling his warrior’s energy, he stood where they could see him, just as Caitriona had told him to. The late afternoon sun warmed him as he looked down and watched the approaching army.

Gradually, one of the Order’s soldiers looked up and saw him. Though miles away, the shout echoed across the distance. With his enhanced eyesight, Duncan could see the man pointing to him. Then another soldier took up the cry… and another and another. There was no fear, no panic in their eyes as this army faced him.

He heard an angry roar reverberate across the distance as they recognized who he was. Even in the distance, he could see they did not fear. He could almost feel their excitement, like a hungry animal spying tender flesh.

He felt—rather than saw—the energy coming from his right. Danika’s power was strong. Caitriona’s was even stronger, amplified by the caves and quite possibly, the gifted child growing in her belly. A group of soldiers turned as they sensed the otherworldly energy around them. Staring in disbelief, Duncan could see each of their expressions as they recognized the energy for what it meant and faced their death.

Instinctively, he touched the intricate Celtic tattoo that formed the Celtic symbol for protection—Algiz. Taking a deep breath he spoke the words as if Caitriona’s voice were speaking in his ear, a language he knew she didn’t know and yet somehow...

Scáthán seo seal, a bhfuil cuireadh ...

His eyes stared impassively as the energy around him grew and then swept forward across a large swath of the Order’s soldiers, their anguished cries and screams heralding their immediate death. Those who were caught in its deadly path were immediately eviscerated in a pile of flame and ash, their souls seeking relief from their hellish earth. Those who didn’t perish under the energy’s path of destruction scattered like roaches in a newly lit room.

He watched as a shuttle glided to a stop not more than 100 meters from him and a dozen soldiers exited the craft. Seeing him, they raised their weapons as they charged forward, their intent clear. Bracing for this latest threat, he faced the approaching men. As the first man came within fighting distance, Duncan quickly and efficiently sliced the belly of the warrior as the man raised his sword. As the soldier slumped, Duncan grabbed the warrior’s throat, watching as the life spilled from the oozing body.

Ardaigh chosaint ó geasa iargúlta …

Duncan roared as he threw the warrior from the edge of the cliff, the young soldier dead before he reached the depths below. As Duncan spoke the ancient Celtic words, more of the Order’s warriors began swarming up the trail toward him. There was a look of astonishment in the eyes of these men as they saw Duncan alone, surrounded only by a glowing orb of light as opposed to the countless Templars they had anticipated. The spell Danika had cast engulfed him in energy. As the Order’s men tried to breach the plateau, the orb of energy effectively silenced their efforts, their screams disappearing before they reached the bottom.

He was amazed at the protection Caitriona had given him. A simple symbol, almost inconsequential, had saved his life twice since the war had begun. Even now, he could feel her power surging through him, enhanced by her sister and grounded by her handler. He didn’t have much time to ponder the source or strength of her power. A quick movement at the corner of his eye told Duncan there were others beginning to flank him from the rear. He didn’t know how long Caitriona and Danika could hold the spell of protection around him, but he hoped it was long enough for what he had to do. Ignoring the Order’s soldiers who were clawing their way toward him, he closed his eyes and reached deep inside himself to feel Caitriona’s connection with him pulsating and vibrating as it filled every inch of him.

He opened his eyes, sure of his next move as clearly as he saw the massive army gathering to continue their assault. The hoard was now marching toward his peak. His eyes scanned the valley and found his army preparing to meet their enemy.

He felt her within him then...her voice merely a whisper at first. But as his soul called to her, as it echoed his need...her voice became clear. There was love there...but now the commands came from her power, the power of her ancient heritage and her people. Her voice was a comfort as he watched the army draw closer.

Take your sword and raise it high...she commanded. As he did so, he could feel the power of her through his body...through the sword… Fear not; I will be with you. Your men must maintain their line.

He roared, a great bellow that ripped through the mountain and down the canyon. He could feel her energy pulsing through him until he felt it explode from his fingertips. He watched as the fireball flew down the mountain, colliding with the gathering horde that was fast approaching. The fireball exploded, taking out several enemy lines in its wake. He smiled, but knew his lover wasn’t done.

Overhead, he heard a low hum and looked up to see one of the Order’s drones fire at close range. The protection Caitriona cast around him wasn’t strong enough to withstand a direct assault of such high intensity. As he felt the energy from her spell collapse around him, he dodged the worst of the drone’s assault, the laser fire catching him on his back and laying wide his skin. He roared, and nearly lost the link to Caitriona and the others. He knew he had to reign in his emotions or he would be consumed by her power.

Tha fuil ar nàmhaid a tha làidir …

He felt power once again course through him. He raised his sword and faced the Order’s army. His back burned where the Order’s laser had sliced nearly to the bone, but the pain merely fed his resolve. Hearing the thunder of hooves, he turned in time to see Lee riding toward him leading a powerful stallion. Grasping the pommel of the horse’s saddle, he swung himself easily into the saddle, his sword swinging by his side. Clicking his heels lightly, the horse leapt forward. Lee joined him and soon his band of soldiers gathered behind him in a terrifying display of determination and strength.

The land before him was stained with the blood of men who had died defending the very causes they stalwartly believed in. Duncan knew that many more of his men—good men—would die here today. But the Seer would save as many. Of that he was certain.

Her power continued to pulse in his blood, reminding him of his warrior’s duty.

Tha mi a h-uile cron a bhacadh bho seo a stiùireadh …

He slowed his mount and waited until Lee caught up to him. Caitriona’s power was still present, but had taken a backseat to the orders he had to issue and the command he had to lead.

“Are you alright?” Lee asked, his eyes never leaving the approaching horde.

“Aye,” Duncan replied. He was struggling to keep Caitriona’s power in check and not lose himself. He could feel her heart, beating in unison with his, and he knew she was struggling as well.

“Arghh,” he bellowed to the sky as her energy began to fill him. Her link to him was strong. He closed his eyes and saw Hawkins’ moves as clearly as if he was standing before him. Duncan was aware of Lee barking commands to the troops as he kicked his horse into a full gallop and rode ahead to get into position. Once Danika started the spell, anyone in her path would be consumed by her elemental magic. Lee would ensure their army remained out of reach.

Le gaol is leigheas tro cumhachdan trì …

“Damnu, Caitriona!” he yelled again, his words being swallowed by the vastness of the mountain. “Yer givin’ me too much, lass. Concentrate.” The power subsided and he found his focus once again. He saw the approaching army and knew he would need to unleash whatever magic they could conjure soon. He only hoped it would be enough.

“Raise your sword high,” Caitriona whispered to him again. He did as he was told, enjoying the rush and tingle of her power as it surged through his body. He could feel the power growing but had no idea what to do. When the energy threatened to consume him, a powerful force tore from him, ripping its way to Hawkins’ men. Just as it settled on the army of men below him, he opened his eyes in time to see the blue energy dissipate.

The wave of energy seemed to vanish and Duncan worried Caitriona’s vision had been wrong. But several seconds later he heard the screams of the men below. Scanning the mountainside, he watched as the energy reappeared and grew in size, ripping through Hawkins’ men sending limbs and weapons high into the air. He could hear her in his head, telling him where to move. Within seconds, another burst of energy tore through the mountainside, eviscerating everything in its path.

He could hear the cheers of his men as they recognized this for what it was. On Lee’s command, they turned toward the injured and dying mob, weapons drawn. As steel met with steel, the men no longer feared Hawkins’ army; instead, they fought with valor, without fear and without regard to their safety.

High above him, he heard the hum of a drone barreling toward him. Duncan stood helpless, unable to move, as the drone flew close and fired at him.

“Hold your position.” Caitriona’s voice was small and tiny in his ear, but he could feel the connection he shared with her as powerful as ever. Her energy bathed him in a wall of protection, shielding him from the death sentence the drone delivered. The drone’s laser got no more than five feet from him and dissipated into the air. Duncan was in awe. The Seer did that. She did that for him, for his men, for the cause he so stalwartly believed in.

Math dhuinn airson ar n-euchdan …

He didn’t know how long he stood there directing her energy and keeping his men safe, but at last, he felt her energy leave him. He collapsed atop his horse, his sword falling to the ground. He slumped in his saddle, uncaring of where he was or what he needed to do next. His hands trembled as he grasped the pommel. Swinging down from the saddle, he collapsed to the ground, pulling deep breaths into his lungs. He had to see to his men. And he had to see Caitriona.

As he pulled himself to his knees, there was an emptiness in him where Caitriona should have been. He closed his eyes, slumping to the ground, unconsciousness threatening to take him. The last thought he had before succumbing to the darkness was whether Caitriona felt the void as well.

* * *

Dani reached for her sister’s hand. She could see the milk-white look in her sister’s eyes that portended her second sight. Caitriona’s hand felt cold, her breath raspy as she mumbled incoherently.

“He’s coming, Duncan,” Caitriona croaked. “Hawkins knows we’re here,” she continued, fear lacing her voice. “We don’t have much time. You have to mobilize your troops.”

Nicolas wrapped his arm around her sister and Dani was grateful for his calm presence. She knew they’d have to act quickly. They would lose this battle if Duncan and his men didn’t get into position.

“Duncan, you have to trust me,” Caitriona muttered. “I know you don’t understand, but Hawkins’ armies are almost here. You must mobilize your men. They should approach Hawkins from the southeast and only on your command. You’ll stay here, but in sight of your troops. There’s a small plateau just beyond that ridge.” She swayed, but Nicolas held her tight.

“Dani, I’ll need your magic,” Caitriona said, slipping her hand into Danika’s.

“Anything, Caitriona, you know that. But last time we were here we couldn’t control the energy,” she said.

“I wasn’t in the right place,” Caitriona mumbled, scanning the mountainside.

“Katerine, slow down,” Nicolas implored. “You’re not making any sense.”

“We don’t have time for me to explain. Trust me, Nicolas.”

Duncan and Nicolas looked at each other. After several seconds, Duncan nodded his head and Nicolas clasped his arm.

“I don’t have a good feeling about this,” Dani groaned, watching as Duncan left to prepare his troops. She reached for her sister’s hand. Nicolas took Caitriona’s other hand. At Caitriona’s nod, Nicolas and Dani clasped hands, completing the triangle.

“Power of three,” Nicolas mumbled, squeezing their hands as their combined energy began to flow through them.

“What?” Dani asked, glancing at Caitriona, who was already lost to her otherworldly sight, seemingly unaware of their presence.

“It was something Caitriona said in one of her earlier visions,” he said. Seeing the confused look on Dani’s face, he explained. “She said the power of three would be needed to end the war.”

“We’re the three?” she asked hesitantly.

“Perhaps,” he replied. But the furrow in his brow told her otherwise.

“What do we do now?”

Dani watched as Nicolas closed his eyes. She knew he was opening his mind to Caitriona’s. Within seconds she felt a stronger force flow through her.

“Start the spell,” Nicolas said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Dani took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

“In the shadows, evil hides,

In flames of fire and hell-bent strides,

With our strength you shall be strong,

Banish all that’s filled with wrong.

As above, so below, so mote it be.”

As she spoke the words, she concentrated her will, drawing Caitriona’s energy into her. She watched as Nicolas inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. She knew he was channeling Caitriona’s energy, keeping her safe. She also knew it was a tall order for the empath. His ability to ground her powers and cast off excess energy had never been tested on more than one person. It would take his full concentration to keep the energy they were creating from consuming them all.

Overhead, grey clouds appeared, dark and menacing as they grew closer. In the distance, Danika heard the first sounds of thunder and knew the elements of the earth were reacting to her powers. A half smile lit her features. She loved having this much power and she tilted her head to the sky, relishing the feel of the raw, untamed energy as it coursed through her body.

Danika repeated the spell again, this time prepared for the surge of energy she felt as she completed the words. She knew the power wasn’t in the words; the power came from her, from each of them. The words merely provided focus.

The wind started whipping around her, tugging at her hair and clothes. She cast a glance at Caitriona, her milk-white eyes still lost in her world and oblivious to the maelstrom of elemental energy that was being unleashed around them. Nicolas’ brow was wrinkled, his eyes shut tight, murmuring words under his breath that only he could hear. She wanted to reach him, tell him they would be alright, but she knew that to interrupt him would sever the connection they had. They all needed to do their part. Otherwise, the energy would kill them all.

She started on the third repetition of the spell, nearly stopping as the energy she was creating tore through her. Nicolas growled, a deep feral sound as he fought to control the energy being created. As she neared the end of the spell, Caitriona arched her back, tilting her head to the sky. She was ghostly pale, her lips moving as she interacted with her world. She was breathing heavily and Danika worried for the unborn child Caitriona carried.

* * *

Caitriona saw the battle from Duncan’s eyes. She followed the movements of his men as they marched toward Hawkins’ horde. She could feel their anxiety, their energy as they waited for Duncan to give the order to fight. She felt the power ripple through Duncan’s frame as he was filled with the energy the three of them created.

Caitriona focused on casting a wide net of protection around Duncan. She wanted to do the same for his men, but her power wasn’t strong enough. As Duncan spotted Hawkins and his men, she could feel his heart accelerate, the adrenaline carrying him as it washed over her. The power he exuded was almost overwhelming and she fought to control her own impulse to run.

Duncan gave the command to engage the enemy. She felt the air around her move as thousands of Templars rushed past Duncan. He controlled his horse and stayed where he was. She could feel his frustration and anger at having to remain behind.

Caitriona knew it was time. With one foot in the circle of three, and the other on the battlefield with Duncan, she began channeling the energy Danika was casting. She connected with Duncan and watched as his body responded to her will. He spoke in Gaelic, yet somehow she understood the words. She watched through his eyes as his troops engaged the New World Order. Duncan’s men were strong; Hawkins’ men were stronger—and better equipped. It was time.

Pulling the energy from Danika, she focused on Duncan, envisioning the energy flowing from her to him. She began shaking, panic setting in as the energy remained within her. Perhaps they’d been wrong. Her heart thundered in her chest as she realized this was going to end badly. Her body felt as if it were on fire.

She felt her handler in her mind and reached out to him. She didn’t know what to do. Caitriona, let go of the energy, she heard his voice in her head. She couldn’t. If she let go without channeling, the energy would be grounded and Duncan and his men would be vulnerable to Hawkins’ attack. She held tight, her body beginning to convulse. Just as she thought she couldn’t take anymore, she felt Duncan pull her to him. She arched her body and cried out, the energy ripping from her.

She felt Duncan’s body absorb the energy and watched as energy cascaded off him in sheets. He had to focus his will. Connecting with his mind, she told him to raise his arms and repeat the words she heard from Danika. He did as he was told, the words pouring from him in Gaelic. As he finished the words, the energy around him formed into a ball and shot from his fingers toward the battle below him. The energy exploded in a shower of fire above Hawkins’ men, engulfing them in flames. Their shrieks and screams split the cavernous silence.

Caitriona watched, horrified, as she saw some of Duncan’s men caught in the fireball. They had to become more focused, otherwise the energy would be lethal for anyone caught in the energy’s deadly arms.

She encouraged Duncan to repeat the spell, this time helping him to envision the path. As he let out a thunderous roar, the energy rolled off him and shot in a laser tight stream toward Hawkins, slicing through several of the Order’s soldiers as the energy searched for its victims. Caitriona closed her eyes and saw Hawkins riding away from the fray, flanked on either side by several of his men. Coward, she thought.

She projected the new coordinates and vision to Duncan, who kicked his horse into gear. He was going to try and get closer. As he sped into battle, he drew his Claymore, hacking at soldiers who were bent on killing him. She screamed and nearly lost her connection to him. Again, she heard Nicolas in her head, focus Caitriona or we all die here today. She moaned and used her energy to cast a wide net of protection around Duncan.

As he was fighting one of the Order’s men, she saw another man charge him from his left. His stallion danced nervously, eager to be away from the battle and the smell of blood. Entering Duncan’s mind, she sent him a vision of the man who was approaching on his left. Duncan made short work of the man in front of him and spun the stallion just in time to slice through the young soldier who was approaching with deadly intent.

Where, Caitriona? She heard her lover in her head and knew what he was asking. She closed her eyes and let her inner vision scour the surrounding country. She saw Hawkins climbing aboard a shuttle and her heart sank. He was getting away. She projected the image to Duncan, who maneuvered his way from the battle, yelling commands to his troops.

Her breath was coming in short bursts as she fought to maintain the connection to him. She could feel the wind whip her hair, the sun beating down on her as she scrambled to find Hawkins.

Caitriona felt a wave of nausea wash over her as she abruptly opened her eyes and collapsed on the ground, the link between them severed. She couldn’t breathe. It was as if a heavy weight were anchored on her chest. She pushed herself to her knees gasping, trying to pull air into her lungs.

“Let go,” Nicolas said to her, crawling next to her. “You have to let go of your energy.”

She didn’t know what he meant. The connection had already been severed. She started to panic as the world swam before her and she fought for oxygen.

“Katerine,” he yelled again. “Stop this!”

She collapsed again and rolled to her back, her eyes looking up at the sky. How beautifully fragile we are that so many things can take but a moment to alter our lives forever, she thought as she slipped into the darkness of death.