Chapter 8
Collum searched for her as he exited the gift shop. Of course, she hadn't been waiting outside the men’s room when he finished. Not that he'd expected her to listen to him. He'd seen her walk into Starbucks for a coffee, felt no danger and took the minute to pick her up something for the flight. He couldn't say why it mattered to him. The reality was he knew nothing about her or how her powers would eventually manifest. Hell, she could wake up tomorrow with horns, or an insatiable need to suck his bone marrow. Getting emotionally entangled wasn't smart and Collum prided himself on being smart.
As he considered the stuffed animal in his hands, he admitted that wasn't entirely true concerning the women in her family. He'd made a fool of himself with Kaylen years ago; prancing and preening, like an untrained whelp just entering transition. Making moves on a married woman. Kaylen treated him with respect while turning him down. In the end, he’d loved her like a sister. He’d never stopped making stupid choices for her though. With Domhall, he’d crossed a line he shouldn’t have.
A wave of unease hit him on the walk back to the Starbucks. He shoved the bear in his jacket and started running when he sensed them. He felt their intentions, knew they were between himself and Alex. He rounded the corner at a dead run, ready to kill anyone in his way. His diversion was about to cost Alex her life.
He skirted around the corner with raised hands, ready to strike—only to be confronted by the site of Domhall holding Alex’s hand. Those entwined fingers were the only thing that kept Collum from losing control. He skidded to a halt, watched as Domhall directed pulsing blue energy at two Elemental soldiers. The scene was oddly soothing, yet ultimately terrifying.
The humans felt nothing, saw nothing, but what Domhall wanted them to. Whoever sent these soldiers had had no idea Domhall would be at the airport, or entirely underestimated the old man's power. His eyes glowed with the fires of Valhalla as he chanted in the old language. The Elemental soldiers were young and unschooled and had no hope of blocking their minds to him. Collum almost pitied them. Within seconds their eyes glazed over and they vanished.
Collum notice a third soldier approaching the couple from behind. A sword bulged under the man’s jacket. He swung behind the fool on silent feet. Death was on the soldier with one twist. A slight crack. A moment to break a neck and quietly place the body in the nearest chair. It was over within seconds and no one around them noticed a thing. Collum hardly broke his stride. A second later he stood next to Domhall.
The old man nodded slightly. “Well, it's about time you fucking showed up. I told her we didn't need you, but she insists we drag you along. We better move before dumb and dumber,” he nodded to the corpse in the chair, “and even dumber’s, friends return. The next group might not be so easily swayed by my charms.”
Collum gritted his teeth. He pointed to the dead man in the chair and said, “Do you want to cloak the body to buy us a bit more time?"
“See,” Domhall said to Alex as he cast a cloaking spell over the dead Elemental, “the man has no couth whatsoever.” He grinned triumphantly. “My plane is waiting, let's move.”
Collum refused to give him the satisfaction of a thank you. He stared directly at Alex, waited for her nod of approval and said, “I have my own plane,” before adding quietly, “If you damage her, Dom, I’ll kill you like I did him.”
Domhall laughed and plugged his headphones back in. Above the sound of Nirvana blasting out his ears, he replied, “Same goes here . . . beast.”
Collum led them across the tarmac to the waiting plane. He trusted Domhall about as much as he trusted . . . well he didn't trust him at all. Too much had happened, but they needed to reach Europe quickly and he knew Alex would never leave without the man now. Maybe his power could cloak them until they reached his land. As soon as their feet touched his estate Domhall’s interference would no longer be tolerated.
Domhall strode forward holding Alex’s hand. “Quit making stupid plans. I can feel your eyes burning into my back and you're making it hard for me to concentrate on my music. You aren't taking my granddaughter anywhere without me. Get used to it.”
“Your granddaughter?” Collum sneered. “Kaylen worked hard to keep her from you. You expect me to believe that you've suddenly changed into a doting grandpa?”
“You’re so goddamn pompous. Kaylen didn't tell you everything, you know. I was her fucking husband. You were just some guy who kept getting in the way. Get in my way now and I'll take you down.”
“Don't forget who you’re dealing with, boy,” Collum growled.
“Oh, oh big man on campus. Losing your constant cool, are you?” Domhall laughed. “Don't forget who I am, lizard—who I was.”
“You know what, you crazy shit, I've changed my mind. You aren't coming anywhere with us.”
Alex finally wrenched her hand out of Domhall’s. “Stop. Both of you, stop! I don’t know, or trust, either one of you completely at this point. I’m literally betting my life that you are both here to help me. I’m trusting my instincts. I’m not going to listen to this crap for much longer though. So, can you both get back to the job of saving my life and deal with your personal issues later? God, for two guys who are supposed to be so old and powerful you are acting like children. Now, would you shut up and get me to England, and to whoever can tell me what I am.”
Alex stomped to the plane, while grumbling something about boys, and egos, and why did she have to get stuck with these two.
Domhall followed quickly after her, smirking at Collum. “You heard her, get on the plane and quit acting like such an infant.”