Highland Protector (MacCoinnich Time Travels #5)(42)
Author: Catherine Bybee

“We don’t know. Amber certainly seems to have control of his power. She damn near knocked Simon across the room when he tried to stop her from bonding with Kincaid.”

“Oh, please, how can Amber knock anyone—”

“With Kincaid’s power. The shield he uses shot up and launched him. We were all so stunned. And Amber… her expression was so…”

“So what?”

“I don’t know…fierce? Yeah… close to violent. I didn’t recognize her.”

Selma rubbed her eyes, trying to picture the Amber Helen was describing. “Violent?”

“Yeah…”

“How is she now?”

“It’s hard to describe. Not harsh…just assertive.”

“Is that bad?”

“No, just…not her.”

Selma couldn’t help but wonder if any of them knew who Amber really was. “She’s been stuck in her own head, her own world for a long time. She’s bound to have some growing pains. And didn’t you say she and Kincaid were naked when you guys found Amber in the attic?”

“Yeah. Do you think that they—”

“They might have,” Selma interrupted Helen. “And I don’t know about you, but that’s a big deal, and it’s not like Amber has had an opportunity for a private conversation with another woman since Kincaid showed up. I hate to think she bonded with him because she had her first man-induced orgasm.”

“You think that’s why she did it?”

“Might be. The only way we will know anything is if we chat with her. Not that it matters, I guess. What’s done is done. You can’t undo a bonding.”

“You’re scaring me.”

“Yeah? Well, none of us really knows Kincaid. Will he want her to go to his time? Will she want to return to hers? Who are Kincaid’s parents…his gene pool?” One thing was certain. Selma had more questions than answers. “Tell you what, I have to drop something off at Jake’s house, and then I’ll come over. Maybe we can finally have some girl time with Amber. See where her head is.”

“That would be great. I don’t want to ask sex questions without some back up. And I don’t think Simon wants to know, and he’d make lousy back up if he was trying to pummel Kincaid.”

Selma swung her legs off the coffee table and walked into her office to gather her purse. “Not sure why he’d punch the guy. If he did take advantage of her, he married her.” Selma paused. “Wow. Amber and Kincaid are married, and they hardly know each other. That has to be freaking her out.”

“I’ll chill some wine for you and Amber. Just get here.”

Selma laughed. “You had me at wine.”

Chapter Eighteen

Raine stood with her arms crossed over her chest, her dark hair pulled back in a slick rope down her back.

Mouse spread images on the digital screen, one at a time, and told her his observations.

The image of a blonde woman standing within the embrace of a man worthy of the Highlands. “Her name is Helen. From what I can tell, she and this man are married,”

“Bonded?”

“I can’t say. They spoke aloud to each other without skipping sentences, so I don’t think they’re bonded. They’re both Druid. Of that, I have no doubt.”

“What’s his name?”

“She didn’t say it, but he did have a Scottish accent.” Another picture made it on the screen, this time an old woman.

“Mrs. Dawson, I assume.”

“I would have to assume that as well. She didn’t leave the house.”

Mouse scrolled the picture in closer until the image of another man came into view behind her. “I don’t have a name for this one. I think he is someone who knew Kincaid before he arrived in this century.”

Raine didn’t want Mouse to think…just to relay the facts. “What did the man say to make you assume this?”

“While the others were watching Amber, he was most concerned with Kincaid.”

She amassed the players in her head, attempted to place them in the manor. “Who else?”

“Only one other woman visited the house.” He placed an image of a woman with unruly red curls and pale skin on the display. “Her name is Selma Mayfair.”

Now that name Raine knew. “Of course.” The descendent of Liz and Fin. “She doesn’t live in the manor?”

“No.”

Raine paced the room while Mouse continued. “I managed to enter the house without detection.”

“How?”

“They were distracted, all of them. By the time I could hear the conversations, I learned Kincaid had bonded to Amber.”

Raine turned toward Mouse. “Only him to her?”

Mouse shook his head. “I don’t know the details, only that he bonded to her and they both fell into a deep sleep. Seems Kincaid was close to death when Amber woke and she bonded to him. It was in that moment I penetrated the manor. She wielded Kincaid’s power as if it were her own. That’s when I left to report here to you.”

Laughter sat on the tip of Raine’s tongue. “Kincaid bonded to Amber MacCoinnich? Oh, how unexpectedly delightful is that?”

Confusion marred Mouse’s face.

“I think it’s time for Amber to find out who she has bound herself to.” Raine ran her hand over the screen, found the image she wanted and pulled it on screen. “This book is in Dawson’s library. Probably high, unreachable. Make sure it’s seen.”

Mouse swallowed with a nod.

“And follow Selma. If she is out of the house, she’s the link inside. I need to know her weakness…those around her. Think chaos, Mouse. When needed, we need to have mass confusion.” That way no one from the future or the past would find their way to her. Not until she could fight them all. “If anyone shifts in time, return immediately so I can trace them.”

When Raine turned, Mouse was still standing there. “What are you waiting for?”

“Sorry.”

She blinked, and he disappeared.

“Amber MacCoinnich and Kincaid.” She laughed now, deep, rich and thought of how easy it was going to be to eliminate them both.

****

Jake wasn’t home so Selma let herself in, in the way only she could. She placed two small gift bags on his kitchen counter for the girls. The small card she left for the twins told them that in order for her to tell them apart, she gave them different colored necklaces. Hopefully, that would be all she needed to say to have them wear the protection crystals and keep them from harm.