The Skye Trilogy: Isle of Skye, Isle of Night, and Isle of Dawn. * Bonus: Scrumptious Skye Confections Cookbook* (81 page)

“No,”
Summer said. “It’s all a big misunderstanding. Machall is on our side. In fact, Willa is going to become very close with him…”

“What?” I roared and pushed myself away from
Summer. Robert came over and stood in front of me. I was going to lose it right here and now. Images started to erupt in my mind of Willa and Machall. A red haze began to cover my eyesight.

“Calm down Mathias,” Robert said. “Let her explain.”

“I don’t mean intimately,” Summer said. “Machall and Willa will become friends. He is going to be a huge help to her and Jeremiah.”

“Why is Jeremiah with them?” Riah asked

“Because of his talents,” Winifred said. “Isn’t that right? Jeremiah can sense magic from far away. He can pick up even the slightest charge in the air.”

“Yes,”
Summer said, nodding her head. “Machall’s not who you think he is. Trust me.”

“You and Patty boy are both skating on thin ice with me,” I said. “You got that?”

“Cecily, why don’t you take Summer to a guest room so she can freshen up?” Winifred asked

“I’m not playing hostess with the mostess Mother,” Cecily fumed. “I want to speak to Mathias in private right now.”

“Fine,” Winifred said. “Robert can you please go find Gussie and Cuddy. I think they need to know their son is in another realm unlawfully.”

“Mathias?” Cecily asked before turning and walking out of the room. I sighed inwardly and followed her. I had no desire to go head to head with her right now. There were a million other things I needed to think about and discuss with Robert and Winifred.

We walked into an empty formal living room, and Cormac shut the door. Cecily turned to him and held up her hand. “You can be in here Cormac but you better be quiet. It’s my turn to talk.”

Cormac held up his hands in surrender and stayed in position by the door. I braced myself as Cecily turned to me. Oh fuck, I thought, I did not want to do this right now.

“I know what it is going on with you and Willa, Mathias,” she said.” I want to know what your intentions are towards my daughter.”

“Cecily, barely an hour has passed since I sent Willa off into parts unknown,” I replied. “I also just found out Machall is with her. I do not have the time or the inclination right now to discuss the future beyond the next few days.”

“Well, you better start,” she fumed. “I will not have you fooling around with Willa. She is a good woman. She is not some girl you can just play around with and not make a commitment too.”

“You’re lecturing me on the importance of marriage?” I smiled in disbelief

“This isn’t about me and Cormac, Mathias.” Cecily yelled. “This is about you and Willa.”

“She doesn’t know does she?” I asked. “She doesn’t know that you and Cormac haven’t gotten around to being legally married?”

“That is neither here nor there,” she replied. “We just haven’t told her yet.”

“Oh, I’m fully aware of that because if she did know I’m pretty sure we would have to hear comments about it every five minutes.” I said. “I wonder how she’ll react. Actually, I just wonder what song she’ll start singing.”

“Oh good Lord,” Cormac muttered. “I can only imagine what she’ll come up with.”

“I want to know how you feel about her.” Cecily said. “I know she loves you and I need to know that you feel the same. Please, Mathias. I have to know.”

“Cecily,” I said softly as I walked over to her. “She is my life. She is my soul. I will do everything in my power to keep her safe and happy for the rest of my existence and even beyond that.”

Cecily let out a cry before she surprised me by throwing her arms around my neck. I was momentarily surprised, but I softened when I breathed in her familiar scent.

“Can I call you Mom?” I asked cheekily

“Mathias Wulfric Worthing don’t you dare.” Cecily smiled. I turned to Cormac and after a moment held out my hand. I was never that worried about Cecily’s reaction. I knew she could never stay mad at me. We had known each other too long. Cormac, on the other hand, was different. He was Willa’s father, and if I were in his shoes I would probably want to rip my heart out and cook it for dinner.

Cormac hesitated for so long that I had almost pulled my hand away, but he surprised me and shook it hard before whispering, “You hurt her, and I will kill you.”

“I wouldn’t expect any less of a reaction from you.” I replied. “Now if you both will excuse me…”

I walked out of the room and took a deep breath. One mess down and another one to handle before I could leave and go to Willa’s house to see our dogs, I thought. For some reason, their company was the only ones I wanted to keep until Willa came home.

I strode back into Winifred’s office. She was with Riah and Robert. I assumed
Summer was freshening up somewhere in the castle. They looked up as I entered, and Riah smiled. Riah had not only been Willa’s Guardian, but he was also one of her best friends. I used to be insanely jealous of their friendship, but I accepted it a while ago because I knew how much they genuinely cared for each other.

“Well, I bet that was fun,” Riah grinned. I shot him a warning look before turning to Winifred.

“You need to have Milton research anything he can about Machall,” I said. “I don’t care what Summer said. I still don’t trust him. There’s got to be a reason he wants to help Willa. He’s using her for something, and we need to find out what that is so that we are prepared.”

“Robert and I were just talking about that,” Winifred said

“I don’t know about anyone else, but I for one am sorry I can’t be there when Willa finds Machall with Jeremiah,” Riah said. “I think the new record for how many f-bombs one can use in a sentence might just have a new champion.”

“That’s our girl,” Robert smiled. “Don’t worry Mathias, Willa can handle Machall.”

“I know she can, but I’m still weary of his sudden appearance,” I said. “So am I to be put back into my cell?”

Winifred looked startled. “Why on earth would I do that?”

“Winifred, I was still in jail when Willa broke me out, and we left the island.” I explained. “I know that there are still tests you probably want done on me before you feel comfortable having me in charge again.”

“The only place I want you is back in the Guardian offices where you belong,” she said

I shook my head. “I’m sorry but I won’t be much help at the moment.”

“Why won’t you be any help?” Riah asked. “You’re the Head Gu
ardian, Mathias. We need you to run the ship.”

I turned to Robert. “I can’t resume my duties until Willa comes home. I’m sure you understand.”

Robert who was mated with a Gypsy just nodded. “Go home Mathias.”

“I’ll be at Willa’s,” I replied before leaping out of the window and flying towards Willa’s house. I heard the dogs barking and when I landed a giant brown and white dog jumped on me.

“Hey there, it’s ok big boy,” I said as I patted Cupcake, Willa’s St. Bernard. “She’ll be home soon. I promise.”

I reached down and gave my gray Weimaraner a pat on the head. Oscar looked regal sitting there. I could tell that he knew something was wrong and that it had to do with Willa. I was just heading into the house when I heard a voice call out to me.

“Yo, Mathias,” Polly, Willa’s best friend who was also a wood Nymph yelled. “What the fuck man?”

I groaned. The last person I wanted to talk to right now was Willa’s soul sister BFF. I plastered on a pleasant smile. “Ms. Woods, how are you this evening?”

“Don’t Ms. Woods me, Mathias,” Polly snorted. “I want to know what the 411 is right now. Where is Willa? I knew she was going to break you out of the clink. I also knew something funky was going down. She tried to blow off that last line of the poem, but I knew that I had heard it before. ‘We only part to meet again.’ I mean didn’t she think I would figure it out?”

“I’m not sure what you mean,” I said politely

“I know everyone thinks I’m a moron but please, I remembered Mr.Sumners always said that to her. So he’s Patcoena right?” Polly asked but kept on talking. “Willa went with him so she could take the king’s powers and become a bad ass weapon.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking…” I started to say but Polly interrupted me

“Whatever,” she said. “I figured out the paintings. I know that Willa is the Fae Sanctity. It’s cool I won’t say anything.”

“Polly,” I said. “We need to keep this to ourselves for the time being. It’s for Willa’s protection.”

Polly rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I know. Listen she’s not going to Woodlia is she? I do not want her to find my parents, especially since I haven’t told her everything about them yet.”

“I’m not sure if Willa will even be going to Woodlia,” I answered. I was impatient to get away from Polly. I needed time to myself so I could think or as Willa would say brood about everything. Listening to Polly ramble on and on was starting to annoy me.

“I hope not,” she mumbled

I gave her a small smile and turned to go inside the house.

“Hey Matt,” Polly said. “You know she’s going to be all right? I mean Willa’s strong and I don’t mean her awesome powers. I mean she’s always able to put up with a lot of crap. She may bitch about it and throw a little temper tantrum from time to time but in the end she always manages to come out on top. She’s going to do just fine. She’s the bravest person I know, and if you tell her I said that I’m so going to deny it.”

“I’ll take it to my grave,” I replied. I walked into her back door and stood there for a minute. I didn’t even know what to do with myself. I went through the motions of feeding the dogs but after I was done I just sat down on one of the chairs out on the back deck and stared at the ocean lost in thought.

Oscar and Cupcake settled in next to me. I knew that they wouldn’t go very far until Willa came home. The three of us missed her so much. She was our lifeline and until she came back there would be no happiness. I sank down further in the chair and looked up at the sky.

I didn’t move for five days.

Chapter Three

“You expect me to believe that you want to help me kill Lord Fonn?” I asked

“I have no reason to lie to you.” Machall said. “I have waited a very long time for this moment and now that it is within my reach I intend to do whatever I have to do to make this wish a reality.”

“Can you just hold that thought for a moment?” I asked. “I need to change my birth certificate so that it reads born yesterday.”

“Willa, please listen to Machall, he truly does want to help us.” Patcoena said

“I’m not staying here and listening to his lies.” I said. “I’ve seen and heard enough.”

I grabbed Jeremiah and tried to push through the spell that Patcoena had cast to make me remain still. Machall grabbed my hand and forced my chin up with his other hand.

“What would you do if someone took away your mate?” he asked. “What lengths would you go to get them back?”

I stopped struggling and looked in Machall’s eyes. His sherry colored eyes had so much pain in them that it took my breath away.

“What are you talking about?” Jeremiah asked. “You’re mated Machall?”

Machall didn’t answer he continued to stare at me until I found myself sucked into his hypnotic gaze. “See me Willa. Feel me.”

I almost cried out as I looked into his soul. I had never felt so much pain and anguish. I closed my eyes to try and escape the onslaught of emotions that I could sense within him, but my mind filled with images from his own memories. I could see a beautiful woman with curly mahogany hair and a wide smile laughing as she twirled around in Machall’s arms. I saw them both cry tears of joy as they lay entwined in each other’s arms, staring down at a magnificent diamond ring that Machall had placed gently on her finger. Wonderful loving memories came one after another until I almost smiled at their apparent deep love and happiness.

Machall’s’ screams of agony were like nails on a chalkboard a few seconds later. His roar could rival any lion in the jungle. I knew without a doubt that this woman was taken from his life without his consent. There were still many questions that I had to ask him, and until he proved himself to me I would never feel quite comfortable in his presence. I also at that moment knew, even though, I still didn’t trust
him, I would do anything in my power to help him get the woman he loved back if I could.

If it was true, I reminded myself. I knew Lord Machall could plant images in other peoples mind but for some reason I just felt that this was real. I don’t think you could ever put a false emotion as strong as the one I felt in anyone’s mind.