“They are facts,” Ethan said defensively. “Science has proved them to be so.” He followed Cathal back to the inn, grabbing both their coats from the coat hooks by the back door while Cathal returned his empty cup to the kitchen.

  “Thank you.” Cathal shrugged on his coat, glad for the extra warmth. “How did you know this one was mine?”

  Ethan grinned and tapped his nose. “Elementary, my dear Cathal.”

  “Sherlock Holmes?” It was a while since Cathal had read the Conan Doyle novels so he wanted to check he had the correct reference.

  “You’ve heard of the great detective, I see.” Ethan missed a beat before continuing. “But then he would have been very much in vogue during your last visit, would he not?”

  “That would probably depend on who you spoke to at the time, but that tends to be true for most things, doesn’t it?” Cathal opened the door, pulling his coat around him. Will was out riding Buttercup again, so there was no point in stopping off to see her. Whatever direction he chose to head in, he was limited to how far he could go, but that did not mean he couldn’t walk around the perimeter of the grounds. The original boundary of the property was somewhat larger than it was now.

  “It’s a decent walk to the church, if you want to go that far,” Ethan suggested. He pointed to the steeple in the distance. “The scenery is quite beautiful, especially as you get closer to the river.”

  “I would prefer to stay a little closer to home,” Cathal replied cautiously, unsure how much Ethan had been told. He closed the door behind them and began walking down the driveway toward the front gate. “We can go two fields over, which will bring us to the boundary line of the original property, and then walk around in a circle until we reach home.”

  “Don’t want a repeat of the horse incident, hmm?” Ethan shaded his eyes from the sun with his hand, taking in the route Cathal had suggested. He kept pace with Cathal easily, apparently used to walking at a decent speed.

  “Not really, no.” Cathal kept his voice light. He kicked at a loose stone, watching it land next to one of Heidi’s flower beds. “I’m not in the habit of doing such things, and I promised Tomas that I will not invite danger when there is no need to do so.”

  Ethan snorted. “He does seem to believe all of those stories you’ve told him.”

  “You don’t?” Cathal kept walking, picking up the pace. The gravel of the driveway made a scrunching noise under his boots. He couldn’t feel any open hostility as such from Ethan, but his emotions were difficult to pinpoint, vague at best and carefully hidden. Cathal’s ability had failed to warn him of Ethan’s approach, but he’d never been able to read other’s emotions as strongly as Tomas’s. This latter part of his ability had only begun to grow since they’d joined. It was to be expected that it would ebb and flow until it stabilized into whatever it finally decided to become. Until then he’d have to be more wary and not rely on it as much as he’d tended to do in the past.

  “I’m a man of science, Cathal. I don’t believe in all this talk of magic. Where’s your proof that this stuff you’ve talked about actually exists? I’m not seeing any of it.” Ethan shrugged. “I’m not wishing to be rude, but the more I hear of this, the more out there it sounds.”

  “Magic is merely science we don’t know about yet.” Cathal’s eyes narrowed. “I cannot exactly show you the proof you seem to need. I will not risk the portal in its current state, and doing so would break my promise to Tomas.”

  “Ah, yes, this portal you guys keep talking about. It figures Tomas would have told you about Clarke’s theory regarding magic and science. He’s repeated it often enough since he first heard it.” Ethan glanced over at the tree yet again. For someone who didn’t believe in magic, he appeared to be at least interested in the possibility of it, if not more. “If the portal exists, why haven’t we seen something come through it yet? I would have thought we would after all these wild stories about other worlds, crazy women, and demon-like creatures.”

  “The portal is real, Ethan, as is my world.” Cathal stopped and stood directly in front of Ethan. Deryn’s sanity was still debatable, and although the creatures living in the forests on her land were called demons by some, the explanation behind their existence was much more complicated than that. “I understand that you are worried for Tomas because he is your friend, but I assure you that I would sooner die than have any harm come to him.” His voice softened. “I love him, and we are to be married. It would mean a lot to him if we could at least show some degree of friendship toward each other.”

  “Tomas is more than my friend, Cathal. He’s like family, he and Kathleen both. I promised her that I’d come here and look out for him, and that’s what I’m doing.” Ethan’s tone took on a dangerous edge. “And while we’re on the subject of love…. If anything happens to Donovan because of this stuff, whether it’s true or not aside, I’ll fucking kill you.”

  “I would expect nothing less.” That answered the question as to whether the feelings Donovan had toward Ethan were returned. “I do not wish anyone any harm, Ethan, but both of them have the right to make their own decisions about this, as do you.” His fist clenched; he unfurled it. “Neither Tomas nor I are a bloody submissive or ever will be. I doubt Donovan is either, so don’t treat him as such.” He’d come to this world to escape those expectations, not to hear someone who was supposed to be a friend start talking about them.

  “Whoa.” Ethan frowned. “What the hell are you on about? I never said anything about making decisions for other people.” He took a deep breath. “I will never be with someone that I don’t respect as my equal. Ever. I’ve seen too much of that crap, and I won’t stand for it. You don’t know me, Emerys, so don’t presume to act as though you do.” He muttered something under his breath, pushed past Cathal, and began walking toward the gate.

  Cathal caught up with him, placing a hand on his arm to still him. “Ethan, please.” Ethan scowled at him. “You’re right. I do not know you, and I am not presuming to. You….” How had Tomas phrased that again? “You pushed a very big button, and I reacted. In my world couples are usually made up of a dominant and a submissive. I don’t like it and never have, so I don’t appreciate any implication that our relationship is anything like that.”

  “Right.” Ethan removed Cathal’s hand but otherwise didn’t move. “Okay, fine. So we’ve got off to a less than stellar start with this.” He sighed. “My apologies,” he said stiffly. “It won’t happen again.”

  “But you still don’t believe me?”

  “Would you in my position? You turn up, my best friend who’s never shown any interest in anyone, male or female, suddenly falls for you, and then both of you disappear for six weeks.” Ethan began counting off on his fingers. “Scaring and worrying several people in the process, I might add. You’re not exactly gaining brownie points here. Shall I go on?”

  “Please do.” If they got this out into the open, they could at least attempt to work through it and move forward. Otherwise this was going to be a very unpleasant visit for all of them. Ethan was trying to protect the people he cared about, and the explanations he’d been given went against the beliefs with which he was raised. His reaction was understandable, even though it would not be easily smoothed over.

  “Tomas might have been able to find your precious portal and follow you, but what about those of us stuck here not knowing where the hell either of you were or whether you were still alive? Logically I still don’t believe in the thing, but the more I think about it, the more it appears to be the only explanation. Occam’s Razor and all that.” Ethan paused to snatch a breath. “If you were so worried about him, why the fuck did you leave him a way through? It doesn’t make sense.”

  So Ethan did believe it existed, despite his words to the contrary. He was angry, and rightly so. “I didn’t.” Cathal had not intended for Tomas to follow. “I gave myself up to the Falcons so that they would leave him here.” It might be forbidden to take someone from this world through the portal into Naearu, but the Falcons who had come for him were not working for the king. Deryn’s interests always colored her interpretation of the law, and if she had already discovered Cathal’s intentions toward Tomas, that would have overridden all else. “Christian left the flute for him to find after I dropped it.”

  “That would be the guy who is a cat?” A vein in Ethan’s forehead twitched. Cathal nodded. “See how crazy this all sounds? If I went to the authorities with any of it they’d drag me off in a straitjacket.”

  “Sometimes the answer is the one in front of you, even if it is difficult to believe.” Cathal remembered how he’d felt when Uncle Alden had told him that the stories about this world were real. “Doesn’t even a part of you still believe in magic, Ethan?”

  “I don’t know.” Ethan’s expression flattened to an emotionless mask. “Show me some proof, Cathal. Something I can see, rather than stories that I can’t believe.”

  Cathal bit his lip, considering his options. Neither his nor Will’s abilities manifested themselves in ways that could be seen. Christian’s did, but that wasn’t really an option at the moment. With the mood his cousin was in, it was doubtful he would be very cooperative even if it were suggested.

  There might be a way, but it was risky, and Tomas would not be happy. But then, Tomas would not be happy knowing Ethan was upset by this because he couldn’t bridge the distance between his science and the reality of magic.

  “I will do what I can,” Cathal said slowly. “Whether you see it as proof or not is up to you, but it’s all I can offer.” He glanced toward the tree and then at Tomas’s ring, whispering a mental apology to his betrothed. “It is not my intention to upset you, Ethan, or cause trouble between you and Tomas. I know he considers you a close friend and holds you in high regard.” They were in this world now, and yet he was still not free from the reach of his own. He had no past here, at least not one he could prove. The false identity papers would help, but those such as Ethan would always see them for what they were: a fabrication to hide a world that was only usually glimpsed or whispered about by the inhabitants of this one.

  “He holds you in high regard too, Cathal.” Ethan offered a small branch of what had the potential to be friendship. “I’m sorry. I probably shouldn’t have said all of this, but I tend to speak my mind. I always have. I have very little patience for people who hide things, as I tend to figure it’s usually not for good reason.”

  “I’ve only hidden things to keep those I care about safe.” Cathal took several deep breaths as they walked out the front gate. Nothing happened. He was being foolish. He’d already ridden farther, and his leash bound him to the original boundaries of the property, not the existing ones.

  The grass in the next field was damp after the previous night’s rainfall. This particular field had always been empty, even in Alice’s time, but in the one beyond there was a man-made structure approximately a foot high. It was rectangular in shape but had an oval roof. It was an unusual looking thing, not made by nature but by man. With its roof of speckled, mossy stone propped up by two pillars at each end, it was reminiscent of a tiny church. It still stood guard as it had always done, marking the boundary between Alice’s lands and those of her neighbor.

  “The road to hell is meant to be paved with good intentions,” Ethan reminded him, walking on a little ahead to the fence separating the two fields. There was a stile directly in front of them so they wouldn’t have to climb the fence itself.

  “What’s done is done, Ethan. I can’t change what actions I’ve taken in the past, but I can remember them for the future in the hope that I don’t make the same mistakes again.” Cathal loosened the top button of his jacket. The air was growing heavier, but that was to be expected, even if the low hum that accompanied it was not. “Bees,” he mumbled. It sounded like bees.

  “What?” Ethan looked around. “Where? I can’t see anything.”

  Had he said that aloud? “It was nothing.” He pointed toward the boundary marker. “Look, we’re almost there.”

  “What is that thing?” Ethan peered into the distance.

  Cathal scratched at his wrist. “I’ve always presumed that it was made by someone with a sense of humor. It’s a boundary marker, but apart from that… I don’t know.” He felt a touch of cold against his face, a brush of ice against his mind.

  It was a warning. He’d felt it enough to recognize it as such, but it didn’t make sense. The boundary marker hadn’t moved. He peered at it, making sure. He was nervous after last time. That had to be it.

  In the distance the old oak’s branches groaned, as though protesting a strong wind, yet here the grass did not bend. In fact it barely moved.

  “There is probably a good reason for it being as it is. There usually is.” Ethan climbed the stile, waiting at the other side for Cathal to join him. He followed Cathal’s gaze, his brow creased in thought.

  “There is usually a good reason for most things.” Cathal began to climb, swayed, and grabbed at the stile to steady himself. Why was it suddenly so hot? He’d been freezing only moments before. His breath wheezed as he struggled to fill his lungs. He heard his voice faintly, as though from a distance. It was croaky. His throat hurt.

  Suddenly his surroundings spun, his vision darkening. He felt himself falling forward over the fence, tried to stop, but couldn’t. The ground came up to meet him, the grass hard and wet underneath him as he hit it with a thud.

  The buzzing noise grew louder, almost deafening. He edged back toward the fence, trying to escape the darkness. It reached for him. His stomach churned and he tasted bile.

  This shouldn’t be happening. Not yet. He wasn’t at the boundary.

  “Are you okay?” Ethan sounded calm, but waves of concern rolled off him, building to almost panic. He reached for Cathal, trying to help but not sure how.

  Cathal shook his head, trying to form the words, but he couldn’t catch his breath. The sleeve of his coat rode up to reveal his tattoo. It was a fiery red, burning to almost black.

  No, this wouldn’t happen again. He wouldn’t allow it.

  The enchantment tightened. He clawed at his throat, pulling away from Ethan, and tried to crawl back the way he’d come. He couldn’t speak, couldn’t breathe. The darkness reached for him again. He shuddered, tried to find the energy within to fight it, but couldn’t.

  He was tired. Too tired.

  I’m sorry, Tomas. I tried to keep my promise. I love you.

  TOMAS dropped the glass in his hand. It hit the floor, broken slivers and water spreading in all directions. The room spun. He grabbed at the corner of his desk, trying to steady himself.

  No, no. Not again.

  “Cat!” His hands went to his throat, clawing at a restraint that did not exist, his breathing ragged. Cathal was with Ethan. He’d seen them leave together. What the fuck was Ethan playing at? He knew Cathal couldn’t venture outside the boundary lines of the property. Tomas had told him what had happened last time.

  The edges of his vision darkened. Pain, panic, fear, and regret.

  No, Cat, don’t leave me. Please, no.

  Tomas dragged himself upright, started toward the door. He had to get help. But from where? Downstairs, if he could get downstairs.

  Then suddenly he could breathe again. He gasped for air, his mind racing, his skin as cold as ice. He tried reaching out with his mind, his emotions, to connect with Cathal, but there was nothing. Whatever had caused this was either gone or….

  Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

  He forced himself to move, to find Cathal. Last time they’d been lucky. This time Cathal wasn’t alone. Ethan didn’t share their connection. This wouldn’t affect him. He’d be able to protect Cathal and get him to safety.

  Wouldn’t he?

  SOMEONE was holding him, half dragging, carrying him. Cathal’s awareness returned with a jolt. He began to struggle, willing his body to cooperate as he tried to free himself, instinct taking over. They couldn’t take him. Not this time. He wouldn’t leave Tomas. He’d promised.

  Damn it. Why couldn’t he get free? Everything ached. His body felt and moved like lead.

  He reached for his knife. His captor’s breath hissed.

  “Cathal?” Ethan stilled, loosened his hold, and lowered Cathal to the ground before taking a step back. He sounded scared. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m only trying to help. You need to calm down. It’s okay. I promise.”

  “Ethan?” Cathal tried to catch his breath. He opened one eye cautiously, then the other. The air still felt heavy, but at least he could breathe now. What the hell had happened? This wasn’t the boundary. It couldn’t be. The mound marked it. It always had. “I’m sorry. I thought….”

  There was no one else there. Just the two of them. God. Another minute and he would have…. He’d almost drawn his knife on Tomas’s friend. He bit his lip, turning away.

  “Cat?” It was the first time Ethan had called him by that name. “Are you sure you’re okay?” He pulled his phone from his pocket. “You still don’t look well, and you’re pale as hell. Should I call an ambulance?” He stared at it. “Damn it. That looked like some kind of fit.”

  “Will. Be.” Cathal stood and nearly fell over. The energy he’d found to fight a conceived captor had left him as quickly as it had come. “Not ill. Need help.” He took another deep breath, sucking the air into his lungs. It was so hot. He tried to shrug off his coat, but the material clung to him. Perspiration ran down his face. He blinked it out of his eyes. “Still too close,” he managed to croak, hoping Ethan would know what he meant.

  Ethan frowned. He looked from Cathal to the mound and then to the tree. “Stop talking,” he ordered, “and save your breath.” He helped Cathal to stand, then slid his arm around him. “Tell me when we’re far enough away from whatever the hell that was. If you’ve done what I think you just have, you’re either very brave or a bloody idiot.” He sighed. “Whichever it is, you’ve shown yourself to be a good match for Tomas, stubborn idiot that he can be.” Ethan rolled his eyes. “Oh, and don’t worry, that wasn’t meant as a compliment to either one of you.”