As they stepped outside, Oskar’s senses instantly went on alert, his eyes scanning the busy streets for any sign of danger, any face that didn’t fit in with the usual crowd. But how was he to tell? He’d been away so long he didn’t recognize many people any more. Any one of them might be an enemy.
As they walked, the air smelled of wood smoke and damp earth after the recent snow. The city was alive with its own heartbeat, but underneath the hum of activity lurked an unsettling tension that sent shivers down Oskar’s spine.
It was bad enough when he’d thought he only had his old acquaintances to contend with, but now he learned that the Disinherited were here as well? Did they know where his townhouse was? Did they know about Lily? Were they a threat to her?
The questions swirled in his mind as they walked, and he didn’t come up with any answers. As they turned a corner, a gust of wind tore through the narrow alleyway, biting through their clothing with chilling intensity. Lily shivered, and Oskar had to resist the urge to put his arm around her. Instead, he stepped closer, using his larger frame as a shield against the harsh winter elements.
She pushed a stray strand out of her eyes. There was a firm set to her lips, a fierceness in her gaze. The same fierceness that had stirred something deep inside him last night.
His mind wandered back to that stolen moment yesterday; her soft lips on his, the heat of her body against him. It was as if time had stopped for that moment when their lips had met. But then reality came crashing down and he’d pulled away.
She’d been hurt by that, he knew. But better that than the danger she’d be in if it went any further. If anyone should learn how he felt about her... The thought sent dread tingling through his veins. What had happened with Bryn Fletcher and his gang was evidence enough of what she would face.
Finally, the guild house loomed in the distance, its walls etched against the ashy blue sky. As they neared, an unexpected sight caught Oskar’s attention. A throng of horses were clustered around the entrance, stamping and huffing in the chill air as though newly arrived and a group of armed men was busy dismounting.
Oskar’s steps slowed as his gaze flicked over them, but then sped up again as he recognized his sword-brothers, Kai Stewart and Conall Sinclair among the group. Relief swept through him. Finally!
Kai spotted them first. He jumped off his horse and hurried over, grinning, Conall following closely behind. Both men wore the same uniform—dark breeches, leather jerkin adorned with the insignia of their Order, long swords hanging from their belts—but their faces were as different as night and day.
Kai Stewart had white-blond hair, piercing blue eyes, and a cocky grin. Conall Sinclair wore a serious expression and his wolf-gray eyes missed nothing.
“Oskar,” Kai greeted him with a hearty clap on the shoulder. “It’s good to see ye, my friend.”
Conall, ever the more serious of the two, simply nodded in acknowledgment before turning his piercing gaze to Lily. “And who might this be?”
“This is Lily,” Oskar introduced, placing a protective hand on the small of her back. “Lily, meet Kai Stewart, my commander, and Conall Sinclair, my sword-brother.”
Kai gave her a charming wink while Conall simply bowed his head.
Lily’s gaze sprang to Kai. “Kai Stewart?” she asked. “Rory Stewart’s brother? The one who can open portals through time?”
Kai blinked, looking startled. “How do ye know about that?”
Oskar looked around to make sure nobody else was in earshot. “There’s a lot to tell ye,” he said under his breath. “We’d better go inside.”
Kai nodded, recognizing the tone of Oskar’s voice. “Aye. Come on then.”
As the rest of the men who’d arrived with Kai and Conall were escorted to the barracks, Kai led the four of them through the corridors of the guild house until they reached the small room Kai used as his study when he was in Edinburgh. He ushered them inside, pulled off his riding gloves, and tossed them onto the desk.
He strode to the fireplace then turned around and faced Oskar and Lily. “All right, Oskar,” he said. “What’s going on? Where are Magnus and Emeric?”
As he had done with Torvik, Oskar recounted everything that had happened from the time himself, Magnus and Emeric had left Dun Saith with Alfred Brewer. This time though, he left nothing out. He explained Lily’s origins and how Irene MacAskill seemed to have had a hand in bringing her here. Finally, he explained that Lily had spotted Alfred in Edinburgh earlier today.
When his tale was finished, Kai and Conall exchanged dark looks.
“The Brewers,” Kai breathed. “Is there no end to their schemes? We thought we’d seen the last of them when we finally dealt with Leif Snarlsson.”
Conall’s gray eyes flashed with anger. “We should have known that eliminating their commander wouldnae have broken them. Only made them more desperate.”
Kai nodded and then looked at Oskar. “This changes everything. If Alfred and Alice are here in the city, we have to find them, and fast.”
“Aye, we do,” Oskar agreed. “Torvik has people out scouring the countryside looking for Magnus and Emeric but I suspect we’ve been looking in the wrong place. We need to be searching the city.”
“Without alerting the Disinherited that we know they’re here.” Kai sighed, running a hand through his white-blond hair, then turned to look at Lily. “I’m sorry ye got caught up in all this,” he said. “When this is over, I’ll take ye to my brother, Rory. He’ll send ye home.”
“Thank you,” Lily said softly. “I appreciate that.”
Oskar’s gut twisted at the hope in her voice. Was she really so desperate to get home? Was she really so desperate to get away from him?
