“Let’s hope it’s not the dragon hunters.”
“No way. It has to be someone from Stonefire.”
There was a new noise, something that whirred, and then they both jumped back as a drill punctured the door. It quickly retreated, and she heard Kai’s voice ask, “Daisy, Freddie, are you in there!”
Daisy replied, “Yes! We got stuck. I’m so sorry, Kai. I am. Please get us out of here.”
The next voice was her mother’s . “Daisy, thank goodness! I was so worried, love. Are you all right?”
Then Freddie’s mother’s voice came through. “Freddie! Tell me you’re okay, lad.”
Daisy said, “Mum, Mrs. Atherton, we’re both fine. A little cold and dirty, but nothing else.”
Kai’s voice was next. “Stand back, both of you. We’re going to force the door open, and I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“We’re going!”
Daisy took Freddie’s hand and tugged. They waited on the far side of the room, hands clasped, and Daisy shuffled her feet. “I wonder how they found us.”
He squeezed her hand in his. “It doesn’t matter. But see? We’re not going to die, like I said.”
“There’s no way you could’ve seen this happening.”
“But I did. Stonefire wouldn’t just give up looking for us. I knew they’d find me. Find us. We’re clan and family.”
She hesitated before asking, “Even me?”
He turned his head and frowned at her. “Of course you. Why would you ask that?”
“I-I just sometimes think that they don’t want me to live on Stonefire.”
“I want you to live there, and so does my family. As do Bram, Kai, and Mr. MacLeod. And so many others. You’re part of Stonefire now, Daisy. Don’t ever doubt that.”
She’d known that, of course she had. But the doubts had always followed her around.
However, something about Freddie saying it made her believe it more.
The door crashed open, and she jumped and nearly fell backward. Freddie caught her and steadied her.
In the next second, her mum and Freddie’s raced in.
Her mum pulled her close and hugged her a little too tightly. “Oh, Daisy. I was so worried. And when your phone’s tracking signal disappeared?” She held her tighter. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
She hugged her mum back. “I’m sorry, Mum. But I learned about the buried Stonefire treasure, you see, and wanted to find it. But Freddie shouldn’t get into trouble. I convinced him to come. It was my idea, and I should be punished, not him.”
Mrs. Atherton, who was hugging Freddie, replied, “We’ll talk about all that later. Let’s get you two out of here and to someplace warm. Once you’ve eaten and slept, then we’ll talk about this latest escapade.”
Someone grunted, and Daisy looked up to see Bram.
And he didn’t look super happy.
She opened her mouth, but he beat her to it. “Your mothers are right, and we’ll discuss this in the morning. I don’t condone how you went about it, but I’m interested in how you found this place when no one has done so for decades.”
Freddie replied before she could. “It was Daisy who found the clue. She wanted to give Stonefire some of its history and treasure back, to prove she’s part of Stonefire too.”
Her cheeks heated. Why was Freddie saying that in front of not only Bram, but Kai, Nikki, and their parents, too?
Bram’s face softened. “You’ve been a part of Stonefire for a long time, lass. You have nothing to prove there.” He looked at her mum and then Freddie’s. “Nikki will escort you all outside, where Dr. Sid will check them over. If they’re fine, then take them home and make sure they rest. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”His gaze met Daisy’s again. “Even if we need to go over the clan rules a bit more—and extract a firmer promise to follow them—this place is amazing, Daisy. You’ve definitely given Stonefire some of its history back, and everyone will know you and young Freddie did it.” He arched an eyebrow. “But let’s follow the curfew hours from now on, aye?”
