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  Hatred puckered her face as she stared at me.

  “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  “Dullahan!” she shrieked. “Come forth!”

  Muffin hissed. Oh crap!

  “What is it?” I demanded.

  Run! Go horse, go! Muffin shrieked at Stan, who picked up speed.

  I clung to him, hanging on for dear life. Lachlan’s horse began to gallop, racing through the maze. The spectral hounds kept pace ahead of us, sprinting as fast as their long legs could carry them. Even they seemed frightened.

  A galloping sounded from behind us, a horse’s hooves kicking up the ground.

  I turned to catch sight of it.

  A shadowy, headless man pursued us, riding an enormous black horse. The figure carried his head in his hands. A grin stretched across his face, going from ear to ear.

  A chill raced down my spine.

  This creature was what the Bean Nighe had called for when she’d shrieked “Dullahan”.

  The Dullahan leaned forward on its mount and spurred it on, charging after us.

  Go! Muffin meowed. You can’t defeat the Dullahan. He just needs to touch you to kill. There’s no fighting back.

  Oh, hell.

  My heart thundered as Stan galloped away from the Dullahan, sprinting through the maze. I bounced like I was riding a mechanical bull, barely managing to hold on.

  Ahead of me, Lachlan rode like a freaking equestrian. As if he’d been born in a saddle. Stan followed the Cŵn Annwn, turning left and right and looping back around the curves of the knot.

  Around me, the hedges began to shift, magic swelling. Faces appeared, but we went so fast that I could hardly make out details.

  “Get to the water,” they whispered. Branches pointed like arms.

  Stan neighed, charging onward.

  We burst from the maze, out into an open field. Stan bucked, then darted forward so fast that I lost my seat, tumbling off. A curse sounded from up ahead as I slammed into the ground, pain shooting through me.

  Lachlan had fallen off, too.

  The horses had ditched us.

  4

  They’d taken us as far as they could, and now they were getting the heck out of Dodge, the Dullahan scaring them off.

  I scrambled to my feet and whirled around.

  The Dullahan burst out of the hedges, headed straight for us. The Cats of Catastrophe chased him, heads low and strides determined. Princess Snowflake III leapt, her white fur whipping in the wind, and landed on the horse’s haunches, digging in with her claws.

  The horse neighed and bucked, buying us precious seconds.

  I turned back to Lachlan, who’d already shifted into his black lion form. His black fur glinted in the sunlight, and he roared.

  The message was clear. I sprinted toward him, then leaped onto his back and clung tightly to his mane. He took off, racing across the grass, away from the Dullahan.

  My heart thundered, deafening, and I crouched low, the wind whipping at my hair, as Lachlan charged away. In the distance, a river snaked through the field.

  Get to the water. That was what the spirits in the hedges had said.

  Lachlan raced for the river, leaping over rocks and shrubs. The Cats of Catastrophe joined us, sprinting alongside.

  “We need to cross!” I screamed.

  He veered for the thinnest part of the river, crouching low and leaping over in one smooth glide. He landed on the other side with a hard thud. The cats followed, jumping unnaturally far. I turned, heart in my throat.

  The Dullahan had skidded to a stop, a grimace stretched across the head that he carried in his arms. Magic swirled in the river, sparkling and bright.

  A massive black stallion leapt out of the glittering water. The horse charged the Dullahan, whose own mount gave a terrified shriek and whirled on its hind legs, spinning and racing back toward the maze.

  The black stallion gave chase, galloping after the Dullahan.

  Panting, I sagged on Lachlan’s back. “What the heck was that?”

  Muffin meowed. Kelpie. A water spirit.

  “And the natural enemy of the Dullahan, it seems.” I climbed off Lachlan’s back.

  He shifted back to human and scrubbed his hand over his face. “To be honest, I wasn’t sure I’d get us out of that.”

  My heart was still slowing from the adrenaline. My muscles felt like pudding. Without him, I wouldn’t have stood a chance at outrunning the Dullahan. “But you did. Thanks.”

  The sound of galloping hooves sounded from behind, and I turned, heart leaping into my throat.

  The Kelpie cantered toward us, his black coat gleaming in the light. He slowed as he neared. A sparkling green light swirled around him, and he shifted into the form of a young man with dark eyes. His long hair was threaded with water weeds, and he was as pale as a lifelong IT specialist.

  Princess Snowflake III sauntered up to him, inspecting him. Bojangles followed, along with Muffin.

  Did he smell like fish?

  I sniffed subtly, but only got a whiff of the scent of a fresh river.

  “Thank you for driving off the Dullahan,” Lachlan said.

  “Is there anything we can do for you?” I asked. It was good form to return kindness with kindness, after all. And I could use all the allies I could get in this crazy realm.

  The Kelpie inspected us. Well, me, mostly. His gaze traveled over me as if I were a workhorse he was thinking of buying. Then he nodded, seeming to have made up his mind.

  “You must stop the invaders,” he said. “The old tales say that one such as you will stop a force that poisons Otherworld. Do this, and I am repaid.”

  “There are tales about me?”

  “Aye, if you are who I think you are. But you must succeed. Otherworld depends on you.”

  “Who is invading?” I pointed to the black scar on the land that we were following. It had come out of the maze along with us.

  “I didn’t see them. I was underwater and the Dullahan approved of their presence, so he didn’t gallop after them and wake me. But I felt something, even underneath my river. A darkness. You’ll have to be strong and cunning to defeat them, for they possess immense strength.”

  I nodded. “I’ll do it.”

  “Go, then. And if you meet the fae, do not partake of the food in their realm or you may never escape.” With that, he turned and walked off.

  The cats looked at him longingly but didn’t chase after.

  My druid sense pulled me away from the river, so I turned and set off. Lachlan joined me, and we walked in silence. Thoughts raced through my mind. Who was invading Otherworld? What did they want?

  Muffin meowed. Are we there yet?

  I glanced down at him. “I have no idea, but you sound like a kid in the back of a minivan.”

  I wouldn’t turn down a Happy Meal.

  “Or a bite of the Kelpie?”

  He looked tasty. Yummy fishy horse man. He started to purr. But really, how far are we?

  “I don’t know. My druid sense is pulling me along, but it’s vague.” I rubbed my arms, disliking the new tattoos. The premonition magic had already been wonky, but these made it even harder to use.

  Fortunately, I liked a challenge.

  As long as it didn’t kill me.

  And Otherworld seemed determined to kill me.

  We walked for over an hour before the terrain changed, going from rolling green field to forest. Oak trees loomed around us, shading us from the midday sun. The black scar on the land cut through the forest, forming a path that we followed.

  We were about a quarter mile into the forest when Lachlan grabbed my arm. I stopped abruptly.

  Lachlan pointed ahead.

  I squinted through the forest, barely catching sight of a flash of white. I leaned left to peer around some trees and spotted it. “There are ruins there.”

  “Aye.”

  We crept forward on silent feet, alert and wary. The black streak that scarred the land cut straight toward the white
marble ruins. If our target had stopped here, it would be a great place from which to launch an attack. There was plenty of cover.

  I drew a dagger from the ether. Even the cats slunk along, their backs low to the ground as they prowled.

  As we neared, I caught the smell of water. The white structure was larger than I expected, and they weren’t ruins at all. The white marble pillars had made me think they were, since that was how places like this normally appeared on earth.

  But it was in great shape.

  The pillars and low walls surrounded a central pool that was filled with milky blue water. The stain crept into the pool, dyeing part of it black. Heavy magic hung on the air, something powerful and dangerous. It made my skin crawl and heart race.

  Lachlan and I ducked behind a tree and peered at the pillars that could hide enemies. The cats crouched next to us, ready to pounce.

  “Those are baths,” I whispered. “Like the Roman baths, or the one at Pompeii. But they’re here.”

  “It can’t be a coincidence,” Lachlan said.

  “No, it can’t. The Celts and the Romans had been linked for centuries. Two great cultures at war.” The quick search I’d done on the Celts hadn’t provided much research, but a few sources had made a big deal about the Romans. “Their religions even mixed in some areas. After years of living together and fighting, they shared aspects of culture. Especially in England.”

  “Like the Roman baths in Bath,” Lachlan said.

  “Exactly.”

  I shivered. So, this probably wasn’t a coincidence, but I wasn’t sure exactly what it meant.

  A light flashed, golden and bright, and a figure appeared by the pool. She wore long white robes and glowed like a beacon.

  There was something familiar about her. Like I’d seen her before. I didn’t recognize her serene features, but her magic…

  Fates.

  She was the goddess who’d appeared in the stone circle in the fairytale realm, and again in my dream.

  Except I’d thought she’d been a dude?

  Her magic though…

  I stepped out from behind the pillar. Lachlan reached for my arm, but I evaded him.

  “It’s okay,” I murmured.

  “Ana Blackwood. The Warrior Druid.” The goddess’s voice rumbled with power, deep and sure.

  Yep, same one as before. Her voice had thrown me off.

  “Sulis?” I asked.

  “Indeed. I was the one who gave you the gift of light. Of life.”

  “That’s what my glowing white magic is? The light of life?”

  “In a sense, yes. It is light in its purest, most healing form. It can drive away sickness and darkness, and even control some plants and animal life.”

  Wow. I rubbed my arms as I continued to approach her. “I’m having trouble with it, though.”

  She nodded toward my arms, her golden hair gleaming in the light. “Your tattoos, I presume?”

  “Exactly.”

  “They are the mark of The Druid. Part of the transitional process. They will help you master and control your magic, as long as you can unite their power with your life force.”

  “How the heck do I do that?” I stopped at the edge of the marble platform upon which she stood. The pool behind her gleamed with a pale light. The black splotch from the dark magic that streaked across the land looked like an oil slick.

  “The torc that you seek in the sacred grove will help.”

  “I’m seeking a torc in the sacred grove? What is that?”

  “It is a sacred piece of jewelry. A talisman, of sorts, that is worn around the neck. You won’t be able to meet all of the gods who give you powers, so they won’t be there in person to help you learn their magic. Like I am. But the torc will help you understand and use their magic.”

  I kept stealing glances at the water behind her, unable to help myself. The evil that had left this stain made worry churn in my gut. I couldn’t keep my eyes off it. “What happened here? Did you see who passed?”

  “They were shadows of darkness that submerged themselves in the bath, partaking of the healing waters. They grew stronger, then continued on their way.”

  Crap. Stronger was not good.

  “I do not know who they were, but they felt familiar, somehow.” A scowl crossed her serene features. “They clearly felt entitled to my baths, yet they did not leave an offering.”

  I didn’t want to point out that it wasn’t really the style of invaders to respect local customs.

  Sulis caught my eye. “Together, we will drive this darkness from the baths. It will help you learn to control your magic.”

  Heck yeah. This sounded promising.

  Sulis gestured me forward. I glanced back at Lachlan, who waited at the side, alert and wary.

  I stepped toward Sulis, who reached out and laid her fingertips against my arm. I jerked as if a live wire had hit me. Her touch was electric and strong, though not bad. It felt like pure power streaking through me, reaching deep into my middle and pulling on the light power that had been so hard to control. It flared bright, filling me up.

  My arms burned, but I ignored it.

  “Direct your light at the pool,” Sulis said.

  I did as she commanded, envisioning my light shining on the dark water. It surged from me, easier and faster than it ever had. Lachlan’s help had opened the floodgates, but this was the water pouring forth.

  It shot straight into the heart of the darkness, blasting it away. Within seconds, the water gleamed pure and bright. A sense of calm fell over the baths, making them feel like the most relaxing place I’d ever been to. Birds began to sing, and flower blooms fell from the trees.

  The black scar in the earth still existed on either side of the marble and pool of water, but we’d fixed the bath itself.

  I struggled to catch my breath, trying not to pant like a dog after a long run on the beach. That had taken a lot out of me. I couldn’t defeat all of the darkness in Otherworld—not when it took so much magic to do this little bit—but I was thrilled to have fixed the bath.

  “That is what the torc will do for you,” Sulis said. “It is a direct conduit with the gods who have given you their power. The magic of The Druid is a difficult thing. Wild and untamed. You need our help to control it, and long ago, we imbued the sacred torc with the magic to help you master the powers we will give you.”

  “So you mean it’s not entirely my fault that I haven’t gotten a handle on my magic?”

  “You’ve done better than anyone would have expected.” Her gaze moved to Lachlan. “In large part because of your friend. His guidance allowed you some control. But you will progress no farther without the torc. It’s the other half of the druid magic, a sacred item that is required for you to complete your transition.”

  I nodded, simultaneously confused and relieved. I’d hated feeling like such a half-assed Magica who couldn’t get a grip on her magic. Knowing that there was a reason why…

  It was awesome.

  And I was going to do whatever it took to get ahold of that torc.

  “Thank you, Sulis.”

  She let go of my arm and stepped back. The sense of control that I’d had vanished, like a flaming match had died inside of me.

  Oh, heck yeah, I was going to hunt down that torc. Clearly, I needed it.

  “Be careful on your journey,” Sulis said. “You will meet the fae in their realm. Respect their customs and they will respect you. But if you do not, you will spend a thousand years with them.”

  Yeah, I didn’t want to do that. “Where will I meet them?”

  “It will be quite obvious. Your gift of premonition will guide you. And remember. Before you confront the evil that is invading this realm, you must get the torc. It is everything.”

  I nodded. The puzzle pieces were really starting to come together. “Thank you.”

  She disappeared on a flash of light. I turned to Lachlan. “Ready to go find this torc?”

  “Aye.”

  I g
rinned. We set off, departing the baths. We were only about a dozen feet away when a splash sounded. I glanced back. The Cats of Catastrophe had leapt into the baths. Princess Snowflake III and Bojangles each looked like a drowned rat. Muffin looked as skinny as usual, so that was no change.

  Muffin meowed. Get in! The water’s great!

  The cats seemed to glow with the light of health. I stopped walking. Sulis had said that the evil had grown stronger once it had gone into the bath.

  “Hang on, Lachlan. I want to try something.” I returned to the bath and knelt at the edge. My muscles were weak and my insides felt empty from using my magic with Sulis. I dipped my fingertips in the water.

  Strength and health flowed through me like a golden light. I gasped as it filled me, making my head spin. The magical energy that I’d used was replenished. Even my body felt better, like I’d had a good meal and a nap.

  Lachlan joined me.

  “Try it,” I said.

  He dipped his fingertips in the water, a low gasp escaping his lips. He even looked healthier and stronger, which was saying something, considering he normally looked like he crushed semitrucks and ate them for breakfast.

  He looked at me, his dark eyes turning heavy. “The evil that invaded this place bathed here. They took this power into themselves.”

  Oh, fates. He had a point. This was like a magical battery charger, and it had just made our enemy a lot stronger.

  5

  After leaving a tribute at the baths—I left a dagger from my collection and Lachlan left a small vial of healing potion—we continued on our way. We didn’t have to walk far before the forest gave way to more rolling fields. The Cats of Catastrophe had refused to leave the baths, mostly because Muffin had fashioned a raft out of twigs and leaves and was lounging like he was waiting for someone to bring him a piña colada.

  I assumed they would show up eventually, though. It seemed to be their style.

  The black scar in the earth cut through the land, headed straight for a large hill before veering right. My druid sense continued to drag me along toward the sacred grove, slightly stronger now that I’d dipped my fingers in Sulis’s healing bath. It always pulled in the direction of the black scar, indicating that the invaders and me were on the same track toward the sacred grove.