A Druid of Her Own: An Immortal Highlander (Druid Series Book 4) by Mandy M. Roth Page A

into his back, making him topple over. The mass swept at them and Kennard kicked Liam’s legs out from under him, also stopping his cousin from being able to run the mass through.
    “What the hell?” demanded Liam, pushing to his feet as Kennard stood as well, their footing shaky on the overturned trailer.
    The mass was behind them now and they turned and watched in horror as Cillian was spit forth from it. He landed, unmoving, on the edge of the trailer. His eyes were closed and there were no signs of life in him.
    “ Bràthair ?” Liam whispered, his voice barely there.
    The mass jerked around and then a streak of red fell from it. Kennard couldn’t move as he watched Maggie’s tiny form hit the trailer and roll to a stop next to Cillian. Rage consumed him and he dropped his sword, calling to his wolf, letting it know it was free to do what may to Athol—consequences be damned. His clothing magikally slid away as the wolf took hold, Kennard’s body shifting fully. He charged forward, letting the wolf lead the way. He dove into the mass of darkness and snapped his jaws, trying to clamp down on something, anything, but there was nothing.
    A trap.
    Before he could try to gain control again, he was pummeled around within the mass. He tried to curl his body, his tail tucking as he went, but it didn’t help. Pain radiated through him.

Chapter 11
    M aggie blinked awake , her head throbbing, her body feeling as if she’d just been through the spin cycle in the washing machine. It took her a second to gather her wits and remember what had happened.
    Cillian.
    He’d tackled her, holding her protectively then as Athol had seized hold of her, taking Cillian with him. She twisted and found Cillian next to her, not moving. Liam was there too, reaching out to touch his brother, tears in his eyes.
    Cillian coughed and lifted his head. “Son of a bitch, that hurt!”
    “Yer nae dead!” shouted Liam.
    Tipping his head, Cillian glanced at his twin. “Clearly.”
    Liam grabbed Cillian with one arm, giving him a manly hug before releasing him and looking to Maggie. “How hurt are you?”
    She stood slowly, reaching and pulling Cillian to his feet as well. They swayed and Liam steadied them both, though it was easier said than done when Maggie realized whatever they were standing on was not stable. When she realized they were on her trailer, or what was left of it, she gasped.
    “Maria?” she asked, remembering how Cillian had thrust her out of the trailer before everything went totally crazy.
    Liam nodded. “She is fine.”
    A sinking feeling came over her. “Kennard?”
    Liam glanced at his brother first and then toward something behind them. “He’s in that—in wolf form.”
    “This is bad,” said Cillian, voicing her concern. “Verra bad.”
    “What the hell is it?” asked Liam.
    “Pure evil,” answered Cillian. “It would have taken me over had I nae been holdin’ Maggie. She was a buffer of sorts. I do nae know the hows or whys, but I know she kept me safe from it. Kennard has no buffer in there with him.”
    Maggie noticed something shiny, catching the moonlight just so. A discarded sword. Instincts kicked in and she bent, grabbing the heavy sword and lifting it. The twins could stand around trying to figure out what to do, she wasn’t going to waste time planning. She was taking action.
    Her power surged up and out of her, striking the black mass that now held Kennard within it. Screaming, she tried to draw her power into herself with no success. She didn’t want to accidentally hurt Kennard in there as well. The mass swelled and then popped. Out fell one wolf and one snake-like guy.
    The wolf slid off the edge of the trailer, and as it fell, Liam stood and threw power out, whispering a chant she didn’t know, halting the wolf from falling onto twisted metal that lay to the side of the trailer.
    There was a blur and then suddenly Liam was thrown off the other side of the trailer. Maggie blinked twice,