Stirring Up Trouble: A Warlocks MacGregor Novella by Michelle M. Pillow
Authors: Michelle M. Pillow
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Prologue
W inter , 1591, England-Scotland Border
“Do not leave me.” The pain was unbearable in that moment of waiting, of knowing the end was near, knowing these were the last seconds he would have with his Elspeth. Tears streamed down his love’s face as he reached for her in the snow. This was not how their life together was supposed to go. They were supposed to be immortal. They were supposed to have each other forever.
All of Fergus MacGregor’s warlock powers could not make time last. That didn’t mean he didn’t try. He cast every spell he knew, and even some he didn’t. He willed time to stop, and for a short while, it stalled.
The trickle of blood streaming along her pale cheek slowed until it barely traveled over her flesh. Her eyes shone with pain. To keep her in this state was too cruel. She was locked in agony. There was no spell he knew of that could transfer her death into him. Yet he tried to do that too.
“I’m coming with ya, my heart,” Fergus said, more like a plea. He let his powers slip from her, unable to prolong her suffering any longer. He felt around for his sword only to discover he’d dropped it several feet away. He reached his hand out, using his magick to call it to him. The blade began to slide in the snow only to stop when his wife’s voice interrupted his action.
“Malina,” Elspeth whispered, making him think of their niece. The baby was silent, her cry bound with a spell. “Protect.”
How could he deny the desperate need in her gaze? Fergus nodded. “Aye.”
“Whatever is beyond, find me again,” she whispered. Her bloodstained lips opened a few times as if she would say more, but the life ebbed from her.
“Elspeth?” Fergus stared at her chest, waiting for it to rise. Just one more breath. One more word. One more kiss. One more moment. One more…
She didn’t move.
Pain racked over him, crippling him with death’s cruelty. This was not how it was meant to be. Seven years. That’s all they’d had. They were supposed to have eternity.
“ Gráim thú. I promise, Elspeth,” Fergus whispered, gathering her into his arms. “Whatever lies ahead, I’ll find ya.”
Chapter 1
G reen Vallis , Wisconsin, Modern Day
“Take cover, lads. We’re under attack!”
At his nephew’s shout, Fergus paused at the top of the broad marble staircase, looking down over the mansion’s front hall just in time to see Euann darting in the front door. Euann was a young warlock, only four-hundred-and-some years old, so Fergus didn’t take his nephew’s warning too seriously. This was probably just another of his nephews’ pranks.
“What have ya boys done this time?” Fergus asked. “Ya did not try to cast a snowball-fight spell again, did ya? Have ya learned nothing from the time ya enchanted the villagers?”
“It’s worse.” Euann dramatically latched the door shut and pressed his back to the wood. He wore a thick coat though one would hardly recognize it was winter by the consistent temperature inside the mansion home. “And for the record, that snowball fight succeeded. They worked out their demons and were too tired to start a war by the time it was over.” Gesturing with his hands, he magickally forced the window shades to close without touching them.
“Date not go well?” Rory’s voice drifted up from below, apparently unconcerned with Euann’s plight. “We warned ya that girls don’t like it when ya peep in their windows. They don’t see it as charming, cousin. Now they call it stalking.”
“It’s Belladonna,” Euann whispered. He held his arms out against the door like the devil might try to gain entrance. “She’s back, and she’s carrying.”
Fergus frowned, wondering what could possibly cause a member of his clan to project such fear. After centuries, there wasn’t much that could rile them—even when perhaps it should. They had just moved to Green Vallis, and the place did seem to be an epicenter of both power and danger, but all
W inter , 1591, England-Scotland Border
“Do not leave me.” The pain was unbearable in that moment of waiting, of knowing the end was near, knowing these were the last seconds he would have with his Elspeth. Tears streamed down his love’s face as he reached for her in the snow. This was not how their life together was supposed to go. They were supposed to be immortal. They were supposed to have each other forever.
All of Fergus MacGregor’s warlock powers could not make time last. That didn’t mean he didn’t try. He cast every spell he knew, and even some he didn’t. He willed time to stop, and for a short while, it stalled.
The trickle of blood streaming along her pale cheek slowed until it barely traveled over her flesh. Her eyes shone with pain. To keep her in this state was too cruel. She was locked in agony. There was no spell he knew of that could transfer her death into him. Yet he tried to do that too.
“I’m coming with ya, my heart,” Fergus said, more like a plea. He let his powers slip from her, unable to prolong her suffering any longer. He felt around for his sword only to discover he’d dropped it several feet away. He reached his hand out, using his magick to call it to him. The blade began to slide in the snow only to stop when his wife’s voice interrupted his action.
“Malina,” Elspeth whispered, making him think of their niece. The baby was silent, her cry bound with a spell. “Protect.”
How could he deny the desperate need in her gaze? Fergus nodded. “Aye.”
“Whatever is beyond, find me again,” she whispered. Her bloodstained lips opened a few times as if she would say more, but the life ebbed from her.
“Elspeth?” Fergus stared at her chest, waiting for it to rise. Just one more breath. One more word. One more kiss. One more moment. One more…
She didn’t move.
Pain racked over him, crippling him with death’s cruelty. This was not how it was meant to be. Seven years. That’s all they’d had. They were supposed to have eternity.
“ Gráim thú. I promise, Elspeth,” Fergus whispered, gathering her into his arms. “Whatever lies ahead, I’ll find ya.”
Chapter 1
G reen Vallis , Wisconsin, Modern Day
“Take cover, lads. We’re under attack!”
At his nephew’s shout, Fergus paused at the top of the broad marble staircase, looking down over the mansion’s front hall just in time to see Euann darting in the front door. Euann was a young warlock, only four-hundred-and-some years old, so Fergus didn’t take his nephew’s warning too seriously. This was probably just another of his nephews’ pranks.
“What have ya boys done this time?” Fergus asked. “Ya did not try to cast a snowball-fight spell again, did ya? Have ya learned nothing from the time ya enchanted the villagers?”
“It’s worse.” Euann dramatically latched the door shut and pressed his back to the wood. He wore a thick coat though one would hardly recognize it was winter by the consistent temperature inside the mansion home. “And for the record, that snowball fight succeeded. They worked out their demons and were too tired to start a war by the time it was over.” Gesturing with his hands, he magickally forced the window shades to close without touching them.
“Date not go well?” Rory’s voice drifted up from below, apparently unconcerned with Euann’s plight. “We warned ya that girls don’t like it when ya peep in their windows. They don’t see it as charming, cousin. Now they call it stalking.”
“It’s Belladonna,” Euann whispered. He held his arms out against the door like the devil might try to gain entrance. “She’s back, and she’s carrying.”
Fergus frowned, wondering what could possibly cause a member of his clan to project such fear. After centuries, there wasn’t much that could rile them—even when perhaps it should. They had just moved to Green Vallis, and the place did seem to be an epicenter of both power and danger, but all
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