Read Online Highland Protector (MacCoinnich Time Travels Book Five) by Catherine Bybee - Free Book Online Page A

The hair in Kincaid’s
neck stood up.
    “I’ll take you to Giles, but he will
not return until a cure has been found.”
    “A cure for what?”
    Simon didn’t smile, didn’t reveal any
emotion at all. “To save the life of the woman in the portrait.”
    The hair on Kincaid’s arms joined
that of his neck. “She’s here?”
    “Aye. Amber’s here. Come.” Simon
started for the door wearing a blanket.
    “Wait,” Selma stopped him. “How am I
going to get home? Your car only seats two.”
    Simon glanced at Jake.
    Jake grunted. “Fine. And Kincaid…if
you walk around like that in two thousand and twelve you’re going to get hauled
in to the nearest police station.”
    Kincaid glanced at the strap on his
hip holding his blaster, noted the long blade on his back and another side arm
on his leg.
    Jake stepped forward, lifted his
hand. “I can hold them for you.”
    He stood back. “I don’t think so.”
    Jake shrugged. “Can’t blame me for
trying. Where are your clothes, Simon? You walk out like that and people will
think I’m having a damn orgy in here or something.”
    Selma laughed.
    He pointed an accusing finger her
way. “Enough from you.”
    Five minutes later Kincaid climbed
into a gas powered vehicle and sped through a vaguely familiar town.
    The airway was free of traffic, but
the ground was car to car. Simon maneuvered through the city, shifting between
other cars. “Looks different to you?”
    “More than you can imagine.”
    Simon huffed a laugh. “I grew up in
the sixteenth century. I can imagine a lot.”
    Kincaid watched the other man’s
profile. “Why are you here? In this century?”
    “Two reasons. My wife and Amber.”
    “Is Amber really dying?”
    “Yes. Faster every day.”
    “What from?” His insides grew cold as
he spoke.
    “Her gift. She’s empathic.” Simon
spared him a glance then returned his eyes to the road. “She’ll sense us before
we reach the city limit. That shield you use…can you cloak your thoughts,
feelings?”
    “I can.”
    “Good. Do so. She doesn’t need to
feel anything from you. With Giles in the house she’s been driven to her
bedroom.”
    “Why is she so sensitive? The empaths
I’ve met—”
    “None of the empaths you’ve met did
battle with Grainna. Amber has and, without a strong filter, she’s unable to cope
with the growing power.”
    Kincaid thought of the haunted eyes
in the portrait he’d seen. Now he understood the emotion behind the expression.
It was as if the woman had given up all hope. That would certainly kill
her…sooner than later.
    They exited a highway and the
familiar landscape sharpened. “We’re going to the fortress.”
    “It’s only a house. A big house, but
a house.”
    They rounded what would eventually be
the opening to the compound. There weren’t any walls, no protection. “Who lives
in these homes?”
    Simon glanced to his right, then
left. “Neighbors.”
    “You haven’t obtained the properties,
yet?”
    “What do you mean?”
    Damn…when had Dawson’s Manner
expanded? He thought it was before the turn of the century. Apparently not.
“All of this,” he said, waving his hand around, “is part of the compound in the
future. Beyond the walls of the fortress is a barrier of wards protecting all
who live within.”
    “Like I said. It’s just a house. Only
a few of us live there. It’s hard enough for Amber with neighbors a few blocks
away.”
     No wonder Simon was so careful. He
was virtually alone in his quest to keep those in the fortress safe. “The
future isn’t bright, Simon. All these homes need to be obtained and walls need
to go up. This should be one of your main priorities.”
    “Should you be telling me this?”
    “If not me, who? I’m not the only
Druid who can travel in time.”
    “You’re talking about the others…the
ones Giles warned me about.”
    Worry shivered up Kincaid’s spine.
“Lethal bastards who will search a trail of energy to find you and your