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LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 170

“Where is she?” Molly demanded, gasping horrifically when her eyes finally rested on the naked vision of Thaney. Thaney had curled herself in a position so that the large audience could see nothing but her bare backside.

Molly jolted out of her stupefied trance, and rushed to her cousin’s side with Adria closely following her. Whisking off her heavy cloak, she wrapped it tightly around Thaney.

“Are you unharmed?” Molly asked, quickly scanning Thaney’s body for any signs of wounds.

“Aye,” Thaney gasped. “But I am quite thirsty,” she murmured, as Molly reached for the flask of water that she had hitched to her waist.

“Drink this, all of it if need be,” Molly instructed, tilting the leather flask toward Thaney’s dry and parched looking lips. Redfaeme whirled on Rosemary.

“Leave my presence,” he commanded. “And never let me lay eyes on you again. “

Molly hooked a steadying arm under Thaney’s quivering one.

“Is she all right?” Redfaeme asked, in a gruff voice. He landed on the ground beside them, and rested back on his haunches.

“Yes, she is, no thanks to you,” Molly snapped, drawing Thaney to her feet. “The bargain is off. You and your kind do not know how to play the game in a fair and honorable way. “

Molly stretched herself to her full height and craned her neck to stare up at Redfaeme.

“You cannot break our bargain. You were not the one that accepted it. “

“It remains steadfast,” Thaney croaked. “I shall not go back on my word. Molly, you yourself know that we need the Clan Rowan’s help. “

“You were nearly incinerated. We will find a way to defeat Lord Cardan without their help!” Molly pointed out.

“Rosemary cannot harm me. She does not wield enough power,” Thaney rasped. By the looks of Thaney’s skin she seemed to have gotten minor sunburn.

Molly didn’t know what to say to that, so she did the wise thing and remained silent.

“Come, we must attend our wedding feast. It shall be prepared by now. “ Redfaeme lowered himself to the ground, and waited expectantly.

“I cannot,” Thaney objected, stepping backward.

“I am extending the invitation. Once we are back at the castle, I’m sure you will be able to come up with something that shall fit you. “ Redfaeme swept his hungry gaze over Thaney.

Molly reluctantly let go of Thaney, as she moved toward Redfaeme.

“The rest of my friends must be invited as well,” Thaney said, she glanced back at Molly.

“Then it will be so,” Redfaeme agreed, nodding his great head. “Lady Pendragon, will you accept my invitation?”

“As long as we aren’t on the menu,” Molly muttered.

“Ah, so you do have a sense of humor. How quaint,” Redfaeme muttered, blinking one of his great eyes. They were instantly transported back to an enchantingly beautiful clearing. A castle was noticeable on a hilltop in the distance.

“Where are Thaney and Lord Redfaeme?” Molly asked, staring wildly around for them.

“Up there,” Adria said, pointing up toward the fluffy white clouds.

“Bloody brilliant,” Molly said, groaning loudly. “Did I tell Thaney that she could do that?”

Adria shrugged her shoulders. “I do not think Thaney believes that she requires your permission. “

LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 171

“Well, I’m still the leader of this merry little band. We go on one quest with Thaney, and suddenly she decides to switch sides. “

“She didn’t switch sides,” Collin pointed out. “Lord Redfaeme and his clan are now allied with you. “

Puck did a little pirouette into the air. He landed with a soft thud. “Actually, we were always on the same side…Redfaeme just needed to be convinced to follow you. “

“Thank you, Puck. “ Molly scowled. “I always look forward to your charming commentary. “

“No problem. I aim to please. “ Puck gave her a sly wink.

“In your dreams, Puck,” she shot back. He looked slightly crestfallen. Then, he puffed out his chest.

“I can give you more than he can. I can satisfy you in ways that you could only dream of,” Puck pointed out.

“I know you can give me more than Collin ever can. You’ve already given me one hell of a bad-ass ache. “

“Touché,” Puck drew off his hat and bowed to her.

“I think we should set our eyes on the prize, don’t you, Molly?” Collin said, reaching for her hand. “Perhaps, we should have a nice quiet supper with the Clan. It can only help to bridge the gap between us. “ Molly nodded her head.

“You are quite right, Collin. But we cannot tarry for long…Camelot is still in great peril.

If they are attacked while we are absent…Morganna will have more than a challenge on her hands. With so many injured, they will be sitting ducks. “

“Morganna can handle herself quite nicely, and I did leave my men and women behind at Tintagel. With our combined lucky rainbows, the castle will be charmed. “ Lachlan moved forward to stare up into Molly’s gaze.

“I’m sorry to tell you this, Lachlan…but I fear that even leprechaun lucky charms won’t be enough to combat Lord Cardan’s evil. “ She winced as another flashback of the vision in which Collin died filled her head. “We shall celebrate our newfound alliance with the Rowan Clan tonight, but we leave first thing on the morrow. “

“Molly, do you think we have a fighting chance now?” Collin asked. She sighed.

“We did have a fighting chance before, but our odds have greatly improved. Puck, even though every fiber in my being is fighting against what I’m about to say, I must say it anyway.

Thank you for guiding us here. “

Puck studied her for a few moments. All of his smart-assed humor seemed to have been replaced by somber reflection. “I have seen too many dark parallel time lines…this one must be saved…it must be claimed by the forces of light. If it is not…all living creatures will be threatened. “

“Well, on that chipper note, perhaps we should eat,” Lachlan muttered, rubbing his belly.

“I’m ravenous! I’m so hungry I could eat a…. “

“Lachlan, I happen to be quite fond of my horse, you know. “ Molly gave Lachlan a stern glare. He shrugged his shoulders.

“My apologies, Molly. I’m so hungry I could eat a pig!” Molly groaned. She scanned the blue sky for Thaney and Redfaeme.

“They disappeared behind that large dog-shaped cloud quite a while back,” Branden murmured.

“And you didn’t tell me…because?”

LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 172

“I thought you would become angry. “ Branden’s calm gaze penetrated her own.

“Are they initiating the mating ritual?” Adria asked, glancing between Branden and Molly. Molly bit her lip.

“Not while I still have breath in my body. “ She looked around her. Then she eyed the pouch hanging on Lachlan’s hip. She took a step toward him. He backed away.

“What did I do?” He stared at her as if she’d just sprouted a second head.

“Well…nothing…today that I can remember anyway. But I want that. “ She pointed to the pouch.

“Oh, no! Do you know how long it took me to get this? When we get back to Camelot you can get your own, Molly. “ He edged behind Adria and darted a furtive glance at Molly.

“Lachlan, I need that pixie dust right now!”

“No. “ His voice became flat and resolute. “This pixie dust holds sentimental value…Morganna got this for me. “

“Since when did Morganna ever give you anything but a bloody nose?” She folded her arms across her chest. “You have to see reason, Lachlan. Since I can’t draw on my magic, I’ll have to sprinkle myself with some pixie dust…assuming it will still work in this protective area?” She turned her attention to Puck.

“Mary, you astound me with your moments of genius. Merlin chose well, when he named you his champion. “ She didn’t have time to think about what Puck had just told her.

“You are correct. Pixie dust will still work in this realm. “ His eyes sparkled. “If I wasn’t besotted with you before, you’ve stolen my heart now…I like my women to have a brain. “ She snorted.

“That’s probably due to the fact that yours is on holiday so often. “

“Molly,” Adria gasped.

“You needn’t fear, Adria. As Molly has already pointed out, we are all on even ground here. I can no more turn her into a nymph than she could transform me into a toad. “ Puck grinned.

“Actually,” Collin drawled out in his sexy accent. “I have an advantage over all of you. “

Molly narrowed her gaze. Collin was right.

“Oh, and how do you figure that?” Puck asked. Lachlan snorted. Molly sidled closer to Lachlan. Collin caught her gaze and winked at her. She knew what Collin was up to. He’d distract everyone while she moved in for the Pixie Dust. Yep, that’s why she loved Collin so much. When it came right down to it, they thought alike.

“Well, since you obviously have bricks for a brain, I’ll put this to you slowly,” Lachlan murmured, turning his attention to Puck. Lachlan pointed an index finger at Collin. “He has not had control over his magic since his birth. So, he’s used to being normal more than we are. “

Puck thinned his lips. “No magic?” He gaped. “Ah…yes…of course, I had forgotten.

You had your powers bound …. “ Puck trailed off and eyed Molly. “I must say that was the stupidest decision you’ve ever made…denying Collin his birthright when he hails from such a talented family, you should be ashamed of yourself, Molly. “ Puck’s eyes fell on Adria and Branden. “Yes, a very talented lineage indeed. “

Molly chose that precise moment to dart toward Lachlan, and pull the pouch off of his belt. Lachlan jumped back as if he’d been electrocuted.

“Hey, you tricked me!”

“If you can’t trick a trickster who can you trick?” Molly muttered, opening the pouch.

Pixie Dust blew up in her face. She sneezed. The pouch went flying out of her hand, and LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 173

Lachlan dived to catch it, before it hit the ground. Shaking her head, she blinked against the stars that exploded in front of her eyes. She’d never sprinkled herself with Pixie Dust before, and the resulting sensations were quite strange indeed. She looked down at her feet…she was floating. “I think it’s working…. “

Collin looked up at her. “Do you know how to get down?”

“Of course…I mean how hard can it be?”

“Lachlan, how much do you have left of that?” Collin asked, closing in on him. Lachlan stepped away from him.

“Molly got what she wanted. The rest is mine! I told you it has sentimental value!”

“Sentimental value? Lachlan, I didn’t know you had such a soft heart,” Molly murmured. She was gaining altitude. Soon, she’d be out of earshot. She watched Lachlan’s face. She knew that look. Lachlan had fallen in love. She shook her head against the ludicrous thought.

Lachlan carefully closed the pouch, kissed it and then reattached it on his belt. Yes, he was in love, all right. What made her do a double take was the fact that he was in love with…Morganna.

She whirled around, and set her sights on the red figure of Redfeame. “How in the world do you make this pixie dust work faster?” she muttered.

Oh great, Molly, now you’re talking to yourself. Next thing you know you’ll be seeing things that aren’t really there.

She glanced down at the figures of Collin, Adria, Branden, Lachlan and Puck. They were getting smaller and smaller as she neared the canopy of clouds. She could just make out the tip of Thaney’s head. Strange. Thaney had not transformed herself back into the white dragon.

“Thaney?” She called out. Thaney’s head tilted toward Molly.

“Molly, what are you doing here? You should be down below feasting with the others. “

Molly let out a shocked gasp when she finally noticed where Thaney was sitting.

“Thaney! What are you doing?”

“I’m riding Redfaeme. We are making plans. “ Molly’s stomach sunk.

“Plans?” she croaked. “What kind of plans?”

“Battle plans,” Redfaeme’s voice thundered out to her. She kept her ground so to speak against the torrent of wind that blasted against her. “What sort of magic brings you up here?

You should not be able to fly. “

Molly smiled. “Just leave it to the magic of Pixie Dust. “

“Oh, so that is what is in your hair,” Thaney murmured. Molly looked up to the setting sun. Molly blinked.

“Man, that sun is setting fast…is it just me or is it getting awfully dark?” Molly murmured. She felt herself drop a few feet.

“Molly?” Thaney asked. Concern flooded her voice. “Molly, you don’t look so good…what’s the matter?”

Molly trembled. “No…not another vision, this can’t be happening!” She closed her eyes as another wave of nausea pounded over her. The last thing she heard was Thaney’s troubled scream. She could feel air rushing around her. Vertigo tore at her being. She was falling.

In her mind’s eye the scenery began to change. Merlin stood next to her. They were standing on a hilltop overlooking all of Camelot. Tintagel stood by the cliffs. The awe-inspiring sight of it nearly took her breath away. But something wasn’t right…and then, she saw it.

Tintagel was being besieged.

LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 174

“Merlin, why are doing this to me again? I’m trying to get help for Camelot. “ She turned to Merlin and waited for his reply. He riveted his all consuming gaze on her.

“Molly, my dearest, this is not a vision of the future. This is a vision of the present. “

Realization slammed her like a fist in the gut. She fought against the urge to buckle beneath the sudden pressure.

“NO!!!” She tried to move forward, but found once again that her feet were rooted to the spot. Merlin gave her a sympathetic gaze.

“You cannot move in this vision, Molly. You are only here in half-realized astral form.