The Wizard Read online

  She crawled to his side, placed her hand on his throat and nearly wept when she felt a strong heartbeat against her fingers.

  The man the world knew as Jeffrey North turned his head and stared at her.

  She had never before seen evil so close. She had touched him, had held his hand, had heard his thoughts and felt his power surge with hers. Had he marked her, somehow? If so, she would do everything in her power to expunge his touch.

  She knew what was in his mind before he lifted his hand toward Derek.

  “If you do, it will be the last act you’ll ever perform.”

  His hand dropped slowly to his lap. “You mustn’t blame me,” he said slowly. “He’s a threat.”

  “As am I.”

  “Yes, you are at that. Jeffrey never made mention of how powerful you are, Grace.”

  “My father was a wizard.”

  “Ah, that explains it,” he said. “You might be a wizard on your own.”

  There were those who thought she was or that her power was equal to any male wizard currently living. Only Jeffrey had known the extent of her abilities.

  Ellie came to her side and together the two of them turned Derek so that he was on his back. His color was good as was his breathing.

  She hoped he would regain consciousness soon and reassure her that he was all right.

  “What did you do to Jeffrey?” Grace asked, looking over at the imposter.

  “Do you love him still? Even after what he did to you?”

  “After what he did to me? You know nothing about our relationship other than what we allowed to be known.”

  “I know that he allowed Millicent to threaten you, that you, in turn, had to give up your child in order to protect him from her. I know that he stayed married to her.”

  “It was a different time.”

  “That it was.”

  “How long ago did Jeffrey die? When did you kill him?”

  “Your composure is admirable, Grace. How easily you say those words. Tell me, does it take nothing out of you?”

  “How much pain are you in? I suspect you’re in agony. Do you want me to make it worse?”

  His smile was sardonic, mocking either her or himself.

  “Your lover died a great many years ago, Grace. So did Millicent. I found that poison worked well in most situations. It’s fast, discreet, and often mimics symptoms of a natural death.”

  She still knelt at Derek’s side. If he hadn’t needed her at this moment, she would have flown across the room and gouged the imposter’s eyes out.

  “How have you gotten away with pretending to be him all these years?”

  “He was still a fledgling wizard back then, Grace. You know him as strong and powerful, but he was still making his mark. Few people knew him intimately and those who did were dispatched with ease.”

  “But you aren’t a wizard.”

  “I don’t have your pedigree, no, Grace. My mother was a minor witch, nothing like your father or Jeffrey’s bloodline. Or Derek’s, for that matter.”

  He studied her son with interest and she wanted to shield Derek from his curiosity.

  “I shall have to get rid of him, too.”

  “Not today,” she said.

  “Not today, damn it,” Derek said, turning his head slightly. Ellie reached over and grabbed his hand.

  There was something there, but it was not formed in either mind yet. Only time would tell if anything developed.

  Grace pulled out her phone and dialed 9-1-1. It was time the civilians were called in to deal with this mess.

  35

  Grace watched as EMS brought the stretcher carrying the imposter wizard to the front door. She still didn't know the man's name, only that he’d assumed Jeffrey's life.

  No wonder he had never tried to get in touch with her during the past forty years.

  Somehow, she would find out what he’d done to Jeffrey and ensure that he paid the price for his actions. But it wouldn't be today or in the next few weeks, either.

  The ambulance would never reach the hospital. She was certain of that. The imposter would overpower his caregivers and leave Texas in his own way. She doubted, however, that he would leave unscathed. The force of being thrown into the doorframe had done something to his spine. Even wizards — or faux wizards — were not exempt from pain.

  As for Derek, she and Ellie were going to accompany him to the hospital. He had refused an ambulance, which was fine. He was not going to refuse to be seen by a physician, however. His face was drawn and still too pale. For the past five minutes he’d been babying his left arm.

  Ellie should be seen by someone, too. She’d been bounced around in the room. She might have opened up her wound. Or encountered other injuries.

  It might not be a bad idea to have Ellie stay with her for a little while. Being her guest would send a message to the Elders. Leave her alone; she’s under my protection.

  Derek had stubbornly insisted on walking down the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Now he stood leaning against one of the open front doors watching as EMS carried the imposter wizard out of the house. Derek’s white shirt was spotted with curious blue green stains. Later, she would take it and examine the marks to discover their composition.

  The look in his eyes concerned her, as if he’d seen something no human should experience.

  Her concept of magic, a tradition carried on from her parents and their parents, had been that goodness and beauty and righteousness accompanied true practitioners of the art. They’d turned toward the sunlight and eschewed the darkness. Yet it was still there, lurking in the corners of a man or woman’s psyche or ambition. She knew, only too well, that there were people within the movement who would sell their souls to have more power, more standing, and acquire obedience from others.

  She had never looked into the heart of darkness herself, but Jeffrey had. What he’d told her had frightened her to her core. Now she stood studying her son, her beautiful, magnificent son who looked so much like his father that it made her heart ache, and remembered what Jeffrey had said.

  Derek would never be the same man after today.

  She approached him, reached out and put her hand on the arm he was rubbing. She closed her eyes and invoked a simple spell, one that banished pain.

  She felt the warmth beneath his shirt and knew that she’d been successful.

  He didn't say anything to her, only glanced at her and then away.

  "Was it Breanna?" she asked, wondering if he would answer her. "The spirit that was in the room with us, was it Breanna?"

  She’d felt something, a power that had shocked her, a malevolence that she’d wanted to flee. She hadn’t wanted it to be Breanna, but perhaps death had the ability to coat the soul in darkness.

  He shook his head, surprising her.

  "You're sure?"

  "I'm sure. It was Lionel."

  Her hand went to the base of her throat as if to catch her scream.

  Nothing could be worse. Even Breanna returning from the dead would have been preferable to Lionel living again.

  "Are you sure? You have to be sure, Derek."

  "I'm sure. I’ve never been more sure.”

  He turned and walked through the door, leaving her staring after him. With only a few words everything had changed. The world had shifted on its axis.

  In the future an imposter wizard would be vying against one still learning. Woven through all of it was a madman. A madman with a great deal of power.

  The scene in the room upstairs was not the end of it. She’d known that even as they’d fought off the entity.

  The Crow’s Nest succored evil.

  Ellie came to her side. "Are you ready, Grace?"

  Was she ready? She was very much afraid that she wasn't ready for what was surely to come.

  However, Ellie didn’t need to know that right now. There was more than enough time to inform the girl about what would be expected of them. Some of them wouldn’t live through the coming battles.
They might lose the war as well and the whole of magic would be catapulted into darkness. Ready? No, she wasn’t ready.

  Still, Grace nodded, forcing a smile to her face as she left the Crow’s Nest and followed both of them.

  About the Author

  Karen Ranney wanted to be a writer from the time she was five years old and filled her Big Chief tablet with stories. People in stories did amazing things and she was too shy to do anything amazing. Years spent in Japan, Paris, and Italy, however, not only fueled her imagination but proved she wasn't that shy after all.

  Now a New York Times and USA Today bestseller, she prefers to keep her current adventures between the covers of her books. Karen lives in San Antonio, Texas and loves to hear from her readers at [email protected].

  Also by Karen Ranney

  HISTORICAL ROMANCE SERIES

  * * *

  THE SCOTTISH FLING SERIES

  My Highland Rogue (July, 2020)

  Book 2 (coming soon)

  Book 3 (coming soon)

  * * *

  THE ALL FOR LOVE SERIES

  To Love a Duchess

  To Wed an Heiress

  To Bed the Bride

  * * *

  THE DUKE SERIES

  The Scottish Duke

  The English Duke

  The Texan Duke

  * * *

  THE MACIAIN SERIES

  In Your Wildest Scottish Dreams – Book 1

  Scotsman of My Dreams – Book 2

  An American in Scotland – Book 3

  * * *

  THE CLAN SINCLAIR SERIES

  The Devil of Clan Sinclair

  The Witch of Clan Sinclair

  The Virgin of Clan Sinclair

  Return to Clan Sinclair

  * * *

  THE SCOTTISH SISTERS

  A Scandalous Scot

  The Lass Wore Black

  * * *

  THE LOVED SERIES

  My Beloved

  My True Love

  * * *

  THE HIGHLAND LORDS SERIES

  One Man’s Love

  When the Laird Returns

  The Irresistible MacRae

  To Love a Scottish Lord

  So in Love

  * * *

  THE TULLOCH SGATHAN SERIES

  Sold to a Laird

  A Highland Duchess

  A Borrowed Scot

  * * *

  PARANORMAL SERIES

  * * *

  THE MONTGOMERY CHRONICLES

  The Fertile Vampire – Book 1

  The Reluctant Goddess – Book 2

  Pranic, Pregnant, and Petrified – Book 3

  * * *

  THE FURRY CHRONICLES (An offshoot of The Montgomery Chronicles)

  The Lottery – Furry – Book 1

  The Sound and the Furry – Book 2

  My Furry Valentine – Book 3

  The Good, the Bad, and the Furry, Book 4

  * * *

  STAND ALONE NOVELS (HISTORICAL)

  * * *

  ENGLISH NOVELS

  Tapestry

  Above All Others

  My Wicked Fantasy

  Upon a Wicked Time

  After the Kiss

  * * *

  SCOTTISH NOVELS

  A Promise of Love

  Heaven Forbids

  Till Next We Meet

  An Unlikely Governess

  Autumn in Scotland

  The Scottish Companion

  The Devil Wears Tartan

  A Scotsman in Love

  A Scottish Love

  * * *

  STAND ALONE NOVELS

  (FANTASY)

  * * *

  The Wizard

  * * *

  (CONTEMPORARY)

  * * *

  Murder Among Friends

  The Eyes of Love

  Echoes of Murder

  * * *

  NOVELLAS AND SHORT STORIES

  * * *

  The Greatest Gift

  A Dance in the Dark

  Scottish Brides – The Glenlyon Bride

  Flash Fables

  The Unmentionables

  * * *

  NON FICTION

  The Immersion Principle