Page 117 of Anywhere

“Aye, no need ta be worrin’. I ‘ave been terrorizin’ da roads here since I be thirteen.”

The guards had gathered in a long line and nodded as we left the property. This was the most you ever get out of them, and I returned the gesture. We pulled onto the road towards Glentruan, and Rook reached out and gripped my shoulder.

“I be all right,” I said and looked over at Rook.

“I know,” he said just as my phone rang.

Caitlin’s number came up on the screen, and I hit ignore. This was the longest I’d ever stayed away from my pub, and the car with Rook and Elewyen wasn’t the place to have the I cannot fuck you anymore conversation.

The phone rang again, and Rook looked at me, brows raised. I hit the end button again.

“Who is that?”

I groaned, not wanting to say. “Ya know da girl from me pub? Ya saw her when ya first arrived. I’ma kinda needin’ ta tell ‘er I be off da market. I haven’t been ta da pub since dat night.”

The phone rang a third time, and Rook hit talk on the dash before I could get to it. Shite.

I glared at Rook. “Aye? What be goin’ on, Caitlin? I’m kinda—”

“Rhys, it be da pub! It be in flames!” she yelled into the phone frantically, and my heart leapt into my throat.

“Whaddya mean?” I stupidly asked because I couldn’t believe my ears.

She was crying hysterically, making it hard to understand her. “Da whole ting it be up in flames, Rhys. I dinnie know what da do,” she said.

The tires squealed as I shifted the car into neutral, and cranked the wheel as I slammed on the gas. We whipped around to head back the way we just came. Rook grabbed something to hang on to, and Elewyen yelped as she slid across the bench seat. Smoke from the tires rose into the air.

“What the fuck?” Rook cursed as his shoulder slammed into mine and then into his door. I glanced back at Elewyen and then at Rook.

“Help her git her seatbelt on,” I said, annoyed that I forgot to check before leaving the castle.

“Oh, I’za tink I’ma gonna be sick,” Elewyen said as the car flew along the twisty road toward my hidden gem.

I glanced in the rearview mirror at her face. It was definitely green. “I’ma sorry, Elewyen. I din’t want dis ta be yer first experience, but I cannie stop,” I said.

Fear shimmered in her eyes, and I felt bad.

“Are you trying to kill us?” Rook asked as we raced around a hairpin turn.

“Aye, dat be me hidden agenda,” I quipped back. “Caitlin, ya still be dere?”

She sniffled into the phone. “Aye, I’ma so sorry, Rhys. Dere be not enough water ta stop dis. I been runnin’ a bucket from da pond, but it be no use.” The line was quiet for a moment, then she shrieked. “Oh, shite! Ya scared me. Whadda doin’ ere?” she asked.

“Caitlin? Who ya talkin’ to?”

There was rustling and muffled arguing like she put the phone in her pocket.

“Caitlin? What be goin’ on?”

I pushed the car over hills and around turns while keeping an eye out for smoke that would announce my pub’s demise. A billowing black cloud rose into the air, and my heart sank. There was still the sound of two people arguing, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying.

A sharp scream pierced the car, and fear stabbed through my gut. It wasn’t the kind of scream that said pain. It was a scream that spoke of death. It was the kind of scream that called to my power. My magic tingled under my skin like it was being summoned.

“Caitlin,” I yelled and gripped the steering wheel harder. We were already travelling dangerously fast. I couldn’t push the car any faster. “Caitlin? Answer me,” I yelled.

She screamed again, and the phone went dead.

My eyes flicked over to Rook. “Did ya feel dat?”