Page 67 of An Unlikely Knight

Chapter Twenty-Two

The air seemed to leave the room and Erin sat up in bed, the darkness enveloping her. Her dream had been so vivid. Padriag was battling Meliot, and the wizard was stronger. At a loss of how to help, she’d heard a woman’s voice clearly.

“The spell. Speak it out loud.”

She’d repeated the words over and over until giving up on sleep.

It was still dark outside, but she was too restless. If she was meant to help, she had to be awake. Slipping from the bed, Erin went to the kitchen opened the refrigerator and peered inside.

“Wine,” she whispered. “Come to mama.”

After uncorking the bottle, she poured a glass and padded to the front room. Not knowing what happened in the alter-world was torturous.

If the five men didn’t return, it meant they were either dead or trapped forever. Lost to this world, never to see their homeland again.

An errant tear trailed down her cheek and she didn’t bother wiping it away. Through all the turmoil and confusion of the last weeks, she’d somehow managed to form a bond with Padriag. Picturing not ever seeing him again was crushing.

It wasn’t love, not yet, they’d not known each other well enough, but in her heart, there was no arguing with knowing that he was her person. The man she could easily fall in love with and spend the rest of her life with.

So many times she’d heard the quote, “When you know, you know,” and she knew, there was not a single doubt in her mind. Why did it have to be a man with so many complications, a man who’d been alive centuries before her?

Her lips curved. He was positively the most devastatingly handsome man she’d ever known. With rugged looks, Padriag was pure man. Despite his tortured past and the cursed kingdom he came from, he was brave and positive. He’d managed to adapt to the changing times, which was admirable. Every single one of the five knights were men of incomparable courage.

The air shifted, circles of tiny lights swirling in the air. Erin eyed the glass of wine. “What the hell?”

The swirls became denser, and she braced for what would happen next. If it was Gunther, she had no weapon to use against him, unless tossing wine in his face worked. Erin backed up slowly, moving toward the kitchen and the one sharp knife she owned.

A scream caught in her throat when a ragged figure appeared, his face covered in soot, clothing torn and bloodied.

“You helped me, you were there.” Padriag had appeared, unsteady on his feet, but with a wide grin. “We did it, we’re free.” The last word caught in his throat.

“Oh my god,” Erin took a step toward him and placed her glass of wine on the table. “Are you injured?” She wasn’t sure where to touch him as every inch of his skin was either black from soot or caked with dried blood.

His mouth opened and before he could utter a word, he toppled sideways and passed out.

“Oh no,” Erin rushed closer and tapped his cheek. “Padriag. Padriag.” From the bedroom, the phone’s ringtone sounded but she ignored it. “Wake up.”

The ringing stopped as she leaned over Padriag to see if he was breathing. He was, and his pulse was strong.

The cell phone began again.

Erin rushed to her bedroom. Not so much to answer the call, but to call for an ambulance. She’d figure out a way to explain his clothing and condition once he was no longer in danger.

Tammie’s name flashed on the screen, and she tapped on the green circle to answer.

“Is Padriag there?” Tammie called out, obviously on speaker phone. “The rest of the men are here. They did it,” her voice caught. “Is he there? Please tell me he is there.”

“Stop talking and let her answer,” Sabrina’s voice sounded closer to the phone. “Erin, Padriag didn’t show up here.”

Erin let out a shaky breath. “He is here, but he passed out. I think he’s injured. I was about to call nine-nine-nine.”

“Do not call anyone,” Tristan’s voice came over the speaker. “He is not injured. Any blood you see if probably not his. He needs rest.”

“Liam passed out as well,” Tammie called out. “He’s coming too now.”

Erin was back at Padriag’s side. His eyes were open, and he blinked in her direction. “Where’s everyone else?”

“At the castle,” Erin replied watching as he sat up. “Ouch,” he rubbed the side of his head. “I banged my head pretty good.”