Page 22 of Utterly Dauntless

Aries nodded. "I gave up my powers. They were too unpredictable."

"But you could never turn anyone into...say...a toad?"

Everyone laughed.

"No. Nothing like that."

"But we can," Loretta said, sharing a smile with her sister. "Would you like to volunteer, Jake?"

The kid blanched and shook his head.

The sisters snickered. "Just kidding."

Jake eventually relaxed, then he pressed. "Can you do some more? Something cool? Predict Emma's future? Will her husband be fat and bald?"

Lorraine closed her eyes for a moment, then grinned at him. "That girl you like—the one with the green hair? She's going to ask you to the autumn dance."

Jake's face flushed scarlet.

Craig shook his head in wonder. "It's all true then. Everything Carson said..."

"I'm just sorry it took so long to prove it," Aries said quietly. "I should have come back years ago, should have explained..."

"Ye're here now," Carson said. "We’ll be grateful for what we get. And we're grateful to have my brother here. And grateful for this." He gestured to the parade of staff coming to exchange their bowls for the next course.

The rest of the meal passed pleasantly. The men were cagey about what they did for a living, which was understandable. None of them wanted to admit they were set for life, thanks to each of them enjoying a tiny share of one of the greatest treasures of gems known to mankind. They spoke openly about their appreciation for the people they loved, friends and family alike. It was good for the teenagers to see physically impressive men admit that true love humbled them.

Grey nodded through it all, silent for the most part. On the rare instances where she caught his eye, he would smile. But those smiles were brief and always strained. Something wasbrewing behind those eyes, and Aries would have given anything to have the power to read his thoughts.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

After lunch, the Muir sisters, who had rented a suite at the hotel, started handing out room keys and insisted everyone join them in the swimming pool. All excuses were rejected since the hotel had swimsuits to let in all sizes and was eager to accommodate them. They even had a key for Tristan and his wife when they showed up with Aries' things.

Grey's stomach plummeted when he saw Aries' eyes light up. She claimed her joy was at having her grandmother's Royal Dalton back, but he knew differently. It was her freedom that had just been handed to her. He was going to lose her for good.

The late summersun warmed the flagstones around the pool, making this rare Scottish afternoon perfect for swimming. And more than one man wondered aloud if the Muir sisters mighthave some power over the weather. Steam rose from the heated water and created an almost mystical atmosphere.

"The magic will be if his suit stays put," Jake said, watching Shug execute a perfect cannonball that sent waves crashing over the coping. The big man surfaced with a roar and shook water from his hair like a massive dog.

"That's just physics, lad," McHenish called from where he lounged against the wall in the shallow end. "Mass and velocity and—" His scientific explanation was cut short when someone grabbed his ankles and yanked him under. It was Wyndham, who emerged from the water in a great whoosh and roared in the same manner as Shug had.

The teens shrieked with laughter when McHenish flew up out of the water to land on Wyndham's back. The two men wrestled and sent more waves across the pool. Craig tried to maintain his dignity but soon joined in, teaming up with Carson to dunk the Highlanders.

Aries floated on her back at the quiet end, trying not to stare at Grey's broad shoulders as he pulled himself up to sit on the edge. Water streamed down his chest, and she forced herself to look away.

"Chicken fight!" Jake shouted. "Emma, get on my shoulders!"

"I will not," his sister replied primly, but squealed when Carson scooped her up and deposited her on Craig's shoulders instead.

"Right then," Shug said, "who's my partner?" His eyes landed on Aries. "Come on, lass. Let's show these youngsters how it's done."

Before she could protest, she found herself hoisted onto that wet, shaggy dog to face off against Emma. The competition was on. They locked hands and tried to topple each other while Craig and Shug did their best to help.

"That's it!" Wyndham called. "Push left, Aries! She's off balance!"

Grey's low chuckle sent shivers down her spine that had nothing to do with the water temperature. "Too late. She's goin' down."

"Never!" she shouted, but Emma took advantage of her distraction and gave a mighty shove. Aries toppled backward and took Shug with her. Water flooded her ears and face and drowned out most of the shouting. When she came up gasping and laughing, the volleyball floated nearby. She grabbed it and hurled it at Grey, smacking him squarely on the side of the head.

---