Page 85 of Treachery in the Highlands
"Don't worry, baby.Thievery is my forte."
"You were a petty thief, aye?You broke into small pawn shops, not museums.Correct?"
"Well, yeah.But stealing is stealing, right?The principle is the same."Joey's cocky grin falters a wee bit under my scrutiny."Look, I'm not saying it'll be easy, but we need that artifact if we're going to close the portal for good."
I brush my fingers over the silver pendant at my throat, feeling the familiar tingle of magic that's been passed down through generations of MacTaggart witches.Though I've become more adept at using mydà-shealladh, I'm far from the level of my great-aunts.The second sight hasn't blessed me with any visions of how this ridiculous plan might unfold.
"The museum has guards," I remind him."And those wee cameras ye told me about.The all-seeing eyes that never blink."
"Security cameras," Joey corrects."And yeah, they have them.But I've cased the place enough to get the job done.Their system is outdated.Nothing I can't hack with a little finesse."He taps his temple with one finger, looking far too pleased with himself."Besides, we aren't exactly swimming in options, are we?"
He's right, though I'm loath to admit it.
"Fine," I concede, pulling my cloak tighter."But I'm coming with ye.My magic might be useful if things go awry."
"No way.This is a one-man job."
"Are ye certain of that?I'm the one with witchy powers, not you."
He twists his mouth into an expression that's half grimace, half pout."Magic won't help if we're caught on camera.The cops don't exactly accept 'witchcraft' as a legal defense these days."
"And yet ye need the book that's written in a language only I can decipher."I cross my arms in a defiant gesture.The pendant at my throat warms against my skin, almost as if it's agreeing with me."Unless ye've suddenly developed the ability to sense ancient Scottish enchantments?"
Joey thrusts a hand through his dark hair, disheveling it in a manner that makes my heart flutter traitorously."Rachel, this isn't medieval Scotland where you can just wave your hands and make problems disappear.The twenty-first century has different rules."
"Aye, and I've been learning those rules since ye first stumbled through the portal.I am not a helpless lass who needs constant protection."
His mouth quirks into a half-smile."Trust me, 'helpless' is the last word I'd ever use to describe you."
The warmth in his eyes nearly distracts me from standing my ground---nearly."Then stop treating me like I'm made of glass.We're partners in this debacle, are we not?"
"Fine," he concedes, throwing his hands up."But you follow my lead in there.We'll need a distraction of some sort to confuse the guards, but I don't know enough about security systems to figure out how to disable one."
"Allow me to handle that part of the plan."
He frowns."It's more of a seat-of-your-pants idea than a full-fledged strategy."
"Whatever ye call it, I will provide the magical distraction while you do whatever is necessary to obtain the book."
"I love it when you get all spunky and determined.It's hot."Joey leads me away from the glass case that holds the book.He still has his arm around me."Here's what I want you to do..."
His breaths tickle my ear as he outlines his hastily constructed scheme, and I find myself torn between wanting to slap him for his recklessness and kiss him for his fearlessness.But that's what I adore about him.
The pendant pulses against my skin, but I dinnae know if it's a warning or encouragement.
"So, I'm expected to create a wee bit of chaos to distract everyone while you sneak back to the glass case that contains the book?"I summarize, eyebrows raised."That's your master plan?"
"Pretty much."Joey's grin is infectious."Think you can manage it?Nothing too flashy.We don't want to hurt anyone."
I roll my eyes."Dinnae worry about me, Joey Finnegan.I learned from the best---Alyssa Vescovi, my mother.The women in my family know how to cause a distraction."
We slip away to a secluded alcove.
I close my eyes and center myself as I've been taught by my great-aunts.The magic in my veins hums like a plucked harp string, eager to be released.When I open my eyes, Joey is staring at me.
"You're glowing a little around the edges," he whispers."Is that normal?"
"Probably," I assure him, though in truth, I have no idea.The magics are different here---wilder somehow, less constrained by the natural laws that governed it in my own century."Now, get ready.When the commotion begins, ye'll have exactly three minutes."
