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�But I can�t leave the kingdom.�
�No,� Kate replied. �But I can.�
�Can�t you go back to our century and get some real help?� Bev asked.
�I could get out, but I doubt that I could ever find my way back. I�ve never done anything this elaborate before,� Kate informed her.
�What do you want me to do while you�re gone? Should I distract Quinn?� Bev asked.
�No. Quinn could become suspicious if you suddenly showed an interest in his company. Keep Brennan distracted. A man from his century can�t possibly predict the actions of a woman from our century,� Kate informed her. �I�m sure you�ll come up with something brilliant.�
Bev appeared humored and smiled.
Kate walked through the dark woods, not certain which way she should go. She could hear wild animals from every direction. Had she been mortal, she would have been terrified. The growling of wolves grew louder. Kate spun nervously and appeared concerned. Perhaps it was even frightening for a young witch. A wolf darted along the trees. Kate spun around. Another moved not far from her. She could hear movement from every direction. Kate remained perfectly still. The growling grew louder. Wolves started approaching her from the woods. Kate gasped and considered her next move. She pointed her finger into the woods. Before she could cast the spell, the wolves turn and ran.
A horse could be heard running across the woods. Kate spun around and saw Brennan with a crossbow in his hands. He stopped the horse a few feet before her.
�What are you doing?� he demanded to know.
�Taking a walk,� she replied simply. �I�m aloud.�
He leaned forward on the horse�s neck. �That�s why you had your friend distract me? Next time you leave her alone with me, I won�t be so kind.�
�You just keep your hands off of her, you medieval bastard!�
Brennan snorted a laugh and appeared humored. �Your threats don�t concern me. I�m protected, remember?�
Kate raised a sly brow. �Nice horse, Brennan. Does he like cats?�
Brennan gave her an odd stare.
Kate suddenly transformed into a black panther and hissed loudly at the horse. The horse squealed and reared up. Brennan maintained his balance. When the horse�s front hooves touched the ground, the panther, pounced a foot short of the horse�s legs. The horse reared and spun in mid air. Brennan toppled off of the horse and landed roughly on the ground. The panther batted at Brennan where he lay on the ground. An invisible force field zapped the black paw. The panther leaped backwards and transformed back into Kate. She frowned and casually leaned against a nearby tree and flexed her sore hand.
�One day, Brennan,� she said as he slowly sat up, �that spell will be broken, and I�m going to see just what kind of warrior you really are.� She pointed her finger to the ground. �Have a nice walk home.� Snakes suddenly appeared all around him and slithered. Kate vanished.
Kate returned to the castle and found Bev in the massive library with two floors of books. Bev was on a ladder on the second level and searched the shelves of books.
�What�s so interesting?� Kate asked.
Bev jumped and appeared startled. She looked down to Kate on the level below. �There�s an ancient book on witchcraft. Maybe there�s some spell that you can use to help us.� Bev looked back to the shelf and removed the book. She looked back to Kate and smiled. �Express elevator down, please.�
Kate snapped her fingers. Bev appeared alongside her. She immediately flipped through the old book and frowned.
�This reads backwards,� Bev said.
�You�re just not used to witchcraft. It�s very wordy.� Kate took the book from her and glanced through it. �This book is from this century. I don�t even understand what it�s referencing.�
�Did you find the medieval witch society?�
�No, Brennan found me first. We need to find a way to keep him occupied for a few hours,� Kate announced.
�You could send Brennan to the dungeon for a few hours, couldn�t you? Maybe give him a little quality time on the stretching rack? Oh, say you will--for me,� Bev begged with a sly smile.
�I can�t touch Brennan. He�s protected by Quinn�s spell, and I can�t do anything about it,� Kate replied.
