Those shards of light had been the Souls of the villagers. Just as the Faerie Queen had said he would, he’d felt every single one of them calling out for their missing half. He’d felt their desolation and pain.
His meeting with Thomas of Ercledoune had been no trick of his imagination. Nor had his encounter with the Faerie Queen been a fantasy. They were all too real.
As real as the “gift” she had given him.
As real as the curse he’d bear for the rest of his days.
One
DENVER, COLORADO
FEBRUARY
PRESENT DAY
Here’s to Abby, our archaeologist extraordinaire!”
Abigail Porter lifted her glass, clinking it against the ones held by her friends before bringing it to her lips and downing the colorful contents.
The shot was liquid candy in her mouth, heating her chest as it rolled down her throat.
She was so going to regret all this tomorrow morning.
“Heyya, honey!” Lauren waggled a finger at the passing waiter. “Another round right here, just like the last one.”
“At this rate, I’m gonna feel like shit on that plane tomorrow.” Casey wiped her index finger into the narrow opening of the empty little glass to catch up every last drop. “But it’ll be worth it for one last Girls’ Night Out!”
Last time. Abby shook her head, trying to clear the fuzz from her brain. Her whole life would change after tonight.
She’d met Lauren and Casey on her first day of college and they’d been inseparable ever since. After Casey had taken her dream job and moved to California, they’d still managed to see each other every few months when Casey would fly through Denver on her business trips. Not even Lauren’s getting married and moving to the East Coast had ended their friendship, though it had meant their Girls’ Nights Out were fewer and farther between.
But nothing lasts forever.
“We’ll still see each other, Case. Just maybe not as often and I’ll probably be dragging kidlets along when I come. They’ll need to get to know their aunties, after all.” Lauren nodded emphatically as she spoke.
Abby felt her lips peel back in a grin. The minute Lauren had stepped off the plane this morning she’d announced that she and Greg had decided to have a baby. She had it all planned. Six months to eat healthy and give up everything that was bad for her and then she’d get pregnant. Just like Lauren to expect her life to go according to a timetable.
And knowing Lauren, it probably would.
“Here you go, ladies. Nobody’s driving tonight, I hope?”
The waiter’s features seemed to blur a little as he held the tray in front of him and placed each little glass and an accompanying large one together on the table.
“Nope. Staying right here at the hotel,” Lauren assured the young man. “Got early flights out.”
Abigail blinked hard, reaching with an unsteady hand to pick up her shot as her friends did the same.
Lauren and Casey were both staying at the airport hotel tonight, but since she lived in town, she was going home in a taxi.
“No matter what you say, Lauren, it won’t ever be the same again.” Casey shook her head, her drink untouched. “Sam keeps talking marriage and family and we all know it’s just a matter of time before I cave to the pressure. Abby’s going off on this dig thing this summer and now that she’s a big mucky-muck international archaeologist, she’ll end up all famous and giving lectures on the Discovery Channel. And you! You’re going to freakin’ have kids, for God’s sake. We won’t ever be the same again. We’ll be officially grown up.”
“Not an archaeologist yet.” The words rattled around in Abby’s brain until she finally managed to blurt them out loud. Granted, she had her undergraduate degree, but the year she’d taken off to work before pursuing her master’s had slowed her down. With money an issue, she’d had no choice. Just the thought of her student loan debt made her reach for the glass of beer sitting in front of her.
“You will be. And you’ll be the best one ever, too. Nobody can find stuff like you can.”
Abby only wished she could feel as certain of her future as Lauren sounded. It had been her life’s dream from the time she’d been old enough to know there were ancient cultures waiting to be discovered. Her only goal in life was to follow the voices calling in her head and to make a success of it. She hadn’t the slightest doubt that her destiny lay in finding something ancient, something wonderful meant for only her to find.
“Absolutely she will,” Casey agreed. “And didn’t you say this new archaeology job is everything you’d hoped for?”
Everything and more. Like manna from heaven this opportunity had dropped in her lap. Some wealthy archaeologist wannabe was footing the bill for a three-month dig in Scotland trying to prove some theory of his about original inhabitants that would get his name immortalized in archaeology textbooks around the world.
All Abby cared about was that they’d be excavating the site of an ancient stone circle. It was a chance the likes of which she’d only dreamed of in the past. Like chocolate syrup on top of a sundae, Mr. Wannabe Famous was paying a generous salary to the candidates he chose.
And, wonder of wonders, he’d chosen her as one of them.
How an introvert like her had made it through the interview process and actually gotten on the team, she had no idea. She’d been a nervous wreck when she’d met with the representative. All she knew was that she’d received a letter yesterday welcoming her onto the team. Being selected meant that four months from now she’d be flying to Scotland and starting the most exciting thing that had ever happened to her in her entire life.
“Does Craig know you’re leaving the country for two months?” Casey tried unsuccessfully for an innocent look, batting her long lashes over the rim of her beer glass.
“No.” Why would she tell him? That relationship had been over and done with more than a year ago. “He’s moved on, Case. Last I heard he’s engaged or something now.”
“It could have been you he’s engaged to, you know,” Lauren accused. “You could have had that one if you’d tried a little harder.”
“Didn’t want that one. Craig’s a nice enough guy and all, but he’s just not . . .” Abby stopped, thinking of the man she’d come so close to marrying. He really was a decent guy. Handsome, wealthy family, good job. Craig was pretty much perfect. Perfect hair, perfect manners, perfect smooth, clean hands that were softer than hers. He was perfect, all right. Perfect for someone other than her.
“Oh, let me guess. He’s just not The One,” Casey finished for her, dramatically wiggling her fingers in the air to signify quotation marks.
“Exactly,” Abby agreed with a shudder. “Besides. Like I need a man to complicate my life right now? I’m totally fine on my own, you guys. Totally.”
That was the story she was sticking to with these women. The parade of horrible blind dates her well-meaning friends had subjected her to after her breakup with Craig was all too clearly etched in her memory.
“Oh, yeah? Well, I think a man is exactly what you need,” Lauren responded. “If we get you and Casey both married, then we could all do the mom thing together. Our kids could grow up and maybe even get married to each other. We could be our own in-laws! How perfect would that be?”
The idea sent the three of them into a fit of giggles as Lauren twirled her hand around her head like a cowgirl with a lasso, signaling the waiter for another round.
“Last one for me, girlies. I got to get me some z’s or I’ll never make that plane in the morning. Correction. This morning.” Lauren grinned wickedly as the waiter delivered their drinks. “So let’s make this a good one. Just like old times. We have to drink to our heart’s deepest secret wish. Casey?”
Casey lifted her drink first. “My secret wish. Okay. Since it’s you guys, I’ll admit this. In spite of all my crap about not ever getting married, I’m really not going to mind so much when I let Sam talk me into it. My wish would be that si
nce I’m getting home just in time for Valentine’s Day, he asks again so I can surprise the shit out of him and say yes this time.”
“Good one. No real secret there, but good, nonetheless.” Lauren grinned and lifted her drink. “My turn. I want twins. I’d wish for two girls so I can name one after each of you. Greg has already agreed. Now you, Abby. Your deepest, most passionate wish.”
Abby lifted her glass, trying to focus her thoughts through the alcohol haze, horrified when she blurted out the truth. “I do want to find The One. Not some soft-handed man. I want a real man’s man, you know? The sooner the better.”
“What happened to our Miss I-don’t-need-any-man?” Lauren started to giggle, holding her perfectly manicured fingers in front of her lips. “Oh, honey, I wondered when you were finally going to admit it to yourself. Frankly, I’m amazed that the girl who can find anything hasn’t already found her perfect man.”
“Wait, wait. I know exactly what she needs,” Casey interrupted, setting her glass down and leaning forward. “Total alpha male, just like in those romance books you read, Abby. All hot and bothered, right there in your bed, muscles rippling with every move, just waiting for you to jump his bones.”
“That’s perfect for her! An honest-to-God hero in all his naked glory,” Lauren added with another giggle.
“Exactly. That’s what I wish for. I want to find The One,” Abby agreed, nodding her head as she tried to picture that mysterious Soulmate who lived only in the dark recesses of her imagination. She lifted her glass and clinked it against those her two friends held. “I wish that all our wishes come true.”
For an instant, the lights in the room seemed to dim, casting a green glow over them, and the empty glasses on the table rattled.
“Whoa, those planes must be flying low tonight,” Lauren laughed. “Here’s to us, ladies. May all our wishes come true.”
“May all our wishes come true,” Abby and Casey echoed.
They clinked their glasses together again and emptied them, sitting quietly for a few minutes after their laughter died away.
“Won’t you change your mind and stay here with us tonight, Abby? It’d be like old times,” Casey offered as she and Lauren rose to their feet.
“Yeah, you really should. There’s no reason you need to drag your butt home at this time of night . . . or morning,” Lauren agreed.
“Nope.” Abby stood, hugging each of her friends in turn. “I’m on the schedule to work at the museum this afternoon. I’ll just finish my beer and then grab a taxi home. No big deal. Really. I should be able to get a few hours of sleep before I have to get my day started. You guys have good flights out tomorrow. And call me when you get home.”
Another round of teary hugs accompanied by promises to stay in touch, and Abby sat back down, watching her friends disappear through the door toward the elevators. It had been so much fun to spend the day with them. If only she hadn’t ruined it by stupidly admitting her desire to find that one perfect man. She suspected she’d be dealing with the fallout from this evening for quite some time.
She downed the last of her beer and then fumbled in her purse for cash to leave as a tip. The waiter had more than earned it by putting up with them all evening.
Two steps away from the table she grabbed for the nearest chair back to steady herself. Those cute little drinks might taste like liquid candy but they sure packed a wicked punch.
She headed for the lobby and the front doors, grateful that though the room spun lazily around her, at least she didn’t feel like she was viewing the world through a glass of green liquid as she had earlier at the table.
Maybe if she was lucky, Lauren and Casey would be in as bad a shape as her. Maybe, just maybe, they wouldn’t even remember her whole I-want-to-find-the-perfect-man debacle.
“Yeah, right,” she snorted to herself, causing the doorman to jump as if he hadn’t realized anyone approached.
She was so screwed. Those two women would never forget. And they’d never let her forget, either. Both Lauren and Casey would be scouring their lists of single men the second they got home, searching through every possible candidate. They’d be pushing every single man they could find her direction until she was old and gray. A future filled with scores of crappy dates and Not The Ones lay before her thanks to that one little slip.
Oh, yeah, there was no doubt that she was so going to regret tonight in the morning.
Two
PERTHSHIRE, SCOTLAND
MAY, 1306
A foreign anxiety rumbled around in Colin’s stomach as he sat astride his warhorse watching King Robert’s army calmly set about preparations for a night’s encampment. His mount tossed its head in response to the noise wafting up from the men scurrying around below.
“Easy,” he murmured, giving the animal a pat on the neck. He knew exactly how the horse felt. It was beyond him to understand why the Bruce had agreed to wait until tomorrow to take the castle at Perth. In addition to being one of Comyn’s kinsmen, Aymer de Valence was wholly devoted to Edward and not to be trusted. And camping their entire army here at Methven? In the open like this and only miles from Perth? The whole of it seemed a frustratingly foolish move to him.
Apparently his companions felt similarly vexed.
“I canna believe we’re no even to set guards for the night.” From his left, Simeon MacDowell’s mutter was the only sign that he felt as frustrated as Colin.
Alasdair Maxwell sat his mount on Colin’s right, unusually solemn. “I’m no at all easy in the chosen encampment. We’re too exposed down there. Our king is too trusting by far. Wallace would never have done such.”
“Wallace is gone. It’s Robert we follow now.” Colin agreed with his friend’s assessment of their situation, but he’d allow no criticism of their new king.
From their perch on the small rise it looked like the entire of Robert’s army was laid out across the rolling land, as if served up on a giant trencher, ready for the feasting. In contrast, the larger hills looming off to the west held a promise of safety. A promise of respite from the mass of men below.
“It’s because yer a Highlander, Dair,” Simeon offered softly, breaking into Colin’s thoughts. “This place is home to farmers. The land here rolls with her hills. In truth it’s no so flat though it may appear so to yer eyes. Yer spoiled by the hiding places offered up in the nooks and crannies of yer mountains.”
“Mayhaps,” Dair murmured. “Or mayhaps I just prefer the tactics of Wallace. He’d no have laid us all out in the fields below like easy targets at tournament. We’d have been scattered among the trees, at the very least.”
“His tactics dinna fare so well at Falkirk.” Simeon spoke without taking his eyes from the troops below. “Though in this particular instance, I find I must agree with you. I’ve no love for what we do here.”
“It’s of no matter now.” Colin dragged his eyes from the distant hills to once again survey the army below. “We’ve no course but to accept that Wallace is gone. Longshanks has seen to that. We’ve pledged ourselves to the Bruce. He’s our rightful king now and we’ll do what we can to aid him in his fight for Scotland’s freedom.”
“So we shall,” Dair agreed, tugging his reins to turn his horse from the view below. “But that disna change the fact that this place echoes in my bones with foreboding. I’ll no lay my head to rest down there with that lot. No in the open like that.”
“And where do you think yer going?” Sim questioned, all the while urging his own mount to follow Dair.
“Into the trees, just off this direction. It will no be so far as to be left behind on the morrow, but I’ll feel better with a bit of cover around me. I prefer my eyes, rather than my back, turned toward Perth.”
With one last look over the army encampment, Colin followed along behind his companions. Overly cautious perhaps, to his way of thinking, and yet Dair’s sense of caution had rarely steered them wrong. The man had an uncanny ability to sniff out danger.
Besides, placin
g some distance between himself and all those men down below was more than desirable. In the years since his foolish encounter with the Faerie Queen, he’d learned to erect the mental barriers that shielded his mind. Even so, this many souls simultaneously crying out for their mates relentlessly battered even his best defenses.
Not to mention that, like Sim, he happened to agree with Dair’s tactical assessment. There was something about this place that felt eerily wrong, like treading over sacred ground. Even now a tingle of apprehension rose up his backbone and prickled his neck, as if every hair on his body stood on end.
When they entered the forest, his horse suddenly halted, pricking up its ears and pawing the ground nervously. A wave of dizziness swept over Colin and, as if the sun had settled below the horizon, the light dimmed to a pale, indistinct green cast.
Ahead of him on the path, Sim turned in his saddle to look back.
“By the saints!” Sim exclaimed. “What’s happening to you?”
Colin’s arms and legs refused to follow his commands as if he had turned to stone, and he could only watch as the faint green glow turned to a wavering emerald sphere surrounding him.
Like a swarm of angry midges on a late summer day, tiny dots of multicolored lights flashed and dived around his head, careening into one another and bouncing off the walls of the decidedly solid sphere. They moved faster and faster until they were but a blur, their brightly lit tails streaking out behind them.
Sim strained in his direction but Dair held him back with an outstretched arm. His words were barely audible over the buzzing and hissing of the manic lights.
“Stay yer ground. It’s the Fae.”
The Fae! Dair must have the right of it. Nothing of this world could bring about such as he experienced now.
The walls of the sphere shimmered and solidified to the point Colin could no longer see through them. In the next instant, his stomach plummeted to his toes, leaving him weightless as if his body were being tossed through the air into a great, black chasm.
Highlander’s Curse Page 2
