by Jayne Castel
His body stiffened against hers.
Propping herself up, Gavina angled up her chin to meet his gaze. He’d said little of what had passed between him and Nessa. The wise woman had tended to him, and after she left, Draco had fallen into a deep slumber. When he’d awoken the following morning, clearly on the mend, Gavina had been too relieved to question him about what the healer had actually done to him.
“There’s something ye aren’t saying,” she murmured. “Will ye share it with me?”
He grinned. “I was wondering when you’d bring this up.”
Gavina arched an eyebrow. “Keep yer secrets then,” she huffed.
Draco’s grin faded, his gaze growing soft as he lifted a hand and stroked her cheek. “Not anymore … and never with you.” He paused then. “You realize that Nessa is much more than she appears, don’t you?”
Gavina inclined her head. “Ye mean, she’s a witch?”
He nodded. “That’s why she has disappeared. Folk tolerate having a local wise woman living amongst them … someone to lance their boils and bless the harvest … but if they learned who she really was, they’d turn against her.”
Gavina sucked in a breath. “She healed ye with magic then?”
“That and some healing herbs that nearly dissolved my flesh.” Draco cringed at the memory, and Gavina found a smile curving her lips. She’d known he was feeling better when he started to complain about the pain.
When he’d been on death’s door, he’d barely uttered a word.
“We owe Nessa yer life,” she said after a pause. “I wish I could have thanked her properly.”
Draco smiled, his thumb tracing Gavina’s lower lip. As always, his touch sent shivers of need through her. They hadn’t lain together since his recovery, but she could tell from the glint in her husband’s eyes that tonight they’d rectify matters. “As do I … when she helped me, I was distracted.” His mouth twisted. “I was also reeling from her admission that she’s part of a coven that dates back to ancient times.” His gaze held Gavina’s. “The witch who founded the coven … was the one who cursed me, Max, and Cass.”
Gavina drew back. “Really?”
Draco gave a rueful laugh. “You can imagine my surprise.”
“Do Maximus and Cassian know?”
“Yes, I told them yesterday.” He paused then, his expression turning wistful. “It’s like everything has gone full-circle. The riddle has been solved … and ironically, the bandruì who cursed us also had a hand in freeing us.”
“The Broom-star has gone from the night sky,” Gavina confirmed. “So ye figured everything out just in time.”
“We did,” Draco replied, interlacing his fingers through hers. “But we wouldn’t have done it without your resolve … your courage.”
The intensity of his gaze made her breathing quicken, heat flaring across her chest. “I’m no braver than ye,” she murmured.
His fingers tightened around hers. “When the witch spoke that riddle all those centuries ago, she was making a prophecy,” he replied. “Of the White Hawk and the Dragon. I never knew it … but I’ve been waiting a long time to meet you.”
The heat spreading across Gavina’s chest intensified, and tears pricked her eyes. It was hard to believe that she was part of a foretelling, one that been made back in the mists of time.
“I have something for you,” Draco said finally, shattering the moment. A boyish smile lit his face as he reached under the pillows. “Sit up, and close your eyes.”
Gavina inclined her head. “A gift … really? What is it?”
“You’ll find out soon enough. Hold out your hand.” His smile widened to a grin. “You’re not getting it until you close your eyes.”
Gavina gave a snort, but complied, holding out a hand as bid.
A moment later, something solid landed upon her palm.
“You can open your eyes now.”
She did, her gaze fastening upon a small wooden figurine—of a beautiful naked woman with long hair tumbling down her back.
Gavina stifled a gasp. “That’s me?”
“It doesn’t even begin to do you justice, love,” he murmured, his voice spilling over her like warmed honey. “But I’ve been working on it for the past weeks. I found a large piece of rosewood a while ago and wasn’t sure what to whittle out of it. Before I knew it, I was carving your likeness.”
Gavina traced a fingertip over the intricate carving. “This is lovely … ye have great talent.”
“I’ve had centuries to hone my craft,” he replied, a smile in his voice. “Max and Cass both have religious figurines made by my hand.”
Gavina glanced up, her throat thickening. “I will treasure this always,” she murmured. Their gazes locked, and the tenderness she saw in his eyes robbed her of breath. Her fingers wrapped around the figurine. “No one has ever gifted me something so special.”
His mouth quirked, and he leaned forward, cupping her cheek with his hand. “I received the best gift of all,” he whispered. “A beautiful, bold-hearted Scotswoman in flesh and blood.” He paused then, his gaze searing. “You have taught me what love is, Gavina … and I will never forget it.”
EPILOGUE
ALL I’LL EVER WANT
GAVINA STEPPED OUT of the cottage, bracing herself against the chill wind that gusted in from the north.
Samhain had come and gone, and now they’d entered the last moon cycle before Yule. Winter had arrived, after a long, tumultuous summer and tense autumn.
Much had happened since Edward’s departure from Dunnottar. He hadn’t managed to take back Stirling, but instead, he’d unleashed his wrath upon the south, and in early autumn had taken Robert Bruce's Turnberry Castle. Longshanks and his son—and their armies—were now wintering in West Lothian.
Unfortunately, Scotland hadn’t yet rid itself of Edward of England. While William Wallace was still at large, and the Scottish clan-chiefs resisted the English, Edward wouldn’t rest.
Shrugging off such grim thoughts, Gavina drew her fur mantle about her shoulders. Thank the Lord that Edward had let Dunnottar be. She cast a glance then over her shoulder at the doorway behind her. The midwife had confirmed what she’d already suspected.
She was at least two moons gone with bairn.
A smile spread across her face, and she made her way over to where her palfrey stood nearby, obediently tied up to a rail outside the midwife’s cottage.
Excitement fluttered deep in her belly—or perhaps it was the bairn—as her smile widened.
Draco will be beside himself.
And he would be. All three of the centurions hadn’t been able to father children since the day of their cursing. But Heather and Aila were both now carrying their husband’s babes—Heather was due in late winter, Aila in early spring.
Gavina’s bairn would be a summer child.
The last lingering shadow of that terrible curse had finally faded. It had taken a while, for the curse was like a deep bruise that left a mark long after the original injury healed. Maximus, Cassian, and Draco were free, but all three men were still coming to terms with what freedom actually meant.
Untying her palfrey from the rail, Gavina mounted and turned the horse toward Stonehaven’s market—where the weekly event was taking place upon the docks.
She’d slipped away while Heather and Aila bickered over which cloth to buy, their long-suffering husbands looking on.
Even Draco hadn’t seen Gavina leave, for he’d been haggling with an iron monger. But he’d be looking for her now.
Returning to the busy quayside—where gulls screeched at each other as they fought for scraps, and the cries of vendors rose against the whistling wind and the rumble of surf—Gavina hurried back to the market.
Draco spied her from a distance. He strode toward her. The others hurried close behind him.
Seeing their worried faces, guilt speared Gavina. She hadn’t been away that long—but she now realized they’d all been searching for her.
Even with his face creased with concern, the sight of her husband—tall and swarthy, a fur cloak around his broad shoulders—made Gavina’s belly tighten with excitement. He’d made Dunnottar his home, but he was still a warrior, and he stalked toward her like one.
“Gavina!” he greeted her, his voice tight with relief. “Where in Hades have you been?”
“To see the midwife,” she replied.
Draco stopped, halting so abruptly that Maximus ran into him. His dark eyes went wide, before his throat bobbed. “Why? Are you …?”
Gavina nodded. “The bairn will be born just after Beltaine.”
“I knew it!” Aila squealed, her face alight with joy. “Ye have been off yer bannocks for days now.” Beside Aila, Heather was beaming, a hand upon her swollen belly. Likewise, Aila’s stomach appeared rounded under her kirtle. Gavina’s, however, had yet to curve.
Standing behind their wives, both Maximus and Cassian were smiling. Their gazes gleamed. They knew how much this meant to Draco and Gavina.
She’d feared she was barren, for although she hadn’t lain with David often, her womb had never quickened nonetheless. And when both Heather and Aila fell pregnant and she didn’t, she began to worry. Draco had been given his mortality, and should be able to father a child. But what if she couldn’t give him one?
Gavina’s gaze met Draco’s. His worry had faded. He approached her now, his hands cupping her face. “That is fine news, my love,” he murmured, gazing into her eyes. “But even if you weren’t with child, you know I’d adore you all the same.” Perhaps seeing the tension upon her face, his gaze narrowed. “I mean it. Having a bairn together is wonderful.” His voice had lowered, growing intimate, as if they were alone and not standing in the midst of a jostling crowd with their friends looking on. “But it’s you I want … all I’ll ever want.”
Gavina stared up at him, and something deep inside her—a tension she hadn’t realized she’d even been carrying—unknotted. He had no idea how freeing his words were.
Throwing her arms around Draco’s neck, she pressed her lips to his, clinging to him. She heard one of the men whistle, while one of the women—Aila most likely—giggled.
Gavina and Draco paid them no mind.
The kiss deepened, and Gavina’s surroundings faded. She too had everything she would ever want. Right here in this moment. This man in her arms—who kissed her as if they were newly-weds standing at the doorway of the chapel—was the only thing she needed.
Jump into more adventures by Jayne Castel!
I’ve got two new books coming up, one on December 5, 2020, and the next on January 21, 2021.
First up is THE LAIRD’S RETURN
I’ve written a Christmas novella set in the same world as THE IMMORTAL HIGHLAND CENTURIONS series. This is Elizabeth and Robert De Keith’s story … a tale of second chance love!
Is it too late for a second chance at love? An embittered laird. A loyal wife. A new start. A Yuletide second chance love in Medieval Scotland.
Preorder your copy of THE LAIRD’S RETURN today, and it’ll be delivered to your Kindle on December 5th!
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Get ready for a brand new series, coming in January 2021!
HIGHLANDER DECEIVED, Book One in Stolen Highland Hearts will be out on January 21, 2021. Get ready for an exciting new trilogy set in Medieval Scotland. The series centers on the lives and loves of three siblings of the MacKay clan in the wild north of the Scottish Highlands. The novel is available on preorder (links below).
A lie this bold will not stay hidden. He thought he was marrying a chieftain’s daughter—but his young wife isn’t who she seems. Deception and passion collide in Medieval Scotland.
Preorder your copy of HIGHLANDER DECEIVED today, and it’ll be delivered to your Kindle on January 21, 2021!
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FROM THE AUTHOR
I hope you enjoyed the final installment in THE IMMORTAL HIGHLAND CENTURIONS.
DRACO was a story full of surprises for me—there were a few developments I didn’t expect at all! When I planned the book, I was thinking more of a typical ‘enemies to lovers’ story, but this tale developed into something much more complex. Draco was more troubled and damaged, and Gavina more mature in her thinking than I’d expected. It’s one of the joys of being a writer—those times when your characters ‘take over’.
There were quite a few things to tie up, including the tense situation with Edward of England and breaking the curse. I often find it hard to say goodbye at the end of my trilogies—so to that end, I’ve written a novella that tells Elizabeth and Robert De Keith’s story. It’s a festive novella, just in time for Christmas. Look out for it a couple of days after the release of DRACO!
Once again, there’s quite a bit of historical background that went into this novel (read my historical notes below for details on it).
Follow me on Facebook to keep updated on my upcoming books. Or you can join my mailing list (not only do you get updates, exclusive stories, and a chance to join my ARC list, but you also receive free origin stories for Maximus and Heather—the hero and heroine of Book #1 of THE IMMORTAL HIGHLAND CENTURIONS).
Jayne x
HISTORICAL NOTES
Once again, these notes are lengthy—but worth the read if you like a bit of historical background insight!
As those of you who’ve read the entire series will know, this story hinges around the story of the Ninth Legion—a legion of around five thousand men who marched into the wilds of Caledonia in around 118 AD and were never seen again.
The Ninth legion was also called ‘the Hispana’, or Spanish legion. The generals and commander would have all been Roman, but most of the legion was made up of soldiers from Hispania (Spain). Draco comes from what is now southern Spain, and the Roman fort of Valentia, now the town of Valencia.
An important thing to note here, regarding Draco’s Moorish origins, is that I have taken a bit of ‘creative license’ with history in this series (considering it’s all about immortal Roman centurions that shouldn’t come as too great a surprise!). The Moors weren’t established on the Iberian Peninsula during the time of the Roman Empire—although there was quite a bit of existing trade between the Berbers of North Africa and the continent. However, I really wanted to show the breadth of cultural diversity within the Roman Empire, and as there were North African colonies too, I decided to shift the Moors’ arrival forward a few centuries. Draco’s original name, Amestan, is of Berber origin. It means ‘Protector, defender’, which is perfect for his character, and ties into what would have been his actual heritage.
Halley’s Comet is a prominent feature in the whole series. Back in the Dark Ages and Medieval period it didn’t go by that name (as it was named after the scientist who ‘discovered’ it in 1758). Instead, there are references to it being called ‘the fire-tailed star’. Maximus calls it ‘the Broom-star’, which was actually a name that Chinese astronomers attached to the comet. Halley’s Comet appears in our skies every 75-76 years, and in ancient times it was often heralded as an ill omen. The comet actually appeared in the night-sky in the months preceding the Norman invasion of England, something that the English blamed for their defeat. The Bayeux tapestry even shows the comet! The year in which this series takes place, 1301, was a year in which the comet was sighted.
At the beginning of the novel, I mention the Chapel of Saint Margaret of Scotland in Edinburgh Castle—this place is real, as is the saint herself. She was a pious Scottish queen, married to King Malcolm III. She famously died in 1093 just days after hearing of her husband’s death in battle. Her saint’s day is actually 16 November, although for the purposes of my novel, I shift it to June!
Dunnottar does mean ‘fort on the shelving slope’ in Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Fhoithear. The castle is a mighty stronghold perched on cl
iffs on the north-eastern coast of Scotland. As I mention in my story, the castle was taken by the English in the final years of the 13th Century and then liberated by William Wallace and his men. When the English garrison realized they were doomed, they locked themselves inside the chapel, hoping to find sanctuary there. However, Wallace showed them no mercy and burned the lot of them to death inside it.
William Wallace, of course, is the famous Scottish freedom fighter. My depiction of Wallace isn’t the Mel Gibson, Braveheart version (sorry!). Instead, I followed the historical records of him as a huge giant of a man with thick dark hair and beard. He was also reputed to have had a terrible temper. Not a man to mess with!
The year 1301 is also in the midst of the Scottish Wars of Independence (although they weren’t called that at the time). When this series begins, there was a period of unstable peace although later that year Edward I of England resumes his campaign. The laird of Dunnottar, Robert De Keith, was an English prisoner as I describe, and he did have a wife named Elizabeth. However, his brother, David, is fictitious, as is Lady Gavina.
While it’s true that Edward’s son did occupy the south-west of Scotland as his father focused on the other territories, I couldn’t find any mention of Edward residing in Stirling at this time. However, that doesn’t mean he didn’t!
I did a bit of research into Edward of England. Indeed, he went by the name of Longshanks (due to his considerable height), and did have the moniker: The Hammer of the Scots (something that ties nicely into our curse). He was tall with dark-blond hair and ‘icy blue’ eyes. He was also reputed to be quite handsome, although a drooping left eyelid marred his looks slightly. Edward was said to have a powerful voice, despite a slight lisp, and a terrible temper when riled. He was clever and a good fighter. He also hated William Wallace.
