On Wings of Time

by Linda Boulanger

  When they were finished, Kiernan told him to slip the dagger into his boot. Luke had raised a brow but done so anyway. Anything to get them to let him take a break, especially since it felt like his arms were going to fall off completely if he tried to raise them again. Nothing he had ever done in his life had remotely prepared him for this. He looked at the others—Amileigh’s brothers and other men that lived at or near the castle. Good Lord, they must have been ripped under the loose-fitting shirts they wore, because the majority of them had been at it since before he had arrived and they hardly looked like they were breaking a sweat. Auley sat off to the side, an older man tending to a cut that had sliced right through the cloth of his shirt. He smiled up at Luke as he and Kiernan started to walk away.

  “Training bracers would have been good.”

  Kiernan chuckled and Luke smiled in that silly way people do when they have no idea what’s being talked about.

  “Saw your handiwork out there,” Auley goaded him. “Thinking you might consider it as well.”

  When Luke stopped, a retort ready on his tongue about how he wasn’t the one who got wounded, Kiernan grabbed his sleeve and nodded his head in the direction of the castle. Grumbling, Luke capitulated and went away with little more than a scathing glare at the younger man.

  “He’s got an attitude, Kiernan. Somebody needs to put him in his place.”

  Kiernan raised a brow at Luke when he spoke as they were nearing the house. “You’re still sulking about that?” He shook his head and sighed. “Truth be, he’s probably right.” He raised his hand when Luke started to object. “We went easy on you out there today. I put you with some of the more experienced men, those who know just how far to press. You needed training, not taken down.”

  Luke crossed his aching arms over his chest. Easy! He’d just had the hardest workout he’d ever had in his life and was being told they’d gone easy? He rolled his eyes and looked up at the sky. God help him then, because he wasn’t sure he had any more to give.

  As he looked down, he saw her standing with her hand pressed against the pane of glass in one of the upper floor rooms. Ami. She was watching him, or watching them rather, as they walked back across the grass. If she hadn’t realized he could see her, she did when he raised his hand about face level and waved. Without returning the gesture, she backed away.

  One, two, three. Luke counted the windows from the far side of the house and smiled. He’d been right. Hers was the room directly in the middle. When he and his brothers had explored the ruins, he remembered thinking the room must have belonged to a very prissy girl.

  Mairi pretended to gag the first time he’d unlocked the door and shown her inside. He looked at Kiernan. His great grandfather would have known whose it was, but then Kiernan hardly ever visited the ruins of Somerled. How odd—Luke had never thought of it before. He looked around. It must have been hard for him to see it crumble since he’d walked among the halls in all their splendor, shared food and drink with the people who lived there. Still, he’d have to ask his great grandfather what had happened once he got back.

  If he ever got back.

  He looked up at the empty window again. It had always seemed strange to him that that part of the castle remained. Not the whole thing, of course. The outer castle wall was still there. The interior section where the back stairway and end rooms had been was gone or partly demolished, leaving those rooms and the hallway open to the elements. And with the grand main entry hall gone, he suspected having seen it now, that the upper landing had crumbled just past the huge double doors. That’s where they climbed up by ladder.

  Luke thought about Amileigh’s room. Kiernan may not visit there anymore, but Luke suspected it was him who had installed locks on the doors of the remaining rooms, including hers. He put himself back there in modern times. Had there been any sense of deja vu?

  “You coming?” Kiernan broke into his thoughts. Luke nodded, and with one last glance to the West to see that the porcelain doll had returned to her window, he followed Kiernan through the rose garden doors.

  After an hour or so in Gairlich’s study, Kiernan closed the book he had been looking through. Amazingly enough, there were volumes of huge books that chronicled the lives of the Kedan Blends from the time it was decided the Blends were necessary to preserve the great dragons, to the union of a couple named… Luke closed his eyes for a moment, searching for the names. Nic…Nicholas and Helaina. After many failed attempts, they were considered the first perfect specimens of their kind—her a purest of pure Prihom and him a perfectly bred Guardian-Dragon Blend. They’d married, of course, and Nicholas managed to transform completely, with no flaws or issues. But there was great unrest. The Dubhagan dragons wanted her, and the Kedan King’s brother was in on it because he wanted power. Yada, yada, yada.

  Luke pushed back, handing Kiernan the tome he had been reading. The dragon below, or what was left of it, smashed by the rock in the Room of Embers… he bet that dragon was the King’s brother. He had been described on the pages as having yellows, oranges, and browns, looking as though the fire gods had lit up the sky when he flew. It must have been quite the sight to see him and his brother, the red dragon wearing the crown, in flight together. How sad that he had let his own greed get in the way and it had cost him his life. It surely must have grieved the Kedan King.

  “Oooooohhhhh.” Luke blew out a long breath, rubbing his forehead before rising from his chair. The only dragon he’d actually seen had not appeared to be the kind of creature who cared about anything other than its own needs. The way the one had swooped down on Amileigh, Luke could imagine it wanting nothing more than to satisfy an empty belly with a tasty morsel who had found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. That’s what he remembered of dragon folklore… they ate people.

  And breathed fire. Good grief! Luke crinkled his nose. Did that mean he would breathe fire? He sure hoped not. Honestly, that sounded a bit disturbing to say the least.

  He realized Kiernan had been watching him in his reverie. With a lopsided smile, he shoulder bumped his great grandfather.

  “What’s a guy gotta do to get some food around here?” After the workout they’d had, he was about ready to storm the kitchens if someone didn’t offer him food soon. And no wine. He didn’t care if he ever drank again. Double emphasis on ever!

  Disappointment edged in when Amileigh didn’t join them for the midday meal. He overheard an excuse being made to her father about her being femininely predisposed. He wasn’t sure what that meant, but it made both Kiernan and Gairlich frown.

  At dinner, which came after a bit more cave exploration, a strange but warm bath, and a short rest, they were told Amileigh’s head was hurting too much for her to join them. Her head his ass, Luke thought. He closed his eyes, stilling his thoughts.

  You can’t hide from me forever, he thought. The returning silence made him doubt it had gotten to where he’d intended.

  Finally, after several moments, words not his own zinged into his head. Four days.

  Luke scrunched his face. What does that mean?

  He was sure he could hear her laughter. Ask Kiernan the date.

  The date? Had they set a wedding date or something.

  “Hey, Kiernan,” Luke interrupted the conversation. “Is there something I need to know about the date?”

  “The date?” Lady Saundra said, echoing the words of one of her sons. Gairlich’s lips thinned, and Kiernan pushed two fingers against his forehead as he looked sideways at Luke.

  “Can’t see anything that could be considered special about a Wednesday,” Auley piped in, all eyes turning to him.

  “Wednesday? What are you talking about?” Luke squinted at the younger man who somehow managed to continuously annoy the crap out of him.

  “I think you’re just overly tired, my friend.”

  Luke shrugged away the hand Kiernan tried to place on his arm, alarm rising inside him at the placating tone.

  “She says four days.” He
glared at the younger version of the man he knew. “What’s going to happen, Kiernan? I think I have a right to know.”

  The silence at the table made the scraping of the legs of Kiernan’s chair sound even louder than it should have. When he stood, Luke followed suite.

  “Forgive us, my lord.” Kiernan made a show of a slight bow toward Gairlich, not looking at anyone else, including Luke, as he stormed out of the room.

  Luke tried to mimic the bow then waved a hand in front of himself and skirted out. To hell with it all, he thought. This was his life these people were playing with.

  “What’s happening in four days, Kiernan?” he practically yelled. At least he’d held his cool until they’d passed the grand hall staircase and were on their way down the hall that held Gairlich’s study. At this time of night it was the most secluded. “Damn it!” He grabbed Kiernan’s arm, stopping him and wheeling him around.

  Squared off, the two men stared at each other until Kiernan stepped back. Bowing his dark head, he brought his hands up, blowing against his palms.

  “It wasn’t only you who went back in time,” he said in a low, quiet tone.

  Luke squinted. His lips puckered as he tried to make sense of what Kiernan had said.

  Finally, the younger man looked up at him. “It was Sunday, the day you were at the ruins?”

  Luke nodded. “But I don’t see…”

  “Ami said it was Sunday as well. She said we’d gone out for a ride that afternoon, only…” Kiernan looked away then back before continuing. “Luke, the ride was supposed to happen this coming Sunday.”

  Sucking in a quick, deep breath, Luke stepped back. He stared at Kiernan as if he’d grown a second head. “Holy crap.”

  Kiernan stared at him. “Crap. Excrement.” He shook his head. “I don’t think that can be holy.”

  Had the situation not been so monumental, Luke might have laughed, choosing instead to ignore it. “So, what does all this mean?”

  Shrugging, Kiernan looked over his shoulder. “I have no idea.”

  Following his gaze, Luke turned around to see Gairlich’s large, commanding body zeroing in on them.

  “Gentlemen. I will tell you what you already know and that is these walls have ears.” He looked at the crack in the wall that would have easily allowed in a man turned sideways. “Perhaps we should continue this in my study.”

  Both men turned to follow him and Luke smiled. “Kiernan? Wouldn’t the books hold the answers?”

  Kiernan frowned. “The books?” After a second, his brows shot up. “Ah, the tomes.”

  Gairlich barely managed to unlock the door before they rushed in to the cabinet where he kept them, waiting impatiently until he unlocked that as well. Pulling each book out and turning to the end, the men went through all twelve of the large volumes rather quickly. Several of them Luke had to hand to Kiernan because he couldn’t understand the language of that time. Even with that, they made quick work of the task, both staring in disbelief when they scanned for a date on the last book.

  “We must have missed it,” Luke said, reaching for one of the discarded volumes.

  Kiernan shook his head. “It’s not here.” His shoulders slumping, he sunk down in Gairlich’s desk chair.

  Counting, Gairlich looked puzzled. “It was. There were thirteen yesterday. Now there are only twelve.”

  “Twelve what, dear?”

  The three men turned to see Lady Saundra standing at the door. She looked from them to the books strewn about. “Oh, the old tomes.” She walked over and ran her hand down the front of the cover of one on the edge of the desk. “Are you looking for the last one?” When Kiernan nodded, she smiled. “I’m sorry. I have it.”

  “You! Why?”

  Dressed in a modest dusty rose colored gown, the vision floated across the room to where her husband stood. “Please, dear, don’t be mad. I just wanted to read it.” She caressed his cheek. “I’ve read them all through the years.” She looked at Luke. “I remembered something after we met yesterday. A name… Loukas. You were foretold centuries ago.” She walked over to him. “You’re going to take my daughter away, aren’t you?”

  Luke blinked down at her. Was he? “We need the book.”

  The three men followed Lady Saundra to her room which was just a few doors down from Ami’s. Luke and Kiernan stood respectably in the hallway until her words alerted them that the book was not there.

  “I don’t understand.” She stood with her hands pressing her cheeks. “It was here earlier.”

  “Perhaps it’s in the library, dear. Don’t you usually read in there?”

  She was already shaking her head when she turned to her husband. “I specifically brought it here.”

  When Luke let out a string of expletives under his breath, all eyes turned on him. “Sorry, I just…”

  “It’s disappointing, I know. I’d wanted to finish, had thought I’d be able to read after dinner.” Lady Saundra shrugged. “It will turn up. I’m sure of it. Or maybe it’s better that we don’t know beforehand.”

  The grumbled responses from the men showed all three disagreed. Gairlich mumbled something about he and his wife discussing how she’d even managed to gain access to his study, let alone the sacred volume. She’d responded with her own mumbled words about magic.

  As they were filing out of the room, the shaking of the earth below had them all pressing against the wall. It didn’t last long, just enough to unnerve them. Luke thought for a minute. Wasn’t it Wednesday when he and Will had first found the door?

  As a group, they looked up when Amileigh’s door opened. Luke sighed when her wide, lilac eyes locked with his. She looked away quickly, though it didn’t matter. Lady Saundra was already rushing to her, blocking his view.

  “It’s okay, love. Just a tremor. Nothing to be concerned about.”

  Luke watched mother soothing daughter and his heart filled. Would that someday be Amileigh with his child? He tried to pull up an image of it, but the only thing he saw was the guard moving to block her door as Lady Saundra ushered her daughter back inside, telling her she’d stay with her if she liked. If he was forced to stay away from her, he wasn’t sure how he would ever unlock his dragon, let alone how they were to produce a child.

  Exasperated, he shrugged away when Kiernan tapped his arm to let him know they were going back downstairs. Luke mumbled some excuse and went to his room instead. Where the hell was that book, and what else lay in the belly of this castle behind that door the guard with the Conan build had gone through when he was in the holding cell? Somewhere within these walls, or beneath them, Luke felt sure he would find the answer to why he was there.

  You don’t need to see to know.

  Luke lay quietly in the middle of his bed. That voice had sounded from deep within. It was his dragon, not Amileigh.

  Amileigh.

  Thoughts of lilac eyes and petite breasts filled his mind as he drifted to sleep. And touching her without barriers.

  Chapter 10

  Luke woke up the next morning surprised his sheets weren’t due for a changing. He and Amileigh had done some amazing things in his dreams. Groaning, he turned over. He was sore beyond belief from his training, but he still smiled. Soon, he thought, throwing back the covers. He’d already decided he was through leaving anything else to Fate.

  His strength renewed by his conviction, Luke put his all into his four hours of training that morning and even Auley was smiling for real by the time they were finished. He grabbed Luke by the forearm just before he and Kiernan left the field. Leaning in, he mumbled something about Luke having a good day then added ever so quietly, “The guard leaves her room for an hour each day, just after the noonday meal so that he may relieve and replenish himself.”

  Luke squinted, staring into the darker version of Ami’s eyes. Why was Auley telling him this?

  “I am his replacement during that time,” he continued in the low whisper. “It’s a boring job, so today I may have to slip to my room for a m
oment or two just after I take over the shift.” His blonde eyebrow lifted just before he glanced past him. Straightening up, Auley clapped Luke on the back, jesting about beginner’s luck.

  Still perplexed, Luke laughed anyway, playing along as he turned to see Kiernan walking back toward him from where he’d moved away to talk to someone else. He glanced back over his shoulder as they walked away and Auley nodded at him.

  Why, he thought, would her twin want to help him get in with his sister?

  As they cleared the woods and began the trek across the lawn, Luke looked up, his heart jumping when he again saw her at the window. Below the tie that held up his pants, his cock jumped too and Luke decided the why didn’t matter. If she was going to refuse to see him, he’d just have to go to her. Wasn’t that what he’d said this morning? The ball was in his court. It was time for him to take the shot.

  “Three points,” he mumbled as they stepped foot inside the castle door.

  Amileigh hadn’t joined them for the midday meal again. Luke would have been surprised if she had. He considered ribbing her over it via their strange mind speak, but was concerned he’d somehow give away his plans.

  The meal had been quite jovial, though Luke knew it might have just been him. Ever since he and Kiernan had returned after his little talk with Auley, he’d been unable to keep a smile off his face and an extra spring out of his step. He’d joined in the laughter and the revelry as much as he could for someone who had none of the same experiences. Shortly after the trenchers had been cleared, Auley rose, catching Luke’s eye as he did. The younger man gave a curt nod and Luke returned it before quickly looking away, hopeful no one had caught the slight action. Now all he had to do was find a way to break away from Kiernan. Even that little concern couldn’t dampen his spirits.

  When they left the dining room a few minutes later, he raised a brow at Kiernan’s sideways glance.

  “That song? I don’t know it?” Kiernan told him.