“Right here,” Erin said before she came out of nowhere and wrapped her arms around Jackie. “Hell, woman, you had me worried.”
Because she was mute, Erin only spoke within the mind.
Soon after, Nicole and Cassie were right there hugging them as well.
All three of her friends had faced a life-changing disability. Not for the first time, he wondered what Jackie’s was. Though tempted to ask her friends, he knew better. They wouldn’t tell him, only urge him to ask Jackie. Something he lacked the courage to do and he couldn’t figure out why.
Darach didn’t realize how tense he had been until Niall, Rònan and Logan were in front of him. Until they embraced and locked arms and shook hands like Scotsmen. His cousins were here. His kin. His lifeblood. The men who had trained alongside him to protect wee Robert the Bruce.
“All of you are here,” Darach murmured, grateful.
“Aye,” Adlin said before he turned his attention to the people and raised his voice. “’Tis time for us to journey forth and start our life anew. ‘Tis time for us to find the unity we sought at the north of Scotland, our home.” The wizard breathed deeply, and Darach got the impression he met every woman, man and child’s eyes in that single breath. “Though not all of ye were born of the MacLomains, ye are now one. Ye are my kin. Ye chose a life not dictated by others but one chosen by ye. Yer own destiny. A religion and life of yer own choosing.”
“We’ve a few days travel then I will show ye where we will build.” Adlin gestured in a forward direction. “I will show ye where our castle will be.” He stood up taller and smiled. “Would ye like that? Will ye continue to follow me?”
“Aye!” rose up, echoing through the forest.
Adlin nodded. “Aye, then.” He grinned broadly and rubbed his hands together in anticipation before he pointed in a southerly direction. “’Tis time to start walking then.”
As the people moved on, Adlin turned to the MacLomain men and eyed them with approval. “’Tis good to meet more MacLomain kin.”
Darach made introductions. Though Niall and Rònan had come across Adlin briefly in the Otherworld, he was an old man so he didn’t yet know them. Naturally, Adlin offered no explanation for them being there but strolled off once he knew who everyone was.
As Darach walked with his cousins, Logan, the current MacLomain chieftain, eyed Heidrek and spoke telepathically. “So how goes it with you and the Viking?”
Rònan laughed into his mind. “How do you think?” His cousin winked at him. “Like I had to, he’s got to deal with competition.” Then his voice grew serious. “We’ve been worried about you, Cousin. What are you not telling us? Are you truly well?”
“I am.” Darach's eyes flickered to Jackie. “’Tis just complicated.”
“’Tis been complicated for us all,” Logan said. “And now you know our stories. Might you not share what’s happening to you so that we can help?”
“Aye,” he said then shared everything except his dreams.
“Well, one thing is for certain.” Rònan nudged him closer to Jackie. “You willnae figure out who belongs with who if you dinnae spend time with the only Broun left.”
“Hey!” Nicole batted at Rònan when he kept nudging Darach and she had to move.
Erin stepped away gracefully and rolled her eyes, muttering with a grin, “Dragons.”
Logan took Cassie’s arm and redirected her until Darach and Jackie were alone.
“They’re not discreet,” Jackie mumbled.
“Nay,” Darach agreed. “How are you doing? Any better since you awoke?”
“Yes.” She nodded but didn’t meet his eyes. “Better now that my friends are here.”
“Aye.” While tempted to take her hand, he didn’t. Instead, he said something he wasn’t convinced of in the least but hoped would calm her. “All will be well now that they’re here.”
“Here’s hoping,” Jackie whispered before her eyes flew to his and her voice grew stronger. “Do me a favor?”
“Anything.”
“Don’t say what you think I want to hear but what I need to hear.”
“Och, I didnae,” he began, but she veered away and walked with Erin. Disappointed, he cursed under his breath. Mayhap he could have handled that better. She was going through a lot and evidently needed honesty right now.
Heidrek came alongside. “I need to understand where we are going and my part in it. Have your kin shared anything I should know?”
“Nay.” Darach frowned. “None of us have any idea why we’re here.”
“Yes you do,” Heidrek said. “At the very least you’re here to watch MacLomain Castle be built.”
“True.” He shook his head. “But I dinnae know why. What purpose does it serve considering what we’re facing now?”
Heidrek said nothing for several long minutes. “Is MacLomain Castle not like my Viking fortress? A place where everything that matters most to our people first took root?”
Darach nodded with pride but felt a flare of guilt as well. Why didn’t he have as much pride in his own castle? In Hamilton Castle? But he knew all too well. He despised its beginnings. He despised that his Da was imprisoned there for fourteen winters. “Aye, I’ve pride in MacLomain Castle though ‘tis not my home as the Viking fortress is yours.”
It seemed the Viking sensed his disgruntled thoughts and surprised him with his acuteness.
“So where does your heart truly lie?” Heidrek asked. “At MacLomain Castle or with your own castle?”
Darach meant to respond, but the words died on his lips because he didn’t know the answer.
“If you do not know where your heart lies, what hope have you in protecting your people?” Heidrek wondered.
Though tempted to say he knew exactly where his heart lies, Darach remained silent. He wanted to tell the Viking to go back where he belonged. To leave this alone. But he had more respect than that so said nothing.
“Why does Heidrek keep staring at my lass?” Rònan growled into Darach’s mind. “Does he not know we’re mated?”
He glanced at the Viking only to realize Rònan was right. Heidrek’s eyes weren’t on Jackie but trained on Erin.
“As you know, I havenae been around much lately,” Darach said to Rònan. “Have Heidrek and Erin met before today?”
“Nay,” Rònan said, troubled. “The only time they were around one another was when you gave both your sword and your lass to the Viking at MacLomain Castle.”
“She isnae my lass,” Darach murmured.
“Yet,” Rònan said. “But I see the way you look at one another.” He kept grumbling, “He needs to get his bloody eyes off my lass.”
“Stop being jealous, Rònan.” Niall joined the conversation. “Erin loves you, and you're mated. You dinnae need to be threatened by the Viking.”
“As if you wouldnae be just as jealous if he was looking at Nicole like that,” Rònan retaliated.
“I think you numbnuts forgot we Brouns can hear your telepathic conversations,” Nicole said into their minds. “Including Erin…and Jackie!”
Jackie could hear their thoughts? Hell. Since when?
“Yup.” Erin shook her head without looking back. “And Rònan knows exactly how I feel about insecure dragons."
“Och,” Rònan muttered aloud before he strode forward, flung Erin over his shoulder and kept walking. “Now the bloody Viking can eye my arse instead of yours, aye?”
Erin sighed then grinned at Rònan’s backside. “Well, it is an ass well worth eying. Love the kilt but we need to get you back into leather pants one of these days.”
Rònan slapped her backside and chuckled. “Only for you, me wee dragon.”
Heidrek frowned at Rònan’s odd behavior but said nothing.
“I think ‘twould be wise if everyone remembers that Heidrek is our ancestor and show him more respect,” Logan cut in.
Darach met Logan’s eyes and nodded. Where Niall and Rònan were close, he and the MacLomain chieftain shared
the same bond. They often thought alike. And right now, he knew Logan was absolutely right. More than that, though they assumed otherwise, there stood a good chance Heidrek could hear them. If he could control both water and air, there was a lot more to this Viking than they all previously thought.
Though he shouldn’t be, Darach was caught off guard when the air shimmered and Grant appeared with the wee Bruce. His father sighed with relief when he spied Darach. “Och lad, ‘tis good to find you here.”
“Where else did you think I’d be?”
“'Tis hard to know for sure lately,” Grant said softly when Adlin turned and locked eyes on him and Robert.
“Adlin.” Grant fell to a knee and lowered his head. “’Tis so verra good to see ye again, Mentor.”
Darach sensed the magic Adlin unleashed at Grant as he approached and felt him out.
“Ye’ve great magic about you.” Adlin stopped in front of Grant. “A magic ye’ve learned to harness well through exemplary training.” A grin blossomed. “My training to be sure.”
“Aye, old friend.”
“Rise.” Adlin kept smiling as Grant stood. “I can see inside ye, lad and ‘tis much ye’ve done for our clan despite such a grave start to your life.”
“’Twas a start needed to ultimately defeat an old enemy,” Grant said. “One who’s kin has now returned and is a far greater threat than his bairn ever was.”
“Aye.” Adlin’s eyes narrowed. “Eoghan Dubhdiadh, Druid of the South. An old enemy indeed and one before my time.”
Darach frowned when he felt the turbulence in Jackie’s mind at the mention of the druid. Not only he but Adlin glanced her way. He was somewhat surprised when she shifted closer to him and fear flashed in her eyes.
“What is it, lass?” It seemed perfectly natural to slide his hand into hers and squeeze…to try to offer comfort.
She frowned and took several deep breaths. Something had her terrified. Something he needed to understand.
Adlin eyed her for a long moment before he walked over and held out his hand. “Might you hold my hand for a moment, Jackie?”
She started to shake her head until Adlin said, “Please, lass. ‘Twill only be for a moment.”
Darach felt Adlin’s persuasive magic. So did Jackie it seemed because she took his hand. The wizard’s eyes slid shut for a moment before they opened and he whispered, “Och, lass. You cannae feel my touch, aye? Nor can you smell the loch’s salt on the wind.”
What? A terrible sense of foreboding rolled through him.
Jackie clenched her jaw as a variety of emotions flickered across her face. Sadness. Defiance. Courage. Bitterness. But more than anything?
Acceptance.
“All right, that’s enough,” Erin growled. At some point, Rònan had put her down. Within seconds, she was beside Jackie with her eyes narrowed on Adlin. No, make that her dragon eyes. Pale purple and fierce. Pure threat laced her voice. “You best step away right now.”
“Erin,” Rònan warned as he came alongside. “’Tis not your place, lass.”
“My place is defending my friend.” Erin’s eyes never left Adlin’s. “Take your hands off her and we’re good.”
Why was the lass reacting so strongly? The situation didn't seem to warrant it. When Adlin’s eyes narrowed, Darach knew they had a problem. Their arch-wizard might be jolly enough when he needed to be but no one ordered him to do anything. And if one thing held true above all, Adlin was far more powerful than Erin.
“It’s okay, Erin,” Jackie interjected, clearly sensing that things were escalating quickly. “Really.”
“I don’t know that it is.” Erin’s eyes stayed locked with Adlin’s. “You’re pretty arrogant, aren’t you?”
“Oh shit,” Nicole muttered as she and the MacLomain men moved closer. None would dare harm Adlin but then again, no one would hesitate to protect Erin. She might be Rònan’s, but she was theirs too. All the Broun lasses were. One way or another, they were a team.
“Stand down, Dragon,” Heidrek growled. “Now.”
Erin’s eyes shot to Heidrek.
So did everyone else’s.
Not only did the Viking’s eyes shine pale blue but a tattoo that hadn’t been there before started to glow on the side of his neck. A dragon. Though his stance remained non-threatening and he held no weapon, Erin’s eyes widened, and she stepped back. Rònan’s gaze was just as intense on Heidrek. He'd never seen such a look on his cousin’s face.
Half awe, half respect.
“What are you?” Rònan whispered. “Because you are not a dragon but…something else.”
“What I am is none of your concern right now.” Heidrek’s eyes went to Adlin. “Forgive the woman. She has only just started to learn how to control the beast within.”
Darach's shock only intensified when Erin gave no sharp response. Instead, she kept her eyes trained on Heidrek as though it were impossible to look elsewhere. If he wasn’t mistaken, she was obeying him. What was more interesting? Rònan said nothing but kept his eyes trained on Heidrek not with defiance but with continued respect.
“There is nothing to forgive,” Adlin replied to Heidrek but looked at Erin. “Might we all have such a fierce protector as this lass.”
Apparently finished with addressing Erin, Adlin turned to Grant. “What tangled webs we weave, aye?” He shook his head and grinned before his eyes at last landed on Robert. He lowered to a knee, took the lad’s hand and bent his head. “My name is Adlin MacLomain. ’Tis a great pleasure to meet ye, wee one. Know that I will always remain devoted to ye.”
Of course, Adlin knew who he would someday be.
Robert stood up a little straighter. “Many thanks, Adlin MacLomain.”
Adlin nodded and stood, his eyes returning to Grant. “Well, you’ll not likely enjoy where you must travel next, friend, but there is only one way to better ken your enemy and get out ahead of him.”
Darach didn’t like the sound of that.
Grant frowned. “I dinnae ken.”
“Nay.” Adlin sighed. “I dinnae suppose you do.”
“I can well see why I mentored you.” Adlin clasped Grant’s shoulders. “Not only do you possess great magic but a goodness despite all you faced in your past. I only just met you but already I am so verra proud.”
“Thank you,” Grant said with an edge of wariness in his voice.
“No need to thank me. If anything you might be disliking me for a wee bit,” Adlin said softly. “But the answers you seek can only be found at the verra beginning.”
Grant’s brows lowered sharply when he seemed to see something in Adlin’s eyes. “Och, nay. Dinnae…”
His words were drowned out as wind whipped through the forest and fog came in so fast that Darach couldn’t see his own hand within seconds. But he knew exactly where Jackie was. So he reached out and pulled her back against him.
“What’s going on?” she said, a slight tremor to her voice.
“Time travel,” he said. “’Twill be okay, lass.”
“Nothing okay has come out of time travel so far,” she whispered. “Except my friends finding love.”
He appreciated that she focused on the positive, but he had an awful feeling about where they were heading. “Whatever happens, you’re not alone. I’m right here beside you.”
And he was as the fog burned away and their new location was revealed. What he saw made the blood in his veins freeze.
It seemed he wasn’t alone.
“Bloody hell, nay,” his Da said. “It cannae be.”
Chapter Five
Hamilton Castle
1240
Nearly three years after Grant MacLomain was kidnapped.
JACKIE’S EYES WIDENED at the beautiful gothic style castle beyond the woods and a strange shiver of awareness rippled through her. “Where are we, Darach?”
“Home but not,” he whispered.
“What does that mean?” she started to say, but Grant interrupted them.
�
��We need to get somewhere safe now.”
It appeared they hadn't traveled through time alone. Not only were Heidrek, Rònan, Erin, Nicole, and Niall with them but little Robert and surprisingly enough, young William.
“Now!” Grant roared into their minds.
If there was one person no one questioned it was Grant. Niall scooped up Robert and started after Grant with everyone close behind.
All but William that is.
“Lad, ye must come with us,” Darach said. “There’s nothing but danger here.”
“Where am I?” William ground his jaw, his eyes wide as he clenched a blade. “Where did Lilas and Dougal go?”
“Ye’ll see them again,” Darach assured. “But not if ye dinnae come now.”
Jackie knew Darach was going to need help. As it turned out, Heidrek came to the same conclusion because he had remained behind.
William frowned at Darach. “I dinnae believe ye.”
“I don’t blame you. He's questionable at times,” Jackie kicked in, her brows arching. “But do you know who I do believe?”
“Who?” William asked.
Jackie nodded into the woods. “Grant. He’s a really good person, and if he says we’re in danger, then we are.”
“Aye?” William’s eyes narrowed. “Then why are ye not running after him?”
“Because I’d rather stay where you are and get hurt than leave you behind.”
“Och, nay.” A tremble rippled through William as his eyes stayed on hers. “So ye really think ye are in danger?”
“I think we all are.”
William assessed the situation again before he declared, “Then I must see ye out of harm’s way, Jackie. My weapon is at yer back.”
Jackie nodded. “Thank you.” She looked at Darach. “Lead the way.”
Relief flickered in his eyes as he grabbed her hand and they raced after the others. They didn’t run for more than ten minutes before they came to a large boulder that was half surrounded by trees and half on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean. Darach braced on the edge and urged her to go pass him. He meant to protect her from falling.
“Shoot,” she murmured, eying the long drop.
Passion of a Scottish Warrior (The MacLomain Series: Later Years Book 4) Page 6
