“Aye, you can bring her to the castle,” Bryce murmured. “But only if she remains under the watchful eye of a dragon at all times.”
“Good then.” Grant prompted her to take his elbow, and they started on their way. Fully aware that she wished to remain surrounded by rock, Grant chanted, and moments later they were in MacLeod Castle’s courtyard.
She stared up at the rugged, sea-worn yet beautiful castle perched above the North Sea. Battered by generations of wind and salt, it was striking in an indefinable way. Fierce and unforgiving yet sturdy and dependable. It would never give up or stop protecting its people.
It suited Bryce, and she almost said as much but held back.
He intimidated her in a way that most people did not. She wasn’t quite sure why because he didn’t seem to have an overbearing personality. But then maybe it had nothing to do with personality and everything to do with the way he was eying her the night before. Better yet, the thoughts he had been having about her sexual prowess...or lack thereof.
Or perhaps it was because of one of the few things she had yet to share. Something he would eventually need to know. Something that, in some ways, could make the less talked about sixth warlock more of a threat than anything.
She continued to eye her surroundings. At this point, she was fairly used to being in the medieval period. As it was, her spiritual self had been in this era plenty lately.
As she and Grant started up the castle stairs, he continued talking. “We still have much to discuss, but I remain curious about one thing above all else.” Despite his age, his eyes were exceptionally sharp as they met hers. “As I’m sure you know, my kin and I lost a lad named Fraser a few years back. Only recently we’ve heard he might be alive somewhere. Is that true?” His tone darkened so slightly she almost didn’t catch it. “Did one of your warlocks do something to him?”
“I don’t know...not yet,” she replied, as respectful as possible. “Though, based on some of the comments one of them made, I think it’s likely.”
Grant’s eyes narrowed. “What comments?” His eyes narrowed further. “And what warlock?”
“One of the only two left. The one that does not carry the essence of my grandfather,” she murmured. “Please keep in mind that though I’ve done my best to control them over the years, evil is not so easily tamed.” She didn’t shy away from his steadfast gaze. “They did things without me knowing. Things they felt would dishearten the MacLomains. Things they hoped would cause unrest in your clan and weaken your kin, even your people.”
“Such as trapping Darach in another dimension for several years,” he replied.
“Yes,” she said. “Things like that.” She shook her head. “And I’m so sorry...not only for the pain it put you all through but for the time lost.” She bit back a sigh. “If I could have come to you or Adlin before all this, I would have, but it was too risky. The warlocks would have followed.” She kept her eyes with his so he could see how truthful she was being. “If I could have somehow helped you before all this happened, I would have without hesitation.”
Grant considered her as they reached the top of the stairs. “I believe you mean that, lass.”
“Good because I do,” she said softly. “More than you know.”
Their eyes held for a long moment before he nodded. “You said you don’t know about Fraser yet.” He frowned. “What did you mean by that? When will you know?”
“Likely when the warlock that cursed him is defeated,” she said. “Once he’s gone, and the curse is lifted, I should see anything they may have hidden from me more clearly.”
“You’ve carried a great weight,” Grant murmured as they entered the castle. “More than any wee lass should have to.”
Her breath caught at the rugged, almost masculine beauty of the great hall with its massive tapestries full of angry oceanscapes and sweeping dragons roaring fire. It was perfect in a way she couldn’t explain. For some reason, it felt more welcoming and safer than anywhere she had ever been.
“Welcome to MacLeod Castle, lass,” Grant said softly. “And thank you for healing me at the Action of Happrew.”
She was about to deny it, but when her eyes met his again, she knew it was pointless. So she simply nodded. Though he had only taken an arrow to the shoulder, he had lost a great deal of blood and was close to death. Based on the grateful look in his eyes, he knew it.
“Did you provide the clothing for my kin at Happrew’s tavern as well?” he asked. “And are you responsible for the seasonal words your friends have been saying in Gaelic along their adventures?”
“I did provide the clothing at both the tavern and for Christina and Graham when they were yanked forward in time after the Battle of Bannockburn,” she confessed. “Everyone needed clothing, and it was the least I could do.” Then she shook her head. “As to the seasonal words, no, that wasn’t me or my...the warlocks.” Her eyes met Grant’s. “But I sensed another presence along the way. A woman. I believe you may have seen or sensed her yourself.”
“Iosbail,” Grant whispered.
Jessie nodded. She might not have made direct contact with Adlin’s foster sister from a previous life, but she was fairly certain that’s exactly who it was.
Grant eyed her for a moment, his words kinder than she anticipated considering the content of his next question. “No matter how hard you tried to do otherwise, you grew verra attached to these warlocks of yours, aye?”
Though Bryce and Sven had asked nearly the same question, she found herself being far more honest with Grant. “In some ways yes, very much so. In other ways, no.”
He nodded thanks to a servant when she handed him and Jessie mugs of whisky.
“Tell me more, lass,” he murmured.
“It’s hard to explain.” She frowned. “I suppose the best way to put it is that there’s a balance to be found in everything. Light always possesses some darkness and darkness, light. Because I had been there at their conception, I was able to see what little good the warlocks had and focused on that over the long years. It was what got me by.”
“And what good did you discover?” he said softly, watching her closely.
“It was the small things they didn’t do when they could have.” She remained vague for now because she just wasn’t ready to share that one warlock rose above the rest in this regard. “They could have created far more havoc in my life.” She shook her head. “They could have hurt the few people I allowed around me.”
“Your mother,” he murmured.
“Yes, Mama.” She went to that nameless place in her mind she used to squelch emotions before they surfaced. “For the most part, they didn’t hurt anyone close to me. They were often silent sentinels.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Always watching me. Waiting...anticipating...”
“For the day to come when the curse began to unravel,” he said, filling in the blanks when she trailed off.
“Yes.” A shiver went through her as she again felt the remnants of her separation from them. “Their whole existence and a great deal of my existence has been in wait for this.” Her eyes swept over the great hall before they landed on Bryce by the fire and she whispered, “Him.”
She felt Grant’s frown without looking at him.
“What do you mean? Is Bryce in imminent danger?”
She blinked several times, snapping out of her reverie. “No, of course not.” She shook her head, embarrassed she had lost herself for a moment. “All I’m saying I suppose is that I recognize the allure of darkness but have always focused on the light within.”
“’Tis good because you’re right,” Grant replied, his astute eyes still watching her. “There is always a bit of light in darkness and vice versa.”
Jessie nodded, took a tiny sip of whisky and flinched.
“’Tis not to your liking then, lass?” Bryce asked, suddenly there when moments before he had been a distance away. While she could liken it to dragon magic, she had a feeling it had more to do with her weakening pow
ers and his influence over her in general.
“The whisky’s fine,” she murmured. She kept her eyes trained on the fire rather than look at him. “It’s just the first time I’ve ever tasted it. Any alcohol for that matter.”
“Truly?”
“Truly. I never dared imbibe.” Her eyes drifted to him despite herself. She might be well trained to remain non-responsive to most things, but she wasn’t overly fond of his incredulous, disbelieving tone. “Like I told you, I had to remain in control at all times.” She shook her head. “That meant alcohol was too much of a risk.”
As just a few small sips of whisky spread through her veins, she realized she had been wiser than ever not to imbibe sooner. Now, however, it didn’t much matter. Or at least at this moment.
Bryce’s eyes narrowed slightly at what she thought was her tone. “You should eat, lass. Come, we will get you some food...”
The moment his hand touched her back to usher her along, she froze. There was a reason she didn’t like to be touched. Why, like most things, she tried to avoid it. Her empathic abilities could run rampant.
Just like they were right now.
She could feel Bryce’s every emotion from his concern for his clan and country to his need to see through his family obligations. More so, she could sense his draw to her. His need to remain close at all times. To understand and reveal her every last secret.
Then she felt more, and it was all physical. His attraction to her was far stronger than he wanted it to be. She knew it last night with his thoughts but now, standing in his castle, it was a hundred times stronger.
He was aroused.
He desired her.
“No,” she gasped and stepped away, more an automatic reaction than anything else.
“I’m sorry, lass,” he replied. “I only meant to escort you to where you could sit and eat. ‘Tis unwise to drink whisky on an empty stomach.”
Again she kept her eyes glued to the fire rather than look at him. “Actually, I’m not really hungry though I could use a bath and fresh clothing.”
“It’s all ready to go,” Erin said as she joined them. Her eyes went to Bryce, and she spoke within his mind likely so Jessie couldn’t hear it. “Don’t worry, I know you want a dragon with her at all times so I’ll keep a close eye on her.”
Before he had a chance to respond, Jessie spoke. “I would prefer to be honest from the start.” Her eyes flickered from Erin’s to Bryce’s before returning to the fire. “Though it doesn’t happen all the time, more often than not I can hear when Bryce has a telepathic conversation. Your best hope of privacy with your son would be found standing near water. It’s my least powerful element.” She shook her head. “Hopefully, as I adjust to the connection I share with Bryce, I'll be able to better control our telepathic bond.”
Grant looked at her in amazement. “You were able to reach out to Graham via water like you did and it’s your least powerful element?”
Jessie only nodded.
Of course, they had figured out she was the one in the forest on Graham and Christina’s adventure. She still had a sore abdomen to prove it. Though the dagger he had whipped only hit her spirit self, it left an imprint on her physical body. It was almost like losing a limb but still feeling it afterward. The mind was, without a doubt, far more powerful than people realized.
“I think mayhap you are more than a mere elemental witch, lass,” Grant said softly. “I believe strongly you might verra well be an arch-wizard.”
Bryce’s and Erin’s brows shot up in surprise.
“Aye, I think yer right,” came a deep voice as a man around Grant’s age appeared out of the crowd. Despite his years and white hair, there was no missing his strength or the family resemblance to Bryce. He nodded at her. “Welcome to Castle MacLeod, lass. My name is Colin MacLeod, and I’m Bryce’s grandfather.”
“Hello,” she murmured, able to meet his eyes far easier than anyone else’s. Not a shock really considering she had been in such close contact with his granddaughter in the spirit realm. “It’s nice to meet you as well, Colin.”
Grant looked from Colin to Jessie, clearly aware of her comfort with him.
“Ye remind me a great deal of my late wife, Torra,” Colin said. “As does the amount of power ye possess.” His eyes went to Grant. “Surely ye sense it, Cousin.”
“Aye,” Grant murmured. “’Tis similar yet repressed. Likely because of the warlocks’ influence.”
Jessie knew a great deal about Torra thanks to Ainsley. Actually, she knew a great deal about all of those with MacLomain blood because of Bryce’s sister.
It seemed, based on the way Colin was eying her, he sensed her intricate connection with his immediate family, deceased or otherwise. “I look forward to speaking with you more later, lass.”
She nodded, in complete agreement.
Though Grant and Torra had been very close and fellow arch-wizards, she wasn’t overly surprised that Colin was picking up Jessie’s connection to Torra’s kin better. He and his wife had not only been deeply in love, but she was dragon, so the bond went a little deeper. Or should she say the residual magic they shared together never truly went away.
Her eyes swept over Bryce but didn’t linger. If they shared a true love MacLomain, Broun connection, it would be just as strong. She swallowed. Not if but more likely when. Because without the warlocks she had grown weaker which meant she needed something else to help her grow stronger again. Her eyes dropped to her ring. Nothing would be more powerful than igniting this.
“Come along then, Jessie,” Erin said as she ushered Jessie up the stairs. “Thank you for being honest back there.”
Jessie nodded, well aware she was talking about being able to overhear Bryce speak telepathically.
“I’d also like to be honest,” Erin continued once they reached the top of the stairs. “As I’m sure you understand, I’m very uncomfortable with you being meant for my son.” She stopped and met Jessie’s eyes. “Not only are you able to create fire that our dragons can’t penetrate but you were in league with the warlocks no matter how good your intentions.” She frowned. “That means all of us are putting an awful lot of faith in you right now.”
“I understand your reservations,” Jessie said. She kept her head held high and her eyes firmly locked with Erin’s no matter how uncomfortable. Bryce’s mother would appreciate it. “I hope by the time all is said and done that I’m able to win your trust.”
Erin searched her eyes for a long moment before she nodded and murmured, “Me too, Jessie.”
What she didn’t expect though she should have anticipated was to find Milly and Christina waiting for her when Erin opened the door to a chamber. Instead of smiling both stood from the small table they were sitting at and looked at her with uncertainty.
She had been dreading this moment.
The disappointment in their eyes when they saw her again.
For the first time since this all began, she had to bite back emotions so strong she might have even cried. In fact, much to her shock, her eyes grew moist.
Surprisingly, their eyes grew moist too.
“It’s okay, darlin’,” Christina murmured and closed the distance faster than Milly. “We’re all caught up thanks to our telepathic connection with Grant.” She shook her head, and though it was clear she wanted to touch Jessie, she didn’t. “We know you’ve been trying to help all along.”
“And we know how much you’ve sacrificed,” Milly added, compassionate. “Sorry if you saw something else in our eyes at first.” She shook her head. “We’re still processing everything.”
“You are?” Jessie whispered, unsure. “I mean you’re not upset...”
“No,” they both said at once and shook their heads before Milly continued. “We just wish you didn’t have to go through so much alone. That you could have shared with us so we could’ve helped carry your burden.”
Both relieved but frightened they might not be completely truthful, Jessie shocked them whe
n she pulled them into a group hug. Bombarded by a rush of mixed emotions, she held on tight as they embraced her.
As to be expected there were trace amounts of doubt, but the vast majority of what they felt was love and concern for her. For the most part, they trusted every word of explanation she had given and stood by her. They didn’t want to lose her and intended to do everything in their power to help her fight every last demon that had kept her repressed for so long.
“Thank you,” she whispered, unable to stop the stubborn tear that slipped free. “Thank you so much.”
There wasn’t a dry eye as they pulled back.
“Just look at that,” Christina murmured as she brushed Jessie’s tear away. “I knew you had it in you, honey.” She shook her head. “I’m just so sorry you’ve had to learn to suppress your emotions like you have. But now all that’s over with.” She squeezed her hand. “You can feel to your heart’s content, sugar.”
“I’ll try,” Jessie whispered trying out of instinct to get her emotions under control.
“Come sit down, sweetie.” Milly led her to a chair. “Eat and take a bath then we’ll get you into some fresh clothes.”
Jessie nodded and took another small sip of whisky before she set it aside and nibbled on some bannock. Erin didn’t go far but sat on the edge of the bed.
“I’m afraid I can’t leave the room while you’re bathing,” Erin said. “But I will keep my eyes averted.”
“You don’t have to stay,” Christina replied. “We’re going to be staying with her.”
“No, she has to,” Jessie said softly. “That’s Bryce’s wish, and I well understand.”
Milly and Christina frowned but said nothing more about it. They understood too. So they caught up while Jessie ate. She tried to fill in the blanks the best she could about everything that had happened to them up until now.
“That’s crazy about Graham’s knife not actually hitting you.” Christina shook her head. “He’s glad to hear it though.” She made a circle with her finger. “And that time loop was something else.” Her eyes narrowed. “I can’t believe you were sitting in the chair...but not. Though I started to figure it out in the end.” She cocked her head at Jessie. “So my driving need to keep the fire burning in the living room...that was you, wasn’t it?”
The MacLomain Series: A New Beginning Boxed Set (Books 1-4) Page 84
