“Bull Rock,” Chara murmured, eyeing it, catching his thoughts. “The rock, or isle, in Ireland where a Gaul named Donn Fírinne met his death and became the Celtic God of Death, right? Something about the rays cutting through the rock’s portal at sunset are related to whatever the Guardian Witches and Goddess Étaín did way back when.”
“And Destiny.” He put a hand to the side of her slender waist out of instinct. “A demi-goddess who has all the answers. Who knows precisely what happened.”
“Right,” she agreed. “Someone who also said we’d find our answers when we need to. When we’re supposed to.” Her breathing quickened at his touch, but that didn’t keep her from what lay below. “And now here we are, drawn to something that not only ties to our dreams but the distant past. Something that somehow has to do with whatever the Guardian Witches, Étaín, and Destiny did.”
“As well as the Brotherhood,” he reminded. “Let’s not forget them.”
“True.” She glanced back at him again. “Brotherhood aside, though, if this location matches the Defiance, which has done so much good, then I’d say the whole sunset at Bull Rock thing might work in our favor somehow. That more good than bad influenced it.”
“You always were an optimist,” he conceded, yet remained troubled, mainly because the Celtic God of Death was so connected to that rock.
“And you seemed to grow more wary and protective the older you got.” She offered him an understanding smile. “But then what kind of a leader and boyfriend would you be if you hadn’t?”
“Boyfriend,” he said, startled by the modern word, not sure he much liked it. Not when it came to what they shared. It was far too mild a description. “I dinnae think you’ve ever called me that before.”
“Probably not.” When she leaned back just enough that he could feel the heat of her delicate body, his cock stirred. Something he didn’t need happening before he plunged into the water. Her gaze stayed on him, her eyes flaring reddish-gold in the dying sun. “What else should I call you besides my boyfriend?”
“Fiancé,” he said without hesitation, not for the first time reminding her that he’d already proposed. “Your future husband. Or even your mate.” He squeezed the side of her waist gently. “We could marry tonight, lass. Right here at the Defiance. Before...”
“Before we possibly die,” Chara finished for him when he trailed off. She pressed her lips together and looked down at the crevice again. “It can’t be like that, Marek. We can’t marry because we’re running out of time.” The octave of her voice dropped as she started out onto the branch. “Any more than we could pretend to marry in a dream.”
With that, she moved faster, not teetering in the least, and just like she’d done all those years ago, she leapt off. Just as terrified for her as he was back then, he raced along the branch and dove after her. Like before, he prayed she wouldn’t hit the rock, and like always, they cleared the crevice.
This time, however, he didn’t merely surface from beneath the water alongside her.
Rather, this time, they got their first glimpse into a life long gone.
Chapter Twelve
OUTSIDE OF BEING in Marek’s arms, nothing felt as alive and freeing as cutting down through the cool Scottish air into the chilly pond. For a moment, she swore she had wings and flew through the hole in Bull Rock, but a second later, she was underwater and kicking her legs to surface. She grinned when Marek sliced down into the water beside her, and like always, she struggled through a fog of bubbles.
What differed, however, were their surroundings when they surfaced.
“Where are we?” She shifted closer to him. Though everything looked the same, the woodland had changed. It seemed more enchanted, its foliage thicker. The wind was slightly warmer as though it were late spring, maybe early summer.
Marek wrapped a protective arm around her and kept her close despite his take on the place. “I dinnae know, but it doesnae feel threatening.”
“No.” Even though she was curious about their surroundings, she became overly aware of his hot flesh against hers. “If anything, it feels like Déjà Vu...” She paused, suddenly feeling something else. “It’s as if I’m racing through the forest, almost here, close...so close...”
Moments later, a little white unicorn flew past them, her hooves splashing along the shore before she neighed, tossed her head as though laughing, and raced into the woodland.
“She’s just ahead!” a boy exclaimed. He skidded to a halt at the shore when another boy caught up and ordered him to stop.
“We should keep going—” he persisted, but the second boy cut him off.
“Nay, we go no further.” Though his eyes were fierce, there was a gentleness about him. At least when it came to the unicorn. “She should be left alone.”
“That’s you in our first life, isn’t it?” Chara gasped, stunned that they’d been young together in that life too. “And my unicorn.”
“Aye,” he replied. “Which means I must have become a Fianna in that life.”
“But ye saw what she was!” The first boy said, drawing them back to what was happening onshore. “How can that be? I thought her type was extinct?”
“It seems not,” Marek’s former self replied, repeating that they should leave her be.
“She seemed to want to play, though,” the first argued before he shook his head and raced into the forest, calling over his shoulder, “I am going to find her!”
Marek’s incarnate shook his head, sighed, and plunked down in the grass by the shore. Though he looked in their direction, it was obvious he couldn’t see them. This sort of thing had happened on the other couples’ adventures too. They relived memories without actually being there.
“So, I was the last of my kind?” Chara looked at Marek, amazed. “The last unicorn? Really?”
“By the sounds of it, aye.” He narrowed his eyes at the woodland behind his incarnate. “Look, lass. She’s coming back.”
Chara couldn’t help but smile when the little unicorn peeked around a tree at him, waiting to see what he would do.
“She really does just want to play,” she said, sensing what she’d felt back then. “With you specifically. I get the feeling she's met you before. That she's drawn to your kindness and how you treat others, especially woodland animals.”
“I sense her approaching,” Marek replied as the little boy went still. “I dinnae want to frighten her, so I’m going to let her come to me. I’ll still speak to her, though.”
Just as he said it, the boy spoke, his gaze on the pond rather than the unicorn. “As ye well know, I will not hurt ye, friend. Nor will I come to ye. Ye must come to me when ye are ready.”
“She’s too curious for her own good.” Chara kept smiling. “Not to mention she really wants to make friends with him...or continue a friendship they might've recently begun.” Her smile faded as she felt more emotions coming off her former self. “She’s also lonely. Really, really lonely. I think her parents died, and she has to fend for herself.” She looked at Marek sadly. “She’s definitely the last of her kind.”
Though he kept his eyes ahead, Marek’s incarnate continued coaxing the unicorn along until, at last, she stood beside him. Then and only then did he finally look at her and smile.
They had no chance to see what happened next as the two ashore faded, and their surroundings returned to normal.
“That was amazing,” she murmured, still staring at where they'd been. “So, just like in this life, we knew each other from an early age.”
“Aye, ‘tis clear our fates are intertwined.”
They were too. She could feel it deep down. Knew it without hesitation.
He took her hand, and they headed ashore where he chanted himself dry and her into warm clothes, including a fur cloak. Before he could change himself, she wrapped her arms around his waist, wanting, for a moment, the familiarity of their dreams. To feel what she’d felt numerous times before when he wore only his plaid. Seeming to understand
, he wrapped his arms around her as well, offering warmth and comfort.
“We became fast friends even then,” he murmured, obviously still thinking about what they’d just witnessed. He inhaled the scent of her hair like he’d done too many times to count. “I’m sure of it.”
“We did.” She snuggled closer, grateful for his warmth, far less shy than before. In fact, she was almost as comfortable with him now as she’d been in their dreams. “Based on what I just felt, my unicorn never felt so drawn to anything or anyone as she was you.” She rested her cheek against his hard chest. “Why would that be when you were human and I an animal?”
“Though I’ve respect enough for animals, you were far more than that, lass.” He cupped the back of her head as though cherishing her. “You were exceptional and rare and...”
“And what?” she asked when he trailed off. She pulled back to meet his eyes, curious about the angst she’d heard in his voice. “What was it that really drew you to me? Because there was one thing above all, wasn’t there?”
“Aye, your kindness,” he murmured as if following the thoughts of his former self. “Though I sense there’s more to it, every time you did for the greater good, which was far too often, it took a wee piece of you. It took what existed within you, an untouchable, impregnable magic that kept darkness at bay. That kept them at bay.” Pain lit his eyes. “They watched and waited, over and over, for you to wear yourself down, to grow too weak...too vulnerable...”
“Just like I am now,” she whispered. “It’s the same thing all over again, isn’t it? Not for all the good I’ve done this lifetime, but for the weakness our love creates.”
“Not weakness, my friend,” Destiny said, her voice an echo on the wind. The forest seemed to buckle around them before they stood in front of the Defiance. “Though the Brotherhood would like you to think so, there's nothing weak about love.” She gestured that they follow her. “Now that you’ve seen what you were meant to see, the window of safety has narrowed, and you’re safer inside.”
“It wasn’t just the love born of a friendship between Marek and his unicorn, was it?” Chara murmured, sensing something. “But a deeper love. One that doesn’t make sense of a human and an animal.” She was suddenly desperate for answers. As many as she could get. Preferably all of them. “What happened in that life, Destiny? Why do I get the feeling there’s something monumental I’m forgetting?”
“You’ll understand everything soon enough,” Destiny assured, promise in her eyes. “Until then, you’ve just got to—”’
“I know.” Chara tried not to get frustrated. “Take things as they come.”
“Yes, that’s the only way this can work.” Destiny cast her one of what felt like a thousand apologetic looks. “It’s almost over, Chara. The time’s almost here that you won’t have to wonder anymore.” She glanced from Marek back to her. “You’ll finally understand everything, and with any luck, be together.”
While she wanted to rant, rave and scream at her friend, demanding more answers, she knew better. It wouldn’t do any good. Destiny would only tell her what she felt necessary.
“If there are no answers to be had, I guess I’m going to get some rest then.” She really was tired. “I know you said we should stay inside the Defiance, but I noticed new cottages just outside. Can we crash in one of them? They seem close enough.”
“Nay, lassie,” Adlin kicked in when Destiny’s eyes grew sad. She didn’t want to let Chara down yet again. “’Tis best ye stay within these walls for the night.” He gestured upward and smiled kindly. “Take the new chamber for the eve. I’ve seen it comfortably furnished.”
“Ja.” Leviathan passed Marek a torch. “You will find torch brackets enough for that.”
The Viking then handed Marek and Chara horns of ale and, repressed inner beasts or not, advised they spread their wings if they lost their footing on the way up. Then he grunted under his breath that they should take advantage of the bed while they had it.
Destiny rolled her eyes at Leviathan but smiled at Chara, not nearly as presumptuous as the Ancient. “On the other hand, Chara, if you’d like to sleep alone, I’m sure Marek will understand. We can manifest another bed down here easily enough.”
“No,” Chara said before Marek had a chance to respond. She looked his way, done with being shy. Not to say she didn’t still feel a certain newness between them. “I go nowhere without my fiancé until this is all said and done.”
“Fiancé?” Adlin exclaimed, his eyes merry. “I didnae know!”
“Neither did I,” Leviathan and Destiny said at the same time.
Chara shrugged at the two of them. “Hey, it's only fair there's at least one thing about our life you don't know, right?”
Before they could answer, she started up, waving goodnight over her shoulder.
“Are you sure you want me with you, lass?” Marek said telepathically.
“Of course I do.” She chuckled into his mind. “Now follow me, so we look like we know what we’re doing, and those two aren’t completely in control of our lives.”
Not wasting any time, Marek followed, bidding everyone goodnight.
“Dear God.” She flinched when she finally took a sip of ale near the top. “What’s this stuff made of?”
“If an Ancient manifested it, probably something that will have you well in your cups by the time you reach the chamber.” Marek chuckled, but she felt his gaze watchful in case she teetered. “’Tis likely what Leviathan would call homebrew dragon ale the way it should be made. He considers my Viking ancestors’ brew too weak.”
“Duly noted.” When they reached the chamber, she went to set her rather hefty horn in one of the torch brackets but decided upon seeing the single bed, a few more sips couldn’t hurt. “It’s not so bad once you get past the searing bitter burn going down your throat.”
Marek smiled and shook his head, joining her at the window. The sun had set, and the moon was rising. “You dinnae need to be uncomfortable, lass.” Without doubt following her thoughts, he glanced from her ale to the bed. “Nothing will happen betwixt us until you’re ready.” He winked and smiled. “Even if you are far more comfortable with me now and have admitted I’m your fiancé.”
She met his smile, swept back in time for a moment.
He was eighteen, and she sixteen.
Months had passed since their first kiss. They walked hand and hand along a cliff overlooking the ocean. Laden with yet more golden clovers, it was a wild but peaceful place.
“I mean to marry you, Chara,” Marek had said softly, calmly, hoping she understood how much he meant it. “You’ll be my wife, and I will never take another.”
She stopped and frowned, staring at him oddly, not quite sure how to phrase what she felt.
“What is it?” He looked at her with confusion and, naturally, alarm. “You intend to marry me, aye? ‘Twill be us and only us until ‘tis over?”
“Yes.” She seemed a little sad. “Just like every dream we’ve ever had, it’ll be us and only us until it’s over.”
“And ‘twill, Chara.” He reeled her closer, concerned. “Why does it suddenly sound like you dinnae think we’ll meet in real life? That all of this, all these years, have just been a figment of our imagination?”
“Because there’s a good chance they have been.” She swallowed hard, rested her hands on his chest, and averted her gaze as though it were too difficult to look at him. “If we were actually going to meet in real life, you would’ve thought it would have happened by now. That we wouldn’t be ripped apart time and time again, never knowing if we’d meet again.”
“Aye, it does feel that way.” He angled her chin until her eyes met his. “But ‘tis also the verra feeling I have each time our dream ends, that convinces me you’ll return. That I couldnae feel this strongly if ‘twas the last time.”
“How strongly?” she murmured.
“I think you know full well how strongly.” He brushed his lips over hers, then met her eyes
again. His brogue deepened with emotion. “I think ye’ve known for a long time precisely how I feel, and if ye dinnae, allow me to make it perfectly clear.” He dropped to a knee and held her hand. “I love ye with every part of me, lass. From my flesh and blood to my mind and soul. Ye’ve my heart through and through.” He took her other hand. His gaze never left her face. “Dream or no, be my wife, Chara. For I’ll never take another.”
When she hesitated, terrified she would lose him in an instant if she said yes, she shook her head. “We’re too young. This is too—”
“This is too nothing.” Marek wrapped golden clovers around a twig and made a ring. “It doesnae have a gem yet, but it will.” He had no idea how prophetic his words would truly be. “’Twill be a gem unlike any other because ye are unlike any other.” He held the ring out to her. “Until then, take this as a token of my undying love, lass. Say ye’ll be my bride someday and wear this.”
“I,” she began, breathless as she stared at it. Overwhelmed in a way that went far beyond what a woman might feel when the man she loves proposed. Far beyond anything she’d felt in her life up until that moment. So much so that she could only say one thing.
“Yes, Marek.” A tear slipped down her cheek. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
She no sooner said it before he slipped the ring on, and the past faded away only for the present to reveal something astonishing.
Chapter Thirteen
“IT’S NOT A small gem at the heart’s center anymore!” Chara eyed her Claddagh ring, which adorned the same finger her ring of clovers had. “But just one big gem.”
“A gem that makes up the whole heart,” Marek sat beside her on the bed, “rather than just a piece of it.”
“What does that mean?” She frowned at him. “What does it mean that my Claddagh ring is different than all those before it?”
“That the end is indeed near,” he replied, a bit sad if he were to be honest. “The end of what connected MacLomains and Brouns across time.”
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