Timeless Vision
Page 19
“I’ll take the guard,” Nick reported.
Wayne didn’t bother with an acknowledgment. The man could hold his own. He’d proven himself time and again. Wayne kept his gaze locked on the sorceress playing with powers far greater than her ability. Hopefully that power wouldn’t prove greater than his.
The energy snapped and sizzled through the room. Collette’s body was stretched, tugged and tossed by invisible forces. She hovered over symbols painted on the floor in what was likely Tara’s blood. He smothered his temper, not allowing it to change the tenuous balance of power in the chamber. “The dagger?”
“I have it!” Tara called to him.
From the corner of his eye he saw her move. “Stay back,” he warned. “Put it down.” When she did, Sterling looked at it and through their connection, he could see Collette had used Tara’s blood to illuminate the spell that would spring Morgana’s trap.
Wayne completed another circuit of the sorceress, stopping in front of her. He studied her eyes, glassy and wild thanks to the improper spell she’d brought on herself.
“Kill me,” she pleaded.
He considered it along with the potential ramifications. “No.”
“What?” Tara peered around the raised slab of stone.
He had to ignore the stain on one side, knowing it was her blood. Anger and vengeance would interfere with his intention here. He wanted to tell her to run, to leave with her cousin and let him handle this, but he suspected, with her blood involved, it was too late for such a clean escape.
He sheathed his broadsword, his gaze on Collette’s tortured expression. “Let go,” he told her.
“I - I c-c-cannot.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “You must kill me... please, Gawain.”
Seeing the lips twist, Wayne recognized the shift within the sorceress. Soon she would be no more than an empty vessel for Morgana’s devastation. “I can see your idol gaining control.”
“I only wanted the power,” Collette confessed as she was slowly consumed by Morgana’s rise. “I wanted to be the only true power in the new era.”
“Fool!” He motioned to Tara, urging her to join him, knowing what he had to do. What they had to do together. “A true disciple would have understood the folly of trying to separate Morgana from her power. She must be terribly disappointed in you.”
“Oh, but I’m just feeling like myself again, nephew.”
“Collette managed the unthinkable?” Tara’s query was barely a whisper.
“So it seems,” he replied in kind. “Give me the dagger.” His eyes on the witch, he held out his hand. Feeling the familiar weight of the hilt strike his palm, he checked the faint words etched into the blade. The runes had been a ruse. The true words were only visible because of the blood of the O’Malley heir. Tara’s blood.
“Poor Collette,” he said. “She had no idea the forces lying in wait for her.”
“There is a need for me in this time, dear nephew. Can you not feel it? Pray welcome me properly.” Collette’s body pirouetted and jerked forward, stopping just out of his reach. “Think of the fun we can have once more.”
Wayne turned his attention to Tara. What he was about to do would take him from her forever. There was only one option that would ensure she and her family remained safe. His heart clutched as he memorized the beauty of her face. “I love you,” he told her. “Through any century, my heart is yours forever.”
“What gallant sentiment,” Morgana sneered down at them from Collette’s face. She had full control of the body, though she hadn’t yet gained the strength to break free of the symbols Collette had drawn on the floor. The modern witch had done one thing right.
Wayne split his shirt with the dagger and slid the sharp point into his chest, right below his sternum. The scar from the fire nymph turned white hot and his body shook.
Tara screamed, pressing her hands to the wound. “What are you doing?”
He withdrew the dagger, cringing at the feeling of the metal sliding from his body. “Read it,” he said as his heart’s blood exposed another spell running the length of the blade. He said the words with her once as his energy drained away. “Repeat it until she is no more.”
He dropped to his knees, giving all he had to keeping Morgana contained within Collette’s circle while Tara repeated the words over and over in a voice choked with tears.
Sterling’s warm body pressed against his side, combatting the chill washing over his skin. He watched the sorceress through the hound’s vision - ever true even as Wayne’s sight returned to that starless night centuries past. His last conscious thought was a prayer that his instincts and the magic of ages past would hold true.
~*~
Through the velvety blackness of that ancient night, he heard Tara’s voice on the breeze. Tender and calm, then stern and unyielding. He tried to respond but the fatigue weighed him down. With his last shred of energy, he searched to connect with his hound’s sight and missed. He dreamed of meadows dotted with flowers, of warm sunshine and a lovely lass with red hair and stunning green eyes.
Eventually the dreams subsided. His chest ached and when he touched the sore spot, he felt a square bandage. The thick mattress and luxurious bedding against his skin, the familiar sandalwood scent of his room all indicated he was home. Which home?
He turned his head to see Tara’s hands clasping his, a long bandage covering her wrist. The details came back to him in a flood, the fight with Collette’s followers, and the banishment of Morgana as his aunt sought to possess Collette’s body.
How was it possible he wasn’t in a grave or on some familiar forest path back in his own time? That would have been the logical outcome, the best outcome he could imagine since he didn’t dare hope he would remain with her.
“Where -” Speaking only gave way to a spate of coughing, thanks to a dry throat. He forced his eyes open though the lids were agonizingly heavy.
Sterling barked and Tara’s green eyes filled with tears. “You’re awake!” She kissed his hand, then shouted for Nick, then released him to pour a cup of water.
He blinked and reached for her, immediately missing the warmth of her touch. “Tara.”
“Yes, my love. I’m here.” She leaned over him, cupping his cheeks in her wonderful warm hands and kissing him softly on the lips. “We have a hero’s celebration planned at the pub the minute you’re up for it.”
She helped him sit up and pressed a cool, smooth glass of water to his lips. Nothing had ever tasted so good. Except her. “Morgana?”
“Gone.” Tara’s smile was brighter than sunlight. “Your nasty aunt went screaming back to wherever you have her jailed as I recited the spell.” She kissed him again before carefully climbing into the bed and curling herself to his side. “That was one hell of a risk, Wayne.”
Sterling leaped up on the bed, shoving his head under Wayne’s hand in a timeless bid for affection. Wayne happily obliged. “And Collette?”
“We believe her mind was broken by her attempt to steal Morgana’s power,” Nick explained from the doorway. “She’s locked away in an asylum until the courts figure out what to do with her. Her henchman is cooperating with police and giving up the entire infrastructure of the cult.” He grinned. “Welcome back.”
“Thank you. How did you keep me here? In this time.”
Nick shook his head. “I didn’t have anything to do with that.” He winked at his cousin. “I’ll let her explain.” He called Sterling and pulled the door shut, leaving them alone.
“What did you do?” he asked.
“I’m not exactly sure,” Tara admitted. “We’ve gone over every detail a thousand times in the past three days.”
He ached for what she’d gone through, as he’d so recently sat at her bedside, willing her to come back to him. “Three days?”
“Yes.” She trailed a finger over the thick whiskers on his jaw. “Better than three centuries.”
“It is.” He squeezed her closer. “Go on.”
“You d
id the thing with the dagger, and Sterling and I kept you upright, and I read the spell until Morgana was gone.”
“I expected to die.”
“I gathered that,” she said through clenched teeth. “And I don’t appreciate that intention.”
“My job was to stop her. At all costs.”
“Yes, I know. Honorable, gallant, and heroic.”
“You don’t make that sound like much of a compliment.” No, it sounded more like a curse she could hardly bear.
“You forgot one vital detail,” she said.
“What’s that?”
“You forgot that I love you too, you dolt. You were barely alive. I’m not even sure you heard me say it the first time.”
He thought his heart might’ve stopped again as he reveled in her stormy declaration. “Of all the gifts in my life, that is by far the sweetest, Tara.”
“Nick’s opinion was something about love conquers all,” she said, sounding rather shy about it. “Some might call it trite.”
“Love is profound.” He cleared his throat and tipped her chin up so that she could see his intention as he spoke these next words. “Love affects magic. You know that. Emotion and intention can create drastic change. I expected to wake in my own time at best, if I woke at all.”
“Why didn’t you warn me? Or Nick?”
“Because I did not know if I would have the courage to follow through until the moment of absolute desperation. I fear you are well and truly stuck with me now.”
Her lips curved into that wide, gentle smile he loved so much. “I’ll be your woman in any century, Gawain the Gallant.”
He wasn’t sure how he would provide for her here in her time, but he’d figure it out. “You have blessed me beyond measure, Tara the Brave.” He drew her over him like a blanket and kissed her until they were both breathless and his ribs ached too much.
“Wayne suits me better here in this time.” And he preferred hearing that name spoken in her husky voice. His reward was her rare, shy smile. “What is it? The worst is over.”
“Will you stay? In this time, I mean. Do you want to?”
“Wherever you are, is where I belong.” He didn’t know how to go back even if he wanted to. “If fulfilling my quest did not send me back, I don’t know of anything that will.”
She made a thoughtful little hum in her throat. “In that case, you’ll have to marry me I think.” She peered at him through her long lashes.
“Marry you.” His long-suffering heart stuttered. Unbelievable joy pulsed warmth through every cell of his system from his chest to his fingers and toes. “There is no stronger anchor through all of time than my love for you.”
“Is that a yes, my gallant knight?”
Though the laughter made him ache, the glow of happiness on her face was worth any discomfort. He rolled over her, pressing her into the mattress so he could kiss her properly with no chance of being interrupted. Easing back, he painted quick kisses all over her beautiful face.
“That is indeed a yes, my lady.”
She touched a hand to his cheek and ran her fingers through his hair. In her green eyes, so full of love and life, Wayne saw his past fade and every bright possibility for his future. Here, he had at last found his one true family.
Reader Note
Dear reader,
Thank you so much for taking this adventure with me! Timeless Vision is an exciting return to my passion for paranormal romance and an exploration of the beautiful, everlasting power of love and hope with fascinating characters like Wayne and Tara. This couple has been in my heart for a few years now and it’s a delight to finally share them with you. Tara, Wayne and the other Knight Travelers grew from a wonderful, fanciful brainstorming session and I’m excited to bring you more stories of King Arthur and his knights out of time!
If you’ve enjoyed Timeless Vision please let others know by leaving a review where you purchased the book, or wherever you like to connect with readers.
Many, many thanks to my newsletter subscribers who suggested Siobhan, the perfect name for Tara’s mother! Readers who subscribe to my Join the Adventure email list are the first to hear about my new books, enjoy exclusive early access, and are eligible for great monthly prizes. If you’d like to join the fun, it only takes a moment to sign up at my website. I’d love to include you!
Live the adventure!
~Regan
About the Author
Regan Black, a USA Today bestselling author, writes award-winning, action-packed romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and urban fantasy novels featuring kick-butt heroines and the sexy heroes who fall in love with them.
Raised in the Midwest and California, she currently makes her home with her family, their adopted greyhound, two arrogant cats, and a quirky finch in the South Carolina Lowcountry where the rich blend of legend, romance, and history fuels her imagination.
You can connect with Regan online anytime at www.ReganBlack.com for excerpts, news, giveaways and more, or through Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ReganBlack.fans and Twitter at http://twitter.com/reganblack
For a detailed list of Regan’s books visit her website or her author page at Amazon.
Also by Regan Black:
Knight Traveler Series:
Heart of Time, prequel
Timeless Vision
~
Runaway Secret
~
Unknown Identities Series:
Bulletproof
Double Vision
Sandman
Last Strike
Death-Trap Date
~
Dangerous Protector Trilogy by Debra Webb and Regan Black:
Against The Wall | Too Far Gone | Nothing To Lose
Harlequin Intrigue books by Debra Webb and Regan Black:
The Hunk Next Door | Heart of a Hero | To Honor and To Protect | Her Undercover Defender
~
Matchmaker Series:
The Matchmaker’s Mark
The Matchmaker’s Curse
The Bodyguard’s Vow
~
Shadows of Justice Series:
Justice Incarnate
Invasion of Justice
Veil of Justice
Tracking Shadows
Shadows to Light
In the Interest of Security
~
Non-Fiction:
Behind Her Brand Expert Edition, compiled by Kimberly Pitts
The Writer’s Survival Guide by Kimberly Hope and Regan Black
Goal Setting for Writers: Making Revisions Work in Life and Art
Into The Dorm! The Busy Mom’s Guide to Streamline and Stress Less During the Transitions
Adopt A Greyhound Guide
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Reader Note
About the Author