Paton lifted me away from him, and with one of his hands still holding mine, he lifted his free hand and held up two fingers.
“I’m sorry for this, lass, but Maddock and yer mother would never forgive me if I dinna do it.”
He slammed his fingertips hard into my chest, and I froze. I couldn’t move, couldn’t blink, couldn’t do anything but watch on in horror as Paton turned to face the fae.
“I offer ye the same bargain. Make Brachan human, release him and Kate into the land of mortals immediately, unharmed, and the same age they are now, and ye may take me for the length of three human years. She willna benefit ye, but if I’m here, ye might study the power within me.” He held out his hand, and the fae stepped forward. “Ye must decide now.”
The moment Machara’s father latched onto Paton’s hand, my vision went black.
Chapter 44
I woke on the top of the hill, propped up in Nicol’s arms. I could hear chanting to my left, and as I blinked myself awake, I turned to see what was happening.
“Doona worry, lass. Ye are safe.”
“What are they doing? What’s wrong? Where’s Brachan?” I suddenly remembered Paton and broke down into tears. “Paton…he’s…he...”
Nicol’s arms were wrapped around me, and he gently rocked me as he spoke into my hair. “Shh, lass. We know. We know where Paton is. He did the only thing any of us could do.”
“Is the…did his bond break with The Eight?”
Nicol nodded. “Aye, but Machara is not free. Brachan is human now, but by some miracle, his powers remain. The men are initiating him into The Eight now. We’ve still seven men.”
* * *
Maddock was quiet on the way back to the castle, and his thoughts were very far away.
I knew what he was thinking, and I hated it.
“Thank you, Maddock.”
He sighed and kept his eyes ahead as he spoke. “For what, lass? For allowing my friend to sacrifice three years of his life for ye when I should’ve been the one to step inside and make such a bargain?”
“You allowed nothing. You have no more control over Paton’s actions than you do over mine. All you did was keep your word, and it means the world to me.”
Maddock let out a strained sob, and he pulled me toward him even more tightly.
“I shall never be able to repay him. He has given ye back to me, and he has given Brachan a new life, as well.”
“He’ll be okay, won’t he?”
Maddock hesitated, but his tone was confident in his answer. “Aye. His magic will protect him. Better him stuck there than ye.”
“I failed, Maddock.” I whispered the words. “Paton saved Brachan, not me. We’re no closer to defeating Machara than we were before. It seems I was wrong—I’m not one of the nine women meant to defeat her.”
“I wouldna be so sure about that, lass. The moment ye and Brachan appeared at the top of the hill, ye lying there unconscious and Brachan fully human, the entire Isle shook from her screaming. She knows she was defeated once again. I believe ye’ve completed yer duty.”
I could see the castle in the distance.
“I hope so. When we get back, she’s the first person I want to see.”
* * *
Hand in hand, Brachan and I made our way down to the dungeon. The Machara I’d seen before was gone.
Curled up in the back corner of her cell, she wailed as we looked in at her.
I had nothing to say. I only wanted to see that my job was done.
It was Brachan who needed to make his peace with her. “I am free of ye, and I shall spend every day of my life until ye are good and truly dead making sure ye remain here. Ye are not my mother. Ye never were, and ye never will be.”
Brachan didn’t need to hear her response. Turning, he led me from the dungeon as we closed the door on our part of Machara’s story.
Chapter 45
One Week Later
* * *
“Maddock…oh God, Maddock. I can’t…I can’t…” I screamed as I unraveled beneath his tongue. He quickly rose to kiss my neck as he plunged inside me. I wouldn’t have thought it possible to climax again so quickly, but it took no time for me to meet his passion once again.
“Do ye still want to marry me, lass?”
I couldn’t begin to fathom how he was capable of speech at this moment. “What?”
“Tell me…” He groaned as he pumped inside me. “Tell me ye still wish to marry me.”
“Of course I do.”
“Good.” He thrust deep into me once more. As he found his release, he slowly came down on top of me, kissing along my jaw as he spoke. “I’ve a surprise for ye.”
“Oh yeah? What’s that?”
“I’ve a bath drawn for ye in yer mother’s cottage. Ye needn’t dress. I’ve laid out a robe for ye to wear on yer way. They will tell ye more when ye get there.”
I was so happily sated, all I wanted to do was sleep.
“Do I need to go now? Can we nap for a little bit first?”
He flipped me on my side and gave my butt a gentle swat. “No, ye must go now. There is no time to waste.”
* * *
Mom stood outside the cottage she now shared with David, grinning like a fool, as I walked up the pathway in my robe. She was bouncing on her feet with excitement.
“What is going on, Mom?”
She waved me toward her. “Come in and you’ll see.”
Eyeing her suspiciously, I walked into the cottage and looked at the sight before me.
A warm bath stood in the middle of the room, a gorgeous and entirely modern wedding gown hung on a hook on one wall, and two people I’d certainly not expected to see today—Laurel and Morna—stood at the back of the room.
“Happy wedding day!” Laurel beamed at me as she ran across the room to throw her arms around my neck.
“Is it? Laurel, what are you doing here?”
She grabbed my hand as she stepped away. “Yes, it is your wedding day. Maddock told us you agreed to marry him and that you’d already agreed to elope, but surprising you with the day is part of the fun. As for my being here…let’s just say that Raudrich’s powers were giving him a bit of a read on what was going on here. Needless to say, he was a bit too anxious to enjoy our time away. Not that it matters, I was happy to come home, too.”
I looked over at Morna who was smiling as she opened her arms to me. “And what are you doing here?”
“There is no rule that I canna use my magic for love. I brought the dress, and once ye are ready, I shall send ye to the location of yer wedding.”
“Which is?”
She tsked at me and shook her head. “Ach, I canna tell ye that. Maddock would never forgive me. Now, let’s get ye ready.”
* * *
It was a scary thing to let someone send you hurtling from one location to another while blindfolded, but I trusted Morna enough that I managed to keep it together as she sent us zipping through time.
When we landed on our feet, Maddock’s voice spoke to me from behind. “Ach, lass. I can see why ye dreamed of this place. I dinna know such light could exist.”
I gasped as a small glimmer of hope surged through me. “No! We’re not…Maddock, where are we? You have to tell me right now.”
His hands moved to the knot on the back of my blindfold. When he lifted it from my eyes, I looked down on the city of Paris from the top of a tourist-free Eiffel Tower, and I began to cry.
“Maddock, how did you know? I…I always wanted to get married here.”
He smiled and reached up to dab my tears with his thumb. “I asked yer mother when I asked for her blessing. Are ye happy, lass?”
I kissed him, not minding at all that my makeup was definitely ruined. “I’ve never been so happy in my life.”
* * *
We were married by a stranger, and our witness was one of the light technicians for the tower.
With the help of Morna’s magic, my out-of-time Scot and I spent the even
ing on blankets laid out for us on the top of the most beautiful structure in the world, overlooking the most beautiful city.
Our wedding day was perfect in every way, and I had no doubt that our life together would be just as wonderful as this special day.
Epilogue
Allen Territory
* * *
“There’s a letter for ye, mistress.”
Silva ran toward the messenger, quickly pulling the letter from his hand. “Thank ye.”
She broke the wax seal quickly as she frantically read the message she’d been awaiting for far too long.
Dear Silva,
I am sorry we didn’t have much time to speak at the wedding, but thank ye for coming. It meant more than you know.
I didn’t forget my promise to you, and I believe I have found just the man to take over your duties for the territory. He arrives in a fortnight.
And then you are free.
Come and visit us at the Isle. You are welcome any time.
* * *
Your friend,
Raudrich
She was free. Finally, she could move on from a place that brought her only grief.
* * *
THE END
* * *
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Love Beyond Time
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Love Beyond Reason
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A Conall Christmas - A Novella
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Love Beyond Hope
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Love Beyond Measure
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In Due Time – A Novella
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Love Beyond Compare
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Love Beyond Dreams
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A McMillan Christmas - A Novella
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Love Beyond Reach
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Morna’s Magic & Mistletoe - A Novella
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Love Beyond Words
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Love Beyond Wanting
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Love Beyond Destiny
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The Conall’s Magical Yuletide - A Novella
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Morna’s Accomplice
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Jeffrey’s Only Wish - A Novella
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Morna’s Rogue
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About the Author
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BETHANY CLAIRE is a USA Today bestselling author of swoon-worthy, Scottish romance and time travel novels. Bethany loves to immerse her readers in worlds filled with lush landscapes, hunky Scots, lots of magic, and happy endings.
She has two ornery fur-babies, plays the piano every day, and loves Disney and yoga pants more than any twenty-something really should. She is most creative after a good night’s sleep and the perfect cup of tea. When not writing, Bethany travels as much as she possibly can, and she never leaves home without a good book to keep her company.
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Acknowledgments
* * *
To Marsha Bredeson, Rori Bumgarner, Karen Corboy, Elizabeth Halliday, Johnetta Ivey, Vivian Nwankpah, and Pamela Oviatt, thank you so much for your work on this book.
To Mom and Maegan, thanks for keeping me sane and cheering me on during those last few late nights.
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Love Beyond Wanting: Book 10 of Morna’s Legacy Series Page 18
