“So you caught all that?” she whispered as her heart hammered. “You never plunged to your death? You tricked me? And as you did you used our mental connection and saw everything I did?”
He grinned, quite pleased with himself. “Aye.”
Well, wasn’t that something. Fresh anger bubbled up.
“So you allowed me to feel like that for an experiment?” Her eyes widened as she poked his chest. “To think your cousin had just ended you and I might never see you again?”
“Well, ‘twas not quite like that,” Adlin said carefully, wary now as he realized how upset she was.
“It was exactly like that, Adlin!” Baffled, Milly eyed him for a moment before she headed back the way they came. She understood why they had to do it like that, but it didn’t make her thundering heart any calmer. She had thought she was going to lose him and it scared the living crap out of her.
A man she met days ago.
“Adlin MacLomain,” she muttered under her breath. “My one true love, eh?” She shook her head as she tromped along. “I’m not so sure about that.”
Blair said nothing as Milly thumped down beside her and crossed her arms over her chest. When Adlin crouched in front of her, she refused to look at him.
“Dinnae be this way, lass,” Adlin said softly as he cocked his head. “’Twas just a means to show you what you were capable of. Not to upset you so.”
“You could’ve found a better way.” Her eyes narrowed on Grant and Bryce. “All of you.”
“This was something that needed to be shown not told,” Grant said as he stopped at the mouth of the cave and eyed the sky. “You have a gift, Milly. One that will aid us well in this upcoming battle as long as your heart stays true to Adlin.”
She wasn’t up for talk of hearts or Adlin. “I’ll help in any way I can, and you know it.”
“Lass.” Adlin tilted her chin until their eyes met. “Is your heart true to me?”
Milly was not entirely sure what to say because it sounded a lot like if she said ‘yes’ she was saying, ‘I love you.’
“Tell me exactly what happened back there,” she murmured, avoiding the question. “Tell me what you saw.”
“You were in two places at once,” he said. “You stood on the cliff while at the same time you were in the pond trying to save me. Your physical mind controlled your astral projection.”
“That sounds insane,” she whispered.
“Aye,” he agreed. “But ‘tis true and ‘tis a gift, Milly. A powerful one if used correctly.”
“And how am I supposed to know what correctly is?”
She gasped when he pulled her up and against him. His fingers remained on her chin, never allowing her to look elsewhere. “Doing what you did out of love is handling your magic correctly. ‘Tis the purest form of control in your case.” The pad of his thumb brushed over her lower lip. “Our case.”
Hell if her heart did not start hammering again. The man had an effect on her that made rational thought impossible. Good reasoning and quick wit went out the window as he stared into her eyes. As always, she turned to putty in his arms. Because that’s pretty much what it felt like as she started to feel lighter and her limbs didn’t seem to work quite right. If they were, she would not have allowed his lips to brush hers then the kiss to deepen.
Here she was again. Caught in what she was starting to think of as the perfect Adlin recipe for turning her into a mindless pushover. One part knee-weakening kiss followed by a dash of charming smile combined with a knowing twinkle in his light blue eyes.
“Do you love me, Milly?” he murmured as he cupped her cheek. “Is it ours yet?”
Yes, she nearly blurted but held her tongue. It was too soon for all that. They had not come nearly far enough.
“’Tis all right,” he whispered before his lips brushed hers again. “Dinnae say it until you’re ready.”
When he pulled away, she nearly fell over she had become so liquefied in his arms. How could she not when flashes of the night before came to mind. How passionate they had been together. The wild sex they shared. Sex that, like before, came with what she was beginning to suspect were glimpses of their previous life. This time they had been in a meadow with a massive stone wall bordering the ocean far below. Carved in its center was that same Celtic cross from before.
Another Highland Defiance but much larger.
Then it was gone as was the meadow and they were back in the run-down castle making love nearly all night. He had been so tender and caring but at the same time just aggressive enough. Exciting. It had all been like something out of a fairytale. Something that touched her far deeper than she expected.
“You will help her through this, aye?” Adlin said to Blair, his voice intense. “No harm must come to Milly.”
“I will do my verra best,” Blair vowed as she stood. “Ye have my word, Cousin.”
Oh God, they were getting ready to leave, weren’t they? Already. But there were so few of them. “Why didn’t you at least keep some of Moray’s men?”
Adlin must have realized she was starting to panic because he gripped her shoulders gently and stared into her eyes. “We couldnae risk any of them telling the tale of this battle, lass. ‘Twould have only meant their eventual death by our hand because Scotland must always come first. Not even our magic to make them forget could be depended upon.”
“Damn,” she whispered. “You mean you would have killed those who meant to help you?”
When Adlin hesitated, pain in his eyes, Conall dutifully said, “Aye, none but us must survive what is about to happen. History must never know of it.”
“Yet Moray knows of it.” Her eyes stayed with Adlin’s. “And his men who traveled with him.”
“Aye, Moray does,” Adlin conceded. “But not his men. They hung back while he spoke with us. And he will make sure they never know the real reason they and their commander turned back.”
“You put a lot of faith in one man,” she said.
“Aye,” Grant said. “There is a reason Moray is so beloved by his countrymen far into the future. He would do anything to protect them. Least of all, lie to them and his clan to achieve such.”
Milly didn’t bother arguing because history had, by all accounts, kept Andrew Moray a true hero to the Scots. One as beloved as Wallace and soon enough, Robert the Bruce.
She nodded her acknowledgment as the five of them readied their weapons and prepared to take on two hundred. This was unthinkable. Almost too much. How could they ever survive no matter how much magic they had? Because the bad guy had magic too.
“’Tis time for us to go,” Adlin said softly as he pulled her into his arms again. “Trust in Blair to help you, and we will see each other again soon in battle, aye?”
Hell, that sounded scary, but at the same time, she wouldn’t want to be anywhere else if it meant keeping him safe.
“Trust in your power, Milly.” Adlin’s eyes stayed with hers, and for a split second, she thought they glowed. “Trust in your love for me, aye?”
“You put a lot of faith in something I haven’t declared yet,” she whispered. “A lot of faith in love.”
“What better thing is there to put faith in?” he whispered before he kissed her again, this time more tenderly than before.
A kiss that said goodbye.
Soon after, he and the other men were gone to fight a battle that was not supposed to happen. That would never make history if all went as it should. Milly wrung her hands and stared into the forest a few hours later as if she could somehow see Adlin across the distance.
“He will be all right, lass,” Blair said as she offered her a skin of whisky. “Drink some. Relax. And soon enough we will travel ourselves.”
“How can you be so calm?” She took a deep swig then shook her head. “I feel so out of control.”
“But ye dinnae look it and for the most part ye arenae acting it,” Blair said. “As to me remaining so calm? ‘Tis because I know my kin well. They are th
e fiercest warriors and strong in magic. If they rode toward something with intent, ‘twas not to end their lineages but to see Scotland through to where she needs to go next.”
“I know they’re fierce, well-armed and all that but...” Her voice dropped to a whisper as she remembered Adlin riding away. She had an awful feeling that she might never see him again. That they had done this very thing before. “But it doesn’t make it any easier to watch.”
“Nay, it doesnae,” Blair agreed and locked eyes with Milly. “Might we follow then? Might we ready ourselves?”
“Can we without some sort of signal?” She frowned. “Not that I know what that’s supposed to be because Adlin never mentioned it.”
“Signal or not, I’d say ‘tis time.” Blair led her back into the cave. “I think if we start following them now ‘twill better to aid them later, aye?”
“I agree.” Milly nodded as Blair stoked the fire. She wasn’t thinking about the scary prospect of leaving her body but solely of being there to protect Adlin. “The sooner, the better.”
“Then come sit beside me.” Blair pulled a few furs over them as she and Milly sat. “These should keep us warm.”
Milly nodded, a bit nervous but also eager.
“We dinnae have Aðísla to open your third eye,” Blair said, “But I’m fairly certain if your feelings toward Adlin are strong enough, I should be able to assist ye in the same way.”
“Okay.” Milly eyed Blair. “But usually what gets me going is a strong reaction to Adlin or something happening to him.” She shrugged. “How do we achieve that right now?”
Blair clenched her jaw and shook her head. “Not in a way ye will like.”
Something about the expression on her face alarmed Milly. Now that she thought about it, Blair had been a little too insistent to get moving with this, hadn’t she? “What is it, Blair? What’s happening?”
“He didn’t want me to tell ye,” Blair said softly, her eyes still averted.
Her blood ran cold. “Tell me what?”
“That he knew it was coming this eve.”
“What?” Milly frowned. “Just tell me, Blair.”
The Scotswoman eyed her for a moment before she finally said, “’Twas never the Battle of Stirling Bridge, Milly.” She squeezed her hand, tears in her eyes. “’Twas this battle tonight...this is the battle that will take Adlin’s life.”
Chapter Sixteen
“THEY’RE LOOKING RIGHT back, but dinnae see us,” Bryce whispered. “I know it like I know my own cock.”
Adlin nodded, his eyes trained on the dark, gurgling river and the black forest beyond. “Aye, they lay in wait making sure...watching for any trouble.”
He and his kin lay on their bellies on a small hill surrounded by tall trees and thick foliage. The air was chilly, and frost coated the grass.
“They willnae linger overly long.” Grant’s eyes went to the sky. “They have the added benefit of a cloud bank covering the moon if they but wait a few more minutes. ‘Twill be that they take advantage of because if they delay much longer, they’ll face an added chill down from the mountains and an even icier river.”
“They’ll face that nonetheless,” Conall vowed. “Water so cold ‘twill make their ballocks shrivel, and their blood grow sluggish.”
“Aye.” Battle lust deepened Graham’s voice. “’Twill make the sting of my blade cutting through soft Sassenach flesh all the better.”
“And mine through Scottish,” Bryce seethed, his sole focus on Lundie. “’Tis not often I get to cut down a traitor.”
“Remember well that we’ll use limited magic before brute strength,” Adlin said. “Then ‘twill be a swift battle just as soon as we’ve downed their warlock.” He cast his cousins a stern look. “We’ll do things in the order we discussed, ye ken?”
They nodded.
They knew they were waiting for Milly.
When Adlin’s eyes met Grant’s briefly in concern, his mentor nodded in reassurance. He had no doubt Milly would be able to handle this task. That she would come, seek out the warlock, then alert them to his position. Because as he knew would be the case, they could not get a lock on anyone with magic. They were well hidden.
“There,” Graham whispered and pointed. “Movement toward the water’s edge.”
Adlin nodded and eyed the forest again hoping that Blair had gotten Milly here in time. That his lass was seeking out the warlock at this very moment.
That’s when he saw it.
A flash of blue in the forest on the other side of the river.
“She’s there,” he said. “Milly has arrived.”
Thankfully, she would only be in ethereal form, so he knew she was safe.
Soon, Lundie’s men waded into the water as they started crossing. This was their opportunity, so he nodded at Graham who took his cue and began manipulating his element, water. He did it so minutely that it would be difficult to detect his magic. If anything it appeared almost natural.
The river began to pick up speed. Just enough to catch many men unaware and sweep them away, only to be caught in a rough, rocky current they wouldn’t survive. As men cried out and dragged others with them, those remaining scattered in separate directions. Some continued forward where others fell back.
Their count was down to about one hundred and fifty men now.
All the while, Adlin’s eyes remained focused on the flickering blue light through the trees. One he knew only he could see now as Milly led the way. As she stayed close to the warlock without him ever being the wiser.
“I’m going now,” Adlin said. “Be careful, aye?”
“Aye.” Grant clasped his shoulder. “Stay safe, Adlin. I dinnae want to be the one to tell Milly ye did anything but, ye ken?”
He nodded and left his kin. They had a plan and would see it through. Meanwhile, his mission was to find and confront the warlock with Grant to follow if he was able. The river was difficult at this time of year for a young man never mind one of Grant’s age, wizard or no.
Adlin traveled downriver before crossing in case he slipped. Seeing his body float by would most certainly alert the Sassenach, and that was the last thing his kin needed. So he kept low, maintained a careful foothold, and made his way across the river. Though he murmured a chant to warm him against the water, it did little good.
His journey across the River Forth without a horse was by no means easy, but eventually, he made it. He shook off his slow limbs and ducked into the woods, all the while keeping his eyes on his surroundings. It was an eerie sight watching men float past, their unseeing eyes wide to a death they never saw coming. Adlin and Grant would use magic later to dispose of the bodies in case anyone happened upon them.
The moment he knew Adlin had crossed, Conall manipulated his element, air, and chilled everything even more. This included a rapid cooling of the water that slowed everyone down considerably and, as he had promised, made their movements sluggish.
Like Graham, Conall had implemented his magic very smoothly and discreetly. It almost felt like a Scottish squall whipping down through the glen. The sort that could drop the temperature sharply in a matter of minutes.
As soon as the men were slowed enough, it would be Bryce’s turn.
The MacLeod would use his element, fire, to warm and give extra energy to him and his cousins so the three of them could silently and swiftly begin cutting down the remaining men. Meanwhile, Grant would bide his time, keep his power strong and be the back-up plan if needed. No enemy ever truly wanted to be on the other end of Grant Hamilton when it came to keeping his kin safe.
“Go,” Grant murmured into his mind. “Go find our warlock, Adlin.”
Adlin did just that, slipping further into the woods seconds before his cousins rushed forward and began the tricky process of cutting down a small army without causing too much of a stir. Then again, when you had an arch wizard at your back muffling the cries of pain with magic, it became far easier.
“I’m coming, Milly,” he
whispered as he ignored the chill in his bones and crept through the dark forest. “Just keep leading the way.”
As it turned out, she did with the glimmer of her ring. A light blue gem that was certainly starting to come through even if it wasn’t in the way he hoped for most. Yet she, it, was leading him forward and showing him the way.
Then he saw her.
Clear as day.
“No,” she said telepathically as she shook her head and pointed behind him, her eyes wide with fright.
Adlin spun, but there was nothing there. What was she talking about? What had she seen? He no sooner turned back to ask when something whipped his feet out from beneath him. His back hit the ground so hard the air whooshed right out of him.
“Bloody hell,” he muttered before he sprang to his feet.
Whatever attacked him was invisible, and only Milly could give him warning.
“There!” When she pointed to the right of him, he dodged.
She continued doing that and kept him one step ahead of the warlock. He ducked, leapt, twirled and evaded. Over and over as he stumbled through the woods.
“He’s going to try to kill you, Adlin,” she warned. “But you already knew that didn’t you?”
“Aye.” He shook his head. Of course, Blair had used that to get Milly here. “But I willnae let it happen...”
Or so he hoped.
Yet he had sensed it earlier. Felt death close.
So he knew this was his final battle, though Aðísla had said it would happen at Stirling Bridge. Well, actually more like implied it would if one wanted to get technical.
The truth was—and he should have seen it sooner—the Viking had a certain talent with manipulation. A talent, he realized, of which he had been made a victim. Yet as he dodged an unseen foe, it became clear Aðísla had been sending him a subliminal message.
Destiny could be altered. Changed. Death was indeed near, but there might be another way.
No there was another way.
One that fulfilled Aðísla’s prophecy but saw a different ending. Because as his eyes focused on Milly’s, he knew he could not leave her. Not again. And he certainly wasn’t ready to abandon his kin or even Scotland to face this evil alone. Yet only one person could alter his fate. Milly. More so, how she truly felt about him. So as he continued to duck and dodge an invisible blade, he knew what he needed to do. The one thing that might save him. Save everyone for that matter.
Sworn to a Highland Laird Page 22
