“Good Scottish whisky.” His eyes were a bit too merry for her taste when they met hers. “And a fair bit o’ it at that.”
“Oh, man,” she groaned. “I don’t drink like that. Ever.”
Well, mostly ever.
Her stomach flipped, and nausea swelled.
“Oh, crap.” She stumbled from the bed, mortified but also a little thankful when Aidan opened the door for her and recommended she go around back.
So she did, just in the nick of time too. While she wasn’t crazy about puking around Aidan, it wasn’t the first time she had around Tiernan. He had popped into the future once when she had the flu. Suffice it to say he’d helped her through quite a bit that weekend, holding her hair back when she was sick and feeding her homemade soup.
Once she had spent herself, she plunked down against the side of the cottage, be damned the wet ground. She wasn’t surprised to find Tiernan standing there, holding a blanket over her head so she wouldn’t get too wet. He handed a skin out to her and urged her to drink. “As you twenty-first century Americans say, a hair of the dog that bit you, aye?”
“Good God no,” she groaned, covering her nose against the foul-smelling whisky that had tasted pretty damn good yesterday. She gestured at the other skin he held. “What’s in that?”
“Water.” He handed it to her. “Though the other would help you find your feet again.”
“Good thing I’m fine right here on my ass then.” She downed half of the refreshing water in two long gulps, then rested her head back against the building and closed her eyes. “I’m gonna have to find another way to de-stress because this seriously blows.”
“I can think of a few ways.” He grinned and winked. “Ways that will feel much better than the effects of whisky both the night before and the next morn.”
“Lord, how can you even think about sex right now?” She held her forehead, thinking about sex just fine actually. In fact, thinking about that helped her not think about her pounding head.
That is until she remembered they weren’t allowed to be intimate.
“That is not precisely what ma said,” he murmured, clearly catching her thoughts. “Nor is it something I intend to listen to.”
“You will if I do,” she said softly, mainly because it hurt to talk too loudly. “I can’t think about this right now, Tiernan.”
Because it would break her heart.
“I got some bannock for you, lass,” Aidan said, peeking around the corner. “’Twill help settle your stomach.”
“Somehow, I doubt that,” she replied but allowed Tiernan to help her up.
Inside she found bread, soup, and more water waiting for her on a small table. She sat when Aidan graciously pulled out a chair for her.
“Thank you,” she murmured, embarrassed that she was in this condition in front of Tiernan’s cousin. Especially considering how close they were. Aidan was like a brother to him. She supposed, though, the time to have worried about appearances or a good first impression would have been before she got drunk yesterday. So it was what it was at this point.
“My pleasure, lass,” Aidan said in response to her thanks.
“That’s not good,” she commented, watching Tiernan stoke the fire rather than flick his wrist like usual. “Is your magic on complete sabbatical then?”
“It comes and goes.” He sat across from her. “Dinnae worry about that right now.” He gestured at the bannock and soup. “Just try to get some food in your stomach. You havenae eaten since this all began.”
He was right. She hadn’t. So she did her best to get a few nibbles down, which, thankfully, did make her stomach feel a bit better. Once he saw she was somewhat on the mend, Tiernan caught her up on everything she’d missed while passed out.
Specifically, Grant and his latest news.
“I sat up and said Salem?” She frowned, recalling that she’d murmured the same thing when she awoke. “I don’t remember doing that last night.”
Way to black out. How much whisky had she drunk? One swig too many obviously.
“’Twas verra brief,” Aidan provided. “Then, you promptly laid down and went back to sleep.”
She could tell by the small grin hovering on Aidan's face, that he was just being nice. It hadn't gone that smoothly, and she suspected she knew why. She flinched at Tiernan. “Tell me I didn't snore.”
She rarely tied one on, but if she did, she snored horribly. Like a foghorn, according to Tiernan. He would know too because he'd celebrated her last birthday with her, during which she over imbibed. Not just because he'd made the occasion so much fun but because she couldn't tell him how she really felt about him. In retrospect, drinking—truth serum that it could be—probably wasn’t the best idea, but luckily, she never revealed the truth. She did, however, introduce him to her obnoxious passed out snore.
Now, it seemed, Aidan and Grant had the misfortune of hearing it as well
“You didn’t snore,” Tiernan said dutifully, biting back a grin.
She narrowed her eyes, smirking because she couldn’t help it. “Liar.”
“In truth, ‘twas a series of hiccups,” he conceded. “Followed by snoring.” He finally gave in to a grin. “’Twas quite charming in its own way.”
She outright laughed at that, knowing full well there was nothing charming about her snoring. Thankfully, the guys laughed as well, not put off in the least.
“I need to go back to New Hampshire then,” she exclaimed, at last focusing on the matter at hand. More so, that her magic had evidently sensed trouble at the Salem Stonehenge. “We all do to protect my friends.”
It didn’t matter that she’d sensed yesterday that they couldn’t. They should still try.
“Actually, we need to keep an eye on wee David,” Tiernan replied. “Grant will watch over your friends and let us know if we’re needed. Keep in mind as well, ‘tis best to assume the monks can track us via the Salem Stonehenge.”
“Which means they might know who’s coming and going,” she said. “Then, where we go from there.”
“That’s right,” Aidan said. “So, the less they know, the better until we’ve figured out more.”
He was about to continue when pounding came at the door.
As it turned out, it was time to leave.
“Thomas provided us horses,” Aidan informed after stepping outside and speaking with the man who had knocked at the door. “I’ll go see that they’ve been made ready for travel.”
“I have a few changes of clothes for you, lass.” Tiernan put a satchel on the bed after Aidan left. “In here.”
“So no magically whisking me into a dress anymore either, eh?”
“I’m afraid not.” He offered her a wry grin. “I could try, but I dinnae trust my magic to clothe you appropriately.”
She chuckled. “And how do you think it would dress me?”
“’Tis hard to know.” His lustful gaze swept over her, and his grin remained in place. “Mayhap in nothing at all.”
Heat flared under her skin that had nothing to do with being hungover. The way he looked at her made it clear she was going to have a fight on her hands if she bought into the virgin protector thing. What was she supposed to make of that news anyway? Would magic tell her what she could and couldn’t do with him? What was allowed?
Either way, she knew one thing for certain. “Nothing’s happening between us until I know for sure it won’t affect your safety, Tiernan.” She gestured that he turn around while she changed. “You must know that.”
“We’ll see.”
She heard the frustration in his voice and understood it. Hell, she felt the same way.
“We won’t see,” she replied firmly, pulling off her dress. “What’s the big deal anyway? We’ve waited this long. What’s a little while longer?”
Yet she knew as well as he did that a little while would feel like a lifetime.
“It could be far longer than a while,” he grunted, his brogue thickening with emotion, his pati
ence as tested as hers. “I dinnae want to wait on the whims of magic and rings anymore. I want to love ye as ye should be loved. Make ye mine in every sense of the word.”
Aroused despite herself, she shook her head and stepped into a new dress. “Not at the cost of your life. It’s just not worth it.”
“’Twould verra much be worth it if even just once,” Tiernan said softly. He was so close behind her, she yelped in surprise and nearly fell over, but he caught her.
“Tiernan,” she managed, overly aware of being against him in her half undressed state. “Way to sneak up on a girl.” She narrowed her eyes at him over her shoulder. “You’re supposed to be turned around.”
“I was.” He didn’t let go but trailed a finger along her jaw, his gaze lingering on her lips as though he wanted to taste them again. “But I felt what you said needed to be addressed.”
“And that couldn’t be done with your back turned?” Step away, Julie. Get out of his arms.
But she didn’t budge an inch.
His eyes met hers. “I wanted to look at you when I told you how serious I was about not letting what we learned affect what transpires betwixt us.” He cupped her cheek. “I refuse to let anything otherworldly dictate how we feel about each other, Julie.” He shook his head. “Not anymore.”
“I get where you’re coming from,” she said softly, under his spell despite her best intentions. “But unfortunately, the matter’s out of your hands because you’re definitely not the sort who would do anything without my permission.”
“Except, kiss you,” he murmured and leaned in to kiss her.
This time, however, she turned her lips away, firmly focused on what might happen to him if she gave in.
“Bloody hell,” he growled. “Dinnae do this, lass.” He shook his head. “Dinnae turn from what we share because of speculation and folklore.”
“I’m not turning from it,” she grumbled, pulling free from his arms. “I’m just not risking your damn life. Not gonna happen.” She sighed, determined to stick to her guns no matter how hard it was. “Your parents said my magic would help me along, and I’ve got to trust that.”
She met his eyes and spoke from the heart. “Your life’s worth way more than my wants, Tiernan. I’d never forgive myself if we had sex, and I couldn’t protect you anymore.” She shook her head and blurted it all out. “Nothing’s worth that.” She searched his eyes, pleading with him. “Surely, you understand how I feel if you feel the same way.” She arched a brow in question. “Would you sleep with me if our roles were reversed?”
When he scowled and sighed, she knew she had him.
“So there you go,” she said softly and finished dressing.
“A kiss isnae lying with you,” he grumbled, packing up the satchel.
“Yeah, right.” She rolled her eyes. “I think we both know we wouldn’t be able to stop at a kiss.”
Amusement returned to his eyes, no doubt for her benefit. “’Tis worth a shot.”
Yet she wouldn’t, and he knew it.
When they departed a short while later, they were sharing a horse. That meant, as she soon learned, that he would have plenty of time to work his wiles on her. Which, naturally, he was very good at. Then again, he didn’t have to try all that hard with her cozied up against him. Thankfully, the rain had stopped, but it was chilly, so he wrapped a second fur around them both, cocooning her against him.
Wickedly aroused but at the same time exhausted, she must have dozed off and dreamt because something shifted and changed. Suddenly, they were no longer riding through heavy woodland but back at the Stonehenge they had been at yesterday.
This time, however, it looked notably different.
Chapter Fourteen
“WHAT DID YOU do, lass?” he said into Julie’s mind. “I didnae feel your magic ignite.”
“I don’t know,” she replied. “Pretty sure I’m dreaming, though.”
“You are,” he said aloud, awed. “You are still asleep in front of me on the horse yet have somehow pulled me along. We stand at the Stonehenge together...such as we are.”
“Are you asleep then?”
“Nay,” he said. “’Tis bloody odd. I’m awake on the horse as we travel with wee King David yet with you at the same time. Almost as if my spirit is divided.”
“Because you go where I go.” She sounded certain. “I keep you with me to protect you.”
“Aye.” He kept her close though technically they weren’t here in physical form. Or so they surmised. “It seems we’ve traveled back much further in time than before.”
“Definitely.” The stones weren't aged and weathered but freshly quarried by the looks of them. “How old is this Stonehenge anyway?”
“’Tis uncertain,” he replied. “Though some speculate it was erected sometime betwixt twenty-nine hundred and twenty-six hundred BC.” He glanced at her. “Verra old.”
“Ya think?” Incredulous, she looked from the stones to him. “Why do you suppose we’re here?”
“My guess is your magic wants to show you something.” He eyed her pendant when it began glowing softly. “Something is happening.”
Moments later, a line of robed women trailed out of the woodland. None looked their way, so he assumed they couldn’t see them.
“Who are they?” Julie whispered.
“I dinnae know.” Yet he was starting to suspect.
The women entered the circle and stopped, one in front of each stone.
“They’re here to bid farewell to the sun,” Julie said softly, her eyes not quite right as she watched them. As she clearly remembered. “They do this every solstice. They bid farewell to the sun then harness the special light it creates at sunset.” Her eyes rose as the sun sank. “The ley-lines are appearing.”
The women lowered their hoods, looked up as well, and began chanting.
“They’re Guardian Witches,” he said softly, certain of it.
Julie responded, but he couldn’t understand whatever language she spoke. Ancient Celt if he were to guess. The sun sank lower still. Something began to happen. Change.
Suddenly, he saw what Julie saw.
Felt what she felt.
Understood what she said.
“It’s coming,” she murmured aloud. “Something is coming...”
As she said it, the sun hit the stones just right, and every ley-line lit up, even the one connected to her pendant. The witches slowly looked Julie’s way, chanting all the while.
Though he nearly withdrew his sword, he held back. They meant her no harm. Rather, they meant to give her something. A token from the gods. He narrowed his eyes at the familiar essence engulfing him.
Magic that felt kindred.
A ley-line shot down to the tomb like a lightning bolt and thunder cracked. His blade crackled as well. Seconds later, the sun dipped beneath the horizon, and everything vanished but the stones.
“Holy shit,” she whispered, blinking at him, back to herself now. “Did you catch all that?”
“Aye, though I dinnae know precisely what I witnessed.” He frowned in alarm when he spied what else had happened. “Your pendant’s gone.”
“Oh, no.” Worry lit her eyes as she searched her cleavage for it. She started to lift her hair but stopped and narrowed her eyes at the tomb. “Look...smoke...” She squinted. “I think there’s something on the tomb.”
She started to head that way, but he stopped her. “We just witnessed great power at work, lass. Wait until the smoke clears before wandering any closer.”
“But it means me no harm,” she murmured. “Somehow, I know that for certain.” Her eyes met his. “I need to go get it, Tiernan. Please.”
“Go get what?”
“Whatever’s waiting for me,” she replied softly. “Whatever my ancestors and the gods wanted me to have.”
“Your ancestors,” he murmured, knowing she was right.
She had descended from one of those witches.
Tiernan was tied in with it too som
ehow. He knew it with absolute certainty.
“Wield your sword if you need to,” she said. “But it means no harm.”
“Nay,” he agreed. “It doesnae.”
He took her hand and headed that way. Close, closer, nearly there, yet they only saw a trail of smoke coming off the rock. If nothing else were true, it had, indeed, been struck by lightning of some sort.
“There’s nothing there but chipped stone,” he murmured, still seeing only smoke and bits of rock.
“No, there’s more,” she whispered, reaching out. “I just have to trust it’s there...I have to trust that it’s meant for me.”
“It is,” he confirmed, suddenly never more sure of anything. His every instinct screamed at him that she was right. That something precious awaited her. “It has always been yours.”
Julie reached out even further only for everything to snap away.
She jolted awake on the horse, and everything returned to normal. They were no longer in the past but the present. Or at least where wee David was.
“Oh my God,” Julie whispered.
“Bloody hell!” He grinned at what glistened on her finger, shocked yet thrilled to see it there. “’Tis a Claddagh ring!”
Not just any Claddagh ring either but a work of art.
Gleaming platinum, its sparkling stone was the same beautiful blue-green as her magical light, and its band engraved with thistle leaves.
“Made by all five,” he said softly, feeling its magical essences. “Your ancestors, my ancestors, God, the Celtic gods, and the Norse gods.”
“That’s a heck of a line-up,” she whispered in disbelief.
“Aye,” he said softly. “For a remarkable lass.”
“My pendant’s still gone though,” she said sadly, searching her cleavage once again only to hesitate, suddenly understanding something. “You were wrong...it wasn’t the power of five but six.” Her eyes met his over her shoulder. “Your magic helped make it too, Tiernan. The magic you used to create the pendant. Hence the thistle in the ring.”
“Then ‘tis a ring that will protect you well, lass,” he murmured, positive of it. “And ‘tis also a ring that connects you to me as readily as the other rings will their MacLomains.”
A Scot's Pledge (The MacLomain Series: End of an Era, #1) Page 9
