Plight of the Highlander (The MacLomain Series: Next Generation Book 5) (21 page)

“Aye,” Erc said. “A warlock so powerful that though not immortal has long escaped overly aging with his black magic alone. ‘Tis half the reason he wants you as he does. Forever haunting the MacLomain clan, he knew before most that dragon blood lived within you. He also knew if he went about everything a certain way he might just be able to harness its power.”

Iosbail stood alongside them, eyes narrowed. “So ‘twas this Innis MacGilleEathain that Adlin was just fighting upon the sea?”

“Aye and ‘twill be because of this moment that when you someday meet him you will have a nasty feeling about him indeed.” His fond eyes once more turned her way, ignited in magic. “Now ken well who your enemy is and see all done as it should be.”

Yet even as King Erc looked at Iosbail, the shore and sky shifted around them.

Then all faded…

Iosbail and Torra blinked as they pulled free from their embrace. They once more stood in the chamber of the Highland Defiance.

The Broun matriarch appeared genuinely baffled for a moment and Torra realized that as Erc had said, she remembered nothing of what had happened save finding out who Keir Hamilton actually was.

Torra made to say more to Iosbail but the woman continued as if their flashback had not occurred. But then…had it truly? Only the gods knew.

“The moment ye traveled back in time to my castle so that I knew all of this before my brother, ye had me.” Iosbail’s voice took on a distinct edge of emotion as her eyes narrowed on Torra. “I am proud to call ye my kin. Ye are everything a lass should be and more.”

Again Torra had no chance to respond before Iosbail swung her attention to Colin. “And
ye
! Now who saw ye coming.” She offered a low, throaty chuckle. “Seems I did.” Before the MacLeod could say a word, she cupped his cheeks, pulled his face down and locked her lips securely over his.

Colin froze and his eyes went wide.

Leslie laughed.

“Och, Iosbail,” Adlin muttered and pulled her back as he rolled his eyes.

Iosbail again chuckled and winked at Torra. “Ye did good finding this highlander.”

Torra only nodded and smiled. The more she got to know Iosbail the more she could exhale a collective sigh of relief for every lass in Scotland that the Broun eventually met King Alexander Sinclair. No doubt, that simple twist of fate saved a lot of lasses and lads heartache. Truth be told, if anyone needed to be tied down by the fidelity inherent to true love it was Iosbail Broun.

“Well, then.” Adlin set his sister aside. “‘Tis time that we’re off.”

“Will we see you again at the Hamilton castle?” Sheila said, hopeful.

For the first time since she’d met him, Adlin’s eyes turned truly sad. “Nay, I’m afraid not, lass. Only because of the Viking sword and the fold in time are Iosbail and I even here. ‘Tis unnatural to say the least because we already died.” He looked over them all fondly. “When we leave this place, we will no longer exist but be memories of the past.”

“Hell,” Leslie muttered, eyes damp as she looked at Iosbail.

Sheila wasn’t nearly so discreet. Tears slipped down her cheeks as she wrapped her arms around Adlin. “God, I’m going to miss you, my friend.”

Adlin squeezed her tightly. “Aye, and I you.”

At last Sheila pulled back, eyes still hopeful. “Will we be able to travel back in time to see you again like we have all along?”

Adlin shook his head. “Nay. Too much could go wrong with all of this if you did. ‘Tis a thing with time travel you see. It must be respected. These visits you’ve had with me on this adventure were solely for the purpose that we might stand in this verra spot at this verra moment and the great evil that is Keir Hamilton is at last defeated.”

“That makes sense.” Sheila pressed her lips together and wiped away her tears. “Still sucks though.”

“Agreed.” Adlin kissed her on the cheek. “Take care of yourself, aye?”

When Sheila nodded, he turned away and flung up his hands. As he began to chant so too did Torra and Grant. The room swirled away. The ground dropped from beneath them.

The burn of her dragon blood filled the air.

Then she landed with a soft thump…

In front of the baby oak.

Colin pulled Torra into his arms when he saw the stark terror on her face.

Though reality was still fragmented from traveling across Scotland via magic, he pushed past his disorientation and held her close. Trembling, she wrapped her arms around him. Eyes closed, he rested his chin on the top of her head and murmured a prayer to the gods.

They had once more returned to where it all began. And like him, she was terrified. Scared of all that lay ahead. Yet he knew now was not the time to show her weakness but strength.

After some time passed and she seemed to settle, he pulled back, gently tilted up her chin and met her eyes. “You have come so far and there isnae much further to travel, my lass.”

“And that is almost what frightens me the most,” she whispered.

“As it does me. More than you know.” While he well understood her fear, he was ready to embrace all that was to come, all that they would face together. “But I’m also ready to put the long war that has separated us to rest. As you said, so many,
too
many, have sacrificed to get us this far. ‘Tis time to face our future, to face Keir Hamilton.”

Even as he said the words, Colin knew he just wanted to get the next few days at the Hamilton castle over with. The idea that Torra would be at Keir’s whim during that time made his muscles tense and his heart hurt. Yet he also knew he could no longer talk of it to her. She had asked as much at the Defiance and he agreed. Thus, Colin was determined to be honorable and do as she asked. His lass had enough to face as it was without him giving her issue.

But gods did he fear for her.

Still, if these were to be their last moments together, he would offer only sweet words. “You are as bonnie as you were when first I saw you as not only a lass but a dragon.”

He heard the small smile in her voice. “I’ll never forget how handsome I thought you.” Her eyes were an even sage green. “But so verra serious.”

Colin quirked his lips. “Aye, lass. I worried for you.”

“But you didnae know me.”

“True,” he conceded. “But I understood the fear in your eyes, the heartache.”

“Because of your Da?”

“Mayhap a wee bit.” He shrugged. “But where my Da was always sterner than most ‘twas not his treatment of me that made me relate. ‘Twas just…” He shook his head. “Something more. I saw the suffering in your eyes, the fear in your voice, ‘twas verra intense.”

“It irks me that those memories were kept from us for so long,” she said. “All these years I remember my first time turning into a dragon happening only with Iosbail…until so recently.”

Colin well understood her distress. It irked him too. But she need not know that. “We are at the mercy of the gods, are we not? Let us be thankful that our memories have been returned to us and that they help strengthen our bond.”

Torra ran the tip of her finger along his jaw. “You have changed, Colin MacLeod.”

“Have I?” he murmured, overly aware of not only her touch but the feel of her in his arms.

“Aye,” she whispered. “You’ve learned to better control your anger. ‘Tis good this.”

He kissed the tip of her finger, his brogue slipping free now that they were no longer around their twenty-first century friends. “Aye, I had no choice over these long years if I was to keep ye safe. But ‘tis good that I’ve learned to do such. Keir Hamilton might be our enemy, but he gave me a gift, one I hope will aide in his own destruction.”

Emotion and pride flickered in her steady gaze before her eyes slowly went to the baby oak. “It hasnae changed a bit since I first shifted into the dragon.”

Colin took her hand and they walked over to the tree. He could still see her lying beneath it. A young lass with so many years of difficulty ahead.

“I still wonder why it doesnae grow or change with the seasons,” Torra said.

“It will.”

Torra and Colin spun to see a little old lady hobbling up to them. Fog drifted around her feet and a degu jumped on her shoulder.

“Fionn Mac Cumhail,” Torra whispered.

Torra and Colin knelt and lowered their heads.

“Nay, up with you both.” Her kind eyes flickered betwixt them. “You have come far. ‘Tis time that we speak before you continue your journey.”

Colin’s eyes widened as they stood. Gone was the little old lady and in her place, a tall golden warrior. Still the fog swirled and more animals filtered around them as Fionn raised the back of Torra’s hand to his lips, appreciative eyes on her face. “You have done so very well,
Nathair sgiathach.
Since
the day this oak was born.”

“But of course you were here. We saw you briefly.” she said softly.

“Aye.” His eyes went to the tree. “After all, ‘twas me who ensured Iosbail’s Ma gave her that acorn and Fate that urged Iosbail to then give it to you.” A small smile tugged at his lips. “What you did not know about that day so long ago was that you had traveled through time to a period just after the original three Claddagh rings were created. ‘Twas always in part because of the mother oak’s magic that those rings came to be.”

Fionn looked fondly at the tree.

“That magic, of course, was part of the baby oak as well.” Fionn’s eyes went to Colin then back to her. “When combined with a love once more found ‘twas always part of the power within the new Claddagh rings, those that brought together the Brouns with the next generation of MacLomains.”

A wise glint entered the god’s eyes as he looked at Torra. “‘Twas always part of what happened during the dragon shift that broke the Viking seers’ binding magic. When you did such the dragon tapped into the power created when you first shifted here and harnessed this wee oak’s magic. When combined with warlock Seth’s magic, the stones broken from the Highland Defiance in the rings, the tattoos and their connection to your scales, the combination became the perfect weapon against your enemy.”

He remembered the warlock named Seth from the future. Friends with the Broun lasses, he had fought alongside the MacLomains when Colin and Keir had infiltrated their castle via fire.

While fascinated, Colin was far more interested in something else Fionn had said.

“A love once more found?” he said.

A sparkle lit Fionn’s eyes. “But of course. Torra is your twin soul, lad. ‘Twas inevitable that you crossed paths once more.”

Torra and Colin’s eyes met. It explained so much. He squeezed her hand. “But of course she is.”

“‘Twas the love you had for one another that allowed the magic to pull together more great loves.” Fionn’s lips curled up mischievously. “‘Twas also the reason behind not only the tree itself promoting fertility, but the passion required to ignite the ring’s stones and the tattoos.”

“I always wondered about that,” Torra said, amused. “Yet I suppose some part of me knew all along that the dragon understood such.”

“Aye, but you and the dragon needed to bond so that all might become clearer. And you are nearly there, lass.” Fionn’s eyes again flickered between the two. “If not for your love all the other loves reunited would have not been here to help and they are indeed crucial to your battle against Keir Hamilton.”

“So amazing,” Torra murmured. “And wonderful.”

“Aye,” Fionn agreed. Ghostly warriors appeared then disappeared behind him and a buck brushed up against his leg. “Now that all of your memories have been returned to you ‘tis nearly time to face Keir Hamilton once more.”

So it was Fionn who had kept the memories of their time here hidden. Curious, Colin asked, “Why return our memories so recently? Better yet, why take them from us to begin with?”

“Quite simple that.” Fionn arched a brow. “What might Keir Hamilton have done with such information if he somehow discovered it within your minds?”

“Och, nothing good,” Torra said. “In fact, so verra many things could have gone wrong.”

Colin’s brows drew together. “I ken that Iosbail made sure Torra was brought here before she shifted into the dragon. But I cannae help but wonder…who made sure I arrived? Was it ye?”

“Nay. I was too busy seeing a Dire wolf and Celtic sword to their rightful place.” Fionn’s brow rose. “Which only leaves one other. Someone who has a habit of meddling in the love connections of his MacLomains and must have thought ye a good match for Torra.”

Torra and Colin’s eyes met and she grinned. “Adlin.”

“And was he not the one who helped ye travel back in time to meet me at the Defiance years later?” Colin said, incredulous. “Or might it better be said to meet Valan?”

“Which eventually led you there.” She shook her head, eyes wide. “So ‘tis truly hard to know. Who was one step ahead of the other in all that has happened…Adlin or Iosbail?”

“It seems they’ve had a grand adventure of it,” Colin said to both Torra and Fionn.

“Aye, so it seems.” Fionn’s expression grew far more serious. “‘Tis nearly time now.” He held out his hand to Torra. “‘Twould be best if I held your ring lest Keir Hamilton see it.”

When distress flared in her eyes, Fionn said, “Worry naught. I will see it safely returned to you afterward.”

Though reluctant, she parted with her betrothal ring.

Fionn once more kissed the back of Torra’s hand. “Fight well,
Nathair sgiathach
and destroy once and for all this MacLomain enemy. Once you do, you’ll have fully embraced the dragon. When such happens, the baby oak will grow and as it was for you, it will forever be a source of strength to your MacLomain kin.”

Then the god clasped hands with Colin. “As you have in every life, protect well your lass.”

Before Colin could respond, Fionn Mac Cumhail turned. As he walked away, fog twisted up around him and he vanished, only his final words left echoing.

“Take these last few moments together. My power will assist you when time unfolds.”

Gone was the terror he had seen in Torra’s eyes when they first arrived. Now there was only determination and courage. Colin cupped her cheeks and cherished these last few moments that he might gaze into her eyes. “I love you, Torra MacLomain and will see you through this. We
will
have our life together.”

“Aye,” she whispered. “And I love you.”

Colin kissed her softly. But as was bound to happen, passion ignited. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Long and thorough, he poured his heart into the sweet exchange. When their hearts thundered and his blood raged through his veins, he knew it was time to pull away. Lust would have to be set aside until later. Until after what would likely be the longest days of his bloody life.

Eyes shining and lips pink, her gaze never left his. “‘Tis time then, aye?”

Colin nodded and stepped away.

Torra held out the scrap of black leather. “I would have given this to you sooner but ‘twas better that you didnae have much contact with it.”

Their fingers brushed as he took it and he nearly pulled her back into his arms.

“When the time comes you must chant the following words within your mind.
Style hac draco virtutem in hostium potestate præfinito ligare.
With this that harnesses dragon’s power, bind enemy’s control in this final hour.”

Colin repeated the words.

“Ye willnae forget?” she said.

“
Never
,” Colin replied. “I will do as ye ask at dusk on the eve of the full moon thrice days from when we return.”

Torra nodded and he was surprised by her soft words. “‘Twill be the eve of Christmastide.”

“Aye,” he said. “‘Tis not something that was celebrated when with the Hamiltons nor overly so within my own clan. ‘Twas not the sort of thing Da embraced.”

Her eyes grew troubled. “‘Tis sad that. ‘Twas always a grand affair at my castle. One that I have not enjoyed for ten winters.”

So Colin said what they both needed to hear. “This year ‘twill be different. We will at last celebrate our first Christmastide together.”

“Might it be so,” she whispered.

“Aye,
‘twill
be, my lass.” But it was time to step away from what lie in the future and focus on the present. He murmured a few words and they were both once more dressed as they were when they left Keir’s chamber.

They gave each other one long last look before Torra started to chant.

“
Ad scindendum iterum replicat, ut anima mea. Custodite omne secretum, quod etiam post tergum ut videmus ambo
. My soul to split once more as time unfolds. Keep secret all, even after back to that moment we both fall.”

The jarring sensation of shifting through space grabbed hold. Except this time it felt different. Though he still smelled Torra’s sweet burn, there was no sensation of falling. He blinked twice and was suddenly again standing in Keir Hamilton’s chamber right where he had been before.

This time when Keir lunged to grab Torra he succeeded.

It was as if she had never warped away into the altar to begin with.

Keir yanked her against him. “Where do ye think yer going, lass.”