A Journey Out of Time (26 page)

Duncan kissed Sonya & tears began to roll down her face, but he did not break from her & she put her arms around him, pulling herself as close to him as she could get. He held her tight. She had never felt like this about anyone & she never had any doubts that he was for her, only whether she was good enough for him. He told her with his words & with his kiss that she was his mate. She loved him all the more, if that was possible.

A soft knock came at the door. Duncan pulled her to him for one last kiss & wiped her tears away. She looked up at him, hoping her eyes showed him how much she adored him. Not just because he was the most awesome, well chiseled, gorgeous man she had ever seen, but because of his kindness & his love, for his tenderness & honor.

"Aye lass, I love ye, too."

Sonya smiled. He did see. Duncan took her hand & opened the door where Casia was waiting patiently. She smiled, but Sonya realized just how tired & drawn her face looked. Duncan seemed to notice as well & she squeezed his hand. They followed Casia down the corridor & stopped in front of the big, wood door. She hesitated a moment.

"Um…He has, well. I am sorry. I just don't want you to be alarmed when you see him. He
has
changed." Casia's voice cracked & tears were in her eyes. Sonya took her hand.

"It will be fine," Sonya nodded. Casia smiled, turned & opened the door.

Across the room they heard a voice loudly say, "Duncan! Is that ye brother? Get over here so I may greet ye!"

He sounded so jovial that Sonya smiled. His voice sounded like Duncan's. They rounded the end of the bed & Casia went to Cullen's side. She flowed, elegant. It almost looked as if she floated. She smiled down at him with adoring eyes. She loved him a great deal, that was clear.

Sonya heard Duncan inhale sharply at her side & he tightened his hold on her hand. She took in a man that had dark brown skin like Duncan. He was covered to his lower stomach, but you could see the ripples of his muscles, which were covered in a great deal of hair that looked more like fur. His nose was elongated with rows of hard, rippled skin going up to his forehead, stopping just below his eyes. His brows were bushy & his hair, unlike Duncan's who was smooth & long, was short with rough looking curls that went down the back of his neck. You could see that the hairs extended to his shoulders as well. His ears were going back towards the back of his head. They were not pointed; not yet. Sonya saw what Duncan saw & was alarmed, but she went forward, smiling.

"Cullen. I am…"

"Sonya, at last! It took a woman to bring my brother home," Cullen flashed his brother a look as he held out his hands & Sonya kissed him on the cheek, which was partly bare & partly covered in hair.

"I am so glad to meet you."

"Aye, as am I, lass," he said.

Duncan followed quickly leaning down to hug his brother. Sonya saw tears quietly falling down Casia's cheeks as she smiled. Cullen reached for Sonya's hand again & she took his, sitting by his side on the bed. Duncan stood behind her.

"So, it took a woman from across the waters to tame my brother's tumultuous heart."

"Aye, brother, so it did." Duncan smiled broadly, as he proudly laid his hands on Sonya's shoulder. Cullen chuckled.

Suddenly, Duncan sounded anguished. "Brother, please tell me what has happened."

Casia tightened her hold on Cullen's shoulder & then let go. Her angelic voice, spoke. "I am afraid it is my fault," she said quietly, but strongly.

"Yer fault? How can that be, Casia?" Duncan asked.

"It is nay your fault, woman! How many times do I have to tell ye?" Cullen was not angry, but stern, as if he had this argument with her a thousand times before.

Casia went on, "My father warned me about being with Cullen."

"Aye, that really worked," Cullen said sardonically with a grin at her. She laughed despite herself.

"My father warned that there would be consequences."

Duncan looked confused. Sonya wondered out loud, "So, is it magic or the fact that you are not human or both?"

Duncan, Cullen & Casia stared at her. Suddenly, Casia began to laugh. It was a beautiful sound as if a bunch of tiny bells could laugh. Cullen soon joined in. Duncan raised a brow saying, "Lass!"

"I'm sorry," she glanced up at Duncan & then back to Cullen & Casia. "It took me a while to figure out that it was her speech that was different. Well, that & her aura. Her voice is like music & she is like nothing I have ever seen, even where I am from, except in faerie tales." Sonya couldn't tell if Casia was amused at her forward suggestions or pleased; Maybe both. Cullen looked at Casia & shrugged. "I was always told," Sonya continued, "that all myths start with some truth." Sonya expected that Duncan was waiting for some sort of denial, but he wasn't getting it. She looked up at Duncan & smiled, "Love, you weren't alarmed at my arrival. You
should
have been."

Duncan's eyes opened wider & then he looked back at Cullen & Casia. "What can we do?" he asked, taking on the role of the brother, the leader, determined to find a solution. Cullen looked at Casia & smiled, which was kind of cute with his nose wrinkling up. Finally, they were going to get somewhere. Duncan pulled up a chair & Casia & Sonya went to sit in the anteroom.

"How did you meet?" Sonya asked Casia.

"I saw him one day in a field. He was helping a man who was having difficulties with his plow. I watched as he had the elderly man sit down under a tree. He handed the man his own water, while he finished plowing the entire field. The man, of course, protested several times, but Cullen wouldn't hear of it. I didn't know his name then, of course," she smiled at the memory. "I don't know why, but I couldn't put the picture of him out of my mind."

Sonya laughed. "It couldn't be the bronze skin, the brown hair, green eyes, & great body could it?"

Casia laughed. "Well, I expect it did! Where I am from there are no men like that."

"Not where I come from either," Sonya laughed.

"One night I came to see him here. I watched him as he slept. He was so beautiful, so peaceful. I reached down & touched his face, outlining his sharp features. Then suddenly, he grabbed my wrist." Sonya raised her brows. "I couldn't understand it. No one had ever hinted at the fact that I was around before. An occasional look behind them, then they would shrug it off. But it was if he
knew
I was there the whole time," she frowned, still perplexed. "And when he grabbed me, I waited. I don't know why."

"Don't you?" Sonya asked, knowing.

"Yes, I suppose I do," she said softly. "Just like you did?"

"Yes. So, what did you do?"

"I came back again. My mother already knew; she had followed me after a time, wondering where I kept disappearing to. She knew before I knew. Cullen told me he didn't want me to go, but I explained that I couldn't stay. I wasn't meant to be in this world. He said he would keep asking me until I stayed. That he would continue to wait for me." Casia smiled & Sonya smiled back.

"And the forbidden part?"

"Long ago some of the people of Sualtam interacted with humans. As with all things some things didn't turn out good. The elders decided to make it more difficult for their interactions. If one of us should decide to stay with a human two things would occur. One, we could never return to Sualtam to stay & two if we were to mate with a human, there would be some consequence. I do not know if it is different for each human, but you can see what Cullen is going through. We figured this was the warning, to discourage interaction between the two races."

"And your father?"

"He warned us of the consequences, but Cullen didn't care. I could stand losing my home, but I couldn't bear the thought of something happening to Cullen. Cullen refused to be swayed," she grinned. "He is a might stubborn."

"Yes. I think it runs in the family. So, your father could do nothing to help?"

"The spell was weaved so long ago & I have found only vague human references to it. My mother has found nothing. If there were written records, she hasn't found any yet."

"But the clan here, they have seen it before, yes?"

"Yes, but the last incident was so long ago & they believed the changes that happened were put in place by their ancestors to help protect the clan in times of upcoming need."

"Well, that can't be a bad thought. At least they aren't alarmed by it."

"Yes, they are rather proud of it."

"So, where do we start?"

"I have been looking in the clan records & anything else I can find in the library. There are so many books. Cullen has sent for books from other places as well."

"Well, lets get to work."

Casia smiled leading the way into a room with no windows. It was huge & had rows & rows of books. Casia showed Sonya where she had left off & that is where they began.

*

"Why didn't ye explain it to me Cullen? Maybe I could have helped sooner."

"Och, brother, I ken what I was doing. I ken she was nay from here. We discussed the consequences. Casia did nay want me to take the risk, but I did. What was I to do? She is the only one for me. I ken you understand that, aye?" Cullen grinned at his brother.

"Aye, Cullen, I do."

"Besides, when it first started I wasn't exactly in the state of mind for discussions. Casia has been searching for any references to her people or to the condition I seem to have. There have been records of it happening in the past, but we haven't found any cure. After the problem with my temper…" Cullen paused looking at Duncan with sorrow.

"Nay, brother, that is in the past & was'na yer fault. We will'na speak of it."

"After that abated, I had been fine, except for the obvious changes," he grinned. "But recently the transformation started accelerating."

"Ye are in pain?"

"Aye."

"Well, then I am off to find my woman & find a way to fix this. After all, we both ken ye were ugly enough to start with!" Cullen roared with laughter as Duncan chuckled & went to find Sonya.

*

"I can't believe that we have found nothing, when the clansmen obviously know it has happened before. It must have been a very long time ago," Sonya stated.

"Maybe before the records started being kept?" Casia said.

"Handing down things by mouth from generation to generation is great, but I wish they wrote down all the stories. Maybe it just didn't matter to them. If they were proud & thought it happened for a reason, why would they look for a cure?"

Duncan had been with them for two hours & nothing had been found yet. Duncan smacked his book closed & put it down in a pile. "I need a break," Duncan declared.

"I should go see if Cullen needs anything," Casia said dusting off her gown.

"Come, Sonya, lass. I have something to show ye." Sonya smiled up at Duncan, rising slowly from the floor, wishing she hadn't sat there so long.

Duncan led her outside to where the loch was. It was so green around the edges. Everything was quiet. Then Sonya suddenly saw the water ripple. Duncan stood behind her, holding her close. He felt so wonderful & she felt so happy in his arms.

"Duncan, what is that making the ripple?"

"Look over there," he pointed to the left of them.

"A seal! A seal?"

Duncan chuckled. "Aye."

"I had no idea! That is so incredible!"

"Aye."

Cullen held Casia close to his side, as they looked out at the loch. He smiled down at his brother & Sonya. "I have naught seen my brother so content & happy."

"I am glad that he finally found what he's been searching for."

"Aye. I am glad I didn't take so long finding ye though." Cullen kissed Casia on the side of her head.

"Why are you staying up here? No one has any problems with it," Casia reminded him.

"I ken. I just worry what will happen when the transformation is complete."

"I don't think anything bad will happen." Casia looked at him with a mix of admiration & devotion. Cullen looked like his thoughts were miles away & Casia slipped from under his arm.