Highland Pull (Highland Destiny 2) (32 page)

He’d gone halfway when Faolan heard the bean sí or banshee calling. Shaking his fist at the dark tunnel, Faolan swore there would be no more death this night. The bitch banshee could go look for death elsewhere. He would go through the long tunnel and then out into the night, he would find the others. It would not end here! It could not! They must prevail.

****

“Laaaahl.”

Gav loved animals. He really did. But if someone didna shut that bloody Shadow up soon, he would make a tiny cat gag, and personally stuff it in the ruddy cat’s mouth. He suspected they’d walked nearly a half-mile underground, lighting alternating torches along the way, moving cautiously.

They hadn’t wanted to light all of the torches, not knowing how long they would burn, nor how long they’d be in the tunnel. The air was cool and sweet, and except for their limited water, Gav thought they were now safe.

“
Laaaaahl,” Shadow howled again. The sound echoed through the tunnel. Gav sighed.

Elena coughed, but it sounded suspiciously like a giggle. Before he could get upset, he was smothered in a wave of love.

Gav stopped in his tracks and looked back at Elena, his throat tight with emotion, as he felt her gratitude. He concentrated very hard on keeping that warm feeling going for her. He knew when the shock started to wear off, she would realize the enormity of her losses. He needed to keep her moving, to get as far as they could before that happened.

The tunnel turned just ahead, and as they rounded the corner,
Gav’s heart sank. The tunnel ended in a rockslide. In a frustrated fury, he threw himself at the pile, with a terse order to the women to stand back. He picked up a rock and tossed it to the side, Then another. And another. His hands burned with the effort, yet it looked as if he was making no progress.

Elena joined him, grabbing rocks, throwing them aside, but they made no progress against the massive pile. After tossing a few rocks, Elena stopped and blew on her hands, then shook them as though they were burning her hands.

“Elena, are the rocks actually hot. I thought ‘twas my hands were burned.”

Stopping dead in her tracks, Elena placed her hands on the rock pile. “Help me, Gav. Put your hands on the rocks and just push, think about opening them like a door.”

Gav didn’t understand, but he was beyond questioning anything at this point. He placed his hands on the front of the rocks, next to Elena’s and just wished the damn rocks would move. 

****

Faolan heard the banshee cry again, then he stared in disbelief as the wall to his left rumbled and vibrated. Was it this then? Was the tunnel collapsing around him? ‘Twas not someone he loved whose death the banshee was foretelling, but his own. The wall shuddered, then shimmered as though it was a vertical pool of water, before it disappeared completely, leaving an opening into another tunnel.

Faolan’s knees felt weak, and he was stunned beyond belief. He was looking at Elena, Gav, and
Lissa, faces smudged with black; bloody, but gloriously alive. Elena ran to him, crying with relief, with fear, with shock. He swept her into his arms and covered her face with kisses, swinging her around in a dizzying circle, while Gav and Lissa grinned like idiots.

“
Laaaaaahl!”

“
Goddamnit Shadow,” roared Gabhran. “Hold your whisht!”

Liam watched the farm burn with horror. Until the buildings started to collapse, the whole thing seemed eminently reasonable. His father was the Druid Master, and ordered this act done for the future of their Druid sect. The Etarlam Order must survive. Such was their destiny, foretold in a prophecy, a promise to their ancestors.

He’d seen the shape shifters run to the barn,
then watched as the barn burned down around them. Only when the entire roof collapsed did he shift his attention to the farmhouse. Elena was in there. He could sense her fear and her determination. Just a few short weeks ago, she had meant the world to him. He’d wanted her beyond reason, her soul a siren to his heart.

Now, he didn’t know what he wanted, but he didn’t want this.

Liam watched as the fire fully engulfed the farmhouse, and somewhere in there, he felt Elena’s internal flame extinguished. It was as though someone closed a door on a part of him, on something that had been a part of him for so long that it left a gaping hole in his heart. He could no longer sense her vibrancy, her life energy. He wanted to mourn her loss, but didn’t know how.

As Liam continued to circle back around the north side of the Gailtry farm, he suddenly felt Elena’s spirit rematerialize, he felt the special waves of energy that were uniquely Elena, the waves that spoke to his soul. He was near a copse of trees that surrounded a large clearing. Quickly, Liam hid behind a tree and watched as four people emerged from a door concealed in the hillside. Elena lived! But so did her twin and that fucking wolf!

He fingered the rifle hanging by his side.

As the group climbed onto an SUV that hadn’t been there when he’d passed by earlier in the evening, Elena stopped in her tracks, turned slowly, and unerringly looked in his direction. Liam stepped from behind the tree that was concealing him from view, and their gazes locked. He silently beseeched her to go, to get in the car, and leave quickly. With a quick nod, she turned her back on him and encouraged everyone to hurry.

****

On the grass, in the center of a large ring of standing stones, Miranda slowly opened her eyes and whispered, “
Albus Dumbledore.” Her eyelids fluttered closed again.

Earnan looked at the man in the circle with him. This was an unexpected development. Only Miranda and he were supposed to travel this time. He needed time to understand what this all could mean. Meanwhile, what was done was done. It was time to close this particular door.

“Ian Worthington, student of the Druid Master Gailtry, I am Druid Master Earnan,” he said, using the formal language and titles to reassure the ancient warrior.

Giving a quick half bow, Ian replied, “Master, I am honored to meet you. I invite you to search my intentions and ask that I may have entry to yours.” The men took temporary refuge in the formal rituals of
Druidy, slowly taking each other’s measure.

After several minutes, Earnan began, “Ian Worthington, your Druid heart is true, I welcome you to my home. Forgive my uncertainty, these are dangerous times.”

“Aye, Master, and may I ask, are you the Maser who trained Alexander?”

“Aye, we have much to discuss. For the now, pick up the lass and follow me to the castle.” He waved his arm and a previously masked castle appeared on the hilltop a quarter mile away.

Once Miranda was safely on a bed in a private suite of rooms, Earnan turned her care over to Brigid, a Druid with a gift for healing. Then he and Ian moved into the library to discuss this unexpected situation. It was always a danger when you moved someone through time.

Every Druid that passed beyond the apprentice level of training learns that time exists in more than one dimension, or rather time exists independent of other dimensions; it was a dimension unto itself.

World events happen in a linear fashion and become known as history. A child is born, he grows into a man, he dies. If during his lifetime, he goes on to significantly impact the course of the world, the course of human events, then nearly everything surrounding his life is inviolate. If you change the time or manner that his father dies or force him to meet his love before the event’s natural time, you risk affecting his decisions or actions, therefore everything must stay the same, and may not be altered.

Earnan had already made one decision today to try to stabilize the timeline surrounding the world of
Druidry. That decision cost him one of his most brilliant and powerful Druids. Now it was time to evaluate the impact of Ian’s unexpected appearance in the twenty-first century. The Druid warrior was a brilliant tactician, and by Dagda, they could use the help.

****

With an anguished cry, Alexander fell to his knees just outside the circle of stones. The lightning flared and thunder crashed with all the severity of a gale blown in from the sea, whipping the highland night into a tempest. He watched as the portal closed with the finality of a funeral pyre.

Gav was gone but his wife would be returned to him. The two loving parents would raise their
child, the Lachlan line would continue to thrive for hundreds of years.
And what of Lissa and your child
, his conscience asked.

His beloved Alysone would raise their child alone. He tried to reason with his conscience, to ignore the voice crying, insisting love conquers all. He would always need to remind himself they would be safer without him. Earnan could keep them safe forever on the island. And he? It was his destiny to remain in the fourteenth century, to combat the
Worthingtons in this time, even while Earnan led the fight against the Etarlam of the future. As the lightning ceased to flash, the storm settled, and he felt the gaping hole in his heart as his final connection to Alysone severed.

****

Elena and Lissa explored the luxury yacht while Faolan readied the boat and Gav loaded the suitcases. Their hearts were heavy with the loss of Red and Lilly, and the time to mourn would come, once their own safety was secured. Soon they were miles away from shore, and the dreadful knot of fear for Elena’s life that had been gripping Faolan’s heart began to loosen.

Faolan gave Gav a rudimentary lesson in driving the boat. With the advanced navigation system, it was easier than driving a car. Elena and
Lissa were in the galley putting away food and drinks, exploring the supplies Red had already loaded earlier in the week.

Faolan looked over at Elena and found her already looking at him. Their gazes locked, and he knew it was time. She poured everyone a fresh drink, sparkling cider for
Lissa, and fifty-year old single malt Macallan for everyone else. He set the speed and direction of the autopilot, and joined the others on the aft deck.

Faolan cleared his throat and began, “When I was a lad, Red saved me from rushing to my death at the hands of a Worthington, the day they came to murder my family. He and Lilly have been all the family I’ve known for my entire life.”

He wrapped his arms around his wife. “When you entered my life, Red and Lilly grew to love you as much as I did. You were the daughter they always wanted. They believed in us before either of us accepted the inevitable.” He smiled wryly. “They knew we would have a love as everlasting as theirs. Red and Lilly loved each other always, I never knew of them to have more than a few cross words with each other.”

He smiled lovingly down at Elena, blinking his eyes against the sting of unshed tears, and continued in a husky voice, “I will miss them every day, for the rest of my life. Yet I will take comfort in knowing of their love for each other, their love for you, and knowing they are together, even now.” His voice broke, and he was unable to continue.

With tears streaming down her face, Elena returned Faolan’s gaze. When she reached up to cup his face in her hand, Gav and Lissa turned away. Faolan had almost forgotten that they too were suffering through their own grief. Their loved ones were in the past, part of a dimension forever closed to them, as dead as Red and Lilly. Gav would never know the child he’d made with Miranda. A brother. A wife. A fiancé. A child. His parents. They’d all lost, and yet he had hope they would find comfort as they moved on together.

Gav leaned close and spoke softly to
Lissa, steadying her arm as she plucked petals from a bouquet and tossed them one by one into the water. Faolan watched their private conversation, feeling the pain of their shared loss as they mourned the loved ones left behind.

Gav’s
shoulders jerked as if from an unseen blow. Lissa’s head snapped up from looking at the water, to turn swiftly from side to side. Her eyes were wide and unseeing.

“
No…no… You promised,” she choked out. Then she dropped to her knees and sobbed.

Randi knew she was dreaming but couldn’t seem to clear the webs from her mind that were holding her asleep. Alexander was looking at her through the stones as she was pulled further and further away from him. He reached his arm through the stones but he couldn’t reach her, and she screamed as she started falling. The last thing she heard Alex say as she was pulled into the swirling whirlpool of colors was to tell Alysone he always loved her. Then the dream changed in the way that dreams do, and the colors were flames.

The flames surrounded Gabhran and he turned to look at the people surrounding him, and he yelled for everyone to run. Randi floated above the flames, looking down at the chaos, and saw a small opening in the ring of fire. She screamed to Gabhran to go north, that escape was possible, but her screams were lost in the roar of the flames as the fire exploded and began to spin like an out of control pinwheel. Sparks filled the air, obscuring everyone from view

Ian appeared, floating by her side, as the dream shifted once again. They were flying through the air and Ian led the way toward a small island floating in the clouds. His mouth was moving, but Randi couldn’t hear him.

Panic set in as she approached the clouds, she was falling lower and lower, the clouds tangling her arms and legs, keeping her from moving. She could no longer fly. Falling, falling, falling.

She was jolted awake, her heart pounding, tangled in the covers, a light sheen of sweat covered her face. Randi looked around the strange room, and was overwhelmed by its luxurious features. Someone had put a selection of jeans, tees, and other casual woman’s wear on top of the dresser. Clean clothes from her own century—heavenly! The en suite bathroom was equally luxurious and joy of joys, there was a razor.

Randi decided no matter what she had to face, no matter where it was she now found herself, she would face it with shaved legs and a pair of jeans! 

****

Gabhran looked around when they got to the top of the hill, and saw the front of a castle that had somehow been hidden from his view until now. Faolan and Elena had kept their little secret well. When the boat tied up to the small dock he’d wondered why they stopped at the barren, cloud-shrouded island. Then he’d jumped onto the dock and the sun shone gloriously as far as he could see, all the fog and gloom dissipated. He should have known there was more he wasn’t seeing, Elena’s eye’s had sparkled with mischief.

The castle’s door opened wide, and a strong sense of déjà vu hit Gabhran!

“You,” he exclaimed looking at Earnan.

The man grinned impishly. “Aye, ‘tis me, young Gabhran.”

“I always wanted to know if you were Alexander’s Master. I suppose this is my answer.”

“Aye, and I have other news for you, but come in.” He stepped back and led the way through the great hall and into the library.

A man with copper gold hair that fell in a straight sheet to his waist stood with his back to the room, looking out the window. He turned at the sound of the approaching voices. His handsome face lit with joy.

“Gav,” he exclaimed as he strode across the floor to grab his best friend around the shoulders. Gav was slightly confused, as though faced with a person he recognized, but couldn’t quite place.

Stepping up quietly from behind Gav,
Lissa placed her hand on his arm. “Gav, this is Ian, from our time, he’s your very best friend.” She smiled at Ian.

“
Lissa! How did you come to be here as well?”

Before
Lissa could reply, Earnan strode into the middle of the group, muttering under his breath, pushing everyone aside to reach for Gabhran. “I should have done this straight away.” Placing his hands on Gabhran, he muttered a few more words, then stepped back and watched.

Gabhran shuddered, as though he'd swallowed a bitter liquid, then his gaze flew open and back to Ian. “Christ, I remember! I remember everything now.” He lifted the big man into the air, whooping and hollering, while Ian pounded him on the back.

He sensed Elena’s feelings. Without looking he knew she was smiling, happy for him, and wanted to share in the celebration. Turning immediately, Gav dropped Ian unceremoniously in front of Elena. “Ian, Alex and I had a sister, she’s my twin! Elena, may I present Ian Worthington, best friend and knave, and the total cause of any trouble I might have found as a lad.”

Gav laughed, Ian started to bow, and Elena froze. A low growl filled the room as Faolan stepped next to Elena clearly prepared to protect her.

“What is it, Elena, what’s wrong?” Gav asked, unsure of where the danger lay.

“A Worthington killed my family,” Faolan spit out, “and ‘tis fair certain ‘twas the Worthington that tried to kill us at the farm.”

There was a long moment where it seemed there might be a fight to the death brewing. Faolan loomed large, slightly crouched, and appeared ready to spring at Ian. The tension in the room was palpable. 

Earnan stepped into the middle of the group. “Faolan of the Gailtry, I knew your father well, he and I were Druid Masters together, and your mother still lives in this castle. You know I would not bring an enemy here. This man is no danger to you or to those you love. Ian Worthington is a man of honor and I believe he will bring added strength we need as we fight the Etarlam.”

Gav felt torn in two. Elena was his sister, and although he’d not known her but a few days, their bond was deep. Faolan was now his brother through marriage. He would do anything for his sister and her husband. He could sense her fear for her husband and what he might do. Ian was his Druid brother. A connection forged so deep, it couldna be severed. He owed his life to this man. He watched, his muscles taught, prepared to keep the men separated until a solution could be found.

Faolan shuddered, clearly forcing himself to relax, deliberately slowing his breathing, then put his hand out to shake Ian’s hand.

Ian hesitated only slightly, before grasping Faolan’s big hand in both of his own. “I feel I have much to apologize for what my family has done to yours. Gav saved my life once, and I in turn have sworn to protect him and his with my own life. Elena is his sister, she has my promise as well.”

The two men took each other’s measure a very long minute, eye-to-eye, hands gripped tightly. Then Faolan snorted, grinned, and slapped Ian on the back. Relief coursed through Gav, as he realized everything would be well between them.

Everyone in the room started talking at once, and laughter filled the room. It was not time to count losses; they would do that many times over the months to come. But today, for now anyway, it was a time to celebrate those who had survived to fight on in the battle to come. Earnan poured drinks, Faolan and Elena listened while Gav, Lissa, and Ian reconnected.

It was into this festive atmosphere that the newcomer entered.

Gabhran felt a tsunami of love crash over him. All sound around him faded, he sucked in his breath, and turned slowly, his eyes searching the room. Like heat-seeking missiles, their gazes met, scorching the air between them. He strode toward her, she ran at him, pulled together by an irresistible magnetic force. Gabhran pulled her into his arms, Miranda wrapped her legs around his waist, and they stared into each other’s eyes for a long moment before Gabhran lowered his mouth and slanted his lips over hers possessively.

There was a low buzz of conversation as those around the room wondered aloud where Miranda had been…how had she been returned…would Alexander be coming? Gav tuned the questions out, his focus on the woman clinging to him. He slid one hand along her leg, and the other hand slipped under her shirt, rubbing against the bare skin of her back. Miranda grabbed fistfuls of his hair and pulled him into a deeper kiss.

Faolan and Earnan both cleared their throats, the women beamed, and Ian who knew his friend better than anyone, suggested it would be a very good time for them all to leave the room.

*

Gabhran heard the click of the lock as the door closed. He gave silent thanks to his friend for clearing the room. Like as not, neither he nor Miranda could have stopped themselves, with or without an audience. She loosened her fingers from his hair and tugged at his tee shirt; he pulled her shirt over her head and backed her to the desk. With a sweeping gesture of his arm, he cleared the surface and lowered Miranda, never breaking his kiss.

With her legs still wrapped around his waist, both of them naked from the waist up, he broke their kiss and pulled back to look at her. Her honey gold hair spilled across the walnut surface, her green eyes were sexy, and sleepy looking as she stared back. Her eyes…Christ, he could get lost in her eyes. Then he noticed the changes. Her face was thinner, with dark smudges beneath her beautiful eyes.

“I will never be separated from you again, my love. You complete me, you fill my heart,” he said as he slowly began to trace his fingers around her breasts, then trailed a path down her stomach, to unfasten the zipper on her jeans. He peeled them back to reveal the noticeable swelling of her abdomen. She lifted her hips, and he slid the jeans from her legs. He lowered his kisses to cover her stomach, then pressed his cheek against her baby soft skin between her hips, breathing in the scent of her.

“Hello, little one, I’m your da, ‘tis nice to finally meet you,” Gabhran whispered against her stomach. This was his child in her, their child. He was amazed to see how large she was already, and realized that he didna know how long they’d actually been separated between the
two time-periods. He placed his hand over her womb, and felt the telltale signs of life as the baby fluttered beneath his fingers.

He lifted his eyes to meet her gaze, and was not surprised to see tears glistening on her dark lashes. He pressed his lips to her stomach once more before returning to her lips. He would never get enough of seeing her, holding her, tasting her. He would never let her go.

*

It occurred to them after many hours that they had missed dinner and they might want to move to their bedroom. Gabhran stuck his head out the door and all was quiet in the castle.
The other residents having long since gone to bed. He returned to lift Miranda tenderly into his arms and carry her to their suite of rooms.

****

“Come on, sleepy heads, I believe you have had enough…sleep,” shouted Ian as he banged on their chamber door. “We are in the library, and doona worry Gav, I picked up in there before anyone else entered and saw the rearrangement of the desk.” Ian’s rich laughter boomed through the door.

“Bloody hell, ‘tis still our honeymoon,” returned Gabhran gruffly.

“Miranda, is the brute treating you, all right. I’ll kick his arse, just say the word,” Ian shouted.

Randi’s musical laughter floated on the air. “We’ll be down in fifteen minutes, Ian.”

“Bloody hell,” Gabhran grumbled, before loudly continuing, “Make sure there is food and, by Danu, there better be coffee.”

They could hear Ian laughing all the way down the hall.

Miranda was tucked spoon fashion against Gabhran, his hard shaft pressed against the cleft of her bottom. She started to get up from the bed, but Gabhran pressed his arms around her, holding her close. “Nay, lass, not until I have held you once more. Are you too sore for more bed play?” he asked, even as he cupped her in his big hand.

“Actually, I thought I would like a shower before we head downstairs,” Randi told him with a smile. “And yes, I am a little sore, but nothing that you can’t kiss and make better.” She laughed.

“Excellent suggestion.” He went to the bathroom to start the shower then returned, and threw the covers back. He would never tire of looking at her. Scooping her up, he carried her into the shower with him, determined to fulfill all her fantasies.

****

When they finally arrived in the library, considerably longer than Randi’s promised fifteen minutes, they still had damp hair, and their skin was flushed and glowing. She suddenly felt embarrassed by their behavior yesterday, but she sensed Gav positively bursting with pride. He walked her directly to Elena. “Miranda, my love, this is my sister Elena. We’re twins,” he said.

“I can see that.” She laughed. “I didn’t even know you had a sister.”

Gav and Elena laughed and spoke over each other, each trying to tell the story of how they’d met. After more introductions and catching up, conversations began to fade and Randi noticed everyone kept glancing toward the Druid Master.

Earnan cleared his throat, signaling a more formal announcement. “You have all heard
Brigid’s prophecy, you know we are on the cusp of the Epoch of Druidry. There has been foretold that there will be a war between Druids that could endanger Scotia, och, even the very fate of the world. I believe there will still be others who join us in our stand against the Bresal Etarlam.”

His face was solemn as he looked at each person, then his gaze settled on Faolan. “We have already lost loved ones in this war, and they won’t be the last. Red and Lilly served the Gailtry well, and were beloved members of our family.” Then Earnan turned to look at
Lissa. Ian moved to stand protectively behind her, as if he sensed the blow that was coming. Earnan’s words fell like a blade. “I am sorry, Alysone, Alexander has made his own sacrifice, and is lost to us as well.”

Randi pulled
Lissa into her arms, while Ian leaned over gripped the shoulder of the silently sobbing young woman. Randi rocked her gently and looked at her husband’s stoic face as he listened to news of the loss of his brother. However, when Earnan continued, Randi forced herself to pull her attention back, to try to focus on all the reactions in the room.