Time Masters Book One; The Call (An Urban Fantasy, Time Travel Romance) (65 page)

Angus turned away, his mouth buried in one hand. “He’s a MacDonald, all right.”

John and Lany watched Evan slowl
y grasp what was off
ered. He nodded and held his hand out to the Scot. “When?”

Dallan took his hand and gave it a fair shake. “Tonight, most likely.”

John stepped forward, caught Evan’s eye and nodded.

“
Mags
doesn’t know yet, and I don’t think Shona is ready for this.”

“Can you
help us convince her?” John off
ered.

Evan shook his head again. “Boy
,
am I tired. All the
se
years of waiting, not knowing if my daughter would be in her bed in the morning or gone, never to be seen again. All those nights,
pacing, knowing how diff
erent she was and yet never understanding why.” He looked to the four men before him. “She was meant to do something special, wasn’t she?”

John smiled and nodded.
“Very special, with Dallan. Th
ey are both destined to do a great many things, for all of us.”

Evan glanced at Dallan who stood as before, arms across his chest, weight leaned on one foot, waiting. “She needs her music. Lots of it.”

 
Dallan nodded. “Aye.”

“You don’t happen to sing, do you? Shona loves to sing.”

Lany and Angus both unnecessarily cleared their throats, earning a dirty look from John.

Evan was distracted for a moment then turned back to Dallan. “Where are you taking her?”

Dallan looked to John who merely nodded. “Home.”

“Where is home?”

Dallan smiled lightly. “
Here.
After a fashion.”

Evan gave h
im a curious look before his final decision refl
ected in his eyes. “Will we be able to see her again?”

“If it is at all within my power, ye shall.”

“She’ll miss
Mags
. They’re, uh, very close.” Evan absently glanced at his watch, his em
otions pooling in his eyes. “Th
is is hard. I guess it would be
easier if everything
wasn’t
so unclear. Who do I trust, you or
that pervert
Philip? How do I know you don’t want her for the same thing he does?”

“I do.” Dallan’s words surprised everyone; as all eyes widened or narrowed in confusion. “Th
e diff
erence is she’s meant to be with me. ’Tis my heart she holds with her own, not his. I can take care o’ her. He canna. With me, she lives.
With him, she dies. Make yer fi
nal choice, sir, though I ken ye already have.”

Evan nodded to him. “I have.” He looked over the rest of the company. “Philip is taking us all out tonight. We’ll be home late. I’ll talk to Shona, help convince her this is as real as it gets.”

“She knows well it’s real. ‘Tis her acceptance of
me and my proposal
she must be willing to believe and take. She canna be forced, but I’m afraid there
isna
any time for lengthy decision-making either.”

“I hope she’s up to this. And
Mags
. What am I going to tell her?”

  
Dallan put a reassuring hand on Evan’s back. “’Tis hard, man, but for the lassie’s own good. Yer wife will help if ye explain things to her. We need all the help we can get. The sooner I can take the lass, the better.” Dallan removed his hand and looked at Shona’s father with the utmost seriousness. “Ye ken she’s dying, d’ye no?”

Evan’s eyes sl
owly rose to meet Dallan’s. “Th
en save her.”

Dallan gripped him in his gaze. “I will.”

* * *

Kwaku slipped silently up behind Kitty and Tomy
. Th
e two women never
realized he sto
od watching them from a few yards
away, arms crossed over his chest, eyes bright with mischief.

“Lordy! Did you see all that? Shona let him kiss her!”

 
Kitty sighed. “Yeah wasn’t it great?”

“Great? We don’t even know this guy!”

“What business is it of ours? Her dad sure didn’t seem to mind. He let him kiss her, never stopped it or anything.”

 
Tomy huff
ed. “He didn’t get there in time to stop it.”

“He got there just before he kissed her the second time and you know it.”

Tomy snorted at her. “Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m going back to the car and see what the story is. I still can’t believe she let him do it. She should have hit him again!”

“Where’s the romance in that?”

Tomy turned on her with a pleased look. “Exactly!” Without turning around, she headed for the parking lot.

Kitty watched her go then turned her attention back to what lay beyond her hiding spot. The mysterious man still spoke with Evan Whittard while three other somewhat familiar men stood to one side conversing amongst themselves.

“Happy day to you, little one. See someding interesting?”

Kitty tripped over her feet as she turned to face one of the tallest men she’d ever seen. He seemed to go on forever in height and his huge frame literally scared her to death.

She off
ered a weak smile. “G… gawsh, sir, you startled me.”

Kwaku chuckled low in his throat, took a step back and bowed gracefully. “Forgive me, my little treasure. I
did not mean to frighten you.”

Kitty moved away from the hedge and looked up into his beaming face. A strange sensation of familiarity came over her and she began to study him with the tiniest bit of interest.

Kwaku chuckled again and studied Kitty with more than just interest. She suddenly felt as if he’d been able to read her entire life’s story. “I think I’d better go, sir. My friends are ready to leave.”

He laughed in a tender manner, his voice deep and oddly soothing, then gave her a wide smile. “Your friend, she likes de Boyeee, yes?”

“De… the boy…
eee
?”

He laughed louder, clearly amused at her imitation of him. “Yes little one, de Boyeee. She is attracted to him and he to her. Dey
are
very hand-some
togeder
, yes?”

Kitty looked over her shoulder. Shona’s father was still conversing with the man from the library and the others. She turned slowly back to Kwaku and gave him her own look of assessment. “You know him?”

 
He burst out laughing, but not as loudly as she thought he might, almost as if he didn’t want the others to hear. “Of course, my little treasure, I taught him every
ding he knows. He pleases your friend, yes?”

Kitty smiled slowly and nodded still unsure of him.

“And she will please him as well.” He studied her a moment wearing a father’s tender yet serious smile. “You will miss her. And she will miss you, little treasure. But perhaps her mate will bring her to you now and den.”

Kitty continued to stare at him, his eyes holding her in a loose embrace of sensation, as if he’d placed a blanket about her shoulders and pulled her into himself. Her breathing slowed and her body became almost weightless. She knew she never moved from where she stood, yet could swear she drew closer to the tall man in front of her. Maybe he was moving toward her?

His voice dropped in pitch, its sound silkier than before, his face enveloped in complete serious intent. “You want what your friend now has, yes?”

Kitty knew her mouth
moved, yet no sound escaped. Th
e word she
tried to push out was “yes.”

The Time Master nodded and smiled as he bent down to
her face. “Soon, my little tre
a
sure, you too will have what you hunger for.”

 
He got even closer, his voice an irresistible lure. She wanted
it, craved it, needed to hear
a
nd feel it. She couldn’t get enough and desired more. What was happening?

“Yes, listen to me, little one. You will have what you need and soon. But you must stay
pure,
keep yourself white as de whitest snow. Let no man touch or take
you, for you are a
treasure wor
d far more den de riches of Solomon himself.”

He bent even closer and put his mouth right next to
her ear. “And dis, my little tr
easure, is what de Creator would have you do.”

And Kwaku Awahnee whispered to Kitty Morgan her future in a language as ancient as time, one he had not spoken for many years. A language reserved for two people alone,
himself
and the only other being allowed its utterance. A language he would have to teach to another soon, so that he too could speak and teach with it. A language Kitty had never heard and did not understand yet recognized.

If one were to ask her, she could never explain what it was, except perhaps that something embedded itself deep inside her while he spoke, his words hiding themselves within her heart. His voice calmed her into me
ntal submission, fi
lling her with the odd tongue of a forgotten people.

Preparing her.

But for what, Kitty had no idea
, and, after the Time Master fi
nished speaking, would never know.

Until he wanted her to.

* * *

Lany let go a deep sigh. “Well, that about wraps it up. I’m starved, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate. Let’s eat!”

 
Evan Whittard left the small company to take Shona home and hopefully, help explain the bizarre chain of events that had taken place over the last week, not to mention the last several years. At last, he could be counted on as friend against a hideous foe.

“Aye, I’m
wi
’ you, Master Lany,” Angus piped up. “I could eat a horse, I’m so hungry.”

“What do you say, Eaton? Early dinner, pick up the Maiden, have the
Sutyne
ceremony, get the happy couple some privacy and streak on outta here at dawn?” Lany spoke and rubbed his hands together in satisfaction.

John ignored him and stared at a seriously contemplative Dallan, who still watched the empty path both the Maiden and her father had taken to depart. “Dallan, eve
rything will be all right now.”

Dallan’s eyes never moved. “Nay, John. ‘
Tis far from over.
Until I have her safely away from this place and she is fully mine, the lass
isna
safe. I know it.”

John threw a confi
rming look to Lany who caught it with his usual grace. The Assistant Councilor stepped to Dallan and placed himself in his direct line of vision. “You need food and you need rest. You’re no good to her weak and you know it. If things
come to a fi
ght between yourself and Brennan,
who
do you think she’s going to want to win? Certainly not him.” Lany smiled mischievously. “Besides, you uh, well have a long night ahead of you.”

 
A Scottish eyebrow rose slowly as comprehension dawned, and was quickly joined by its mate. “A long night, ye say?”

 
Lany folded his arms and nodded, his smile widening.

Dallan too, smiled. “And I suppose I’ll ne
ed my strength for more than fi
ghting, eh?”

Lany’s smile grew even broader. “Dallan, it’s good to know you’re not that naïve.”

Dallan actually chuckled. “Aye, lad, yer right.” He leaned down and whispered, “And though
I ken that was the lassie’s fi
rst kiss, ‘twas not mine.” He winked.

Lany lightly
lauged
,
turned from Dallan and gave Angus a puckish smile and determined wink of his own. Angus made quite a show of clearing his throat. John stepped over to Dallan. “What did she give you?”

“Give me?” Dallan began, as he pulled the envelope from his shirt pocket. He stared at it a moment, then carefully opened it.

“What is it?” Lany asked, peering at the small rectangle of paper in Dallan’s hand.

“I dinna ken.” Dallan handed it to La
ny, who quickly scanned the odd
ity.

“Oh, living stars.” Lany’s voice was laced with a slight hint of panic.

John closed his eyes and braced himself. “What is it now?”

“Eaton, this is a ticket.”

“Ticket? Ticket for what?”

Lany caught John’s eyes as they slowly opened. “Tonight’s performance of the Royal Scottish Players of Edinburgh.
At the city’s Symphony Hall!”

 
John blanched. “Symphony! Great bells, what will
that
do to the Maiden?”