Yes. Start at the beginning. That was a good idea. Maybe then she could figure out what the hell had happened to her. She began pacing up and down in front of the window, thinking.
“I was climbing,” she began. “Up the Scarrowdale. I got to the top and Irene was there with her cat. He was stuck up a tree so I climbed up and rescued him. At the time I thought it was odd that an old woman and her cat would be up on that plateau.”
“So ye’d never met her before?”
“No.”
“And ye didnae agree to let her send ye back in time?”
Caitlin laughed shrilly. “Oh yes, of course I did! I’m in the habit of letting dotty old ladies send me to other eras!” She groaned and pressed a hand to her forehead. “I cannot believe I even just said that. How can an old woman send me through time?”
Kai watched her steadily. He didn’t answer her question. “What exactly did Irene MacAskill say to ye?”
“Not much. Not much that made sense, anyway. Something about paths and destiny and things like that. I took no notice. I thought she was a bit batty.”
“That’s the impression she likes to give,” Kai replied. “But she is far from that. Ye can be sure of one thing: if she sent ye here, then she has a plan for ye.”
“What? What kind of plan? And why would she be interested in me, anyway?
It will lead ye to the person ye are meant to be and the one who will help ye become that person.
Her eyes flickered to Kai and away again, unwilling to follow where that thought might lead.
Kai shrugged. “I dinna have the first clue. The plans of the Fae are a mystery.”
Caitlin looked at him sharply. “Come again? The plans of the what?”
“The Fae, lass,” he replied, his voice as calm as if he was discussing the weather. “Ye asked how an old woman could send ye back in time—well that is yer answer. It’s because Irene isnae an old woman at all but one of the Fae and they have magic beyond our understanding.”
This was too much. Fae? Magic?
Caitlin felt the panic rise in her chest again. Her heart raced. Her breathing turned quick and shallow. She staggered, pressing a hand to her forehead. A whimper escaped through her clenched teeth. She could feel darkness closing in on her as though she was falling, falling, falling into the abyss—
And then suddenly strong arms went around her, pulling her against a warm body. The grip anchored her, gave her something to cling to as she fought the darkness.
Through the blackness she heard Kai’s voice murmuring softly in Gaelic, his breath warm on her ear. Gradually the panic began to recede and when Caitlin opened her eyes again, she was met with a pair of bright blue ones.
“Ye’re safe, Caitlin,” Kai said, his voice gentle. “Ye’re with me.”
Caitlin took a deep breath, trying to will the panic away. “I don’t understand,” she said shakily. “Fae? Magic? What does it all mean?”
“It means that ye are not here by chance. The Fae have a way of manipulating things, of weaving paths together that might seem impossible. And they have a plan for ye.”
He paused and looked into the distance, as if recalling something from his own past, before turning back to Caitlin with an encouraging smile.
His arms were still tight around her, his broad chest was pressed against hers. He was warm and strong and comforting and his presence helped to chase away the terror. Fae? Magic? Time-travel? It was impossible. It was crazy. She rested her forehead against that hard chest. Right now all she wanted to do was sink into Kai’s embrace and forget.
***
KAI HELD CAITLIN INhis arms, surprised at how much he was enjoying it. He hadn’t planned on it but the moment he’d seen her distressed, he had acted instinctively, folding her into an embrace and pulling her close before he could even think about it.
For a reason he couldn’t quite understand, he felt a swell of protectiveness towards this strange lass, and an overwhelming desire to keep her safe.
Why didn’t she know about time-travel and Irene MacAskill? Why had no one told her? What kind of plan did the Fae have in store for her? And, for that matter, what plan did Irene have in store forhim?
All these thoughts ran through Kai’s mind as he held Caitlin and he pushed them away with an effort. They could wait. Right now, the woman in his arms demanded his attention.
This close she smelled of wildflowers and something else, something exotic that he couldn’t quite place. Kai found himself inhaling deeply. He was aware of the swell of her breasts against his chest and the way her hips pressed against his. He tried to ignore the stirring of desire in his loins, but Lord, it was difficult. He knew he shouldn’t be thinking this way, not when she was in such a vulnerable state, but he couldn’t help it.
