Harley tucked her legs under her and clutched her mug to her chest.“Ronan’s destiny?You mean you saw his future?”
Rachel tilted her head to one side, then slowly shook it. “No. It’smore like seeing brief snippets of thoughts and emotions. I searched the scrying mists to help him find the right path.”
“And the right path was me?” Harley frowned over the rim of her mug, relaxing into the comforting warmth the spiced wine sent through her veins.
“It’s difficult to explain,” Rachel said. “What I saw was that your and Ronan’s auras were intertwined.” She placed her mug back on the tray as calmly as if she’d just discussed the weather.
“Auras intertwined. I know what I’ve read about auras, but would you mind sharing yer definition so I can be sure we’re on the same page?”Harley slipped lower in the chair, her eyelids becoming impossibly heavy. She’d never tolerated alcohol well. The least amount made her as sleepy as a porch cat stretched in a patch of sunshine.
Rachel shook her head and moved to help Harley up from her chair. “We’ll talk of that another time. For now, I think we’d best be getting you into bed. You’re exhausted.”
Harley barely stifled a yawn as she stumbled along beside Rachel. “No, really. I’m fine. Tell me about the auras. Or at least about mine and Ronan’s.How could you see my aura when I wasn’t even here?”
Rachel led her to the bed, turned back the covers, and gently forced Harley down onto it as if she were a stubborn child. “We are all connected. All of us are a part of the energies of the universe. No matter where or when we reside.”
Giving up and pulling her feet under the covers, Harley sank into the welcoming pillows. “So, even though I was far into the future, you still saw Ronan’s aura and mine were connected?” She rubbed her eyes with both hands, struggling to stay awake. “Have you ever seen other auras intertwined as you called it? Connected like mine and Ronan’s?”
Rachel smiled. “As a matter of fact, I have. Just one other time. When I looked into the scrying mists and saw mine and Caelan’s.”
CHAPTER 10
Aveline smiled at the images in the flickering blue haze floating above her outstretched palms. She didn’t care what the others said. She knew she was doing the right thing.
Brisk footsteps echoed in the hallway just outside the door of Mama’s solar, making Aveline drop her hands to disrupt the spell.Her mother was already unhappy with her. She didn’t need her questionable spell casting discovered.
As soon as the door burst open and Mama pinned her with a stormy scowl, Aveline knew she was in for an extended lecture the likes of which she had never endured before.She pulled in a deep breath and braced herself. The best course of action to survive the lecture would be to say as little as possible.
Her mother circled her, eyeing her while snorting exasperated little huffs that reminded Aveline of their Highland bull. She fully expected Mama to paw the ground at any moment. “Aveline—” Her mother’s tone spoke volumes. “How often have we discussed the need to watch what we say regardinganythinginvolving our mystical gifts?”
Taking care to keep her eyes downcast, Aveline chose words that wouldn’t further stir her parent’s wrath.“I thought since Harley camefrom the future; she wouldn’t be shocked by what I said.I hoped it would ease her into settling in.”
Mama huffed another heavy sigh. “Just because Harley is from the year 2008, does not mean she is any more accepting of the supernatural than the people of this century.It’s going to be difficult for her to fit into this time.And from what I’ve gathered, she was somewhat of a loner in her time and didn’t rely on anyone but herself.In this era, very few women can pull that off with any success. Many have tried and not lived long enough to tell about it.”
“But she doesna have to be alone,” Aveline said. “All she has to do is accept Ronan. I know he’ll be happy with her. I’ve seen it.” She bit her lip and stifled a groan. She should not have said that.
Her mother stormed closer, shaking a finger in time with each clicking step.“What have you seen?And what have I told you about practicing scrying without the protection of another in the room?”
Aveline backed away, wishing she’d kept her mouth shut as she’d planned. She had no choice now but to confess. One never lied to Mama. “I only took one quick look into the mists.Nothing came at me while I was there. I wanted to help them—to help Ronan—move along into what is meant to be.”
“I have told you many times that the visions absolutely cannot be used to manipulate people.”Mama’s face flushed red with irritation as she paced the length of the room.“You never know if what you see is to be, or what could be, and at what cost the action might cause.You could unknowingly cause your brother harm without understanding what lies just outside of the border of your vision.What if you sent him down a path to utter destruction because you didn’t know the entire effect of what you put into play?Every action is like throwing a rock into a pond, the ripples travel far and touch unknown things.”
Aveline swallowed hard, trying her best not to cry. What had she done? Panic, dread, and worry filled her, nearly choking off her air. Even though Mama had lectured her many times, she had never thought about her abilities that way. She would never do anything to cause Ronan harm or unhappiness.She only wantedhim settled, so maybe he’d stay home more and not be constantly at sea.The keep was so lonely whenever he was gone.She missed his laughter. He left a void in their family that was so hard to bear.
“I am sorry, Mama,” she whispered, staring down at the floor.But Goddess Brid help them all, it was too late for her actions to be undone.
Her mother pinched the bridge of her nose and wearily shook her head.“What have you done, Aveline?Tell me everything so we can make sure nothing goes awry.”
Still groggy with morning sleepiness,Harley became aware of someone moving around the room, their footsteps softly scuffling across the rugs, then lightly tapping whenever they happened across the exposed wood flooring.She opened her eyes to the narrowest slits and spotted an older woman setting a tray overloaded with covered plates on the table beside the hearth. At least it was someone safe creeping about the room. That made her breathe easier. She scooted herself upright against the headboard and hugged her knees. “Good morning,” she said. The rich, buttery scent of warm baked goods filled the room, making her mouth water.
“Ah, ye be awake.” The thin matron, her gray hair pulled back in a tidy bun, smiled and bobbed a curtsy. “Good morning to ye, mistress.” She returned to preparing a plate. As she spoke, she waved a knife dripping with butter.“My name is Ellen. I be the one to take care of ye whenever ye be needing a thing, and I am honored to have been asked to do so.”
Harley eyed the lady, impressed by the efficiency with which she bustled about the room and conquered several tasks at once. But what did Ellen mean bytaking care of her? She was neither an invalid nor a child.The MacKays needed to realize she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. She eased out of bed and gave the lady a polite smile. “It’s good to meet you, Ellen, and you can call me Harley.” She arched a brow at the mountains of food stacked on thetray. “My goodness. Surely, all that isn’t for me. You’ll eat some too, I hope?”
“Oh, no, mistress.” Ellen chuckled and shook her head while patting her trim waist. “This fine breakfast is all for yerself.” She eyed Harley with a thorough once over. “They said ye were thin, and they nay lied. Why, ye are a mere shadow.” She shook a finger at her. “Winter will be upon us soon. Ye’ll be needing some meat on those bones to keep from freezing.” Her henlike clucking at what she obviously felt was Harley’s neglect of her health filled the room. “Why, yer waist is so small, I’ll be needing to take in every dress by at least a full hand.And look at yer poor arms—thin as sticks, they are. For one so tall, ye are no bigger around than my wee granddaughter ofbarely ten and two.”
“I am perfectly healthy and have been this size for years—no matter how much I eat.”Her parents had often teased her about eating like a wolf but looking like a greyhound. Harley selected a steaming scone slathered in butter, placed it on a small plate, then settled into a cushioned chair, and curled her long legs under her. “My father used to tell me I was a panther in a past life and carried the lean, lanky look into this one.”
Ellen paused and studied her again, tilting her head to one side as she nodded. “With those golden eyes of yers, ye do look a bit like the sleek lions on the tapestry in the main hall.” She added another generous dollop of honey to a steaming cup.“Yer tea, mistress.” She set the cup and saucer on the table beside Harley’s chair. “Once ye finish that scone, I’ll dish ye up a fine bowl of parritch made all the richer by adding plenty of cream, butter, and honey. As I said, winter is coming, and I intend to add a bit of meat to those bones of yers. Cook and I willna have ye freezing on account of us.”
