“No, my chieftain,” Mama said with a determined frown. “The blood oath was false. Ye were tricked. This evil is not of yer doing.” She pointed a crooked finger at the rock. “Set me on the stone. Now.”
Sidling closer to the large, weathered shelf, Rhona leaned to the side until Mama released her hold and slid down onto the stone. The frail woman held out her hand. “My athame. Hurry! The evil comes.”
Ethne scrambled up on the rock and knelt at her mother’s side. “Let me be the one to fight her. I beg ye—dinna spill yer blood.”
Wolfe crawled up beside them, placing himself between them and the sea and clutching his staff like a weapon. “All of ye go. Now! Hurry!”
The wind howled louder, and the sea raged. Roiling clouds blackened the sky, and the deadly mist spilled across the water toward them. Ethne tried to pry the ceremonial dagger out of Mama’s hand, but her mother held on to it with surprising strength.
“Death is not the end, my precious daughter,” she said, shouting to be heard over the approaching storm. “’Tis only a new beginning.”
“Mama, no. Please.” Ethne hugged her mother tight and buried her face in the curve of the old woman’s neck just like she’d done as a child.
Mama gently stroked her hair. “It will be all right, sweet lass. I will always be with ye.”
A torrent of wind and water hit them, nearly dashing them off the ledge. The high-pitched keen of the angry squall rose to a horrendous howl. The air grew heavy and smelled of brimstone. It stung their flesh like fire. Lightning flashed and thunder shook the ground.
“Same blood but a pure soul sacrificed for a lie told. For the good of all. For the harm of none. So let it be spoken, so let it be done. So mote it be!” Mama shouted, then shoved the long, lethal blade of the athame deep into her breast. Still clutching the hilt, she rolled forward and sagged over the stone. As soon as her blood dripped upon it, the black sky splintered with blinding shafts of light and the earth trembled.
The east tower rumbled and swayed from side to side, then collapsed, sending chunks of stone hurling down around them.
Ethne pulled Mama close and covered her as best she could. Rhona dove in to huddle over Mama too. Something solid and warm pressed across Ethne, shielding her like a wall of flesh. Wolfe. No longer the half-blind, twisted beggar but returned to the form of the breathtaking man she had witnessed playing the pipes in the mist.
An enraged shriek split through the tempest, then deafening thunder rolled the darkness away, making way for the light. The sea calmed, and for the first time in as long as Ethne had visited the ruins, the wind died down to a peaceful breeze. But her sorrow far outweighed her joy that the curse was finally broken. Mama was gone.
Wolfe rose and moved away, as though sensing Ethne needed this time with her mother.
“Oh, Mama. How can I go on without ye?” She cradled the precious woman close. Mama had always been there, always protected her. The breeze rippling through Ethne’s hair reminded her of Mama’s reassuring caress.
“I will always watch over ye, my precious daughter.” Mama’s whisper rode the wind. “Know that I am at peace and in pain no more. Just as I wanted. Dry yer tears and live on, sweet lass.”
“I am so sorry, Ethne,” Rhona choked out between sobs. “She was in so much pain. When she begged me to carry her here, I couldna refuse. Please forgive me.”
Ethne wrapped an arm around Rhona’s shoulders and pulled her close. “Hush, dear sister. I understand.” She sniffed and forced a sad smile. “Ye are my only family now. How could there ever be anything but love between us?”
Wolfe moved closer, his head bowed. He crossed himself while casting a sad gaze down at Ethne’s mother. “God rest her soul,” he said, his tone reverent and thankful. “Yer mother was not Morrigan-the-least, Ethne. Her headstone shall read,Morrigan-the-greatest– the mightiest of selfless souls, and wewill make sure our children and our children’s children know of the sacrifice she made.”
“Our children?” Ethne repeated, her heart daring to lift the slightest bit.
“Aye, my love.” He gently scooped Mama up into his arms. “We willna let yer mother’s sacrifice be in vain. Come. Let us lay her to rest.”
Chapter Six
Wolfe offered onearm to Ethne and the other to Rhona and led them out of the MacDanua chapel cemetery into the courtyard. As they cleared the arched opening with its rusty gate hanging off-kilter, sunlight flooded the area as if blessing them with the promise of better days ahead.
Rhona pulled away and stepped ahead of them, turning with a shy smile. “The two of ye have much to work out. When ye are ready, supper will be waiting at home, aye?”
“I thank ye, Rhona. For everything.” Wolfe cast a slow look around. For the first time in over two hundred years, hope stirred within him. “There is much work to be done, but MacDanua Keep will shine again, and ye belong here as much as we do. This will be yer home as well, ye ken?”
Ethne gifted him with teary-eyed gratefulness, then gave Rhona an encouraging nod. “Aye, sister. We shall rebuild. Say ye will call this place home too. Please?”
Rhona ducked her head, vainly trying to hide her tears. “I will,” she said. After a quick swipe at her eyes, she sniffed and squared her shoulders. “But until it is more livable, we best eat and sleep at the cottage. Agreed?”
Wolfe laughed and nodded. “A wise plan, dear sister.”
Rhona gave Ethne a quick hug, curtsied to Wolfe, then turned and ran toward home.
“Thank ye,” Ethne said softly as she faced him. “She hasna had a peaceful life either.”
