He folded his arms across his chest and slowly shook his head. “The Heartstone is much like an advisor—a being of sorts—filled with uplifting wisdom and aware of man’s need for hope, love, and creativity in order to flourish here and survive. It constantly gathers these energies and sends them back out, ensuring they’re never gone from the world.”
Turning to Sadie, Alec silently willed her to understand. “Imagine how ye would feel if there were nothing to look forward to. No hopes to fulfill. No dreams to strive for. Nothing to stir the beating of yer heart and leave ye thrilled and breathless. Just a bland existence. Time would slowly pass until ye died.”
“That wouldn’t be a life,” Sadie said, easing even closer to the Heartstone as though drawn forward by a will other than her own. “I’d rather be dead than live like that.” Still clutching her hands to her chest, she slowly inched around the artifact, a thoughtful frown creasing her brow. “But if it does what you say it does, how could it be misused?”
She doesn’t believe. She thinks it merely an artifact, a bit of history.A sad heaviness filled him. How could he make her see? “According to legend, the beloved Heartstone could be purged of its benevolent goodness and filled with the negativity of avarice,hatred, and the hunger to control all.” Alec frowned at the stone. “Whatever resides and thrives in the stone . . . resides in the world.” He blew out a weary breath, stepped forward, and rested his hand on the side of the stone. “Or it could just be destroyed and plunge us all into bleakness.”
Sadie scrubbedher hands up and down her arms as she slowly circled the stone and walked around each of the weapons. This place and Alec’s apocalyptic tale of the ancient rock gave her the heebie-jeebies. The weaponry and stone definitely looked old. And if they were actual historical artifacts, that would explain the need for secrecy, the hidden vault, and the network of confusing tunnels. The bronze-and-copper-inlaid shield alone was probably worth millions.
As she came around the back of the shield, she stole a look at Alec. He was upset—or angry. Something was wrong. She knew that brooding look. Had she made him mad because she hadn’t quite gone along with all thewe have to protect the worldrhetoric? Didhereally believe in all that? She came to a halt at the point where she’d started in front of the Heartstone. Might as well hash this out now. There was no changing the subject and avoiding this one.
“Tell me. You have that look. What’s wrong?” She waited, wishing she could read his mind. Or maybe not. Either way, she had the nauseating feeling this wasn’t going to end well.
Alec huffed out a deep breath, shook his head, and remained silent.
Lovely. She’d really done it this time.Sadie moved closer and rested a hand on his shoulder, thankful that he didn’t shy away from her touch. “Please tell me what I’ve done to upset you.”
“Ye are unable to believe.” He slowly turned and faced her, taking her hands between his. “And when I tell ye the rest, I will surely lose ye forever.”
“There’s more?” The ever-increasing sick feeling of something bad about to happen made her swallow hard.
“Aye.” He released her and took a step back. “I am Alec Danann MacDara. I was born in 880 A.D., in the Highlands of Scotland. My family and I were brought to this time and place by the goddesses Danu, Scota, and Bride fifteen years ago.”
Sadie felt her jaw drop but was powerless to close her mouth. She was paralyzed, rooted to the spot. She couldn’t even blink.I have fallen in love with a nutkept racing through her head.Why does he have to be crazy?her inner voice cried.
Almost as though he couldn’t stop now that he’d finally started, Alec continued to explain, “The men of the North had breached our walls. There were too many.Máthairwas far along with unborn Esme and couldna handle a sword—just the bow.Athairwas busy begging the goddesses for guidance. My brothers and I were sorely outnumbered.”
“A-and . . . what happened?” Sadie forced herself to speak calmly even though she wanted to scream and beat him on the chest. She wanted to yell at him to shut the hell up and stop talking like a lunatic. But she also felt like she was listening to some medieval drama miniseries and the station had just gone to commercial. She had to know what happened. And yet, she didn’t really want to hear what outlandishness came next.
“Everything disappeared,” Alec said quietly. The muscles in his jaw flexed as he stared off into space. He blinked slowly as though waking from a dream, then turned and locked eyes with hers. “And then we were here. And the goddesses spoke to me. And sent Dwyn to help us learn to live in this time. He is guardian to all the druids of this time.”
The feeling of something very precious slipping out of her grasp made Sadie want to drop to her knees and sob for all that could have been. She couldn’t lose this. Not now. “We . . . we can . . . get you some help. All of you.” Could an entire family be hit with some weird sort of mass hysteria that made them all believe the same wild tale?
Alec’s shoulders slumped and he gave her a sad smile. “I am not crazed. All I have said is true, Sadie. I swear it.”
She had to stay calm. Doesn’t it just figure?The only person who had ever said he loved her was stark, raving mad. She squinted her eyes shut, willing the sting of pending tears to leave her the hell alone. She would not cry. She’d just find the best psychiatrist and get them all some help. But then once he was cured, Alec would probably figure out that he had never loved her to begin with.
A subtle humming, soft and low, interrupted her tortured thoughts. A soothing warmth, as comforting as an angel’s touch, brushed across the side of her face, then came to rest atop her shoulder, slowly turning her away from Alec and moving her closer to the Heartstone. The goddesses’ knot on the side of the stone facing her glowed a brilliant red. The inner light fluctuated with the ebb and flow of the calming sound coming from the rock.
Without thinking, Sadie reached out to touch the edge of the inner circle of the shining knot embedded in the center of the stone. Instead of the cool, rough surface she expected, her hand entered the stone, sinking up to her wrist. She felt nothing but a gentle flowing of what could only be described as the essence of pure delight around her fingers. It was as though the state of bliss had become a physical thing that could be touched. And she felt a tranquil knowing—and so much happiness that tears of joy escaped and rolled down her cheeks. A soft cry escaped frombetween the trembling fingers she held pressed against her lips. It was real. All he said was real.She looked back at Alec.
“I see now,” she whispered. “I finally see.”
CHAPTER 19
Sadie didn’t remember leaving the vault, walking back up through the tunnels, or settling down among the piles of pillows and throws in front of the fire in what looked to be a sitting room intended for the chieftain’s lady. She blinked slowly, looking around the dimly lit room.
Shadows danced across the delicate flowers adorning the very feminine wallpaper covering the walls. The cheerful glow of the softly crackling fire was accentuated by the warm yellow light of several thick pillar candles. The cozy, almost surreal atmosphere made her wonder if she was in a very strange albeit lovely dream—or had just awakened from one. The solid chest and the steady heartbeat gently tapping beneath her cheek added to the feeling that she’d just been asleep and dreamt everything.
“Alec?”
“Aye, love?” Alec’s warm caress softly touched her cheek. “I’m here.”
She was afraid to sit up and break the spell, afraid to look him in the eye. “What just happened?” she whispered. Had it all been real?
“The joy of the Heartstone overcame ye. It sometimes happens.” His arm tightened around her as though he didn’t wish to lose the moment either.
“It’s real then,” she said, more to herself than to him.
