“When willwe know if they will be all right?”Emily asked as she smoothed a healing balm across the cuts on Mairwen’s palms.
Mairwen kept her attention focused on the pair in the bed, closely monitoring not only Jessa’s breathing but Grant’s as well.“I dinna ken, child.Morrigan tainted them both with her darkness.The mating bond protected them somewhat, but not enough.By filling them with my light and surrounding them with the devotion of not only the Defenders and Weavers but also those who care about them, it is my hope that we healed wherever she touched.”
Emily held out her hand, showing Mairwen her palm.“My cut is already gone.Why?”
That pleased Mairwen greatly.If there had ever been any doubt about Emily’s Spell Weaver ancestry, the speed of her healing cast it aside.“Yer bloodline, child.That of a Weaver.See?”Mairwen opened her hands, revealing hers to be healed, and the balm glistening on fresh new skin.“Go see to Henry and Lachie.They added their blood to the bond.See to their wounds.”
As the girl left to attend to the men, Mairwen allowed herself a deep sigh.The ancient ceremony had taken much from her.If not for the others adding their blood to the bindings as she mixed her blood with Grant’s and Jessa’s, she wasn’t certain she could’ve completed the draining ritual.Morrigan’s darkness was strong, and the cruel goddess had laced it with painful images.Mairwen blinked them away, refusing to give them power over her.After all, Bride and Cerridwen had given her their promise, and they never lied.
Grant stirred, rumbling with a soft growl, as he tightened his hold on Jessa without opening his eyes.
Mairwen smiled and relaxed deeper into the worn cushions of the chair, envisioning many generations of strong MacAlesters bearing not only Defender blood but Time Weaver blood in their veins.It felt good to have more kin again and gave her even more reason to watch over Grant and Jessa throughout their time on this plane.She swallowed hard against the knot of emotions threatening to overcome her.Valan and Grant would have made good brothers, and Lùnastal would have been so proud to have two such sons.
“Someday, my loves,” she whispered, her voice cracking.“Someday, I shall win yer freedom and bring ye home.”
* * *
Wherever this was,it was so very nice and warm.So much better than the pit.Maybe it was a dream, or maybe she was dead and finally out of the Morrigan’s reach.Jessa didn’t know.All shefeltwas safety.
She drew in a deep breath, and a wave of contentment washed across her.Grant was here with her.That was all that mattered, and that, in and of itself, relaxed her even more.She breathed him in again, reveling in his scent of raw alpha maleness—pinewoods, mountain air, and the clean, briny tang of the sea that could also be pure, unadulterated hero sweat from pulling her out of that dark hell.Yes.He had saved her.She remembered it clearly now.He had ordered her to stay awake while he battled the cage, the Morrigan, and everything in between.
She burrowed deeper into his embrace, tucking herself up under his chin.“I knew you would save me,” she whispered without opening her eyes.“I never doubted you would come.”
His arms flexed, then tightened around her.“Praise God Almighty,” he said, his voice broken and rasping.
She pushed herself up and studied him in the soft glow of the lamp burning on the bedside table.His bruised face, covered in cuts and scrapes, squeezed her heart and made her catch her breath.“How badly are you hurt?Your voice…”
“The dark one crushed my throat.”He gave her a loving smile and reached up to touch her cheek.“It will heal in time—I am already much better than I was.By the time Lachie got me here to our bed, I was blind and nearly deaf as well.”
Guilt crashed through her, sending her heart to her gut.“This was all my fault.I am so sorry.”
Confusion filled his eyes.“What?”
“If I hadn’t held back, had second thoughts about this century, the Morrigan never would have gotten a toehold here and been able to create that…that…horrible place.”Before he could speak, she pressed a finger across his lips.“I did not have second thoughts about us.I was worried about living in this time.Surviving in the eighteenth century.”She gingerly touched his ravaged face, silently begging him to understand and find a way to forgive her.“But now I know all that matters is that I am with you.Everything else will fall into place, and I’ll figure it out.I am so sorry for doubting.”
He pulled her down into a kiss so tender she nearly wept.“Much has happened in a verra short time, m’love.Even though we be fated mates, we know verra little about one another.Doubt is natural—especially with ye coming from the future.”He flinched with a hard swallow.“And the Morrigan wouldha come for us no matter what.Did ye not sense that about her?”
“It felt like she was more after you.Or maybe Mairwen.”Jessa couldn’t explain it, but the entire time she’d been trapped in that dark, icy hell, she had never really felt that the dark one’s wrath was directly aimed at her.“I think I was more of a tool for her to torture others.Don’t get me wrong.I think she would’ve snuffed me out in a heartbeat, but it was almost like I served a purpose.Gave her a way to get back at someone else.”
He pulled her in for another kiss, then held her close and pillowed her head on his shoulder.“Whatever her vile reasons, she’ll not be back for us.Rest now, love.We are safe and where we belong, in each other’s arms.”
“You’re sure she won’t be back for us?”she whispered, giving in to the bone-aching weariness still plaguing her.
“She swore she would leave us in peace,” he rasped, then nudged a kiss to her forehead.“I wish I had the strength to make love to ye, but I fear I’ve a bit more healing to do before I can do right by ye.”
Eyes already closed, she smiled and tightened her arm across his chest.“Raincheck.If I weren’t so weak, I’d heal you, but I’m afraid to even try it right now.”
“Raincheck?What does it matter if it’s raining?This is feckin’ Scotland.”
She huffed a laugh.Heaven help her with this infuriating man who made her feel more alive than she had ever felt before.“Araincheckis like a promise, an I.O.U., a voucher for payment later.We are giving each other a raincheck to make love when we’ve both fully healed.”
“Hmphf.”
“And what does that mean?”she asked, still not adept at interpreting all his grunts, growls, and groans.
“’Tis an odd word.Is it from the colonies?”
If her eyes had been open, she would’ve rolled them.“Probably.”She patted his chest.“Go to sleep.”
