Unsure how long he walked, Callan nearly jumped out of his boots when the day turned to dusk and, all at once, bright lights shone from poles up and down the streets. As he sagged against one of the strange metal poles that captured the sun, a man dressed in a gray form fitting jacket and pants handed him a handful of green paper, telling him, “things will get better, dude. No need to walk around wearing a blanket.”
The odd paper stowed in his sporran, Callan came upon merchants selling food and odd objects unrecognizable to him. The smells wafting from the metal food stalls on wheels made his stomach rumble, but they scowled at him so he did not approach, ignoring his hunger as he’d done so many times growing up.
As darkness fell, Callan stopped and stared as light filled the towering buildings from within, glowing like these people had stolen the very power of the sun. The buildings, the lights on the streets, and the metal beasts had all stolen the light of the sun to banish the darkness. ’Twas a marvel indeed.
Exhausted and hungry, Callan found his way to a bit of green, a place that finally looked familiar, though the gates were closing. As the caretaker turned his back, Callan slipped through the gates and into the bushes.
As he made his way inside, his heart slowed, and a calm settled over him as Callan strode deeper into the trees, the sound of the birds soothing his weary soul.
A man, wrapped in a tattered blanket, cleared his throat as Callan passed by looking for somewhere to sleep for the night.
“You best find somewhere to hide, son. If they catch you in here after dark, there will be trouble.” The man met Callan’s eyes. Something passed between them as he nodded.
“I thank ye.”
The man shuffled off, mumbling to himself, leaving Callan standing there, throat tight. The man had the look and bearing of a warrior, even if he was no longer at his best.
Deeper and deeper into the gardens he traipsed until he found a secluded spot behind a statue where he would not be seen. As night fell, shadows played amongst the trees, the wind whispering through the leaves, telling him he was alone, lost in time, with no one to aid him. His newfound brother and Blackford Castle lost to the mists of time.
A sense of helplessness fell over him as he gazed up at the stars. Even the sky was different here, with so few stars in the sky. Callan didn’t know how to return to his own time, or even if ’twas possible.
Mayhap in the morn he would wake to find ’twas all a strange dream brought on by Samhain and the spirits freely roaming the earth.
CHAPTER 3
Running late to meet Zara, Daisy stopped by her apartment to pick up Frankie. A little over a year ago, she’d been dating a guy who worked at the shelter, and when she stopped by to meet him for lunch, there he was. The guy said they thought the dog was eight years old. Poor little, sad-looking dog was curled up in a corner of the kennel, patiently waiting for his forever home. That dog was hands down the best thing to come out of the short-lived relationship.
Daisy pushed the thrift store shopping cart, which contained her oversized vintage Coach purse and Frankie, whose tail wagged whenever they passed another patron.
“I don’t get it.” Daisy sighed, sifting through a rack of gauzy bohemian dresses.
“I thought Shawn and I were in sync, you know?”
Her best friend snorted, examining a wildly patterned caftan. “He was so boring. All that talk about his high-powered finance job, making the right connections, and his obnoxious rich friends. Total snoozeville.”
Frankie woofed in apparent agreement, making Daisy crack a small smile. She scratched him behind the ears as they meandered down the aisles.
“Harsh, but true. We had great chemistry. At least, I thought so, but as usual, I was wrong.”
Daisy’s shoulders slumped, remembering Shawn’s parting words about her clinginess. She plucked a crocheted tank from the rack, giving it an appraising look before tossing it in the cart.
Zara pulled her into a hug, her dark eyes full of sympathy.
“You are an incredible friend with a heart bigger than the sun. You just... come on really strong sometimes.”
She softened her voice. “When you meet the right guy, he’ll absolutely adore every part of you.”Then she grinned. “Even the clingy parts.”
Chest tight, Daisy shook her head. “The worst part is, I know I’m coming on too strong, trying to rush things, and yet, I can’t seem to stop myself. Why can’t I make a relationship work? Why is it so difficult?”
Zara motioned to a quiet corner of the store. “Your big heart is one thing I love about you. But not everyone is ready for that level of intensity right away. You’ve come a long way. At least now you recognize what you’re doing. And as how to make relationships work, don’t look at me. My dry spells between relationships are getting longer and longer.”
“That’s because you’re so picky.” She sniffed a coat, then put it back with a grimace.
“You really think I’ll meet a guy who isn’t scared off by me wanting to spend all our time together?” Daisy arched a brow. “More likely he’ll run screaming about drowning in my affections.”
“Nah, he’ll be over the moon to have someone so in tune with him.” Zara elbowed her playfully. “Maybe you just haven’t met the right insecure guy who needs you fawning all over him or a guy so secure that it doesn’t bother him.”
Daisy laughed, feeling lighter already. “You’re awful. But point taken.” She adjusted the hem of her fringe-trimmed halter top.
