Chapter One
North Salem, New Hampshire
Present Day
–Ellie–
“IGUESS IT’S TIME,” I murmured, staring out the kitchen window at the golden yellows of my elm tree, which had finally appeared, where an old oak usually stood, signifying it was time for me to travel back in time to medieval Scotland.
From the moment the tattoo of wings with a gem-centered sword appeared on the underside of my wrist, signifying all three of my sisters had found their fated mate with a MacLeod rather than with the Sutherland, I justknewand was never more relieved. Not only because they deserved to find that kind of happiness, but becausenowoman deserved to end up with Laird Dugal Sutherland.
He was, at the very least, a monster.
“Are you ready, lass?” Adlin MacLomain asked softly, understanding how poignant this moment was for me. He took in my simple medieval linen dress cinched at the waist and nodded with approval. “It certainly appears so.”
A wizard from medieval Scotland with a white beard and white robes tied at the waist, Adlin had not only sold us thishouse but helped us navigate the ancient pact we were destined to fulfill.
“Can I ever truly be ready for something like this?” I said, my voice well below a whisper as I eyed the kitchen of the colonial my sisters and I had purchased together, one last time, before meeting his eyes. “After all, I’m leaving my era for good this time, and it’s not to be with the man I love.” I took a shuddering breath and sighed. “Not that he would want me anyway.”
“Mayhap you willnae end up with him,” Adlin conceded, only kindness in his pale blue eyes, ever the optimist. “Or, mayhap you will, given King Robert has disavowed the Sutherlands, so the MacLeods dinnae necessarily need to honor the pact.” He shook his head. “Not if the king wills it otherwise.”
Given the MacLeods had been honoring the pact solely for king and country, this could certainly change things. It didn’t ensure Tavish MacLeod would end up loving me after all was said and done, though. Nor did it change what I’d foreseen for my sisters and Scotland if I didn't go to Dugal.
“Yet in the end, it’s more about the people of Scotland than anything else,” I reminded myself, realistic about what would happen if I didn’t show up now I had the tattoo. “I also know, from what I’ve heard about him, his people are the most important thing to King Robert.”
“Aye.” Adlin looked at me with admiration. “’Tis a brave thing you’re determined to do, lass, and I dinnae doubt ‘twill verra much impress the king. To that end, I’ve received news about where we need to go once we leave here, which should be sooner rather than later now there is such instability betwixt the MacLeods and Sutherlands.”
“I’m going to Sutherland Castle,” I said with determination and purpose, my voice unwavering. Not because I wanted to go there, but because I had no other choice. No other option. Of course, I wanted to go to MacLeod Castle to say goodbye to mysisters first, but I knew it would be too hard. And that was the last thing Aspen needed since her pregnancy was already risky enough. “I think that’s the best course of action. In fact, Iknowit is.”
“Some might agree, but not me.” Adlin shook his head. “And it turns out King Robert is of the same mind because now he knows you wear the mark, he has summoned you.”
He had?I wasn’t sure what to make of that.
“And where is the king now?” I asked carefully, trying to devise a plan to get around Adlin and the king’s wishes without them realizing it. It would be difficult, though, if not impossible, given Adlin’s magic was more powerful than mine. “Because the last I knew, he was heading back to the English border, where he left Tavish MacLeod in charge of his men. Back to Tavish, whom I told you I couldn't go anywhere near.”
“Aye, he is heading back to the English Border and to Tavish,” he replied, keeping his voice gentle and with good reason. He knew this topic would upset me, and I didn’t want it to end up upsetting Tavish, too. “Tavish deserves to know Elowyn ...to have a choice. God knows, I would want one if I were in his position.”
“Ellie,” I reminded him, giving him a stern look because he already knew how I felt about this. “Ellie, not Elowyn.” I shook my head. “I won’t be going anywhere near Tavish. He doesn’t get a choice. Not about this.” My throat thickened with emotion because, if I knew nothing else, it was that I didn’t want him to feel such a tremendous sense of loss again. “I won’t do that to him a second time. That’s too much. It’s not fair.”
“How would you feel if your positions were reversed?” Adlin prompted, his voice still gentle when he joined me at the window and searched my eyes. “How would you feel if you knew the love of your life was reborn six hundred years in your future and you had a chance to see him again? Mayhap even find love again?”
It was hard to put into words how much I wished that would happen. In fact, I’d been dreaming about it since I was a little girl. I dreamt of medieval Scotland and the times I shared with a young Scottish boy, even though it wasn’t really me in the dreams, but someone else. I dreamt of falling in love with him as we grew older, before everything ended in a terrible moment I couldn’t recall.
Then I dreamt of him in what I called the Hereafter.
A place where I could only watch him from afar, never allowed to touch him. Smell him. Or to interact with him beyond dreams I knew were only scattered throughout his mind. Then I dreamt of him in this era, traveling to him in my dreams as I was now, knowing all those precious moments were also just as scattered. Lost to him but never to me.
“I just want him to leave me alone.” I shook my head, adamant about this. “I can’t suffer his loss all over again,” I reiterated, because this wasn’t the first time Adlin and I talked about this. “And itwillbe a loss because I have to do the right thing. I won’t risk my sisters’ well-being.” I shook my head again and made myself clear for the umpteenth time. “I’ve always known this was my fate. That this life would be as full of sacrifice as my last, only this time it’s for the greater good.”
“Something tells me it would have been for the greater good in your last life, too, if you’d been given half a chance,” Adlin said. “And aye, I know I can only assume that, but still. I tend to have a good sense about these things.” He arched an eyebrow. “I also know ‘twould behoove you to answer the king’s summons. To do otherwise will put you on the wrong side of a clan war from the onset, and that would truly stress Aspen. Something she doesnae need.” He shook his head. “Nor do your unborn nephews. The only wee bairns she will ever have, but only if she safely births them first.”
“Quite the guilt trip.” I gave him a pointed look. “They will be worse off if I don't go to Dugal, and you know it. I saw it in a vision.”
“Aye, so you say,” Adlin granted, cocking his head in question. “But did you not also say sometimes your visions never come to pass?”
“Very rarely.” I looked at him in warning. “And we both know when it comes to our beloved Scotland, my visions always come to pass. I'm too connected to that country all the way around.”
“Nevertheless, the king has summoned you, and I have no intention of going against his wishes,” he made very clear, giving me a look that told me this wasn't up for debate. “’Twill be a minor detour, then I will see you straight to the Sutherlands.”
