The boom sounded again and then the space in front of them split in two with a slash of light exploding in a bright flash, as though the air in front of them was sliced open to reveal another world. For a moment, he was blinded by the light. He lifted his hand to shield his eyes. A shadowy figure tumbled out of thelight, plummeting to the ground in a violent fall. To his surprise, it was a woman. She landed on the ground with a muffled oof, rolled to all fours and started to crawl away as if something or someone was following her.
Seconds later, another figure emerged. Malcolm saw right away a man followed her who was on her in an instant, as if crossing through the strange light was an everyday occurrence.
Just as quickly as the light exploded, it disappeared, leaving him blinking to clear away the glow burned into his eyes.
The man snatched her by the hair and jerked her upward. She shrieked, her fisted hand waving in the air as she reached back for him with her other. Angus and Duncan were frozen in place. Malcolm glanced between the two of them as they gaped at the woman struggling in the grasp of the much-stronger man. She tried to fight him off, but he held firm and clawed at her fisted hand.
“No!” she shouted.
Something ignited within Malcolm, some force of will that pushed him into action. He bolted toward her, intending to take out the man. The stranger dragged her to her feet, one arm around her torso. His free hand wrapped around her wrist, pressing hard enough to make her cry out.
Malcolm reached the two of them. As he neared, he saw they were both dressed strangely. Instantly, he understood they were not of this time and the flash of light he saw was them coming through time.
Like Evie. His da had said the sky split in two and she fell through the light.
Malcolm reached the man and grabbed him with both hands, giving him a wild jerk. Startled, he released her. She stumbled away as Malcolm gave the stranger a shove backward. He placed himself between the two of them.
“Get away from her,” Malcolm snarled.
The man gaped back at him. He was dressed in a black tunic and trousers and stared at him with wide, unblinking blue eyes.
“She’s mine,” he said, his voice gravelly as he took a step toward her once again as if to reclaim her.
Behind him, she sucked in a breath. Malcolm unsheathed his claymore and held it pointed at the man’s throat.
“I dinnae think the lass will agree with ye,” he said, his tone one of warning.
The man’s gaze flickered to her, then back to him. By now, Angus and Duncan had joined him, forming an impenetrable wall between her and the stranger.
“She has something that belongs to me.” The stranger pointed to the lass, a fierce look on his face.
“It doesn’t belong to you.” Her voice was low and raspy. As if she’d screamed until she couldn’t scream anymore.
Malcolm turned and gave her a once over. Color had drained from her cheeks. In the flickering light from Duncan’s torch, sweat gleamed on her brow. Her auburn hair was wild about her face and her eyes were wide and glassy with fear. She still had her hand clenched into a tight fist, clutching her wrist and holding her arm against her torso, as though she were in pain. Her gaze met his and, in that instant, he understood she was on the run from the stranger. In that one look, her gaze implored him for help.
He turned back to the stranger, still clutching his claymore and pointing it at the man’s throat.
“Ye best be on yer way, laddie,” Malcolm said.
“But she has—”
“Or shall I run ye through?” he interrupted.
He snapped his mouth closed and took two steps backward, his hands up in surrender. He looked from Malcolm to the lass cowering behind him.
“This isn’t over,” he said before he turned and ran into the darkness.
Malcolm sheathed his sword. It was only when he heard Angus do the same did he realize the man had wielded his own weapon. He turned to the lass, who blew out a breath of relief as she watched the stranger disappear into the thickening gloom. When he was gone, her legs gave out.
She tumbled to the ground so quickly he didn’t have a chance to catch her. But he was there in an instant, scooping her slight weight into his arms and pulling her to him. She looked up at him with wide, emerald eyes. Eyes so dark green he had never seen the like. A small smile formed on her quivering lips.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
And then she fainted in his arms.
CHAPTER 7
“Who is she?” Angus asked. “Where did she come from?”
