“What is this prophecy?” she asked.
“It started with the Night of Shadows and the Shattering,” Evie said. “There were three goddesses representing Past, Present, and Future who protected this keystone that holds allof Time itself. Others tried to steal the keystone and breach the barriers between the mortal realm and the realm of chaos. That became known as the Night of Shadows. So, the three goddesses decided to break the stone into three pieces and hide it to keep it out of their hands. The Shattering.
“When the stars align and the shadows of chaos eclipse the sun once again, the time will come to unite a warrior’s heart and a maiden’s grace. Together, they’ll reunite the pieces of the keystone and protect it, to safeguard it for time eternal. Three pieces of stone. Two ancient bloodlines. One divine destiny.”
Evie recited the words as if she had committed them to memory, as if someone had drilled them into her. Then she pulled her piece of the stone out of her pocket.
“I believe my piece of the keystone represents the Present.”
“And my piece?”
Evie shook her head. “I don’t know yet.”
She stared at her for a long, quiet moment as she processed the words, her heart a wild drumbeat.
“Don’t you see, Chlo? We were meant to come here just as we were meant to get the pieces of the keystone.”
She ran her hand through her tangled hair, the headache continuing to throb at her temples. “You’re speaking of fate and destiny, Evie.”
Did she believe in fate and destiny? Once, she might have. She wasn’t sure if she did now. Everything she knew had changed—the man she thought she loved had betrayed her. The man she thought she wanted to spend the rest of her life with had deceived her. And now, her sister, her best friend, the one she counted on the most, was telling her they were fated to go back in time.
Two ancient bloodlines. One divine destiny.
She thought she understood what that meant—the Sinclairs and the MacLeods were the two ancient bloodlines. And their divine destiny? Protecting all of Time? That seemed farfetched.
“I am,” Evie agreed. “I have a piece of the stone and so do you. There is a third piece still missing,” she said, giving her a pointed look.
Something about the way she looked at her made her senses tingle. There was a knowing glint in Evie’s eyes, as though she tried to tell her something without coming right out and saying it.
She rubbed her temple with her forefinger. “And where will this third piece come from?”
“Moira has to give it to someone to bring to us.” Again, it sounded like a hint. “There is only one person who can do that.”
Oh, God. Chloe understood then. If Evie was here in the past, andshewas here in the past, that meant…
“Brianna.” She breathed their older sister’s name as though it were a curse.
Evie nodded.
“No, Eve. That can’t be right.” Chloe sprang from the bed and started to pace, clutching her elbows.
The thought of Brianna here, in the past, with them was absurd. Brianna would never go to Scotland, much less time travel. She was a beach bum to the core. She had no thought whatsoever for anyone other than herself.
“I don’t believe you.”
“Believe it,” Evie said. “I can prove it.”
Chloe halted and turned to face her, a sudden chill passing through her. Gooseflesh erupted on her arms and skittered down her body.
“Then prove it.”
“I will. But first, it’s late. You must be exhausted from traveling. And hungry. Plus, you need something to sleep in. I’llfetch you something from the kitchen to snack on and you can borrow a shift.”
Chloe stared at the woman across from her as though she had grown a second head. Evie sounded so authoritative, so sure of herself, she hardly recognized her. Truth be told, shewasexhausted after riding all day with Malcolm. And now that she thought about it, her stomach did rumble with hunger pains.
“Plus, you’ll need a change of clothes for this time.”
Chloe glanced down at herself. She still wore the cloak as well as her jeans and fuzzy sweater. “My clothes are fine.”
