“When ye first appeared in the tapestries, I couldna wait to see yer face.” His gaze flickered to hers, locking with hers.
For a moment, she was stunned into silence. She had no idea what he meant by these tapestries, but she was more than intrigued. And what did he mean, sheappearedin them? It didn’t make sense to her. She drew her brows together.
“What tapestries?” she asked.
“Did yer sisters no tell ye about them?”
She flushed hot with her chagrin. “I’m afraid they didn’t tell me much before I stormed out.”
Regret pounded through her as she recalled her reaction to the news she was destined to travel back in time. And something else about a prophecy. She hadn’t stuck around to find out what that meant. She didn’t believe in destinies or prophecies. She believed in free will and choice.
“What did they tell ye?” he asked, curious.
“That there was some prophecy that brought us here.” She snorted derision and shook her head.
“Ye dinnae believe it?”
“Should I?”
He laughed. “Oh, aye, I think ye should.”
She tugged her hand from his and walked toward the edge of the loch. “I have never believed in such things. Destiny and prophecy are intangible. Just as I don’t believe in soulmates. They make you believe something that isn’t real. And drive you to make bad decisions.”
“And yet ye hold the third piece of the keystone. The piece that represents the Future.”
She snapped her head at him. “I don’t understand.”
He heaved a sigh and ran a hand over his chin. “I should leave it for yer sisters to explain.”
He turned away and started for the horses. Brianna grabbed his arm and pulled him back to her.
“Tell me, Jamie. What does it mean my piece represents the Future. I’d really like to know.”
A tawny brow lifted. “Are ye sure, lass?”
She nodded.
“Very well then. Evie’s stone represents the Present. Chloe’s the Past. Yours the Future. The keystone controls all of Time.”
“Allof Time?” she asked.
This sounded too far-fetched for her.
“Ye dinnae believe it?” he asked.
She considered it. Perhaps if she threw out all logic and accepted the fact that these small pieces of rock could actually send them through time, she’d believe it. If that were the case, then why did they all three end up in the same place, in the same year? Why not scatter them across various eras of time?
“Aye, I can see ye dinnae believe it.”
“It’s not that, it’s…”
“Did yer sister no tell ye about the prophecy?”
“Well, she mentioned it but—”
“Then I will, though I dinnae think it to be my place,” he interrupted.
Brianna blew out an annoyed breath. “Fine. Then tell me about this ‘prophecy.’” She put the wordprophecyin air quotes, then crossed her arms over her chest.
