Oh, shit.
“Jamie.” She said his name slowly and on a quiet breath, which got his attention. “In my vision, the keystone was whole again. The prophecy says ‘her path she’ll find with heart and courage to mend all Time.’ That can mean only one thing.”
His hands curled into tight fists. “Do ye have a theory, lass?”
“I do.” She nodded “I think I’m the key. I’m the one who has to mend Time.”
What did that mean for her, then? Her death? Or something else? She had no way to find out.
Or did she?
Could she use the stone and the blood magic to have another vision and find out? The moment the thought flickered through her mind, her hand throbbed with a sharp pang.
He remained silent as he stared at her, his hands in fists.
“I think we have to know,” she said, her voice a quiet whisper in the room.
“How do ye intend to find out, lass?” he asked. Worry lines creased his face, as though he understood what sheintended to suggest.
She held up her bandaged hand with a stain of blood on the linen. He shook his head immediately.
“I cannae allow it.”
Brianna lifted a brow. “Since when are you in charge of me?”
“Since I brought ye here to rest,” he said, his voice hard. By the firm expression on his face, he wanted no argument out of her, either. “I intend to care for ye.”
He looked away as he said the last. His face was flushed, either from the fire or his emotions, she wasn’t sure which. And yet, she was touched by his admission. Her heart fluttered, making her want to melt into a puddle. That he wanted to care for her. No man in her long, sordid history had ever wanted to take care of her.
“That’s kind of you, but I can take care of myself. I have been for a long time now.”
When he looked at her, there was such caring in his expression, such a softness about him that she almost swooned. “Ye dinnae have to anymore,” he said softly.
She blinked, sudden hot tears pricking her eyes. Why was he so sweet to her? She had only known him for a short time and in that short time, he had managed to endear himself to her. He held a hand out to her then. She didn’t hesitate when she took it. His fingers gently closed over her bandage, his thumb scraping across the linen. He focused his gaze on their intertwined hands.
“Do ye think it is the only way?” he asked.
“I think it’s one way,” she said. The blood pounded against her palm. In order to use the blood magic again, she’d need her stone. “I left my piece of the keystone on the table.”
He stood then, reaching into his sporran and pulling out something. He held his hand out to her. Resting in his palm was her piece of the keystone smudged with her blood.
“While ye slept, I retrieved it for ye.”
“You are full of surprises, Jamie MacLeod.” She plucked it from his hand.
“Aye.” He grinned when he said it, showing off that deep dimple that was quickly becoming her favorite feature. “Now, if ye wish to use it, let me be here with ye when ye do.”
“So you can catch me when I fall?” She said it in jest.
He nodded. “Aye, lass. And I will.”
Her stomach fluttered. She wasn’t sure what to say to that. The emotions rolling through her were almost too much to handle. She needed to focus on one thing—the stone and finding the truth. She held up her bandaged hand.
“Will you untie the bandage? I’m afraid I can’t do it one-handed.” It was a lie, which he probably knew, but it was the only way she could think of to get him closer to her, to feel his touch against hers.
“Ye wish to do this now?”
“Why not? My hand is still bleeding. Might as well take advantage of that.”
