“’Tis against my better judgment,” he said with a hint of warning. “Mayhap I should get Callum and Jamie, too.”
“That’s not necessary,” Evie said in a breezy tone.
“Och, aye, I think it is, my lady wife.”
Callum must have overheard their conversation as he entered the great hall from behind Brianna. She cast a glance over her shoulder to see Jamie right behind him. Callum moved to stand next to Evie, his sharp blue-eyed gaze lingering on her. Jamie paused next to her, giving her a sense of warmth and comfort.
“What are ye planning, then?” Callum asked.
“We want to put the keystone back together,” she said. “I think it’s time.”
Callum made no effort to hide his concern as he looked at her. Evie slid her hand over her round belly.
“I’ll be fine,” she said, her voice soft as she gazed up at him.
He looked unconvinced.
Brianna said, “Maybe it’s best all of us are together. Since this prophecy names both our clans.”
She sensed Jamie edging closer to her.
“Aye,” Malcolm said with a nod. “I agree with Brianna.”
“All right, then,” Evie said, as though she were in charge. “That’s what we’ll do. But we need the blood magic to activate it, I think.”
She held out her scarred palm. In the flickering candlelight from the candelabras, Brianna saw the silvery scar where she had cut herself.She glanced Brianna’s way with a look that told her she wanted her to do the same. Brianna held out her freshly scarred palm. Next, it was Chloe’s turn.
“I’m no so sure this is a grand idea,” Malcolm said as he moved next to Chloe. “But I’ll do it anyway.”
She grinned her thanks at him as he placed the tip of the dagger in her palm. One quick swipe and her skin was cut. The blood seeped through instantly. Then he did the same with Brianna and Evie.
“Now what?” Brianna asked.
“Place the stone against your bloody palm and clench your fist,” Evie instructed.
She did so and waited. A moment later, a low hum started. But not just from her. From all three of them. Light seeped through Chloe’s clenched fist. Evie’s followed next. Brianna lifted her clenched fist to see the light pulsing through hers as well.
She opened her fingers and held her hand out. Her sisters did the same, their fingertips brushing. Each of the stones were humming and pulsing light.
With her free hand, Evie picked up the stone smeared with her blood and held it up. Following her lead, she and Chloe did the same. After a moment of hesitation, Chloe pressed her piece against Evie’s. They both looked to her. With her gut clenched into a tight knot, she pressed the final piece into place.
There was an audibleclickand then a flash of light that blinded them. Brianna squinted against the brightness, trying to make out the shape of the stone. It was whole once again.
White hot heat swarmed up her arm, then flooded her from head to toe. She cried out with the searing pain. Strong arms were on her—she assumed Jamie’s.
Evie, too, cried out in pain, followed by Callum’s deep voice growling, “God’s teeth, woman.”
Chloe whimpered, her body going limp, and Malcolmcatching her before she hit the ground.
That was the last she recalled before the vision exploded through her mind.
The man wielded a great axe as he charged up the hill toward the castle ruins. The dilapidated towers were nothing more than jagged outlines as they stretched toward the darkened sky. Night flooded the area like spilled ink. There was only the waning moon to guide him but he forged on with his determination. Once he entered the crumbling castle walls, he halted, his breath seesawing in and out of him. Ahead, the roofless stone walls rose toward the night sky. Beyond, the cold sea nothing but a black chasm in the dark.
Standing before him in the center of the ruins were three women. Moira in the center. Athea to her left. Bridget to her right.
“We know why you have come, Morrogh MacDonald,” Moira said.
His smile was a terrible one. “Do ye now, lass?”
