“Just be careful,” Victor warned. “Accordingto my sister, once the icy fever begins it doesn’t take long toturn its victims into vicious, cannibalistic killers.”
James visibly shuddered. “I shall bar thehut’s door afore setting fire to it.”
“But prepare for anything that might burstout of it. They are strong after they turn. Behead the resurrecteddead if it comes to that.”
“’Tis little wonder why you left the futurewith all haste.”
Victor acknowledged the truth behind hisstatement. “Yeah. Unfortunately, this time there is nowhere left toflee to. That’s why we have to end this before it begins.”
James’ expression told Victor he understood.“The saints be with you.”
“And with you.”
Chapter Nineteen
“I’m traveling to the Campbell holding inthe morn,” Lachlan announced, sitting on the bed to pull off hisboots. It had been three days and nights and still they hadn’theard from Victor. Veronica prayed the silence was just born of theusualwork-til-you-dropmentality of Victor. “Leastways,Catriona has driven herself—and me—nigh unto daft fretting o’eryour brother.”
Veronica understood, but didn’t want him togo. She feared Lachlan would take matters into his own hands if shewasn’t there to stop him. “Take me with you,” she said, sitting upin bed. Her voice sounded strained even to her own ears.
“Nay,” he harshly retorted. “You’ve hadnaught but nightmares and fitful sleep since we returned fromthere.” He slashed his hand through the air. “I willna allow formore of this.”
It was difficult to argue with his logic.She hadn’t been sleeping well at all. As a result, she kept noddingoff at inappropriate times. Truth be told, Veronica doubted shecould make it through an hours long ride on horseback in hercurrent sleep-deprived state. Yet still…“Fine,” she huffed. “But ifyou’re not back by supper, I’m going after you.” She meant it. “Godhelp anyone who tries to stop me.”
He pulled off his shirt and threw it acrossthe room, surprising her. “’Tis a boon to ken you care,” hemuttered.
Veronica frowned at his back as he removedhis kilt. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means we have been wed for weeks now andyet still you are not my wife in truth.” Naked, he held up thecovers and got into the bed. “What am I to think?”
He blew out the candle by his side of thebed and flopped onto his back. Veronica laid next to him, somethingakin to guilt consuming her. She fell quiet, trying to make senseof everything. Lachlanhadbeen more than patient with herand shewasattracted to him. It made no sense not toconsummate, yet the fear persisted. What if he found her lackingsomehow? Or, getting closer to the truth, what if having sex withhim bonded her even closer to him than she already was? She frownedin the dark, knowing it was more of the latter than the former.Getting emotionally close to someone in 2075 A.D. was simply not anoption. It was an experience that only led to heartbreak and grief.Once the sick started turning in ‘71, she had quickly learned thatit was better to survive alone. Other than Victor, she hadn’t letanyone else get close to her. It was better that way.
“When the virus first mutated and the deadstarted coming back to life, I had a close companion named Jasmine.We were the best of friends, did everything together.” Staring intothe dark, Veronica’s voice was a whisper. “I loved her like I loveVictor. She was a sister to me.”
Lachlan said nothing, but she could tell hewas listening. She plowed on.
“I wanted Jasmine to leave Los Angeles withme and travel across the country to Ohio, to Victor. She agreed andI drove her home so she could pack a bag or two. The cars werestill working at the time because the electrical grid hadn’t gonedown quite yet. We decided I’d wait in the car so nobody stole itwhile she gathered her things. She promised she’d be back quickly,ten minutes at most. I never saw Jasmine again. Well, I saw whatused to be her, but no longer was.”
“She was bitten?” His voice was hushed, butaudible.
“Yes. When I felt she’d been gone too long,I chanced leaving my car and went up to her apartment to find outwhat was going on. What used to be Jasmine attacked me as I walkedin the door. I’ll never forget her eyes, Lachlan. What had oncebeen a beautiful, almost golden brown pair of eyes had changed thatquickly to a hazy blue. Blood was dripping from her mouth. I saw adead body behind her, the carcass of a person she’d obviouslyattacked while I’d been downstairs waiting in my car.”
“What happened next?”
“Jasmine lunged at me, trying with all hermight to bite me. As I did my best to fend her off—for some reasonI couldn’t bring myself to hurt her—I saw from the corner of my eyethat the ravished body behind her was rising. I knew it wouldattack me too if I didn’t get the hell out.”
“What did you do?”
“I kicked Jasmine hard enough to send herflying a few feet backwards and then ran like hell. I made it backto the car, which had thankfully not been stolen—at least notthen—and drove off.” She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “Ishould have put her out of her misery, but I just couldn’t bringmyself to end her life, horrid as it had become. Anyway, Jasminewas the last person I let myself get close to who wasn’t Victor. Itwas easier that way. If I felt nothing for other people then theirdeaths and reanimations didn’t leave me heartbroken.”
Lachlan’s hand found her hair and he strokedit. “I ken your meaning, wife.”
“Do you?” She smiled sadly. “Because whatI’m trying to say is—”
“—You fear being close to me.”
“Yes.” She briefly closed her eyes, gratefulhe understood. “I’ve been avoiding being with you because I fearI’ll then lose you.”
An emotional, prolonged silence filled theair. He continued stroking her hair, then her face, wiping away thetears that had gathered in her eyes. Odd, but she didn’t mind thathe knew she’d been crying.
