She gasped, lurching to the side as her fingers, then her wrist, then her forearm disappeared into what had been solid rock only a moment before. If Noah hadn’t had a grip on her other arm, she’d have fallen completely through.
He yanked her back and she staggered against him, eyes wide, chest heaving. She looked at Taran, and her expression was something Noah knew he would carry for the rest of his life. Terror and elation tangled so tightly they were inseparable.
“It’s happening,” she whispered.
“Just as before,” Taran muttered, staring with relief at the patch of wall where a section of solid stone had become a shimmering, rippling, faintly luminous entrance to the portal.
He looked at Paige for the space of a single breath, and Noah watched his father pour a lifetime of love into that one second. “I love ye both, so fiercely. Hold tight tae our son.”
“And you, to our daughter,” she replied.
Taran moved to her side as she looked at Noah, her question visible on her face.
“I’ll follow you,” Noah managed, his throat tight. Relief filled his chest that Emily would have the chance she desperately needed, but a piercing pain took hold knowing he might never see them again.
“We cannae thank ye enough,” Taran said to Skye. “For everything.”
When his gaze settled on Noah, the world compressed to the unique space held by father and son. “I love you, son. Trust yer heart. Whatever ye decide, our love goes wi’ ye.”
“And mine with you,” Noah whispered, barely able to push the words past the burn in his throat.
Paige looked at Austin, eyes glistening. “I still believe in you.”
His only response was the slight lift of his chin in a silent rebuttal.
“We must hurry,” Taran urged, turning to face the wall.
“The place?” Paige cried frantically. “What place do we hold in our hearts? Noah must know so he can join us.”
Taran shook his head, his mind clearly scrambling. “Aye. The place. I dinnae ken.” And then he smiled. “Beside the cairn at Culloden Moor.”
“We’ll meet you there, son,” she stated, turning to stand shoulder to shoulder with Taran. “I’m ready,” she said with fierce determination. “Hold on tight,” she whispered to Brody.
Noah’s breath stalled in his chest as his father and mother moved as one through the shimmering wall.
For one stunned moment, Noah couldn’t move as he stared at the shimmering stone. The space where Paige and Taran had been was suddenly empty. The wall dipped slightly inward like the surface of a disturbed pond, and then settled, rippling slightly as it had before.
He shoved his relief and his grief down hard. There was no time for either. Not yet.
“You’re next, Finn.” Noah motioned him toward the portal. “How do I thank you for all you’ve done for us?”
Finn rested a calloused hand on Noah’s shoulder. “If I don’t see you, or them again, take care of them.”
Noah nodded. “Godspeed.”
Finn moved toward the opening, his face full of emotion he couldn’t contain. He opened his mouth to speak, but before a word left his lips, the young guard who’d explained the portal, broke from the far wall in a dead sprint. Wild-eyed, choking on his terror, he slammed into Finn, taking them both through the shimmering surface.
A split second later, with a look of pure animal terror at the cracking, splitting ceiling, the second guard raced through, as well.
Noah spun to face those who remained. Austin. Two guards. Skye. Keir.
Austin grabbed Skye, pulling her against him, her back to his chest, like a shield.
Keir was already moving.
“Stay back!” Austin warned, tightening his grip on Skye.
“Let her go,” Noah’s voice held the promise of what would happen if he refused.
