Olivia stopped banging on the door, then turned and looked down at Alistaire as if remembering she wasn't alone in the room. Kneeling, she pulled him into her arms, crying.
"It's okay, Màthair," he whispered. "Athair will be fine."
"No, it won't, my little Alistaire." She leaned back and stared at him as if trying to memorize his face. "You look as handsome as your Athair." Her lips trembled as she spoke. "Listen to me, my Alistaire, your Athair is a good man. What he did was to protect our people. Do not believe their lies, my son. Be like your Athair, my Alistaire, become a defender of people. Protect those that are important to you. You Athair has made a lot of mistakes, but he's never betrayed our people. I am proud of you, my Alistaire, and I know you will carry on the McBain name. Promise me, Alistaire, that you will find your love and avenge our death when the time comes."
"Màthair...I..."
"Promise me!"
"Tha," he answered quickly.
"Good." She sighed then kissed him on his forehead. Leaning back, she reached for a dagger by her waist and sliced the palm of her hand. "I know you don't understand, my little one, but one day you will." She traced her bloody finger across his forehead and face, moving down his neck, stopping at his chest, chanting words Alistaire couldn't understand.
Alistaire felt something wash over him. The windows to the room slammed open, wind and light enveloped the room as Olivia's chants grew louder. Alistaire's body was in shock, as the ground shook under his feet. The door to the room banged open, and Euan stood above them with a menacing glare.
"Olivia, don't do this!"
But she ignored him and continued chanting. Seconds later, her words stopped short, and she fell forward, bringing them both down to the floor with his mother leaning over him. Alistaire stared into her beautiful green eyes that he’d inherited. "Remember your promise, my Alistaire." Blood trailed down her smiling lips. "Find your càraid, and carry on on the McBain bloodline, but remember one thing most of all, I love you, Alistaire."
She leaned down and kissed his forehead, then fell beside him. He watched helplessly as her green eyes lost their brightness and shine. A scream erupted in the room, pulling Alistaire's attention away from Olivia. Euan rushed to her side, pulling her into his arms as he cried.
"Why, Olivia? Why would you sacrifice yourself for this child? Come back to me!" He held her and rocked back and forth, crying, mumbling something continuously.
It was then Alistaire saw the dagger sticking out of Olivia’s stomach and blood coating the front of her dress.
Alistaire sat up and tried to move away from them but stopped when he bumped into something. Turning, he looked down and saw his father's head next to him. Alistaire screamed in fear and horror.
"That's right, boy."
Alistaire looked away from his father to Euan Gillies. "I took his life just as you took the love of mine." He gently laid Olivia's lifeless body down, then stood moving over to Alistaire. "Let's see if her sacrifice was worth it. If you think you’re bold enough to cut my head from my body, boy, then come and find me and have your revenge. But know from this day forth you and I are at war, and in the end, only one of us can survive." He raised his sword and pierced Alistaire's chest, taking his life. The last thing he remembered was his mother's words before she died, and his world went dark.
Alistaire leanedhis head back against the headboard, unable to sleep. The memories of his parents’ death had followed his thoughts throughout his shift and the rest of the night. When he had woken up, he was surrounded by fire and his parents’ bodies burning to ash beside him. Thinking quickly, Alistaire had gotten out of the burning house unscathed, but the scar of seeing his dead parents had stayed in his heart. He'd roamed around Scotland for a long time and was reduced to begging for food and shelter until one day a well-dressed man approached him with blond hair and a hint of red in his blue eyes.
"Come with me, leanabh. I will give you a better life where you won't need to beg for scraps."
Alistaire had been afraid at first, but once he had taken Synder's hand, his life became exceptionally better. Synder was the man who'd he'd later see as his father.
Yet he still craved his birth parents’ touch.
Sighing, he stared out into the empty quietness of his bedroom. "Màthair...Athair, I'm sorry I haven't fulfilled my promises yet. But I will, one day. I will find Euan and have our revenge." He clutched the dog tags hanging around his neck. "Take care of Fox for me."
Alistaire closed his eyes and let the tears fall down his cheeks, allowing his exhaustion to overtake him.
Chapter Two
Fox gazed lovingly at Genesis, tracing her silver-blonde eyebrows.
They said I was the one that gave birth to her. How? It's too unreal to think or even believe.
"Are you sure she's mine?" He looked up at Aria Hannigan, who claimed to be his mother.
"Yes, she's yours." Aria had kind eyes and a smile that had put him at ease the second she’d entered the room.
"Are you sure I was the one that gave birth to her?"
Aria chuckled. "Yes." She was more patient than he would have been in his current situation. Fox had been asking the same questions repeatedly since he woke and was told it was 2020 and not 2018.
What the fuck happened to me two years ago? Was my life in Louisiana all a dream? Wait, am I still dreaming?Fox’s thoughts were like a rambling mess, even after Aria and everyone else had tried to explain things to him.I feel like I've entered an alternate universe. As adorable as the baby is, there's no fucking way a man can get pregnant.
