Olivia nodded, raising her gaze to him. “Yes, we could have. But I was prepared to die that night. I knew it was time.” Olivia touched his right cheek. “When you were mere days old, I was visited in a dream by a goddess. She was so beautiful I couldn’t look at her face and had to close my eyes to speak. She told me one day I would have to choose between life and death that will change the course of my future. She told me when the time came, I will know what to do. I was not born with the gift of sight, and even though I was a witch, I wasn’t as strong as most believed. Only your father knew of my true strength. I was confused for years believing it was my mind playing tricks on me. Why would a goddess come to see me? I put the conversation out of my mind until the moment Euan showed up. I do not regret what I’ve done, and if I had the choice, I’d do it all over again.”
“This doesn’t make things any easier on me.”
“It’s not my intention for you to live with guilt all of your life, Alistaire. The love a parent has for their child is a bond that cannot be broken, not even in death. But I am grateful to know you were not alone. You’ve found a family who loves you and, if I’m not mistaken, a càraid.” Olivia giggled.
“My Càraid died,” Alistaire told her.
“Really? Then who is the young man who hasn’t left your bedside?”
An image of Crevan Hannigan flashed in Alistaire’s mind as his lips curled into a small smile.
“He’s not my...I mean, I like him. But I don’t know if he’s…”
“Hush, my little one, stop twisting yourself into a knot. There is no need to explain.” Olivia sighed. “There isn’t a measurement on love, my leanbh. Our hearts are big enough to love more than one person equally. Don’t let this chance go because of your fear. I promise Euan Gillies cannot keep running from the goddess Bàs for much longer. He gained his immortality by taking lives that weren’t given to him. While immortality was freely given to you.”
Olivia looked around the hall and smiled. Alistaire followed her line of sight, seeing the fire in the hearth was spreading around the room.
“What’s going on?”
“Our time is drawing to a close.”
Alistaire grabbed Olivia, hugging her tight. “I won’t see you again, will I?”
“Do you need me to answer that?”
He did. He knew their brief meeting was a moment in time. “I don’t want to go. I want to stay with you a bit longer.”
“My silly child, you do not belong amongst the dead, but the living. Go back to your loved ones waiting for you.” Olivia leaned back from their hug and placed a hand over the tattoo on the right side of his chest. “Remember why you got this. It’s time to forgive yourself and let go of your self-doubt.”
Alistaire placed a hand over Olivia’s. He’d gotten the tattoo shortly after he’d separated from Synder. It was the tree of life with the words life, love, forgiveness, and immortality surrounding it. The words represented who he was, but somewhere along the way, he’d forgotten their meaning. He wanted to live his life with no regrets, love with no limits, and forgive himself for things he could not control because immortality had no end.
Alistaire gently squeezed her hand. “I remember now.”
“Good,” Olivia smiled. “Now, open your eyes.”
Alistaire snapped his eyes open and sat up in bed, trying to control his breathing. He pinched his eyes shut, clearing the fog and taking a few deep breaths. Once he knew they were clear, Alistaire opened his eyes. Taking in his surroundings, he realized he was in the hospital.
How the hell did I get to the hospital?
Then everything that happened came back to him, even the dream and speaking with Olivia. He could tell he was in one of the larger family VIP rooms in the hospital. Alistaire smiled, seeing his parents Synder and Kayne sleeping on the couch. He appreciated them being there for him and prayed he’d never lose them from his life.
Olivia was right. I do have people who love me.
Rustling on the other side of the room caught his attention, and Alistaire turned his head, noticing the baby crib with tiny feet moving up and down. Alistaire was about to get out of bed but realized he was hooked up to monitors. Turning off the devices, he then unhooked himself. Alistaire ran his fingers over the tattoo, not surprised there wasn’t a scar from where Euan’s sword pierced his skin.
Alistaire pushed the covers off and got out of bed. He stopped when his knees buckled, causing him to sit on the edge of the bed—waiting for his nausea and the room to stop spinning to pass.
Fuck, I’m still feeling some of the effects of the poison. I should have known he’d have a weapon on him.
Once he was sure his nausea and dizziness had passed, Alistaire slowly maneuvered over to the crib. Leaning over the crib, Genesis turned her head and looked at him with a bright smile on her face. Alistair wasn’t sure, but it seemed to him the baby had grown since Thanksgiving. Moving his gaze away from Genesis, Alistaire looked at her father sleeping soundly on the extra bed in the room.
Slowly, Alistaire moved over and sat beside the sleeping man—lightly brushing a stray hair out of his face. The man was gorgeous and even cuter while he was sleeping. A smile crossed Alistaire’s lips when he thought about the incident in the woods.
“I’ll help you hide the body.”
Alistaire had been so shocked by Crevan’s offer he hadn’t known how to respond.
Who would suggest something like that after seeing me shoot a man, supposedly killing him?
