She did not stir, scarcely breathed. He cupped her face with his hand. He felt sheer will rise up in him and flow to her. “Come back to me. Come on. I am here. Come on.”
*
Come homeward tome.
Drawn like a boat on a slow current, she moved through darkness, through peace, languid and willing, following a stream that carried her—moments, ages, centuries, she was not sure. She felt outside the span of time, floating.
She heard the voice of her beloved then. She felt his love surround her, gather her to him on a silvery ribbon, drawing her along. That sparkling tendril kept her from slipping into the void. He had loved her and had searched for her.
His magic drew her and she went with it, floating, carried along. Then she soared upward, to where his voice was all she knew.
Come again homeward, safe to me.
My love,she tried to say,I hear you.
She felt his touch upon her cheek and opened her eyes.
He smiled, her beloved, eyes so blue in candlelit darkness. His love was warm, golden, healing. She smiled.
He kissed her fingers and bent toward her. “I love you,” he whispered. “I think I have loved you for a very long time.”
“You are here,” she whispered in wonder. “I wanted to find you. You are here.”
“Always here, love,” he said. “Forever.”
Epilogue
“There you are,awake at last,” Aedan said, seated in a chair beside the bed where Christina lay tucked with quilts and pillows. “I worried so. I thought you might sleep forever,” he added, and took her hand, kissed it.
“I only slept for the afternoon! I feel a bit better,” she said with a slow smile, her cheeks pale, lacking the subtle pink glow he so loved. She glanced toward the doorway, where John, Amy, and Lady Balmossie stood. Christina wiggled her fingers in greeting.
“She’s still tired, dear lass,” Lady Balmossie said. “We should all leave her to rest.”
“Aedan?” Amy asked. “You’ve been by her side for days and should take a break.”
“I will stay,” he said, keeping Christina’s hand in his.
“Chrissy, it is so good to see you looking a little better,” John said. “Amy, come with me to see the section of the mural I’m just finishing. You modeled for this part,” he added. With a squeal of delight, Amy followed him with Lady Balmossie.
Aedan turned back to Christina. “They left the door open for propriety’s sake, I suppose,” he said with a chuckle. He brushed a waft of dark-auburn hair from her forehead. “We’ll be proper… for now.” He raised a brow. “I cannot guarantee it later.”
She laughed. “Sir Aedan,” she said. “I think I adore you.”
“I feel the same about you.” He leaned to kiss her gently, knowing she was weak still. Yet his body always responded to her kiss, a spark of lightning going through him. Her smile was serene, eyelids shadowed, yet her clear blue eyes danced with mischief. She lay propped on pillows, dark hair flowing loose, her white bedgown prim and high necked.
He was glad to see that the bruise on her brow had faded in the past week, and though she looked wan and thin, an air of peacefulness surrounded her.
“You’ve missed quite a bit this week while you’ve been lazing about and dreaming,” he said. “Do you feel up to some news?”
She nodded. “What is it?”
He held her hand, stroking her fingers with his thumb. “Dr. MacBain came down to see you with my sister Mary. Once he felt sure that you would recover well, they returned to Edinburgh, but they will be back to visit soon.”
“I remember him, I think. Very kind. Very handsome,” she added. “And your sister is lovely too.”
“You will enjoy seeing them under better circumstances. Meanwhile, the Gowans cleared the mud out of the souterrain, and we are cleaning the second chamber, taking care to protect all the precious things there. It will be ready for you when you feel strong enough. You should have seen Hector when he first saw that gold!”
“I remember some. You carried me out of there, and I remember Hector yelling with delight about treasure.”
