Highland Pull (Highland Destiny 2) (33 page)

“When it comes to shifting time, most people can be moved from place to place without causing great impact on the rest of the world. Sometimes the loss is not even noticeable if he or she has only been in that reality for a short period of time. A few people however, are so important to the time in which they live, that the very events of the world would be altered if they were to be moved to another time.

“Alexander is one such man. A great man in his century, and were he to leave, events of the world would be altered. There is no way to know what Druidry, nor even Scotia would look like had he not stayed behind to fight the Etarlam in his own way. We must trust in his judgment and remember his love. He was a great man.”

Randi felt the well-concealed surprise of two of the Druids present. She knew they were
deep-listening to Earnan. Both Ian and Gav kept their thoughts closed off, but she’d sensed enough to know the story was not exactly the truth.

Earnan continued, “We have not had babies in our Druid bloodlines for a very long time. Each generation must carry forward the magick, the stories, the spell, and yet I have lived in fear that we were the last of the true Druids. There are babies here now from all the families.” He nodded at Elena. “Aye, Elena, you too. I knew as soon as you returned yesterday. By the celebration of
Ostara, the spring equinox, we will have our babies.”

Elena fell against Faolan, who wrapped her in his strong arms, and pressed his lips to her hair.

“I know of none who has performed the Druid ritual for blessings and fertility. Yet here you all are, representing the strongest Druid families, the strongest alliance. Three pregnancies among these families is too much of a coincidence for me.

Ian Worthington,
Druidry records your loss centuries ago, pulled into the ether of time, lost in the standing stones. Now you have emerged in this place, this time. I feel the hand of fate, or the hand of the Fae, for something has brought us here, in this time, in this place. We will stay together, train together, we will serve our Druid ancestors well. The Bresal Etarlam will fall, and Scotia will be safe.” 

Liam was restless. He had been able to shield his thoughts from his father, and the elder Worthington believed he had managed to finally rid himself of the main threat to the Bresal Etarlam. Liam knew this would come back to haunt him someday. Elena and her wolf would return to reclaim the farm eventually, and Liam would have to feign ignorance as to how they escaped. He would be dead if he failed to convince his father.

Perhaps he should return to New Orleans. Whenever he thought of that city his heart rate started to climb, and his soul felt itchy. He had great black holes in his memory about what happened there, and a fucking tattoo that someone needed to explain.

****

Rhyannan and her beloved Druid, Conall, held each other for a long while, drawing strength from their love. After so many hundreds of years trapped together in this cave, they needed no words to communicate the depth of their feelings for each other. Elena and Gabhran and the others had been saved from the fire, and they were now together. Alexander needed their attention next. Of all of their children, he was now in the most danger. They must find a way to reach him.

As long as Ryhannan’s sister, Queen Morrighan was preoccupied with the physical pleasures offered by Kheelen, the fabric of magick surrounding the Tuatha Dé Danann would continue to weaken. As the Queen’s magick weakened, Rhyannan and Conall could continue to expand the reach of their magick beyond their prison walls.

The Queen’s distraction meant that all the magick that kept the human realm safe from the fey realm was also weakening. It was a dangerous game, and they hoped they could escape before the walls collapsed completely. They would have to stop Kheelen before it was too late.

****

Alexander and Earnan spoke in hushed tones, although neither could be overheard.

“You closed the portal, thank you,” Alexander said.

“Aye, ‘twas necessary to preserve the illusion. None can think it possible for you to travel.”

“Aye, and Alysone? She believes me,” Alex paused, searching for the right word, “gone?”

Earnan replied in an apparent non sequitur, “Ian is here.”

Alexander closed his eyes, as though in great pain. “He will treat her well.”

Looking away from the mirror, Earnan continued, “Thank you, Alexander. I had no right to ask this of you. No right to ask you to remain in the past, to maintain the balance between dimensions of time. Moving you could change everything.
You and Alysone, Gabhran and Miranda, Elena and Faolan. I doona know if any of you would meet, I doona know how it might change the prophecy. The Worthingtons might take over even sooner, and all Druidry would be lost to their evil.”

“Aye, I could not refuse. ‘
Tis the only possible course of action. The happiness of one man, nay even of one clan, is insignificant when weighed against the future of Scotia. You must close all the paths of communication. Close the mirror, Earnan.”

“Nay, I canna do that.” Earnan dropped his voice even lower.

“Aye, my good friend, my Master. You ken it must be done, lest we become weakened by our own temptation, or worse, should some trouble befall me. The realms must be closed to each other.”

Alex looked away, staring into an unseen distance. “Good bye, my friend, take care of Alysone and our
bairn. Teach him well how to be a Druid. Please, I beg you, seal any threads that allow her to sense I am alive. Tell me no more. I will fulfill my destiny.

****

Randi felt beautiful as she walked down the stairs on Earnan’s arm. She wore a gown of antique ivory silk, with a scoop neck, a high waist, and covered with tiny crystals that glittered and shimmered when she walked. Brigid had hesitated when Randi asked where the dress had come from, but eventually relented and told Randi it had belonged to her mother, Abigail, but she would not, or could not, tell her more. 

Earnan could not have looked more proud, if she had been his own daughter. When they arrived at the bottom of the stairs, Earnan walked her over to Gav and placed her hand on his arm. When Alysone started to softly cry, Ian moved closer to put his arm around her shoulders and pull her gently against his side.

Although they had already exchanged vows in the Druid way, in the standing stones, back in the fourteenth century, they would repeat those promises today. Today was for Elena’s benefit, she wanted a wedding, and she wanted to fuss. And the rest of them needed a chance to celebrate. So Randi’s hair was swept up into a mass of curls on the back of her head. Gabhran wore the full formal dress regalia of his clan, and they stood before their family and friends.

Gabhran and Miranda held hands and gazed deeply into each other’s eyes. There was no minister or civil servant to recite legal marriage vows. It was just the two of them, and their babies made four, for Gabhran had been positive she was carrying twins. They were starting their lives together, with words more binding than any laws that bound mere mortals. Together they repeated the words of the Eternal Druid Binding vows.

“I give you my eternal heart, that from this moment forward, nothing may tear us asunder. Not distance, not time, not death. Two hearts, one soul, united for eternity. Destiny has called us forth, we are bound.”

~~The End~~

Laura likes it hot, which helps explain why she ended up Arizona after living in such diverse places as Japan, New Orleans, Maine, and Florida. She once enjoyed hobbies such as gardening and travel. Now the characters in her head compel her to tell their stories to her readers, so she writes. She shares her home with her husband and youngest son, two dogs, and a cat. Laura also writes under the name L.E. Harner, and her books can be found at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, All Romance eBooks, and other online retailers.

Connect with Laura at:

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Or even better…check out the website at http://lauraharner.com

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