Highlander’s Curse (40 page)

But these were no insects. He recognized them well, even before the sphere of green light surrounded them. They were the shards of Faerie Magic Leah called on to do her bidding.

It took all his will to keep his distance, especially once the Magic materialized. His worst fear was that when the Magic receded, Abby would be gone, taken from him back to the time where she belonged.

No, that was a falsehood. His worst fear wasn’t losing her to her own time. It was losing her to death. At least if she were returned home, he’d have the comfort of knowing that she lived.

Thunder rumbled from a nearby storm, so close to the keep he’d almost swear it was inside the room with them. Once more the thunder boomed and the sphere
surrounding the two women shattered, sending shards of flickering colors shooting toward them, through them, beyond them.

Instinctively, he hit the floor, embarrassed that he had until he saw his brother crouching next to him looking as discomfited as he felt.

Drew was on his feet first but reached the bed only a step ahead of Colin. Leah slumped over Abby, her brow damp with perspiration, her eyes closed. Abby appeared as one asleep, her breathing deep and regular, the color returned to her cheeks, the markings on her face gone.

Not gone, transferred to Leah’s cheek.

“Is she . . .” He couldn’t bring himself to ask the question of Drew, not with his brother’s distress so evident as he lifted his wife into his arms.

“I’m fine,” Leah answered, her shallow panting attempts at breathing belying her words. “Need sleep.”

“And sleep you’ll have, dearling.” Drew started for the door, stopping to turn briefly. “Abby will likely sleep through the night as well. You’d be wise to do the same.”

Sleep? With his beloved’s life hanging in the balance? His brother had lost his sense of reason.

Very cautiously, Colin climbed onto the bed with Abby, taking great care not to jostle or move her in any way as he lay down next to her.

He would content himself with simply watching her, with counting each long, slow breath she took. He would use the time to send a prayer up with each and every one of those breaths that she still lived when morning’s light graced their world.

A
bby dreamed of warm places, safe and tidy little spots in a perfect world. The dreams were short, fractured, hopping from scene to scene, barely allowing her time to settle into one before it morphed into another. All had one thing in common: in each and every location, Colin awaited her, his arms open wide to gather her in and hold her close.

She opened her eyes, not at all surprised to find Colin next to her, fast asleep. He held her hand sandwiched between his callused palm and his heart.

There wasn’t a more perfect combination to represent Colin, tough and tender, rugged man and sweet lover, all at the same time.

Watching him sleep, her dreams came back to her in a rush and she realized with a start she’d completely deceived herself as to the locations in her dreams. Many
had been dark and dank and had she encountered in them in real life, they would have terrified her.

So why hadn’t they seemed threatening in her dreams?

Because Colin had been there with her.

Colin had been there to hold her, to protect her, to give her that sense of warmth and safety. Together they formed one, a whole being that needed nothing from the outside world to complete what they had together.

Ellie had been absolutely right. There were things in this world much more important than toilet paper. What she felt each time she lay in Colin’s arms was definitely one of those things. For the first time since she’d arrived in this century, she knew, absolutely without any reservation, that she belonged at Colin’s side, no matter where—or when—he chose to be.

A light knock sounded on the bedchamber door and his eyes flew open. His face creased into a smile when he saw her, the rare smile that always burrowed deeply into her heart when it lit his features.

He stroked his fingertips down her cheek. “Good morning, wife.”

“Good morning, husband.” She returned his greeting, rolling to her side toward him to accept the kiss he offered.

Again the knock sounded at the door.

“Bollocks,” he muttered with a sigh, pushing up and out of the bed to answer the door. “A pox on all of them that would bother us.”

Leah entered the room first, Drew directly behind, his hand protectively guiding his wife.

Colin caught up her hand, kissing it and bowing low. “Yer an amazing woman, Leah, and I’m honored to
have you as part of my family. How can I ever repay you for what you’ve done?”

“Don’t be silly. It’s what I do. Now.” Leah hurried to the bedside and tossed back the covers to prod at Abby’s side. “How does this beautiful morning find you? Well, I’m predicting from your husband’s reaction.”

“I feel great.” It was no lie. She’d all but forgotten yesterday’s horrible pains. They seemed as blurred as her memories of arriving at this place. “What did you do to me?”

“Just a little Faerie Magic,” Leah said with a shrug, turning a big smile toward her husband. “Will you two join us for the morning meal, or would you prefer to have food sent up here?”

“No food, thank you,” Colin announced as he returned to her side. “We’ll be leaving shortly.”

“Leaving?” Abby swung her gaze around to him and pushed herself up to sit on her knees, searching his face for an answer. They’d only just arrived. Besides, wouldn’t a meal make sense before they started their journey to. . .

“Oh, Colin,” she groaned. Even after all they’d been through, he hadn’t given up on finding his king. “You’re still determined to change the world, aren’t you?”

“Only your world, wife,” he said, brushing the hair from her forehead. “It’s time to return to your century, Abby. This is no the place for you to be.”

Her mind reeled with confusion. If he thought he was going to get rid of her that easily, he’d better think again. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right here. I’ll adjust. I can figure out how to make the best of this world. As long as I’m with you, that’s all that matters.”

“As if you think I’d let you go anywhere without me,” he scoffed. “We go together.”

“But . . .” Had she missed something important in the past twenty-four hours? “You said you belonged here. That you were determined to make a difference.”

He nodded slowly, catching up her face in his two hands. “And you said I’d no right to try to change yer history. I see now that you had the right of it. My pigheaded stubbornness nearly cost yer life.”

“And yours,” she added, placing her hands over his. “I was so afraid I’d lost you.”

From the doorway, Drew cleared his throat. “We’ll leave you now to do whatever it is you need to. If you dinna join us by midday, I’ll pass yer farewells along to Mother, aye?”

“I’d appreciate that, brother.” Colin answered without taking his eyes from hers.

“If you really want to repay me, there is something you can do. When you get back, find my sister and tell her how happy I am.”

Beside Leah, Drew cleared his throat again.

“And yes.” Leah hooked her arm through her husband’s, her face glowing with happiness. “Let her know she’s going to have a new niece or nephew in a few months.”

“The first of many,” Drew interjected with a laugh.

“You have my word upon it,” Colin promised.

Abby waited until the door closed before broaching her fears.

“Would it be so horribly bad if we stayed here?” She prayed he’d say no, her failed attempt at wishing them out of this time when she’d thought him dying still ripe in her memory.

“It would be.”

His answer sent her stomach plummeting to her feet.

“But you said—”

“I’ve said many things,” he interrupted. “And now I’m saying I choose to go forward with the woman I love. I choose cars and potatoes and libraries full of books. I choose air travel and hot showers and cream that comes in a can.”

“What if I can’t do it?” Her heart already ached at the thought of disappointing him.

“There’s nothing you canna do, wife. I believe that with all my heart. Together, there’s nothing that
we
canna do. Wish us home, Abby. Wish us to our home, together.”

She threw her arms around his neck, sinking into the love he offered as he tightened his embrace.

“I wish us home. To our home. Together.”

“Forever,” he added.

The heavy bed began to rock and bump against the stone floor as the air around them shimmered like a bright green curtain of rushing water.

When thousands of multicolored sparkles began their dive-bombing maneuvers around their heads, Abby buried her face in Colin’s shoulder.

“You see? What did I tell you!” His triumphant shout was barely audible over the buzzing and hissing.

With a hand to her cheek, he lifted her face and covered her mouth with his. The sensation of his kiss felt like the world dropped out from under them, and they fell, endlessly locked in each other’s arms.

Abby could imagine no better way to go forth into forever.