A Scot's Resolve (The MacLomain Series: End of an Era, #3)

by Purington, Sky

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  THOUGH HEARTBROKEN ON several levels, there were good things to be found in all this. Their son would be safe, and their Stonehenge would be sealed off, bringing them all one step closer to defeating the brotherhood.

  “So we willnae be able to conceive wee dragons?” Cray said softly, the simmering anger in his voice obvious as he peered at Grant. As he processed what they had just been told. “Worse yet, if Ceann doesnae go with you, Madison and I cannae even make human bairns?”

  “Nay, lad,” Grant replied, grim. “’Tis what must be sacrificed this time.”

  Even though Cray asked him several times what purpose this served, she knew deep down there was no set answer to that. Like the others had sacrificed, so must they. It was all part of what it would take to make things right again.

  While it broke her dragon’s heart that it wouldn’t have any little ones, it was grateful that at least its human counterpart could. All it had to do was say goodbye to its ninth son, which proved to be so much more difficult than she anticipated. There was no time to catch up. No time to reconnect as dragons should.

  Yet it was what Ceann wanted.

  What he intended to see through for his future siblings.

  “I will miss ye.” Their brave little dragon peered up at them with his heart in his eyes. “And will see ye again someday, aye?”

  “Aye,” Cray swore. Dragon fire trickled from his eye as he looked at his son with not just love and affection but tremendous pride. “Meanwhile, Uncle Grant will see to ye, all right? He will keep ye safe.”

  “Yes, he’ll take very good care of you,” Madison echoed, tears leaking from her eyes as well.

  “Aye, but of course he will.” Ceann did his best to nuzzle them one last time before he straightened, held his head high with courage, and joined Grant. He stood there for a moment, watching them, saying goodbye in a way only dragons could before the time came.

  A truly heartbreaking time at that.

  Cray wrapped his wing around her as they watched their offspring, the last dragon they would ever have, vanish into the setting sun alongside Grant. It felt like her heart was being torn out, as she pressed her cheek against Cray’s chest, and he wrapped both wings around her.

  She wasn’t sure how long they stayed that way, mourning the loss of Ceann and even unborn future dragon offspring. All she knew was that at some point, his dragon chest became a human chest, and a setting sun became a rising one.

  She met Cray's eyes only to find the same deep sadness. “I’m so sorry.”

  He cupped her cheek. “Why are you sorry?”

  “Because if I never tried to sacrifice myself in another life in the first place, maybe none of this would have happened.” Her voice was wobbly. “Ceann would have lived on and had children and—”

  “Nay, lass,” he said softly, consoling her. “Things had to go the way they did. If they hadnae, the MacLomains wouldnae have existed nor all the good they have done for Scotland.”

  “So verra true,” came a familiar voice as Adlin appeared, looking at them with pride. “Nevertheless, you have my eternal thanks for what you did...for all you sacrificed in both lives.”

  “Aye,” Tiernan agreed as he and Julie appeared, followed by almost everyone else. “You have our deepest thanks as well for what you were willing to give up.”

  “Aye,” Marek said, his voice gruff with emotion as he embraced first Cray, then her in welcome. “’Twas a great sacrifice indeed.”

  She could tell Cray wasn’t ready to talk about it as he merely nodded and inquired about what had happened in their absence before asking more questions.

  “I thought you couldnae astral-project without Grant?” He frowned at Adlin, alarmed before he looked at everyone else. “And where is Ethyn?”

  “Everything is well on all fronts,” Adlin assured, shrugging. “Or as well as can be expected.”

  When Madison cocked her head in question, he went on, focusing on history first.

  “Just as you planned, when you fled into the forest, the brotherhood focused on you rather than disrupting history.” He nodded, pleased with the outcome even as he flinched. “Though ‘twas not the best bit of history for our wee King David.” He appeared resolved. “Yet, I can see why Ralph Golding left such an impression on the Sassenach.”

  When a speculative look entered Adlin’s eyes that said he might be about to focus on something other than the matter at hand, Tiernan continued.

  “Whilst ‘tis safe to say the conflict was well-matched on both sides, Ralph Golding, brave esquire that he is, fighting on behalf of our wee king, stepped forward mid-battle. He fought with astonishing skill amongst the thickest of the enemy until he was thrown to the ground.” Tiernan gripped the handle of his sheathed dagger as though tempted to mimic Ralph's valor. “Then, as told, our gallant Regent Murray, was the first to fly to Golding’s relief.”

  “Aye,” Adlin continued on. “And as foretold, in hopes of taking such a considerable man as the regent prisoner, Balliol and his men redoubled their effort in the ongoing battle.”

  “Och, ‘twas a sad sight to behold from there.” Aidan sighed and shook his head. “Because also as foretold, verra few of the regent’s own soldiers rushed forward, to support or rescue him. Therefore, Murray was compelled to surrender himself a prisoner.”

  “Which means Archibald Douglas becomes regent next, right?” Madison said. “And will be fighting at Berwick-Upon-Tweed?”

  “That’s right,” Adlin confirmed.

  “Which leads us back to Ethyn.” Cray tilted his head in question. “Where is he?”

  “Off to the future already, I’m afraid.” Julie shook her head as she eyed a ley-line. “After his wolf yet again.”

  “Phelan?” Madison exclaimed. “But, I suppose that's not all that surprising.”

  She proceeded to tell them about seeing Phelan yet again at the Irish Stonehenge. How she felt the wolf offered her reassurance. Comfort. Strength.

  “I'm beginning to think Phelan's very much involved in all this,” she concluded. “We couldn’t quite figure out how Cray and I coming together left Ethyn more vulnerable to the brotherhood, but now I'm fairly certain it has to do with the wolf. As if our coming together allowed Phelan to step out of the darkness into the light. That, unfortunately, also seems to make Ethyn susceptible to the darkness.”

  “Aye,” Cray agreed. “And in turn makes the brotherhood susceptible to the light.”

  “Ah,” Adlin said softly, figuring it out. “That's why they didnae possess soldiers this time. ‘Twas best to stay at their strongest in their natural form.”

  “That would be my guess.” Madison narrowed her eyes at Julie, who continued staring at Ethyn's ley-line, clearly perplexed. “Why are you looking at his ley-line so strangely?”

  “Because it’s the same strange color that the stream of sunlight eventually turned on Tiernan’s tat after we went off in a different direction than you guys.” She shook her head. “It’s not exactly dark like when the brotherhood uses the lines but similar...wavering.”

  “Wavering?” Cray shook his head, confused. “And I thought the lines on Tiernan’s compass were fleeting with the sunlight. Not to mention that the tattoo’s supposed to protect him and his kin?”

  “I think it still was protecting us somehow, along with Phelan.” Julie shrugged a shoulder. “I just don’t know how yet.” She kept peering at the ley-line. “It’s all definitely interconnected, though. Phelan. Ethyn. And one of our Brouns.”

  “Which one, though?” Madison knew everyone was telepathically caught up on what they’d missed. “Because the only one Ethyn thought he saw here was Ciara.”

  “Right,” Julie murmured, thinking it over. “Ethyn muttered something about looking into that too before he left.”

  “Looking into Ciara?” Madison focused on another possibility. “While I know for sure we need to be worried about one of our Broun friends, what says we shouldn’t be worried a
bout them with Ethyn too? The brotherhood’s already managed to possess him once. What if they do again?”

  “Aye,” Cray agreed. “And though I havenae asked him lately if there’s been any change, let’s not forget his initial reaction to dreams of the Irish Stonehenge. How he looked forward to visiting it again. How he felt honored to be there. As though he were favored.” He shook his head. “Which cannae be good considering what happened there.”

  “At least when it comes to the brotherhood,” Julie said. “But in turn, let’s not forget some pretty positive stuff happened there long before that. Then, even more positive things when Adlin was conceived. So maybe that’s what Ethyn was sensing.”

  “Mayhap,” Marek said, not sounding all that convinced. “Either way, I’ll be following him to the future and will protect who I must.”

  “What if you lose months on end like we did and dinnae make it back in time, Brother?” Cray frowned at Adlin and Grant. “Have we any idea why so much time passed here whilst Ethyn and I were in the future? Madison felt it had to do with the ‘extra one,’ which verra likely means our rogue Broun.”

  “Right,” Madison echoed. “Which means that Broun might do whatever it takes to make sure the guys don’t make it back on time.”

  “I wouldn’t worry too much about that,” Julie said. “I think the ley-lines really do have all the say in this and will get Ethyn and Marek back when they’re supposed to be here.” She shook her head. “I think the reason you sensed the time-lapse had to do with an ‘extra one’ was because the ley-line you traveled along influenced you. It tried to show you the truth. In effect, you had to travel at that time to be on the right path to figuring out who the mysterious ‘extra’ was.”

  “Which we still dinnae know,” Cray pointed out, muttering something about time-travel and its idiosyncrasies.

  “But we are one step closer to knowing,” Chloe kicked in. “Not to mention we now know that there is, in fact, an extra Broun who doesn’t belong. That’s huge.”

  Cray nodded in agreement.

  “Is it really possible for Marek to go now, though?” Madison asked. “I thought you could only travel to the future when your ley-line summoned you?” She thought about that and looked at Cray. “Maybe we should go instead?”

  “Nay, I dinnae think that’s wise,” Adlin said softly. A strange little twinkle lit his eyes.

  Cray’s eyes narrowed on his uncle as he clearly sensed something. “You never did say how it was you were here without Grant.”

  “Nay, I didnae, did I?” He grinned, considering that as though he didn’t already know the answer, tapping his foot as if waiting impatiently. “But, I imagine I willnae need to soon.”

  “Och, you shouldnae be so evasive, old friend,” Grant chastised, his voice sounding before his form appeared. “Our poor dragons have been through enough already.”

  Alarmed, she frowned at Grant. What was he doing here? Shouldn’t he still be with Ceann, seeing him settled and safe in the afterlife?

  “True, they have been through enough,” Adlin agreed. “But ‘twould be nice if it went the way it should.”

  “Aye, ‘twould,” Grant agreed, considering that as the two launched into a conversation only they understood. “But you cannae control such things. They must come as they will.”

  “No doubt,” Adlin concurred, shaking his head. “But it really would be nice if—”

  “Enough,” Cray snapped. He kept his arm around her protectively, in case they received yet more heartbreaking information. “Just tell us what we need to know!”

  Adlin sighed and nodded, about to speak before his eyes lit up and he smiled.

  A heartbeat later, they understood why.

  Chapter Thirty

  DUMBFOUNDED, he stopped breathing when he heard the unthinkable. What wasn’t supposed to happen ever again.

  “It’s a heartbeat,” Madison murmured. She placed her hand over her womb and looked at him with teary eyes. “A dragon heartbeat.” She shook her head, confused, but overjoyed at the same time. “How is this possible?”

  He shook his head, putting his hand over hers, awe-struck by the tiny sound.

  “’Tis possible because verra clever dragons have been at work without you knowing,” Grant said softly, smiling at them. “Not just yours, Madison, but Cray’s and your wee one, Ceann.”

  “Ceann?” they exclaimed at the same time.

  “Aye.” Adlin beamed. “He’s a fast learner too!”

  When they looked at Adlin in confusion, he and Grant explained the well-executed plan that ultimately brought their family back together.

  “Ceann’s been a ghostie for some time,” Grant revealed. “He tried to return to you via Maeve, but sadly, we know how that turned out.”

  “He didnae give up, though, and it paid off when Madison came along,” Adlin continued, grinning. “You cannae imagine how excited he was to find you, lass. To have you and his da back together against all the odds.”

  “I can only imagine,” Madison replied hoarsely, a tear spilling over. “I wish I’d known he was there sooner.”

  “Aye.” Adlin shook his head. “But nay, ‘twas best you didnae, and he knew that.”

  “Whilst your dragons couldnae see him either, they sensed him,” Grant went on. “’Tis verra likely why Cray’s dragon kept appearing as a ghost around him.” He shrugged. “In a sense, he was drawn to his son’s spirit, astral-projecting so he could be subconsciously closer without even realizing it.” He looked between them. “Anyway, Madison’s dragon went into heat the moment she connected with Cray’s across time, so everything was aligned to bring wee Ceann back.”

  “Your dragon did well keeping her state of fertility hidden, Madison,” Adlin said, impressed. “As much as she could from Cray anyway.” He chuckled. “His dragon knew all along but kept it to himself lest the brotherhood caught wind of it.”

  “So ‘twas really just a matter of time,” Grant added.

  “Which,” Adlin noted, rocking back on his heels. “Was really quite important.”

  “Indeed,” Grant agreed. “For ‘twas best Ceann remained a ghost for as long as possible to stay off the brotherhood’s radar then make his way to a heartbeat at just the right time.”

  Madison and Cray looked at each other baffled.

  “I don’t understand.” Madison shook her head. “If I’ve been pregnant since the last time we made love, how was Ceann just at the Stonehenge? Moreover, I thought he had to sacrifice himself so that we could have more children?”

  “Aye, ‘twas quite the ruse.” Grant chuckled. “And where Adlin came in.”

  “Not just a ruse but a bloody good feat.” Adlin’s eyes rounded. “For your wee lad learned how to astral-project in record time.”

  When Madison and Cray continued to look mystified, Adlin elaborated.

  “Your wee lad’s heart has been beating for some time now,” Adlin divulged. “But by the grace of God, and likely practice hiding from you two when a ghost, he hid it from you at first. Rather he used it to lure the monsters who once lured his parents. Then and only then, did he astral-project from the womb into the form he once possessed.” He chuckled, informing them that such allowed Adlin himself to astral-project without Grant around. “Your bairn will be verra powerful in his time.”

  “Indeed, he will,” Grant agreed. “For he tricked the brotherhood well, thinking they ever had a chance of consuming his wee spirit.”

  “An impossible feat,” Adlin added. “Considering he was already safely nestled in Madison’s womb.”

  “Och,” Cray exclaimed, full of pride as he looked at Madison. “This one will be jumping off the tallest MacLeod Castle turret to be sure!”

  “To be discussed at a later date,” she countered, clearly never so happy before her expression faltered, and she looked at Grant. “Does this mean...”

  “Aye, I’m afraid so, lass,” he replied softly. “Wee Ceann will be your only dragon.”

  “Protecting wel
l his numerous siblings,” Cray whispered in her ear, offering her comfort. “We can repopulate the planet just as readily with wee humans that will likely be witches and wizards.”

  “Very true,” she murmured, wiping away a tear.

  Shortly after that, Grant and Adlin poofed away, and they said their goodbyes to friends and family. Aidan and Chloe would return to Hamilton Castle for a time so Chloe could rest. Tiernan and Julie would return to King David to keep an eye on him until Ethyn returned with whatever Broun was meant for him. Marek, with strict orders to deliver the Viking sword to Ethyn, had strode off into the woodland, determined to find a way to New Hampshire.

  After everyone left, Cray wasted no time ensuring a future he had waited a lifetime for.

  He started by cupping Madison’s cheeks and saying no truer words. “You know how much I love you, right, mate?” He brushed his lips across hers. “My wee dragon?”

  “I sensed it,” she murmured. “But it’s nice to hear.” The corner of her lip curled up. “And you know how much I love you, too, right?”

  “Aye,” he said gruffly, sweeping her up in his arms, done with asking and back to ordering. “You will marry me then.”

  “Well, aren’t you dashing?” Yet he didn’t miss the flare of desire in her eyes as their ley-line swept them back to MacLeod Castle. “Maybe if you asked properly.”

  “Och, nay,” he teased but realized that was precisely what he would do.

  This was far too important.

  She was far too important.

  So he lowered her to her feet, well aware his kin had appeared on the drawbridge as he sank to a knee. First, he checked to make sure her Claddagh ring with its brightly shining stone was centered. Then he looked up at her with his heart in his eyes and said something he never thought he would with any woman. “Will ye marry me, mo anam cara?”

  “Yes,” she said softly, tears in her eyes. “I’ll marry you now, the next life, then all the ones after that.”