“No problem. I say you deserved it.” She set aside her stick and started on another. “You were determined to save Jackie and look out for Robert the Bruce and me at the same time. That’s pretty admirable.”
Erin conveniently left out how poor it was that she lusted after him despite Jackie.
More than ready to change the subject, she said, “I noticed you didn’t fix my ripped pants with a flick of your wrist. Does that mean you can’t use magic here?”
She heard the surprise in his voice. “Aye, perceptive of you.”
They started on more sticks at the same time.
“I try to pay attention.” Her eyes met his. “My bigger concern, however...since she’s not technically part of this Otherworld, can Brae Stewart use magic here?”
“I dinnae know.” He shook his head. “I havenae seen her use it here thus far so mayhap not.”
She was about to say more when his hand fell on her thigh, and he shook his head. Alarmed, her eyes went to where he was looking. Someone was coming and based on the blackness surrounding them, it was nothing good. Erin pocketed some rocks, grabbed her lighter and focused on keeping fear repressed. It would do her no good right now.
Rònan pulled her up and squeezed her hand as they waited.
They didn’t have to wait long.
The dark smear on the horizon shifted closer in a heartbeat, and a beautiful yet sinister woman with black hair stopped in front of them. Erin didn’t need to guess who she was.
Brae Stewart.
Brae looked at Rònan. “Ye just cannae get enough of this place, aye, dragon?”
Then her eyes met Erin’s and narrowed.
A sense of recognition flared between them.
Had she somehow met Brae before? Because though she’d been here in brief flashes when trying to bring Rònan back, she didn’t recall meeting anyone else. But she looked so familiar.
Brae’s eyes stayed on Erin as she held out her hand. “If ye’ve a need to save yer dragon and avoid meeting something so sinister ye’ll never be the same again, then give me the ring without strife, lass.”
“Will you let us go free if I do?” Erin asked.
Brae nodded, clearly surprised by her response. “Aye, we will.”
Erin knew there was only one way to handle this woman, so she pretended to contemplate before she sighed and glanced at Rònan. “Sorry, but I’m not up for much more of this place.”
Rònan frowned as she yanked off the ring—thankful she was able to this time—and held out a closed fist to Brae. “It’s all yours.”
If Erin wasn’t mistaken, relief flickered in the woman’s eyes as she went to take it.
Bad move on her part.
Erin tossed the ring up and lit her lighter, burning Brae’s palm. When she yelped in pain, Erin took advantage of the moment and snagged the ring while side-kicking the Scotswoman in the stomach.
“Gimme the—” she started, but Rònan was already on it.
He winked and tossed her a bundle of grass. Lighting it, she swung back around and went at Brae. She staggered back and leapt as Erin swiped low. Though she knew damn well Brae had caused nothing but harm, something was keeping her from turning lethal.
But Erin knew how to hurt someone.
So she whipped a small rock hard at Brae’s forehead. It hit dead on and brought her to her knees. Erin thrashed the burning grass close, swamping the woman in smoke before she tagged her in the face.
“Bloody hell,” Rònan said before he yanked Erin back and nodded to their right. “We’ve got to go, lass.”
When she glanced in that direction, she understood why he sounded so urgent. Something huge and blacker than sin was heading their way. At the heart of it a man. Dark, glorious and evil but a man nonetheless.
One she recognized.
One she was more than willing to confront again.
“Fuck, no,” she spat. Never one to flee, Erin slid the ring back on her finger, shook her head and yanked away. Before Rònan could catch her, she scooped up several sticks and another bushel of grass and strode toward the darkness.
“Bloody hell,” Rònan said again.
“I’ve missed ye,” the dark stranger whispered, his words reaching her long before they should have. “Are ye here to stay this time?”
Erin’s steps slowed the closer she got to him.
Was she?
Was it time?
“Ye fight well,” he murmured, his features becoming clearer and clearer. “I always knew ye would.”
Erin stopped, vaguely aware of her loosening grip on the makeshift weapons as she whispered, “I know you.”
“Aye.” Though he was a ways out, he still managed to reel her in closer.
From far, far away she heard Rònan calling to her but couldn’t remember why she should heed his cry. Why she should do anything but focus on remembering the dark man drawing closer.
“Erin,” whispered sharply in her ear.
“I’m fine, Jackie,” she assured, eyes glued to the man approaching.
It never once occurred to her that Jackie wasn’t supposed to be there.
“No, you’re not fine, Erin,” Jackie said. “Look at me.”
“I will,” she assured. “In just a sec.”
“No, now!”
Erin had a split second to recognize the urgency in her friend’s voice before two horses barreled past.
Tosha and Eara.
Eara flew by but not Tosha. When the horse reared up, her attention refocused on trying to calm her.
“Get on me!” the horse cried.
When her eyes met Tosha’s, she snapped out of whatever spell she’d been under and swung up. Confused but suddenly desperate to escape, she caught the sticks Rònan tossed to her before he swung onto Eara. When Brae stumbled to her feet, Erin whipped two sticks. One lodged in her shoulder and the other in her thigh, bringing her to her knees again.
Erin had no idea what they were racing toward except it looked like a cliff.
And all that was beyond was an ocean.
“Shit,” Erin muttered under her breath. When she looked over her shoulder not only was the dark stranger racing after them but three dark mini clouds. Those had to be the Genii Cucullati, the nasty spirits born of the Celtic Otherworld Nicole had yapped about back when Erin first arrived in Scotland.
It turns out Nicole’s yapping held a whole lot of truth.
“Tosha, not the best direction to go in!” she said, her eyes on the cliff again.
“’Tis the only direction, lass,” Tosha said. “Hold on tight.”
Erin might not trust the world in general, but when it came to horses, they made more sense to her, so she listened. She leaned down, held onto Tosha’s mane and glanced at Rònan and Eara as they sailed over the cliff.
“Damn, are you kidding me?” she said to Tosha.
As she expected, the horse gave no response but leapt over the cliff as well. She didn’t scream. Instead, she leaned down, pressed her face against Tosha’s mane and figured if she was going out there was no better way to do it than on a horse.
This horse.
For a split second, she wished it was Salve but felt a certain sense of peace that it wasn’t. Her horse didn’t deserve an ending like this. Not that Tosha did either.
Wind rushed by her face as they plummeted. A frigid wind that strangely enough, suddenly turned warm. She had no time to contemplate what that meant as they free-fell toward the ocean. Focused on remaining calm, on the certain inevitability that this was her end, Erin relaxed.
After all, this was an end that she had long deserved.
Or should have.
Because instead of splashing down the wind stopped and it felt like Tosha leapt a fence. Jolting up, she tried to make sense of her surroundings. An ocean no longer rushed at her, but warriors raced in from either side.
Erin might be caught off guard and totally baffled, but she recognized danger. When a warrior rushed up from the left, she whipped a r
ock at him. When another came from the right, she stabbed a stick into his side. She tried to make sense of her surroundings as Tosha flew onward. It was by no means a Celtic wasteland but just as rugged a landscape. Just as threatening in its own way.
Her eyes widened on the massive castle sitting on a cliff overlooking the ocean. She punched a guy in the face who got too close as she took in its staggered towers and numerous wall walks. She whipped more rocks at another as she took in its mighty dimensions and fierce nature.
Like her, the castle seemed to fight against its surroundings.
Fight against anything that meant to take it down.
Anything that thought it couldn’t withstand all that was thrown its way.
“Come, lass,” Rònan roared, falling in alongside her as too many warriors rushed in around them. They had just broken onto the rocky stretch in front of the castle when wind rushed over her. Eyes to the sky, Erin forgot to fight as she gaped. Monstrous serpentine bodies flew overhead and roared fire down.
Dragons.
One was prisms of blue. The other was black. Both were mighty. With gigantic wings and endless scales, they fought against those coming in from either side.
After that, it was all some sort of fairytale mixed with remnants of a nightmare from her youth. Except this time, it wasn’t set to destroy her but...save her? Seeing your worst nightmare come to life and have it be your ally, not your enemy was incomprehensible. Some might say impossible.
Yet she was living it.
Her eyes flew to Rònan in confusion.
Big mistake.
Her vision blurred and he vanished off of Eara. For a moment she thought he might have been yanked off by the enemy. Then she processed what rose up overhead. A great, emerald body with massive wings and lethal talons.
She couldn’t be seeing straight but knew she was.
It was Rònan.
Oddly enough, as Tosha raced toward the castle, any fear or disgust she might have felt toward dragons vanished. Instead, a warm glow started to snake through her veins. Almost like the feeling after a few shots of whisky but far better. Then an overwhelming feeling of power rushed through her. When a red haze fell over her vision, Erin realized she was responding to the dragons. This time, it wasn’t sexual but a driving need to protect them. Somehow they belonged to her as much as she did them.
“Ye must not embrace yer current feelings right now, or ye’ll shift, lass,” Tosha said. “And ‘tis not good to do that just yet. Not in current company.”
It hadn’t occurred to her that she might be heading in that direction until she saw the glistening sheen of her skin. It almost seemed to glow. She had no time to fear it as her eyes were snagged by the shadow creature demi-god fluctuating in the air in the direction of the dragons.
Most specifically Rònan.
“This time, I will destroy the MacLeod,” the dark man warned within her mind. “Then ye will come be with me, lass. As it always should have been.”
“Not gonna happen,” she muttered aloud. Though it was nearly impossible not to give into whatever her body was doing, she trusted Tosha’s advice. They were almost to the first portcullis when the dark shadow rushed after Rònan.
Her heart leapt into her throat.
Hell no.
Going with her gut—a voice deep down inside—she mustered all the energy she could and whipped the remaining stick she’d whittled in the Otherworld straight into the center of the foggy mass. For a split second, she thought she saw the stick glimmer. Or was it her ring? Either way, though it only sailed through the darkness, the demi-god had a surprisingly strong reaction to it. The ground shook as the monster released a mighty roar of anguish then vanished. In response, the Genii Cucullati poofed away.
Confused by what appeared to be the defeat of their leader, the remaining warriors started to flee only to be swiftly incinerated by the dragons. At least most of them. It looked like a few were being taken prisoner.
Hoots and hollers of victory exploded around her as Tosha trotted into the courtyard. It took Erin several moments to realize the crowd was cheering for her. Uncomfortable, she stayed on the horse and tried to smile but found it impossible. Way too much sensory overload. The red haze in her vision faded away as a tall, well-muscled blond came alongside the horse.
“Greetings, lass. Welcome to MacLeod Castle. I’m Rònan’s Da, Colin MacLeod.” He offered a compassionate smile. “Stay put, I’ll get you and Tosha to where ‘tis quieter, aye?”
“Thanks, that’d be great,” she murmured but couldn’t say much more as her voice caught. No shocker considering her surroundings and who spoke to her. What a way to meet Rònan’s father. Frozen by emotions on a horse.
Erin was never more grateful than when they entered the quiet stables, and she realized her friends were here waiting for her.
Nicole, Jackie, and Cassie.
“Take some time alone with your friends, Erin,” Colin said. “I’m sure Rònan and your Vikings will be waiting outside for you when you’re ready.” Before she could respond, he squeezed her hand, his eyes lighting with warmth. “Thank you for saving my son.”
Erin nodded and finally managed a few soft words. “What about little Robert? Is he here? Is he okay?”
“Aye.” Colin nodded. “Ye’ll see him soon enough.”
After he left, she slid off her horse, and though she wasn’t a fan of too much contact, she had no problem embracing her friends.
“I’m so glad you’re here and okay,” Cassie mumbled.
“Me too,” Jackie murmured.
“You had us worried,” Nicole added.
They held each other for a long minute before Erin finally pulled away but continued to hold Cassie’s hand as she peered at her. It was hard to believe she was blind. But like Nicole with her impending deafness, her friend didn’t want to be coddled. So Erin kept it light.
“I heard you lost your sight, Cassie,” Erin said. “How are you doing with it? Hanging in there?”
“Not counting the Otherworld crap we’re all dealing with, I’m good.” A small, content smile came to Cassie’s lips. “Surprisingly good.”
“Glad to hear it. I knew you’d handle it like a champ.” She squeezed her hand. “Never doubted it for a second.”
“Speaking of handling things,” Nicole said. “Though I’ve had a chance to thank you individually, now that I’ve got you all together I want to thank you all so much for the hearing aid you bought me.” She grinned and cocked her head as though listening to something. “It’s amazing how much I can hear now.”
“Our pleasure,” Cassie said, still smiling.
“I’m so glad you like it,” Jackie said.
“And I’m glad to see you’re actually wearing it.” Erin winked. “Seeing how stubborn you can be.”
Nicole shrugged and grinned. “I just needed to work through some things is all.”
“Well, I’m glad you did,” Cassie said. “You and Niall both.” She was uncannily accurate with her aim when she put her hand on Nicole’s belly. “Now you both can work as a team to teach your little one not to be so stubborn and mule-headed like his parents once were.”
Nicole snorted and cocked the corner of her lip. “And what makes you think we’ve changed any?”
“Right.” Jackie chuckled. “But as far as I can tell, Niall’s had a positive influence on you.”
Nicole’s brows lowered. “You say that as though I needed it.”
“Enough, ladies,” Erin intercepted, not in the mood for one of the minor tiffs the two could get into. “I need someone to catch me up on what’s going on before I head back outside. I need my head on straight before I deal with that crowd.”
When a stable boy tried to lead the horse away, she shook her head. “Just show me to Tosha’s stall, and I’ll take care of her.”
“Everyone knew something was going down in Scandinavia, but your Viking posse seemed to sense it first,” Nicole said as her friends followed her and Tosha into a s
tall. “They said they tried to stop you from going into your lodge that night, but you were having none of it.”
“I was worried about Rònan.” Erin unstrapped the saddle. “He was having a rough time.”
“Yeah, everyone understood that,” Nicole said. “Unfortunately, nobody figured you might be sucked into the Otherworld along with him.”
“So what made everyone figure it out beforehand?” Erin said as she pulled off the saddle and hung it. “What exactly did they sense?”
“Darkness and evil,” Nicole said. “All around you for a long time.”
“I don’t get it.” Confused, Erin frowned. “For a long time? I’d only been in there a few minutes before Rònan, and I ended up in the Otherworld.”
“Nope. Incorrect.” Nicole shook her head. “Your Viking posse was right behind you when you entered the lodge. Yet when they stepped inside, there was no sign of Rònan, and you were sound asleep on the bed.”
“No.” Erin shook her head. “I can assure you that Rònan and I were right there.” She cleared her throat. “And we definitely weren’t sleeping.”
“And I can assure you, it was only you, Erin,” Jackie said softly. “I know because I spent the better half of a month caring for you.”
Chapter Twelve
ARMS CROSSED OVER HIS chest, Rònan leaned against the outside of the stables and eyed Tait. “Ye dinnae need to wait out here. Erin will be just fine.” He nodded at the boisterous crowd. “Go celebrate and enjoy my clan. I insist.”
“While thankful for your hospitality, we prefer to lay eyes on Erin before we go anywhere,” Bjorn said.
Both Vikings ignored the numerous lasses trying to get their attention every bit as much as Rònan did the ones sidling up to him. And that was a first. Not a day had gone by when he didn’t have a lass or two or even three tucked against his side. But they no longer held any appeal. At least not the ones in his immediate vicinity. No, if anything he was becoming uncomfortably aware that he had lain with most of them.
Tait, clearly sensing his thoughts, shot him a small grin. “It will be interesting to see Erin’s reaction to your endless fans.”
The MacLomain Series: Later Years - a Scottish Time Travel Romance Boxed Set Page 69