The MacLomain Series: Later Years - a Scottish Time Travel Romance Boxed Set

by Sky Purington

  He cringed at the use of his name. That couldn’t be good.

  “Who are ye and speak fast,” Grant ground out.

  “We’re friends. And I might be able to help your wolf.” Jackie nodded at the wolf. Though his head rested on the ground, he still managed a weak growl.

  “Och, lass,” Darach said into her mind. “What are you doing?”

  “I resurrected the deer,” she said. “Maybe I can help the wolf too.”

  “You could get hurt.”

  “It’s not about me.”

  “Actually, ‘tis,” he reminded.

  “So you’d have me ignore it?” she said. “When there’s a chance I could help?”

  Darach contemplated the wolf. Its eyes had slid shut, and its breathing was labored. He felt Jackie’s emotions blow through her as if they were his own. The overwhelming need to help.

  Though he didn’t want her anywhere near something so dangerous and unpredictable, he was beginning to realize how similar the two of them were. If they had the ability to protect and help, nothing could stop them. Nothing should stop them. Especially not someone who claimed to care about them...love them.

  “Again, who are ye?” Grant’s eyes skirted with worry between them and the animal as a gurgling sound rattled in the wolf’s lungs.

  “We’re friends. And your wolf’s almost out of time,” Jackie said. “Please let me try to help him.”

  “Scratch that.” Darach was surprised by how quickly Jackie jerked out of his grasp and hurried toward the wolf, muttering, “There’s no more time.”

  He was even more surprised when her eyes rounded, and she said, “Grant, watch out behind you!” When he glanced over his shoulder, she whacked his wrist, and his dagger went flying.

  Stunned, Grant went after her with his other dagger. Darach swiftly confiscated the blade before he knocked Grant’s legs out from beneath him and brought him to the floor. Before the lad knew what hit him, Darach had him pinned as Jackie fell to her knees beside the wolf.

  Grant struggled, but he was going nowhere.

  “’Tis bloody strange holding my Da down like this, lass,” Darach grumbled into her mind.

  “I’m sure. Sorry about that.” She ran her hand down the wolf’s fur. “Thank you.”

  “Are ye sorry then?” he said, more distraught than ever as Grant spat out an endless stream of curses. “Because ye dinnae seem it in the least.”

  “That’s because I’m trying to fix a dead wolf and have no clue how,” she said. “Any idea how I should do this?”

  “Och,” Darach muttered aloud. “Nay.”

  Suddenly, Grant stopped struggling and whispered, “Dinnae leave me, Wolf. Yer all I’ve got.”

  Jackie’s sad eyes went to Grant before they returned to the wolf and she placed a hand on his head. Darach rippled at what she felt...or didn’t feel, as he experienced everything she went through. She was anxious about the wolf’s survival and how important he was to Grant. The more her anxiety rose, the more numb she became. First her lips, cheeks, neck, then it started to spread everywhere.

  He had never felt anything so alarming.

  Yet Jackie kept an even expression and her hand on the wolf. As Grant struggled with grief, her anxiety only grew. The need to make things right. Then a tingling started in her hand. Just a spark at first but it soon warmed and became far more. Something he couldn’t put definition to. Something that humbled him to his very core.

  Seconds later, the wolf jerked.

  Done with holding Grant down, Darach moved fast and pulled Jackie away from the wolf.

  Grant staggered forward and fell to his knees as the wolf jerked again then leapt to his feet. His eyes locked with Jackie’s just like the deer’s had when she brought it back to life.

  “Ye did it, lass,” Darach whispered and pulled her against him, determined to protect her though he knew the animal meant her no harm.

  “We must go,” Grant declared as he strode into the cave with everyone following.

  While he thought there was no stranger moment than first connecting eyes with his father as a teenager, he was wrong. Nothing was odder than his father locking eyes with his younger self.

  His Da stopped short, and young Grant froze.

  Though there was a good chance young Grant had no idea who he looked at, his father absolutely knew based on his shocked expression. If that wasn’t enough, the wolf shook, tested his limbs then all but pranced toward Da before he stopped short and looked back toward young Grant.

  The wolf was as confused as they were.

  Truth be told, the wolf was as confused as everyone there.

  “The beastie seems undecided, does it not?” Robert said as Erin tucked him by her side.

  “Can’t really blame the beastie,” Erin said, eying them.

  “We’ve got to,” his Da said, eyes wide on his younger self, “Go.” He shook his head. “I think...now.”

  “Aw, you were such a little hottie.” Nicole nudged his father, a wide smile on her face. “All long gangly limbs and big beautiful eyes.”

  “Och,” his Da muttered and frowned. “Go. We need to go.”

  “Aye,” Darach agreed.

  But how did they do that?

  It seemed his father was taking matters into his own hands because he flung his hands toward young Grant and started chanting first in English then Latin. “Take this memory from thee. Let your mind be free. Might your wolf protect you until you choose anew. Accipe memoriam, ex te. Sit animum tuum sit. Lupus vestri custodiat donec de novo eligere.”

  Magic started to swirl around them but not before he saw the look on his father’s face. The tender, nostalgic way he gazed at the wolf.

  “Where are we going?” Jackie said into his mind. “What’s happening now?”

  “I have no idea but ‘tis my Da’s magic, so dinnae be frightened.”

  Yet she was, and he didn’t blame her. Since she first traveled back in time, she had been whipped every which way through time and experienced living another life. It was frightening by anyone’s standards. He pressed his hands over her ears and tried to relieve the pressure but knew she felt it regardless. When the magic finally abated, it was daytime, and they were surrounded by woodland.

  Adlin leaned against a tree with a broad grin on his face. “Welcome back.” His eyes went to Grant’s. “I take it ye found the answers ye needed?”

  “Aye.” Grant frowned as he accounted for everyone. “I dinnae ken why ye could not just share such with me.”

  “But I did.”

  “Without shifting us to my castle.”

  “Och, nay.” Adlin started into the woods and gestured for them to follow. “As ye well know, there’s a reason behind my methods. Everyone needed to have their own experiences so that ye can all move forward and be better prepared for what’s to come.”

  Grant’s eyes met Jackie’s. “Thank you for saving my wolf, lass. You have no idea how much that means...meant. He eventually ended up with my brother Malcolm and was named Kynan.”

  “My pleasure,” Jackie murmured.

  Grant squeezed her hand then went after Adlin. “I ran into myself,” he informed. “And ‘twas bloody odd to say the least.”

  “Aye.” Adlin nodded. “’Tis indeed.” He cocked his head. “And how did you deal with it?”

  “Well, I cast a spell of course. And though I know it worked, I think mayhap ‘tis clear now why I was so compelled to name my son Darach.” Grant tossed a sidelong glance at Darach and Jackie. “The wolf’s life being saved would have impacted me greatly even through a veil of magic. If I had a name to relate to the experience, I would have thought highly of it.” He cocked a brow at Jackie. “Did you say Darach’s name around my younger self, lass?”

  “I might have. It was pretty tense back there.” She shrugged and slid a sweet but somewhat smug grin Darach’s way. “Nice to know I played a part in naming you.”

  He couldn’t help but grin in return. Things might be rougher than e
ver, but she seemed to be doing okay. Better somehow. But then she had just come back from the brink of death, so maybe she was just grateful to be alive.

  “I like the idea that you played a part in naming me.” He slid his hand into hers. “’Tis something no other MacLomain couple can claim, aye?”

  “So you’re a couple now?” Erin piped up.

  “No,” Jackie said as Darach said, “Aye.”

  Nicole chuckled. “That sounds familiar.”

  “You left this when you went to check on Jackie earlier.” Heidrek handed Darach his sword.

  Darach took it and nodded, fairly amazed that he left it behind. Then again, he’d been incredibly worried about her at the time.

  “Remember well, son, that worried or not, you cannae protect her without that blade,” Grant said.

  Darach nodded. His father was absolutely right. He couldn’t afford to make the same mistake twice.

  “Where are Logan and Cassie?” Niall looked at Adlin. “They were with you last time we were here.” He peered around. “As were many others.”

  “Logan and Cassie returned to the future,” Adlin said. “A wee bit o’ time has passed since ye were here.”

  “How much time...” Erin’s words trailed off as they exited the woods and stepped onto a wide meadow.

  All were speechless as they stared.

  Made of wood, not stone, MacLomain Castle was nearly built.

  Chapter Thirteen

  DARACH WAS TRULY HUMBLED by what he witnessed. There was no greater honor than to see such a thing. MacLomain Castle at its birth. A place that would oversee so many things in the years to come. Touch so many lives. Be considered ‘home’ and offer safety and protection to countless people.

  “’Tis bloody beautiful,” Grant whispered.

  “Aye.” Adlin beamed. “Everyone’s done a wonderful job on it.”

  “I always assumed ye built it with magic,” Grant said.

  “Now, lad, ye know better than to assume.” He and Grant started walking. “’Twas best to let my people work together to build it so even though most reside in cottages, they know this castle is as much theirs as ‘tis mine.”

  “That’s verra good,” Grant said.

  “Your parents are here and look forward to seeing you, William,” Adlin said.

  “They are no’ my parents,” William grumbled but took off for the castle with Robert right behind.

  “Okay, girl time.” Erin looked at Jackie. “Come catch Nicole and me up on everything that’s happened.”

  “Except the part about you getting naked with Darach.” Nicole grinned as they started walking. “We all know about that already.”

  Darach shook his head and sighed.

  “You’re lucky that’s all that came out of my lass’s mouth,” Niall commented.

  “True enough.” Darach’s eyes narrowed on Rònan and Heidrek. “So how much did you see of Jackie?”

  “Very little,” Heidrek said.

  “Next to nothing,” Rònan agreed.

  Liars. But there wasn’t much he could do about it.

  “What happened back at the glade?” Darach asked. “Did you battle Keir Hamilton?”

  “Nay, he hadn’t arrived yet. Just a few of his warriors,” Niall said. “One that clearly saw the wolf as a threat.”

  “’Tis too bad.” Darach frowned. "I would have liked a chance to fight Keir.”

  “Aye,” his cousins agreed.

  “Tell us what happened to you and Jackie before Grant woke you from that unnatural slumber,” Rònan said. “Because it had both Erin and Grant verra upset.”

  “No doubt.” As he shared what happened, all grew troubled.

  “I had hoped we could somehow find a way to save Jackie from her illness,” Heidrek said softly. “But now it seems inevitable.”

  “Aye,” Darach murmured. “All we can do is make the best of the time we have left.”

  “’Tis sad that.” Rònan’s eyes met Darach’s. “But I dinnae know that I would give into Fate so easily. It sounds like you’ve shared other lives together but none like this. None with all four rings involved. And if we have learned nothing else from meeting our Broun lasses ‘tis that unexpected things happen often.”

  He appreciated Rònan’s optimism. How supportive he seemed despite Darach’s recent behavior.

  “Thanks, Cousin.” He clasped his shoulder and met his eyes. “I owe you an apology for growing so upset with you at the glade. ‘Twas poor of me.”

  “Nay, all’s well,” Rònan said as they continued walking. “I would have been just as upset had our roles been reversed. It couldnae be easy desiring a lass for so long yet never finding her beyond your dreams.” His eyes locked on Erin. “I couldnae imagine.”

  “But now I’ve found her,” Darach said. “And I dinnae intend to let her go.”

  He felt the emotions his cousins were careful not to show. Though they well understood finding true love, they didn’t like the idea of losing him because of it. Or Jackie for that matter.

  Clearly eager to lighten the mood, Niall cocked a grin. “So you were an Irishman then, aye, laddie?”

  Rònan chuckled. “Now that would have been something to see.”

  Niall chuckled as well. “’Twould have been a sight, indeed.”

  “Is Adlin not from Ireland then?” Heidrek’s brows perked and a smile ghosted his face as he eyed them. “Would that not make all of you Irish?”

  “Born on Scottish soil,” Rònan grumbled. “Makes me Scottish.”

  “Aye, verra Scottish,” Niall agreed. “Though always thankful enough for my Irish ancestry.”

  “And is your mother not from the future, Niall?” Heidrek continued. “And of many other nationalities?”

  Rònan nodded and eyed Niall. “I’ve heard it told that your Ma’s father was from Italy. Makes sense considering your looks.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with a wee bit o’ Italian. And what of yours?” Niall’s eyes widened. “You’ve clearly something else in your blood besides Scot and Irish.”

  Rònan shrugged and offered him a crooked grin. “Nay. Even my grandma from the future was originally born in Scotland.”

  Darach chuckled and shook his head. “I think Heidrek tries at humor but is better at starting battles.”

  Heidrek shook his head. “Humor has never been my strong point.”

  Rònan grinned at him. “We’ll get you there, friend. For surely some of your dragon kin have a sense of humor.” He scowled. “Besides Tait that is.”

  Darach tuned out their conversation when he felt Jackie’s surge of happiness. He soon learned why when Eara trotted over the drawbridge and headed in their direction. Now that he had spent time in Ireland and realized Devlin had been the warrior who rode the horse into the Celtic Otherworld, he was starting to have his suspicions as to the horse’s identity.

  Who else could she be but Chiomara?

  He joined Jackie as the horse came alongside.

  “’Tis good to see ye both safely returned,” Eara said.

  “It’s so good to see you again as well,” Jackie said. “I was worried when you didn’t come with us.”

  “Aye,” Darach said. “We missed ye.”

  “Aye, it seems I cannae follow ye everywhere,” Eara said. “But ‘twas not so bad spending time with Adlin MacLomain.”

  “I would think not.” Darach tested the waters. “Especially if he is your son.”

  The horse neighed and flicked him with her tail before trotting back toward the castle. “Guess all ye like but ye’ll not get my identity quite yet, Darach Hamilton.”

  “Well, what fun is that?” Darach murmured aloud and continued walking with Jackie.

  “What, don’t you like a little mystery?” Jackie teased.

  “Sometimes,” he relented, tempted to say he’d had enough of it. He wanted all the facts so he could figure out how to save her. But he didn’t say any of that and risk taking the soft smile off her face. Instead, he chose to
flirt. “What about you, lass? Do you like a wee bit o’ intrigue then?”

  She slid him a look. “Sure, a little mystery is good.”

  Was she flirting too? A grinned blossomed. “Then I’ll be sure to be as mysterious as possible.”

  “No, you won’t.” She chuckled. “I think you’ve had enough of being mysterious and keeping secrets.” Her eyes went to Heidrek as they walked over the drawbridge. “Now there’s a guy full of mystery.”

  “Are you trying to make me jealous then?” He took her hand. “Because ‘tis working.”

  She eyed their hands but didn’t pull away. “And you only grow more persistent when jealous, huh?”

  “Aye.” He eyed her. “You seem changed, lass. Happier somehow.”

  “I am.” She shrugged. “I’m glad we’re here.” Her eyes met his. “And in our own bodies again.”

  “Me too.” He got the sense that wasn’t the only reason, though. She seemed more open now.

  “I remembered a lot of Gwendolyn’s memories, especially with Devlin,” she said softly. “She reminded me a little of how I used to be. Fun. Spirited. Less contained.”

  Darach looked at her in question. “So you’re glad we had that experience in Ireland?”

  “In some ways,” she said. “It sort of feels like I reconnected with a piece of my soul.”

  “You did,” he said. “And I’m happy that you found something favorable in it.”

  “I am too.” Her eyes went to him. “What about Devlin? Did he enlighten you at all?”

  Only that he was more determined than ever to be with her. But he didn’t say that because he liked their easy conversation.

  “Aye.” Darach grinned. “He confirmed that I’m a damn good fighter in every lifetime.”

  “Was that all?” Jackie quirked her lip. “Because based on Gwendolyn’s memories, Devlin rivaled you in other areas too.”

  His brows shot up. “Did he then?”

  “Mm-hmm.” When her eyes drifted to him, lust quickly replaced flirting as her emotions mixed with his. Neither thought of what they might have done in a previous life, but what they so recently did in this one. Better yet, their mutual lack of fulfillment when climax was so close but ripped away.