Just a little farther, her fingers beat a rhythm as she chanted in her head. Just a little farther.
The ruins looked stark and rigid against the fading colors of the late-autumn sky. What was left of the castle stood sentry over the verdant meadowland that had once been Clan Sinclair’s holding. Gusty pulled the car to the side of the road and turned off the ignition. She sat unmoving, gazing at what was left of her Sinclair ancestors’ home.
Precious memories of her parents and grandparents and her brother crowded into her mind and she hugged each recollection close. But the person whose image came to mind strong and vivid was Alexander, her dear, tall, handsome Alexander. His presence filled her mind, had grown stronger with each mile she had driven since she had left Edinburgh behind, until she could see him as clearly as if he were standing in front of her.
Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage around her like a cloak, opened the car door and stepped out. Duncan followed suit, climbing out of the car to stand beside her. His eagerness was hard to ignore. He was definitely back in his element. She had made a mistake not bringing him back sooner. He ran around as if he were a wild animal, yelling and jumping with joy over finally arriving.
“Be careful, Duncan. Don’t wander off too far.”
“I won’t,” he shouted as he ran circles around the car.
She smiled at his enthusiasm as she stretched her back and again looked out over the ancient ruins, wondering where to begin her search. The invitation had clearly stated Castle Sinclair was her destination. Now all she had to do was find the time gate.
She turned back to the car to get the now wide-awake little Seamus out of his car seat.
“Well, hello there, little boy,” she crooned as she unfastened the straps. The baby had made the journey rather well. He barely fussed at all during the plane ride and had slept most of the way in the car. Gathering him to her bosom, she turned back around to look at the castle. Something seemed…off. She thought for a moment and then realization dawned. The silence… She no longer heard the chattering and joyous cries she’d been listening to for the last five minutes. Duncan had disappeared. One moment he had been playing beside the car and the next moment he was nowhere to be seen.
“Duncan! Where are you? You must stay close so you don’t get lost.”
Receiving no answer, Gusty began to panic. With Seamus sitting on her hip, she walked rapidly toward the stone ruins. Why hadn’t he waited for her to show him the way? Anything could have happened to that precocious child. He might have fallen while climbing through the rubble or wandered off into the nearby forest and gotten himself lost. All of those possibilities flooded her brain. She was nearly running by the time she reached the ruins.
“Duncan, where are you? Show yourself right now!” she called out, fear overwhelming her as she stopped to catch her breath. She glanced around but could not see him anywhere. The memory of having an old dungeon crumble down around their heads was still fresh in her mind as she moved around several broken stones where once there had been a sturdy castle wall. She grew suddenly dizzy with dread.
“Oh God! Duncan, where are you?” she breathed as she circled the piles of stones that were now centuries old. But she no longer took time to admire the majesty of the place, her focus entirely upon finding Duncan and berating herself for not watching him more closely. She had not foreseen that he would begin playing his old trick of running off as soon as they set foot on the holding. She should have known, she should have warned him. But now it was too late. He was nowhere to be found.
Moving around to the back of the crumbling outer-bailey wall, she gazed out over the small loch that sat hidden in the valley behind the keep. A little boy could drown in there… She made her way down to the water’s edge and looked up and down the empty shoreline.
Dear God, where is he?
“Duncan!” she yelled but only the sound of the rising wind answered her.
She stopped and glanced around, the hair on her neck standing up. Gusty grew alarmed. Someone was out here. She sensed another presence, someone watching her.
“Duncan?” She whirled about and in the process she tripped over her own feet and stumbled backward toward the water.
Strong arms wrapped protectively around her and Seamus, pulling them firmly but gently against a broad, muscular chest. The unexpected embrace felt so good, so right and she closed her eyes, praying she wasn’t dreaming or imagining things.
Slowly she opened her eyes and lifted her head. Her gaze met Alexander’s and he smiled down at her as he enfolded her and their son within his strong and very real arms.
Gusty opened her mouth to speak but no words came out.
“Did I not I tell you we would be together for always?”
Gusty nodded. She stared up at him, her eyes hungry for the sight of his handsome face.
“You must learn to trust our love, little selkie.” He brushed his lips across her trembling mouth. “I would have waited for you forever and into eternity.”
“I know.” She finally managed to whisper as she reached up to touch his cheek. He needed to shave but the feel of his prickly stubble brought tears to her eyes and she smiled. “I thought you were dead,” she admitted brokenly, her hand trembling as she remembered the rubble raining down on him. “How?”
“I would be dead, if not for your father and brother. They pulled me back as the ceiling fell.” He suddenly straightened, his arms tightening as he swallowed hard. “Never do I want to live through that again. I believed you and Duncan had been taken from me forever. It took four strong men to pull me from what was left of the MacKay keep. I fought to get to you.”
“You could never have moved so much stone and rock, Alexander. Not in time.”
“I realized the futility of such a task only after your father tied me down and let me curse him and everyone who came near me. I must admit I was not a well man for months.”
“How long have I been gone, Alexander?”
He dropped his head to bury his nose against her neck. He took a deep breath. “Long enough, my love,” he murmured.
She pushed against his shoulder until he raised his head and looked at her. She raised an eyebrow in a silent question, wanting an answer.
“You left a year ago October on Samhain, my love, and at the time I did not understand about this…this…portal through time. I only knew that I had lost you.
“And then one day Maeve returned from one of her journeys. She came to me and told me a strange and unbelievable tale of a friend of hers. A Mrs. Anna McClure. It seemed the woman was taken in by a lovely young lady who treated her as a favorite grandmother and in turn Mrs. McClure looked after the young woman as she went through childbirth and then stayed on to care for the small family until she was no longer needed.”
“Oh God! Mrs. McClure? She knew about Mrs. McClure?” Gusty sobbed.
“You know who I mean?”
“Anna McClure watched over me all this time. If Maeve knew about her it makes me wonder about the woman who was my landlady. Who is she really?”
“A witch perhaps,” Alexander murmured as he kissed her cheek, tightening his embrace.
Gusty knew just how he felt. She had disappeared from his life so many times that he would never let her out of his sight again.
“No—Anna McClure is an angel. A true guardian angel to appear just when we needed her.”
She reached up and caressed his precious face with her fingertips and her heart jumped as Alexander turned his head and placed a soft kiss in the palm of her hand followed with a warm, wet swipe of his tongue. A sob escaped her lips at the sensual act. God how she had missed him! She raised her eyes to look at her true love and could barely see his handsome smile through her tears of joy.
“I am a Highlander, my love. I promise you I am too stubborn to die.”
“Yes. That you are. Oh God! I love you so much, Alexander.”
“Aye, I know you do.”
“And…?” She glared up
at him.
“And what?” His grin broadened. “Oh it’s been a long time. I’m out of practice with this wooing business.” His grin faded and his eyes filled with something akin to pain and longing. “Aye, my Gusty, I love you too. More than you know.” He kissed her lips to seal his promise.
Seamus chose that moment to greet his father. He reached up, gurgling happily. Alexander took his son in his large hands and held him high. The setting sun glistened off the lake, highlighting the dark-haired cherub. The baby looked down at his father with an unsmiling, intent expression. Alexander grinned at his little lad and then brought the boy to rest against his chest as he placed a gentle kiss to the silky-soft down on the top of the baby’s head. He placed a heavy arm about Gusty’s shoulders and hugged her close to him, kissing the top of her head much the same way he had kissed his son.
“We must hurry, my love, lest we miss your parents’ wedding.” He stared over her shoulder.
Gusty turned and found her mother and father standing there. Her brother stood beside them. And behind them was the Sinclair castle, whole and intact.
When did we move through time? Her eyes widened as she realized that Alexander had come to her through the warp. He had stepped with her back into the past without her realizing it.
“Ha ha ha! I beat you, Gusty. I got here first.” Duncan’s taunt was music to her ears. The rascal had led her on a merry chase but she easily forgave him for scaring her.
“Welcome home, daughter.” Her mother smiled through her tears.
“About time you showed up, sister.” Michael’s voice was hoarse with emotion. He stepped forward and gathered her close, kissing her cheek. “It is a good thing I believe in miracles,” he whispered in her ear before pushing her toward her parents.
“Och, lass!” her father said.
Gusty threw herself into his arms and her tears wet his tunic while he rocked her back and forth as if she were a small child.
“Oh, Father, I didn’t know what to do. I thought I had lost you all.”
“We have been here waiting, lass. Your mother and I had great faith that all would end well.” He drew Isabelle into his embrace and they both wrapped Gusty in their arms.
“All is well, Augusta. All is well and you have returned to us with your new babe. What more could a mother—nay, a grandmother—ask?” Isabelle crooned in Gusty’s ear. “Come, let me hold the dear lad.”
Gusty smiled as her mother held out her arms for Seamus, even as strong arms slipped around Gusty’s waist and soft, firm lips caressed her cheek.
“Welcome home, Augusta Sutherland.” Alexander whispered in her ear.
About Christina James
Christina James is an avid reader of all types of romantic fiction and has been for many years. Her love of writing has evolved into much more than just a hobby. She currently resides in the beautiful central Idaho mountains surrounded by the family and friends she loves and who support her efforts. Kiss of the Dragon is her first published novel.
Christina welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
Tell Us What You Think
We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can email the author directly or you can email us at [email protected] (when contacting Customer Service, be sure to state the book title and author).
Also by Christina James
Kiss of the Dragon
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
www.ellorascave.com
Into Eternity
ISBN 9781419948336
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Into Eternity Copyright © 2014 Christina James
Edited by Jill Noelle
Cover design by Fiona Jayde
Cover photography by periodimages.com
Electronic book publication July 2014
The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.
With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.
Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
The publisher and author(s) acknowledge the trademark status and trademark ownership of all trademarks, service marks and word marks mentioned in this book.
The publisher does not have any control over, and does not assume any responsibility for, author or third-party websites or their content.
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com to find erotic reading experiences that will leave you breathless. You can also find our books at all the major e-tailers (Barnes & Noble, Amazon Kindle, Sony, Kobo, Google, Apple iBookstore, All Romance eBooks, and others).
www.ellorascave.com
IntoEternity Page 33