Anywhere in Time (Magic of Time Book 2)
Page 23
Emmie nodded her agreement, no longer surprised at anything this strange little woman said or did. All that mattered was that she could see her life happily playing out ahead of her. And the thought of helping other people find happiness such as she knew in this moment felt like a very good way to spend her life.
* * *
Delafée Valley, Switzerland
The Present
“I know you’re there, Nalindria. Whatever it is, come tell me and get it over with.”
Reynalia Servans placed the tips of her fingers to her temple in a fruitless attempt to hold off the headache she felt approaching. All these centuries and that servant girl still skulked in the shadows like a timid mouse when she had unpleasant news to deliver.
“It is your brother, mistress. He insists you join him at poolside for lunch.”
“You can tell my brother—”
Reynalia bit back her first response, knowing it would only irritate Reynard. Dealing with her brother’s over-inflated ego was an ongoing challenge. A time would come when holding her tongue would no longer be necessary, but today was not that time.
“You can tell him I will join him as soon as I change into appropriate clothing.”
Nalindria started to scurry away, but paused, turning, her eyes darting as if she had something else to say.
“Spit it out, girl.”
“She is with him,” Nalindria said, before turning to hurry out of the room.
“Of course she is,” Reynalia murmured, rising to walk to her closet.
When she’d first come to this world, wounded, defeated, Reynard had taken her in. Over the years, she’d helped him consolidate power among the Nuadians until there were only a few true leaders in charge. When the time was right, she’d taken her place as one of those leaders, successfully running her own part of the organization.
Naturally, when Reynard had shown up at her door a few years back, more dead than alive, with that horrible handprint burned into his flesh, she’d had no qualms about taking him in. It was the least she could do. But after he’d healed, things had changed and one of the most annoying changes had been his bringing that trashy mistress of his into her home. Adira Ré Alyn wasn’t the sort of person Reynalia had ever associated with in Wyddecol, and she had no desire to do so here.
With a sigh of irritation, she brushed the hair away from her face, catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her eyes gravitated toward the scar on her cheek left there by that miserable upstart who’d been the cause of her failure. Poor Orlyn had taken the brunt of that attack, but she hadn’t gone unscathed, left with this mark to remind her of all she’d lost. Once again she swore she’d one day find Elesyria Aĺ Byrn and make her pay for what she’d done. Her and everyone she’d ever cared about.
Slipping off the silky robe she wore, she reached for a casual sundress and let it drop over her head.
With one more glance into the mirror, she left the room, headed for the pool.
Yes, one day soon things would change around here. She’d have her revenge on Elesyria and she’d have her brother out of her home. All she needed was patience and, over the centuries, she’d cultivated patience to a fine art. She liked to think of herself as akin to the spider sitting in the center of her perfectly spun web, waiting for her prey to drop into her trap.
A few more rounds of weaving and, just like the spider, her web would be ready.
* * *
The Between
The Present
“About time you were home again,” Patrick called as Syrie entered the great hall of their castle. “I’d begun to think you’d decided to abandon me in favor of your Mortal world.”
“Never,” Syrie promised, hurrying her steps to throw her arms around her big warrior. “As I’ve told you so many times, once I found you, I was never letting you get away from me. You are mine, Patrick MacDowylt. Now and forever.”
“I thought that was my line,” Patrick said with a laugh as he lifted her off her feet for a kiss.
“Mine now,” she replied, wishing they were in their own chamber rather than in the middle of the great hall.
She had been gone for far too long.
“As it should be.” Another kiss and Patrick looked down at her, his eyebrow arching in that particular way of his. “Do drop that old woman’s disguise, wife. You doona wish to startle the boys, now do you?”
“That would never do,” she agreed.
In less time than it took to breath in, the air shifted around her and the facade of age slipped away. She was herself again.
“Much better,” Patrick said, hugging her close. “Was yer visit as you’d hoped? The girl agreed to what you asked?”
“She did,” Syrie said, smiling at the memory of Emmie’s day. “Though I’d say she’ll be working through the shock of it all for while.”
“She has my sympathies on that one,” Patrick said, his lips only a hair’s breadth from hers. “Once she learns to go with the flow, she’ll find the going much easier.”
Go with the flow?
“Have you been watching those shows on the telly again?” she asked, knowing that particular modern invention was one of her husband’s weaknesses.
“Why would you even think to ask a thing like that?” he blustered, his eyes twinkling even as he pretended to deny her accusation. “It’s a fair old saying I learned, long in the past. Besides, did you no’ enjoy yer own share of modern conveniences while you visited Emily?”
“I did. But you say that like we live a completely primitive life here. I’d hardly call it that.”
They had, in fact, made their home a combination of all the things they liked best about the variety of times in which they’d traveled. After all, it would hardly make sense to have all that power and not use a little of it for their own comfort.
“Not entirely primitive,” Patrick agreed. “We do enjoy a few favorite bits and pieces, now and again.”
“So we do,” she said, dutifully following him as he led her to the stairs and started up. “And just where exactly do you think you are leading me, my love?”
At the top of the stairs he turned and, with a laugh, swept her off her feet and into his arms.
“You’ve been gone two days, love. Two days and two long nights. Where am I taking you? Why, to one of my personal favorite bits of newfangled technology, of course. If that’s acceptable to you, wife mine.”
“It’s absolutely acceptable,” she answered, her laughter mingling with his as she tightened her arms around his neck. “In fact, it’s more than acceptable. It’s something I’d have insisted upon myself, husband mine, if I’d thought of it first.”
This, this giddy feeling of happiness and excitement, this was what she wanted for everyone. This was what she was determined to give to as many people as she could. Their own personal happily ever afters. As soon as the guest-house was complete, she’d begin her search for those people she could help.
But for right now, with Patrick’s plaid hitting the floor to pool around his feet, it was her own happily ever after she was most interested in. Because there were, after all, few things in life that made her happier than a rousing afternoon romp in the shower with the man of her dreams.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. To obtain permission to excerpt portions of the text, please contact the author at Melissa@MelissaMayhue.com.
Published by Melissa Mayhue
Copyright © 2015 Melissa Mayhue
Last Updated -10/2015
Cover art by Inspire Creative Serv
ices
Edited by Editing 720
All rights reserved.
Print Edition ISBNs:
ISBN-10: 0989827275
ISBN-13:978-0-9898272-7-0
Ebook Edition ISBNs:
ISBN-10: 0989827267
ISBN-13: 978-0-9898272-6-3
Dear Reader~
Thank you so much for reading ANYWHERE IN TIME. I do hope you enjoyed spending time with Syrie and Patrick and learning more about them and how their story will change their world — both past and future.
Next up in the series will be TIME TO SPARE, due out in late 2016. If you’d like to be notified when the next books are released, you can sign up for my New Release Newsletter.
Have a comment or a question? Feel free to like my Facebook page and say hello there, or at my website — MelissaMayhue.com, or contact me directly at Melissa@MelissaMayhue.com. I’d love to hear from you! We even have a special Facebook Group for readers of this series and lovers of all time travel romance. We’d love to have you join us at the Magic of Time Readers Group.
If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review at your favorite online retailer or at Goodreads.com to help other readers find it.
— Melissa
Other Books by Melissa Mayhue:
~ Magic of Time Series ~
1 - All the Time You Need (2014)
2 - Anywhere In Time (2015)
~Chance, Colorado Series~
(Contemporary Romance)
1 - Take a Chance (2013)
2 - Second Chance at Love (Coming2016)
~ Daughters of the Glen Series ~
1 - Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband (2007)
2 - Highland Guardian (2007)
3 - Soul of a Highlander (2008)
4 - A Highlander of Her Own (2009)
5 - A Highlander’s Destiny (2010)
6 - A Highlander’s Homecoming (2010)
7 - Healing the Highlander (2011)
8 - Highlander’s Curse (2011)
~ Warriors Series ~
1 - Warrior’s Redemption (2012)
2 - Warrior’s Last Gift (2012)(Novella)
3 - Warrior Reborn (2012)
4 - Warrior Untamed (2013)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My sincere thanks to all the people who kept me inspired during the writing of this book. First and foremost among them are the members of my family who were always there for me.
And, as always, my thanks to all the readers who have become so very special to me. Your inspiration and motivation keep me going whenever the story stalls.
About the Author
MELISSA MAYHUE, married and the mother of three sons, lives at the foot of the Rockies in beautiful Northern Colorado with her family and one very spoiled Boston Terrier. In addition to writing The Magic of Time Series, she has also written two additional paranormal historical series, The Daughters of the Glen Series and The Warriors series. She is also writing The Chance, Colorado Series, contemporary feel-good romances set in a small mountain town.
Want to be notified when the next book is due out? Sign up for Melissa’s New Release Newsletter.
Visit Melissa online at MelissaMayhue.com for more information and excerpts of all the books. Melissa loves hearing from readers! Contact her at Melissa@MelissaMayhue.com.
If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review at your favorite online retailer or at Goodreads.com to help other readers find it.