I studied the squirming baby girl in my arms that eagerly searched for my breast. I was speechless. She was perfect. I knew the Guardians would never touch her. I’d never let them. “She’s beautiful,” I whispered in awe at the tiny head covered in thick dark brown hair.
“That she is,” Merrick said putting his large palm on the child’s head. “What shall we name her, lass?” His face filled with emotion as his large finger became encased in her teeny hand.
“Elspeth, if you don’t mind,” I said looking up at him.
“Aye, Elspeth is a perfect name, lass.”
* * * * *
EPILOGUE
It was the middle of summer and Elise and I sat in the garden surrounded by sunlight. Elise rubbed her huge stomach and spoke to her babe, which was due in about two months. I had Elspeth on a blanket under a shady tree and played with her as she squirmed and endlessly kicked her legs and flailed her arms.
“Do ye think they’ll be back today?” Elise asked stretching her back. We waited for Merrick and Cameron to return from their trip to see the Guardians. When Merrick had decided to go and demand answers as to why our daughter was immortal—which was the only conclusion we could make from that day long ago with Grant—Cameron had insisted he go along.
Suddenly, low rumbles of laughter came from behind a row of tall shrubs. Elspeth heard the deep baritone of her father’s voice and began cooing, glancing all around for him. Merrick and Cameron emerged from the shrubs. When I spotted Merrick, I jumped up and ran over to him. He pulled me up against his body hugging and kissing me.
“Did they change their minds?” I asked feeling hopeful from the big grin on Merrick’s face.
“No,” Merrick said smiling.
“Then what—why are you so happy?” I asked puzzled.
“The Guardians are just as stumped as we are. Baltzar gave his word that they had not interfered. As far as they kenned, Elspeth is mortal just like us.”
“But that makes no sense, how could I have healed like that? I almost died, Merrick. I felt myself preparing to leave my body.”
“The Guardians did mention that it sounded like a spell of sorts,” Cameron joined in as he wrapped his arm around Elise. “An enchantment used in dark magic, but it’s a complicated hex. They didn’t know anyone who would be able to cast a spell like that.”
“Ah, there’s my lassie,” Merrick said walking over to Elspeth who had squirmed to the edge of the blanket. I was about to join Merrick and Elspeth on the blanket when I glanced over my shoulder spotting the corner of a deep red cloak right before it disappeared behind a hedge.
I turned and glanced over at Merrick who focused his attention entirely on Elspeth. Cameron sat on a bench with Elise and was intimately engrossed with her. I quietly made my way toward the hedge and around the tall shrubbery leading into the garden’s maze. I walked down a path until it came to a dead end where Cain stood.
“Cain?” I asked in disbelief.
“Shh, lass,” he whispered as he stalked toward me.
“What are you doing here? I thought Alexander was supposed to hunt you down.”
“Alexander is hunting me. He’s getting closer ta my location every second.”
I studied Cain’s eyes. The whites of his eyes were pooled with what resembled black ink around the edges. Tattoos now encroached up his neck. “Are you all right?” I asked concerned.
“I’m a bad mon, Jillian. But I had ta tell ye, ‘twas me who cast the spell on the dagger.” I sucked in a breath and took a step back.
“You? Why?” I whispered.
“’Twas a favor for an old friend.”
Trying to think who this “old friend” could be, I glanced down toward the ground when a ray of sunlight glared off of something on Cain’s hand directly into my eyes. A huge black oval stone ring adorned his index finger. My breath caught. “You,” I barely said aloud. “It was you in the picture with my grandda.”
“Aye, he was an Immortal…one o’ my only friends.”
“My grandda was Immortal?” I asked in incredulously. How could that be true? I would’ve known, my gram would’ve told me. “But, that makes no sense, my grandda was a Murray and Cameron never mentioned another Immortal in the clan.”
“Ye’re grandda was birthed by Cameron’s father’s brother and his wife. Ye’re grandda’s father was ne’er in line ta be a laird. He was too young. The lineage began with Cameron’s father and so on down the line.” I stared down at the ground. This couldn’t be. I knew for sure my gram would have told me, or my parents would have to have known.
As if Cain read my thoughts, he said, “Ye’re grandparents kept it a secret. Ye’re grandda wanted ta forget about that way o’ life and the demands from the Guardians. He wanted ta enjoy the present day with his family.” Cain stared down at the ring on his finger as he twisted it around. A smile crept across his mouth. “I’d stop by occasionally to see them, ye’re grandparents. I was the one who thrust the Sword o’ Divinity into ye’re grandda’s chest. Eventually, I just checked in from time ta time without ye’re grandparents kenning. I didna want ye’re grandda ta see what I became, what I was turning into.”
Cain let out a deep sigh. “One time, right after ye were born, ye’re family visited ye’re grandparents in Dornoch for Easter. Ye’re grandda saw me. Even kenning the type o’ man I would become, he still believed there was good in me. I wanted ta do one ‘good deed’ before I completely changed over. That day in the garden, I took ye’re dagger and cast a binding spell ta it. Ye and any part o’ ye can ne’er be harmed by that dagger.”
“Did you know what Grant would do?”
Cain tapped the side of his head. “I can see into the future at times, not clearly though. All I kenned was that the dagger would play a role in ye’re demise. I did the only thing I could think o’.”
I slowly raised my gaze to his. “Thank you, I owe you my life. You do have good still in you, Cain.”
Cain smiled. “Ye’re just like ye’re grandda. He believed in something that didn’t exist too. Like I said, ‘twas a favor ta ye’re grandda. Otherwise, I wouldna cared if ye died, lass.”
Slowly, I raised my hand up to Cain’s cold cheek. “What’s happening to you?” I asked quietly.
“’Tis like a drug, Jillian. I used ta be able to control the dark magic, but now…it controls me. I’m more powerful than the Guardians, ‘tis why they want ta destroy me.” He looked away. “I should be destroyed,” he said quietly. “Someday soon there will be no part of the real me left.” Suddenly, his head snapped over to the side. “I’ve got ta leave. Enjoy ye’re life, start living. That’s what ye’re grandparents wanted for ye.”
I turned and scanned the bushes from where a rustling sound came from just as Merrick emerged from the corner of the hedge holding Elspeth. “Who were ye talking to, lass?” Merrick asked looking past me.
I quickly spun around to where Cain had stood finding nothing but air. “No one, come you must be starved. I want to hear all about your trip.”
“Listen, Jillian, I’m sorry aboot Elspeth’s fate. We can only go on the Guardians words that she’ll be mortal, which isna much.”
I smiled. “I for a fact know she’ll be fine.”
“How can ye be so certain?”
“Come, let’s go inside and I’ll tell you everything.” Merrick leaned forward and kissed me softly on the lips. Suddenly, Elspeth’s tiny dimpled hands reached up grabbing our faces causing us to laugh.
“Isna it time for Elspeth’s nap?” Merrick asked huskily.
“I believe it is,” I said, feeling I truly found a home, a family, and knew everything was right in my universe.
THE END
###
* * * * *
Here ends Book One in the Immortal series.
If you loved Immortal of My Dreams,
you won’t want to miss Alexis McNeil’s second book following Alexander’s adventure in finding his true soul mate:
IMMORTAL OF M
Y HEART
Scotland, Castle MacRae
1153
The inky black clouds rumbled overhead hinting at the storm to come as the huge immortal kneeled down on the dirt covered ground. Alexander glanced up at the shadowy afternoon sky with a smirk across his lips. He pictured the expressions of fury trembling across the faces of the Guardians at what he was about to do. The murky weather may be fitting for the Guardians’ moods, but Alexander felt on top of the world.
He was surrounded by a throng of friends. Some old, some new, one of them, Merrick, his best friend and fellow Immortal who at times acted more like a brother. Out of all the thirteen Immortals, he was the only one who Alexander felt he could share his deepest secrets and fears with. That’s why Alexander had chosen Merrick to be the one to thrust the Sword of Divinity into his chest, to help play a part in beginning his new life as a mortal.
Alexander stared up into his friend’s gaze which stood above him and smiled his warm friendly smile displaying his dimples, the smile that always caught every lass’s attention. Merrick leaned down close to Alexander’s ear. “Ye found a rare lass, Alexander. I hope ye ha’ a long mortal life filled with love and many bairns.” Merrick grasped Alexander’s shoulder in a friendly embrace and stepped back. Alexander gave a reassuring nod and without delay, Merrick thrust the razor sharp gold blade deep into Alexander’s heart.
Gasps spread through the crowd, when suddenly, a path was formed and a beautiful black-haired lass walked toward Alexander with the cool haughtiness of a queen. Deirdre’s deep violet velvet dress swirled around her legs as she made her way over to Alexander. Though, she held her head high, tears streamed down her pale cheeks from vibrant green eyes.
Alexander studied her angelic face. The tears didn’t make him doubtful she was his soul mate. He knew this was a very emotional time for the lassies, at least, that’s what he had learned from the three Immortals that had changed before him. By Deirdre joining him in this ceremony, she announced to all she was Alexander’s soul mate and that she belonged to him as though she was his wife. Her chin quivered and a sob escaped her when she finally arrived in front of Alexander and kneeled down in the dirt next to him.
His shirt was bloodied and he could feel the wound healing beneath. There was only one thing left to do, for Deirdre to give him a kiss. The kiss of life. A kiss filled with so much love from his true soul mate, that he would become human and break the spell of immortality the Guardians had over him.
Alexander lightly ran his fingers across Deirdre’s chin. His forehead creased with unease as he realized she avoided his gaze. “My love, kiss me so we can be two o’ the same. Let’s start our life together.”
Deirdre reluctantly glanced up into his gaze. A sob shook her body. “I-I—.“ She abruptly stopped and covered her hand over her mouth. She glanced side to side at the crowd intently watching the couple’s every move. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a brief moment collecting herself. She leaned forward with her chin quivering and whispered into Alexander’s ear. “I canna do this. I dinna love ye, Alex. I’m so sorry, but…there’s someone else my heart belongs ta.”
Alexander jerked back as though he was slapped. His expression grew murderous. His jaw clenched tightly together while his hands were in taut fists at his sides. Afraid of what he might do to Deirdre at the moment, he leaned back on his heels. He never hit or hurt a woman before, but he wasn’t so sure he could hold back the wrath raging inside him now. He swallowed and paused a moment trying to control his anger.
“Ye should ha’ told me sooner, dinna ye think?” he said through clenched teeth. He stared down at the ground as hate toward the woman he thought he loved more than anything consumed him. Only moments before, he was ready to be human, start a life with his lovely bride to be. She made a move to touch him on his sleeve making herself the target of his deadly glare. “Get out o’ me sight,” Alexander growled. “Dinna ever come near me again.”
Deirdre jumped as a loud rumble of thunder pierced the sky and she abruptly stood. She took a step toward the silent crowd and stopped. After glancing at the faces in the crowd full of hate and loathing for her, she looked back over her shoulder at Alexander. “I’m sorry. I hope ye can forgive me someday,” she barely whispered.
Alexander peered up into her face. “Then ye’ll be hoping for the rest o’ yer life,” he said as calm as he could. “My feelings for ye…for everyone, ha’ died here today. We can all thank one deceitful spoiled princess for it.”
She let out a cry and hastily pushed her way through the crowd running toward the privacy of her father’s castle as a new round of tears made rivers down her perfect face. Merrick knelt down next to Alexander. “What’s happened?”
“Why dinna ye ask the lying whore that just ran off!” Alexander bit off. “Ye’re right Merrick, I did find a rare lass. She looks like an angel, yet the verra devil resides in her black heart!” Alexander pushed Merrick’s hand away and stood up knowing his wound had completely healed. He was immortal once again…and for all time now.
The silence was deafening to his ears. The stares, the looks of pity, what a fool he was. To think his soul mate actually existed. To think he could escape the hell he called his existence. He shouldered his way through the crowd making his way toward the stable and his trusty horse. Never again would he make this mistake, he thought bitterly. The Guardians would never give him another chance to be mortal anyway. The Guardians only gave an Immortal one opportunity in becoming human and the beautiful bitch just stole that away from him.
As he reached his huge black war horse, he vowed he’d never fall for a woman’s charms again. He’d use them for his own pleasures, but he’d never give his heart to another. The chance at the life he once dreamt of was over. Now it would be endless days of war, fighting, and the Guardians’ orders. He was now the Guardians’ slave for eternity.
His fate was sealed…
COMING SOON
* * * * *
About the Author
Alexis McNeil graduated with an Associates degree in Computer Aided Drafting. She resides in Pennsylvania with her husband and two children where she juggles her time as a mother, wife, writer, and part-time kitchen designer.
Connect with Me Online
Twitter: http://twitter.com/alexismcneil
www.alexismcneil.com
Immortal of My Dreams Page 23