by B. J. Scott
“I came here to think. After you beat the crap out of me and nearly killed me, I needed some space. I’m not seeing anyone and would like you to leave.” She stood her ground but was ready to duck out of the way if the need arose.
“I saw you with the bastard. You spent the day with him, Katherine.”
“He’s just a neighbor. He brought my cat home when he wandered off.” She released the breath she was holding when Tiger scooted over Ethan’s shoe and ran into the parlor. “There is nothing going on between us.”
“You’re living in this hellhole and prefer it over my luxury apartment in Manhattan?” He moved closer and screwed up his nose in disgust.
“You know why I am not living in your apartment, Ethan.”
“And what are you wearing? You look like you should be begging on a street corner, rather than working in the number one Madison Avenue ad agency,” he snarled.
“I’m not in New York right now, and the airline lost my luggage. I’m borrowing these until I can get some new clothes.”
“I’d certainly hope so,” he hissed. “But you’ve yet to explain what you are doing in the hovel?”
“I inherited the estate from my great aunt. It has been in our family for hundreds of years,” she said and inched toward the parlor, keeping the kitchen table between them. Not that a slab of wood would stop him if he decided to attack her like a man possessed, the way he had in their apartment.
“And why is it you never saw fit to share the news of this little windfall with me?” The look of repulsion on his face relayed his honest opinion of the croft. “What other secrets were you keeping from me?”
“I’d hardly call it a windfall. The reason I didn’t mention it is because I honestly didn’t think you’d care.” She swept her arm in a wide arc, in an attempt to draw attention to the size of the structure. “As you can see, the building is old and outdated. It doesn’t even have electricity. And as for her bank account, my aunt had amassed a fortune of forty two pounds.” She kept talking and moved a little closer to the door leading to the parlor.
“Where do you think you’re going?” He pinned her with an ominous scowl that made the fine hairs on her arms and the back of her neck stand on end.
“Nowhere.” She halted her retreat and quickly scanned the room, looking for something, anything she could use to defend herself should she need it. The medieval weaponry hanging on the wall in Warren’s room and the parlor came to mind. If she could manage to work her way into one of those rooms and snag one of the swords or daggers, she might have a fighting chance. But then again, if he got hold of one of them before she did and decided to use it, she was doomed.
“You must be exhausted after your long trip. I know I was,” she babbled politely in an attempt to defuse a possible volatile situation. “Are you hungry, or maybe you’d like some tea?” She headed toward the fireplace to heat some water, and perhaps grab the butcher knife while he wasn’t looking.
“You should have thought of that before you made me chase you halfway across the world to drag you home.” He launched forward with the stealth of a wildcat and grabbed the back of her neck in a viselike grip. “I’m not tired and you know I hate tea,” he growled in her ear.
“I forgot. How about some coffee?” She winced from the pain he inflicted, his nails digging into her flesh, but she refused to cry out.
“I am not thirsty or hungry,” he ground out in a bitter tone and accentuated each word he spoke. “Now, if you want to offer me something else to nibble on, I could be tempted.” He slid his free arm around her shoulder and began to fondle her breast. His tongue slithered along the side her neck, then he nipped at her ear. “I forgot how good you taste and feel,” he groaned, and molded his body against her back.
His touch made her skin crawl and her blood ran cold. “Please, Ethan. Can’t we just talk about this?”
“Talk!” He spun her around to face him. “That is not what I have in mind. Trust me, when I finish with you, you’ll forget all about your new lover.” He pinched her chin between his thumb and fingers and forced her to look at him. “You know I don’t like to share.”
Panic squeezed her chest and she feared for Ayden’s life. Ethan had obviously seen them together. But how much had he observed? How long had he been lurking in the shadows?
Her mind reeled. If Ethan flew into a fit of rage and jealousy over an innocent thing like dancing, to what extend would he go if he’d actually seen her in Ayden’s arms, saw them kissing? She had to warn him. But how? Ethan would never let her leave the croft, even if she did know where to find Ayden.
“You’re thinking about the bastard now, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know who you mean.”
“Liar.” He wrapped his fingers around her throat and squeezed until she clawed at his hand, gasping for air. “You know better than to lie to me, Katherine. If you won’t tell me the truth, I’ll beat it out of you.” He let loose with a backhand that sent her crashing into the table. When she didn’t go down, he struck her again.
Dazed, Katherine lay on her back on the floor, staring up at him, waiting for the next brutal blow. She thought his misplaced anger was out control the first time he beat her, but this time it was worse. There was a calm, deliberate, almost methodical way about how he approached her. He hadn’t succeeding in killing her before, but she was certain he’d succeed this time.
“Get up, bitch.” He clasped the front of her leine, hauled her to her feet, and dragged her into the parlor. “You’re making this too easy, Katherine. Why aren’t you fighting me?”
“Because she is too smart to accept a challenge from a cowardly blackguard like you,” Ayden said, as he stormed into the room with his sword in hand. “Let her go and fight me in her stead.”
Katherine had no idea how Ayden knew she was in danger or how he got into the Cottage, but it didn’t matter. She was so relieved to see him, but she knew how relentless Ethan could be and she feared for his life. She couldn’t bear the thought of watching him die.
Ethan shoved Katherine to the ground and grabbed a sword from the wall. “I’ll warn you, I was the state fencing champion two years in a row.” He glared at Katherine. “Don’t get any ideas about running off. Once I flay this idiot, I’ll deal with you. And this time, you’ll not run away.” He then spun on his heel and brought his sword down in a huge ark, missing Ayden by inches and slicing into the arm of a chair instead.
“I hope you are a better fighter than that, or this will be over quickly. And I relish the idea of defeating you slowly,” Ayden taunted, and parried with a strike of his own, nicking Ethan’s right shoulder with the tip of his blade.
“Stop this, both of you.” Katherine climbed to her feet and watched in horror as the two men delivered and deflected blow after blow. They appeared equally matched and she feared the worst. And while they’d each received minor wounds, she saw no blood and neither man appeared to be weakening. “Please, Ayden, I don’t want you to get hurt on my account. Leave while you can and let me deal with Ethan.”
Ethan threw back his head and mimicked Katherine’s plea. “Yes, Ayden, run off like a dog with your tail between your legs and leave Katherine and I to come to an agreement.” He grabbed his crotch and pumped his hips in a lewd manner.
“Stay back, Katherine, and dinna get in the way,” Ayden commanded, and spun around in time to block another strike.
Aware she was wasting her breath and more likely to put Ayden in danger if she distracted him, Katherine backed into the corner and waited with baited breath as the battle raged on. Unfortunately, Ayden appeared to be tiring while Ethan kept going strong.
Ethan shot a look in Katherine’s direction. “Don’t fret. It appears your hero is starting to fade. It won’t be much longer and we can be together.”
“You’ll keep your filthy hands off her,” Ayden dropped his sword, lowered his stance, and charged at his opponent, catching him around the waist and wrestling him to the ground.
; They rolled around on the floor, kicking, clawing, throwing punches, pummeling each other, but neither would surrender. Then after what seemed like an eternity, Ethan staggered to his feet with his sword in hand and Ayden on his knees before him.
“Prepare to die,” Ethan cackled and brought his sword down in a large arc toward Ayden’s head.
“No. Ayden, watch out!” Katherine shouted, certain his end was near.
But in one fluid movement, Ayden caught his sword by the hilt and rolled to the right, as Ethan followed through with his intended blow. “I’m na ready to die. Na yet, Ethan,” he growled, then plunged his blade through Ethan’s heart. “But I canna say the same for you.”
Chapter Twenty Four
Katherine watched as Ayden stood over Ethan with his sword in hand and chanted some sort of prayer or spell in a language she didn’t understand.
Ethan’s body violently convulsed, a garbled string of ribald curses spewing from his lips, before he finally stilled and grew quiet. Dark tendrils of fog oozed from the shadows and covered his body. When the haze dissipated Ethan was gone.
“Oh my God! What’s going on, Ayden, where did he go?” her gaze darted around the room, then locked on Ayden. “I … I don’t understand. Ethan tried to kill me and if not for you, he would have. The two of you fought and I saw him fall. His body should be right there.” She pointed at the spot on the floor where Ethan collapsed. “But it disappeared and there is no blood. I must be losing my mind.” Suddenly feeling faint, she swayed on her feet and crumpled to the ground.
Ayden rushed to her side and pulled her into his lap. “It’s over and he’ll never hurt you again.” He rocked her in his arms and lightly brushed his hand up and down her back. “You dinna imagine it, ma gaol.” He tightened his embrace. “The rogue willna be back.”
Katherine gripped his arm and glared up at him. Somehow she had to make him listen. “You don’t know him. Ethan is not the type to just walk away from a challenge and he is hellbent on winning this one. He’ll be back,” she sobbed, the strain finally taking its toll.
“Dinna cry, sweeting.” Ayden hugged her tighter. “He has finally crossed over to the netherworld, and Hell can keep him. He’s dead, and I can promise he’ll never hurt you or anyone else ever again.” Ayden tucked her head beneath his chin and continued to rock her.
“A man can’t just vanish like that, Ayden.”
“He can if he already died somewhere else,” a woman said.
Katherine’s gaze shot toward the door, shocked to see Noreen standing there.
“Are you telling me he wasn’t really here? That I imagined his hands wrapped around my throat, and this?” Katherine touched her split lip, then dragged her finger across her bruised cheek.
“His malevolent earthbound spirit was here, but he died in a place called New York, the night you and he fought,” Noreen said, in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Did … did I kill him? Is that why he came after me here?” Katherine asked, her voice trembling. There was so much about that night she didn’t remember.
“Nay, lass. He was killed by a man named George.”
“George killed him? I don’t believe it,” Katherine shrieked. “George is a good man. He saved me from Ethan.”
“He tried to kill George after you left, and he fought back,” Noreen explained. “You are na responsible, but his restless spirit was trapped on earth seeking revenge for a violent death. Since you were the object of his rage when he died, his spirit sought you out, intent on taking your life.”
“I don’t understand. How can a person die in one country and their spirit end up in another? Katherine asked. “That would be impossible.” She dragged her fingers through her hair. This was all too much to fathom.
“How can a person living in one century travel to another that took place seven hundred years in the past?” Noreen ask. “But you did it.”
“You know about that?” Katherine gasped. She glared up at Noreen. “How do you know? Who are you?”
“One of the ancients. I know all and see all. ” Noreen’s lips flickered like she was about to smile, but instead her face contorted and her features began to change. “Some call me a seer, some call me a witch. Like beauty, it is all in the eye of the beholder.”
“Seonag,” Katherine clutched a hand to her throat when Noreen transformed from a forty-year old woman to the ancient seer before her eyes.
Ayden released his hold on Katherine and sprang to his feet. He picked up his sword and stood between her and Seonag. “Dinna come any closer. I’ve heard tales about your treachery and deception.”
Seonag smiled and raised her hand. “You’ve no need to fash or to protect the lass, Ayden MacAndrews. I mean her no harm. If I did, you’d be powerless to stop me.”
“Then why are you here, Seonag? What do you want with Katherine?” Ayden tightened the grip on his sword and widened his stance.
“I’m here for the same reason you are, Ayden.” Seonag replied. “To set a wrong to right, so things will be as they should be.”
Katherine stood and placed her hand on Ayden’s wrist, prompting him to lower his sword. “It’s fine, Ayden. Seonag and I have met in the past and I dinna think she means me any harm.” While some were threatened and feared the seer, Katherine felt calm and comfortable in her presence.
“You met with her before? When?” Ayden asked, concern lacing his voice.
“She came to me the night of the feast, when you were being held by Lord Grant, and after Lord MacConnery had gone to join in your beating,” Katherine said. “I also met with her in the cave the day I heard you’d died and I ran from Glen Heather, before I was attacked by MacConnery at the falls.” She stepped forward with her arms outstretched. “Why are you here? We set the wrong to right, did we not? We found out that Catriona did not kill herself, so now her soul can rest, and we uncovered the truth about the betrayal at Stirling.”
“Aye, you did these things,” Seonag said. “But there were other things that needed to be fixed. Like Ayden’s death at Stirling.”
“What did you have to do with that?” Ayden asked. “
“When it was uncovered that MacConnery was a traitor, he was na given the information about the Highland reinforcements, so he was na able to betray his countrymen. Men died, as their fates dictated, but na the number who died as a result of the betrayal. Ayden lived to come home to his wife and child.”
“Child?” Ayden spun her around to face Katherine. “You were carried my bairn? Why did you na tell me?”
“Aye, I was with child,” Katherine whispered, and slid her hand over her belly, tears running down her cheek. She had no idea how it worked when she was pregnant in one century, and returned to the future. “I didn’t find out for sure until the day in the cave. Seonag told me. Then I fell from the cliff before we could talk, and was returned to my own time. I wasn’t sure if I was pregnant or if Catriona was pregnant.”
“But you are one in the same.” Ayden tugged her into his arms, and glared at Seonag. “Is Katherine still breeding? Does she carry my babe?”
Seonag mumbled something in Gaelic, then looked at Ayden “Things are as they should be.”
“Why did you come to me as Noreen the first time we met?” Katherine asked.
“Would you have opened the door to me if I had come in this form?”
Katherine lowered her gaze, ashamed of her answer. “I’m not sure. I was new here and hiding from Ethan. I really shouldn’t have opened the door to anyone.”
“Do you still have the bundle of herbs I gave you?”
Katherine nodded. “You told me to keep it with me and I did.” She reached into a small pouch tied to her skirt, and produced the bundle of herbs.
“Tonight is the Summer solstice, midsummer’s eve. At the stroke of midnight, you will have decisions to make. Burn the bundle of herbs and you will find the answers you seek.” She faced Ayden. “Search for the truth and what’s important and what is na. Once you do, all will be as i
t should be.” That said, she spun in a circle and disappeared.
Ayden looped his arm around Katherine’s waist, and drew her against his chest.
“Is it truly over?” she asked, the air rushing from her lungs in a huge sigh of relief. It was finally over. Ethan could never hurt her again. She was free. Or was she? She glanced up at Ayden. There were still so many unanswered questions, she didn’t know where to begin.
“I know a lot has happened, but you must feel as if a huge weight must be lifted from your shoulders, sweeting,” Ayden said, then enveloped her in his arms. “Knowing that rogue canna hurt you again must be like a breath of fresh air, the start of a new life, one I am hoping includes me,” Ayden said, then wrapped his arms around her.
Katherine stiffened and planted her hands on his chest, pushing him away. She was torn between wanting him to hold her, and keeping her distance until she learned the truth about everything that happened and what was truly in his heart.
“You’re safe.” He drew her into his embrace again. “I give you my word, Catriona.”
Uneasiness crept through her when he said her name in Gaelic. She raised her head and looked him directly in eyes. “If Ethan was already dead when he came here, what about you? Are you real or are you dead, too?” She squeezed at his arms — a modicum of relief washing over her when warm, thick, corded muscles bunched beneath her fingertips. He felt real, but so did Ethan when he was hitting her.
Ayden stared down at her in silence.
“You’re dead, aren’t you?” She tried to wriggle free, but he refused to release her. “Am I dead, too?”
He shook his head. “Nay. Na yet, ma gaol. Na for a very long time.” He lowered his gaze.
“If you’re dead and I am not, then why are you still here? Why did you pick me to haunt?”
“You know why, Catriona.”
Her heart hammering out of control, she glared up at him. This wasn’t real. He wasn’t real. “My name is Katherine MacDonald, not Catriona. She died seven hundred years ago and this is the twenty-first century, not the fourteenth.” She slowly backed out of his embrace and kept moving until her spine rested against the wall and she could go no further.