Beyond The Veil: A Paranormal & Magical Romance Boxed Set

by Multiple Authors

  Compassion flickered in Leslie's eyes. "I get how overwhelming this is. I also get that you’ll likely not believe a word I’m saying until you’ve lived it. I sure as hell didn’t.”

  Cassie ran the tip of her forefinger back and forth over her lower lip as she contemplated.

  Nicole kept eating and shrugged. “My Nana was a tea leaf reader, the real thing, so I’m not that surprised to hear I'm a witch.” She shook her head, still eying Darach. “But what’s the point of traveling that far back in time?” Her eyes shot from Bradon to Leslie. “Is it all for the romance? No offense but that seems like an awful long way to go to hook up with a guy.” Then she arched a brow at Cassie. “Makes Winter Harbor, Maine look a whole lot less long distance, doesn't it?”

  Leave it to Nicole to take this all in stride. Cassie gestured at Leslie and Bradon. “Assuming they’re from different centuries, do they look like they’re living in a long distance relationship to you?”

  Nicole took a swig of beer, released a dainty burp and shrugged. “True enough.”

  Darach chuckled as his eyes went from Nicole to Cassie. “She’s a free spirit, aye?”

  “To say the least.” Cassie shot Nicole a little grin. “But she is who she is and we love her for it.”

  “Back at ya, girl,” Nicole said and worked her chopsticks like a pro as she kept at her food.

  Cassie met Leslie’s eyes. “I get that you think we’re witches and that the guys are wizards but what else exactly are you trying to tell us? That we’re going to be traveling back in time to medieval Scotland?”

  She ignored the thrill of the idea because honestly, it was only thrilling to think about, not actually do. That thought scared the heck out of her. Some things were better left to the imagination. Yet she knew it wasn’t precisely her imagination at work when she saw the Scotsman on the horse, Athdara.

  “I’m trying to tell you that there is an unending tie between the Broun and MacLomain clans, whether it’s in the medieval period or here,” Leslie said. “I’m trying to tell you that it’s time you and your friends become very open-minded because there’s a good chance things are gonna get real crazy real soon.”

  “I just came here to connect with relatives." Cassie tried to keep her voice level. “Nothing more.”

  “And you will,” Bradon assured, offering her a box of Chinese food. “You’ll find a family you never could have anticipated.”

  Cassie shook her head. “No thanks, I’m not hungry.” Her eyes darted between the men before they landed on the picture of Ferchar, Caitlin, and Logan. Shoot, had Logan’s eyes just glowed again? She tore her gaze away. “If Athdara really exists then who is the guy I saw riding her?”

  Leslie glanced from the picture to Cassie. “Do you really need to ask?”

  "It can't be Logan." She shook her head and breathed deeply through her nostrils. “He’s just a little kid.”

  “He was,” Darach said. “But time passes differently back home than it does here. Much faster. Now he’s a few winters older than me.”

  “But you’re what, in your mid-twenties?”

  “I'm twenty-six winters. Logan is five winters older.”

  So Logan had about six years on her?

  Cassie’s eyes again flickered to the child in the picture. “Really?”

  “Yes, really,” Leslie said. “Caitlin, Ferchar, and Logan moved to medieval Scotland about a year and a half ago, but it’s been over twenty-five years in their time. The theory is that the past is trying to catch up with the future, that’s why it works like that. Faster and faster as time goes by it seems.”

  When Cassie heard the sadness in Leslie’s voice, she said, “So your cousins have aged that much and you’re still only a year and a half older than you were when they left?”

  Leslie nodded. “Yeah. My cousins and my sister are now in their fifties.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Cassie murmured.

  “No need to be sorry.” Leslie sat up a little straighter, renewed strength in her voice. “I chose my path and have seen them on and off through their lives. Now I’m glad I decided to stay here because someone needed to be around for you and your friends.” Bradon was right there to squeeze his wife’s hand, their eyes meeting one another’s. “And I wasn’t alone, not even for a minute, to face all this.”

  “Nay, lass,” Bradon said, lowering enough to kiss the back of Leslie’s hand.

  Tender as the exchange was, Cassie felt like she was in way over her head and had officially hit information overload. “Listen, I’m super wiped. Totally in need of a clear head. Any chance I can lay down for a few hours somewhere?”

  "Of course. Honestly, I’m surprised you didn’t ask ten minutes ago.” Leslie stood. “I have guest rooms set up for you and your friends.”

  Nicole set aside her food. “I’ll come with you, Cassie.”

  “No.” Cassie shook her head. “No need. Hang out. Learn all you can, okay?”

  “Are you sure because I don’t mind staying with you until you crash.”

  “Positive.” Cassie smiled at Darach. “Keep an eye on her?”

  He surprised her when he kissed her forehead and murmured, “‘Twould be my pleasure. If you need me, lass, think it and I will be there.”

  Think it? Now didn’t that sound a bit magical. A blush warmed her cheeks. These Scotsmen weren’t just delicious but dashing. “Thank you.”

  Cassie grabbed her duffle bag from the car then Leslie led her to a room at the top of the stairs. With cream colored walls and flowing silk curtains, it was elegant and warm. “This was Caitlin’s room when she lived here. She would want you to enjoy it.”

  Right, Caitlin was Logan’s mother. “Great. Thanks so much.”

  “No need to thank me.” Leslie set a glass of water on the bedside table.

  Cassie’s eyes fell to the little wooden box carved with Celtic symbols beside it. Propped open, three gold Claddagh rings glittered from within.

  “Ah, yes.” Sadness flickered in Leslie’s eyes as she looked at the box. “Caitlin still wears hers, but two of those belonged to Broun women who lived in this house during the eighteenth century.”

  “What about the third?”

  Leslie shook her head. “Not sure but rumor has it the third was once worn by a druidess. Like the others, the story goes that is was created by a Celtic god named Fionn Mac Cumhail then given to an Irish goddess named Brigit.”

  “Oh, wow,” Cassie whispered. Her eyes went to Leslie’s hand. “I see you wear one too.”

  Leslie nodded. “All the Broun cousins do now.”

  Before Cassie could continue questioning her, Leslie said, “Listen, I’m sorry about how snippy I was when you arrived. I meant no harm. Just overprotective of my family I guess.”

  Cassie was about to respond, but Leslie took her hands and shook her head. “No, really, I can be a total bitch on occasion. Just habit I suppose.” She pressed her lips together. “It was a whirlwind at the beginning of last year and now I’m on the opposite end of the stick. That’s big and I’m gonna try my hardest not to screw it up, okay?”

  “Sure, okay.” Cassie squeezed her hands. “But as far as I’m concerned you haven’t screwed up anything. You’ve just given me a lot of info and I seriously need to assimilate.”

  “Assimilate?”

  “Sorry, I’m a bit of a Matrix fan.”

  “Matrix?”

  “You’ve never watched the movie, The Matrix?”

  Leslie shook her head, totally confused.

  “With Keanu Reeves?”

  Leslie shrugged, still baffled.

  “Oh, dear God.” Cassie pulled her in for a hug on that one. “Life really is rough if you haven’t watched The Matrix.” She frowned as she held Leslie at arm’s length. “Epic sci-fi movie, came out in ’99. Ringing any bells?”

  Leslie shook her head. “No time travel involved?”

  “No.” Cassie arched her brows. “But, there was a definite sense of not living in reality. Th
at there was a whole lot more out there you didn’t know about.”

  Leslie chuckled and shrugged. “Then I guess it’s safe to say you entered a little bit of a matrix the minute you contacted me.”

  Cassie nodded. “So it seems.”

  “I’m putting your eyeglasses right here.” Leslie set them on the table next to the water. “If you need anything at all, please let me know."

  “You got it.” Cassie worked at a smile. “Again, thanks so much for letting us stay here.”

  "No problem." Leslie smiled then left.

  Cassie stared after her, almost wary to look around…to be part of this place. When cold wind whistled through the partially open window, she went to shut it but stopped. Instead, she opened it and touched the spindling oak branch beyond.

  Like earlier, tiny tingles covered her body and for a second she swore she saw the oak from afar with a sweeping castle behind it. Cassie squinted and realized that it wasn’t the same oak, but a much larger one covered in green leaves. When she pulled her hand back sharply, everything returned to normal and autumn leaves once more blew in the wind.

  She blinked in disbelief and shut the window, more inclined to think this had to do with vision issues than anything else. Right? Because everything Leslie said couldn’t possibly be true. Could it?

  Exhausted, she threw on some sweats and an oversized t-shirt then crawled into bed. She should brush her teeth, wash her face, something, but she figured she would cat-nap then rejoin everyone. It was the least she could do considering Leslie and Bradon’s hospitality.

  That was the last thought she had before she rolled over and thumped to the floor.

  Huh?

  Sitting up, discombobulated, she looked around. Shoot, she had fallen out of bed. That was a first. Her eyes shot to the digital clock on the table. It was a little past midnight. Untwisting from the blankets, she wiped an unfortunate bit of drool from the corner of her mouth and stumbled to her feet

  Everything was pitch-black but the barn.

  Her eyes narrowed as Athdara trotted out of the dark into the building. Uh oh. Why was she running free? Did anyone know? Sliding on sneakers, Cassie headed downstairs. The house was dark. At this hour, it was safe to assume everyone was sleeping. So she headed for the barn. Wind gusted and the doors banged off the outside walls. A single, glass enclosed lantern swung lazily between stalls halfway down.

  “Darach? Bradon?” she called. “Anyone?”

  The lantern swung so wildly she swore it would drop and catch the hay on fire. That alone had her rushing forward. Yet by the time she got to it the lamp had stopped swinging. It was perfectly still. As if it had never moved to begin with. Still, she touched it just to reassure herself.

  And saw the ring.

  When the hell had she put on one of the Claddagh rings?

  “Oh no.” She tried to pull it off, but it wouldn’t budge. Squinting, she eyed the stone nestled in the middle of a handheld heart. Clear, it almost looked like a dull diamond. Now she wished she had pressed for more answers about these things.

  Athdara was staring over the stall, eyes wild, nostrils flaring.

  Disregarding the ring, Cassie leaned against the opposite stall and breathed a sigh of relief as she eyed Athdara’s stall. Strange that it was locked. “You’re safe. That’s good.”

  The horse eyed her for a few seconds before it huffed and backed away. Convinced Athdara was okay, she headed toward the exit but stopped short when a whinny rang out and a loud thunk pounded behind her.

  Turning slowly, her eyes locked with Athdara’s. Head over the stall door, the horse’s nostrils again flared and she released a mighty neigh.

  “Sorry.” Cassie shook her head. “I’ll go get someone who can take care of you.”

  Completely weirded out, she headed for the house but stopped again when a loud bang echoed behind her. By the time she turned, Athdara was trotting up behind her. Within a foot, she stopped, sunk to one knee and lowered her head.

  Surprisingly enough, she wore a saddle.

  “Oh, hell,” Cassie whispered. All she could think was that this big horse was loose and she didn’t know how to get her back into her stall. So she started making motions toward the barn. “Go back, girl. There, where you came from. Please.”

  Athdara kept her head lowered and a steady eye on Cassie.

  She gestured at the barn. “Go on now. Get to where it’s safe, all right?”

  But no, the horse wasn’t budging.

  So now she could do one of two things. Head into the house to get someone and hope Athdara didn’t run off or she could try to walk her back to the barn. Not particularly frightened by the horse but well aware that she was clueless about how to handle one, she figured the most logical thing to do was to go get help. Then again, would she ever forgive herself if the horse took off and got hurt?

  Decision made, she slowly came alongside Athdara, murmuring over and over, “It’s okay, girl. I won’t hurt you.”

  The horse made no movement, but Cassie sensed rather than saw that Athdara continued to watch her closely. She ran her hand carefully over the horse’s mane until she had a firm hand on the leather strap attached to the bridle. Eyes closed, she inhaled sharply when heat rushed over her. It almost felt like she stood in a fiery hot wind. One the horse clearly felt as well because her eyes grew a little wild and she neighed.

  A strong sense of ‘fight or flight’ seized hold and while Cassie briefly contemplated running away from the horse, she did not want to leave Athdara alone. Unlike anyone with half a wit that knew nothing about horses would do, she followed an overwhelming impulse.

  She put her foot in the stirrup, grabbed the reins and swung up into the saddle.

  Thank God she had seen Erin do this before and that Athdara was kneeling or she was pretty sure she would have fallen off onto her ass. Holding tight, she released a small squeal when the horse swiftly came to her feet and started trotting toward the forest.

  “Oh no, no, no, no.” Cassie pulled on the reins to no avail. If anything, she seemed to be egging on the blasted horse because Athdara was already heading into the woods. Shoot was it dark. What the heck was she thinking? That she would hop on and steer the horse into the barn like an old pro?

  Head lowered, she closed her eyes and tried to regroup…tried to remain calm. Maybe if she said nothing and made no movements, the horse would stop. Yeah, right. Figure the odds. Opening her eyes, she frowned. Why did it almost seem like it was getting light out. Foggy, yes, but still far lighter than it had been moments before. Had she looked at the clock right? Maybe it hadn’t been midnight after all.

  Still, it was getting light far too quickly.

  Not that she was complaining.

  At first.

  Until a strange sound rent the air, almost like a thwap, thwap, thwap before a solid thump sounded against a nearby tree. Cassie narrowed then widened her eyes when she caught sight of what it was. An axe? Thankfully, or not, Athdara had things figured out because she bolted forward. Luckily, Cassie had a death grip on her mane or things could have gone really bad. As it was, she was pretty sure she would be suffering from whiplash later.

  Thighs clamped tight, she ducked low against the horse and tried to make out what was happening around her. It was beyond her wildest imagination. Horses were everywhere and weapons sailed through the air.

  Arrows, axes, sometimes swords.

  But that wasn’t the truly nutso part.

  No, that would be the men riding the horses. Some wore kilts, others trousers, but nearly all were long-haired and pretty damn scary. All were speaking another language. An older version of Scots Gaelic she would say. If all of the above wasn’t daunting enough, Cassie was trying to figure out if these guys were aiming at her or each other.

  If she wasn’t mistaken, she was simply caught in the crossfire though some seemed to be catching on that she was there. The ones in the blue plaids seemed surprised. The ones in the dingy, hard-to-tell-what-color-they-we
re plaids seemed to see her as an opportunity because one steered his horse up alongside Athdara. Terrified, Cassie tried to bat him away while holding on but, unfortunately, that was a big mistake.

  She would never know how he managed it so quickly, but the man scooped an arm around her waist and hauled her onto his lap. Scared shitless, she was torn between holding on tight and shoving the smelly bastard away. What fresh hell had she been thrust into? Was she having some sort of nightmare her foolish mind hadn’t awoken from?

  Meanwhile, men were sword fighting from horseback while arrows whizzed by. As far as she could tell the grungy plaids were losing and the blue plaids were winning. Though she intended to shut her eyes to the horror, she became morbidly fascinated.

  Or maybe she was just in shock.

  Because she could have sworn she was screaming though nothing came from her mouth. Did it?

  She became vaguely aware of the horses riding on either side as they sped through the forest. More so, she became aware of the men riding them. Both wore blue plaids. The one on her left was a ferocious bit of work with black hair and what appeared to be equally black eyes. He steered his massive steed in such a way that it was slowing down the horse of the grungy guy holding her. It was the man on the right, however, that grabbed her attention. With blue-black hair and pale blue eyes, he was every inch the man who had ridden Athdara when she first arrived at the Colonial.

  There could be no doubt.

  He was Logan MacLomain.

  All grown up.

  Logan released arrows so quickly she couldn’t begin to count how many men were falling. Dagger suddenly in hand, he winked at her seconds before the man holding her cried out in pain.

  After that, it was all a blur.

  Screams of anguish. Blood. The clang of swords. The whiz of arrows. Yet somehow in the midst of it all she was pulled from the grungy guy’s arms into Logan’s then plunked in front of her newfound hero. His strong arm wrapped around her waist as he spurred the horse into a run.

  Cassie wasn’t sure what to think never mind do but decided it best to hold on tight and pray they made it to safety. Then again, she got the sense she had found safety the minute Logan pulled her onto his horse. Even so, he was a complete stranger and she was pretty sure based on the numbness settling over her that she was definitely in shock.