Story Overview
Accustomed to watching over things for Clan MacLomain and their Viking ancestors, Julie had given up hope of traveling back in time for love like those before her. Until the day an old friend turned crush shows up on her doorstep in New Hampshire claiming he needs help in fourteenth century Scotland.
Having pledged to help his clan, Laird Tiernan MacLomain searches for his destined Broun in the twenty-first century. Yet he only wants the woman he’s secretly loved for years. So he breaks the rules and brings Julie back to the medieval period with him. She might lack the bloodline needed to harness the power of the Claddagh, but he won’t leave her behind.
Together, they embark on a whirlwind quest to protect King David II against Edward Balliol and his disenfranchised nobles, the ‘disinherited.’ They also face a dark threat nobody foresaw. Will Tiernan and Julie defeat it without the power of predestined love? Or will breaking the rules be their ultimate downfall and Scotland’s ruin? Find out in A Scot’s Pledge, an emotional and passionate journey into the turbulent onset of the Second War of Scottish Independence.
A Scot’s Pledge
The MacLomain Series: End of an Era
Book One
Sky Purington
COPYRIGHT © 2019
A Scot’s Pledge
Sky Purington
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Edited by Cathy McElhaney
Cover Art by Tara West
Published in the United States of America
Contents
Story Overview
Series Overview
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Coming Soon
Just Curious?
Exclusive Invitation
Stonehenge & Stone of Destiny
Previous Releases-Best Reading Order
Family Trees
About the Author
Dedication
For Scotland’s national animal.
Might the sròin-adharcach always watch over its beloved country.
Alba gu brath!
Series Overview
‘End of an Era’ can mean many things, but for the MacLomain Clan, it marked the beginning of the end of their way of life. Only four short years after King Robert the Bruce led Scotland to freedom in the First War of Scottish Independence, the Second War of Scottish Independence began between the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England. Though Robert’s wee son, David II, was made king, Edward Balliol, with the discreet backing of Edward III of England, challenged him for the throne.
Sworn to protect the rightful king, five Scot’s and their lasses go to David’s aid defending him against Balliol, and his band of disenfranchised nobles called the ‘disinherited.’ Though the nobles are mere mortals, the secret brotherhood who control them, are anything but. Worse yet, fighting them will come at a cost to each noble Scot. One destined to change life as they know it. And so the story goes...
Prologue
Parish of Cardross, Scotland
7 June 1329
“IT WILLNAE BE LONG now,” Adlin said softly. He rested his hand against King Robert the Bruce’s forehead and tried to lend him peace. “He has but minutes left.”
Grant remained silent on the other side of the bed, respecting the imminent passing of a legend. A great man who had done so much for his country. He had known Robert since the king was but a child, so he also mourned the loss of a friend.
Yet as often happened before death came upon folk, Robert stirred.
His eyes fluttered open and his gaze locked on Grant.
“Old friend,” he whispered. “Ye are here.” His gaze drifted to Adlin. “Both of ye.”
“Aye,” Grant replied. “We thought it high time for a visit.”
Robert’s voice was gruff. “Ye mean ye’ve come to pay yer respects.” He noted Grant’s ethereal form. “It cannae be any other way with ye sent from the afterlife.”
“Och, nay—” Adlin began, but Robert cut him off.
“Whilst I would like to catch up on our many times together,” he managed, “I best make these final words count.” His gaze went from Adlin to Grant. “Ye’ll need to look after my son as ye looked after me.”
“But of course,” Grant assured. “Ye have our word.”
“Things willnae be easy for him,” Robert whispered. “The bloody Sassenach will try to take my throne straight away.” He was so weak he had trouble shaking his head. “And my wee bairn is but five winters old.”
“He will be all right,” Adlin said, fully aware Sir Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, and Guardian of Scotland, would see to things. At least for a few years. “Ye need not fear for wee David. Rest, old friend.”
Grant nodded in reassurance, lending him peace as well.
Knowing his son had the same guardians watching over him that had watched over Robert most of his life, the Bruce, at last, closed his eyes. Moments later, the death rattle came, and he breathed his last breath.
Though sad for the passing of a noble king and old friend, they knew this was but the beginning of more change in their beloved country. Robert’s death and David II’s ascension to the throne would launch the beginning of what would be known as the Second War of Scottish Independence.
Their only hope lay in making sure David II traveled the path he was destined to follow. For if he did not, Scotland’s future looked bleak indeed. Yet as their beloved king departed the world, they felt something spark from beyond they never could have anticipated.
A darkness with foul intentions.
An evil that would change everything.
It was, as they would soon find out, the beginning of the end of an era.
Chapter One
North Salem, New Hampshire
December 2019
“HERE’S TO FINALLY MEETING two new friends.” Julie grinned at the women sitting in her festive living room and held up her glass of red wine in a toast. “Three to go.”
Holiday music played softly, and snow fell, the perfect backdrop to the crackling fire and sparkling Christmas tree.
Chloe toasted as well. “Here’s to that!”
Madison pushed her eyeglasses up her nose and raised her glass. “At last!”
They drank then resumed chatting, getting along as if they had known each other f
or years rather than only six months. Having been monitoring the online Broun forum launched years ago, Julie knew things must be happening in medieval Scotland when five women of Broun lineage met up within a week of each other. The same thing had occurred before when MacLomain-Broun connections were about to flare across time.
The mystical true-love connections had begun in the eighteenth century in this very house but had since involved women from the twenty-first century. For the MacLomains, it began in Scotland around the early thirteenth century.
Of course, Julie’s new Broun friends knew nothing about any of this.
“Too bad the other girls will be delayed.” Chloe tucked a wisp of thick reddish-blonde hair behind her ear and peered out the window at the storm. “When is this weather supposed to let up anyway?”
“As if you don’t know.” Madison rolled her smoky blue eyes and clipped back her shoulder-length black hair. “If there’s a scoop, you know about it.” She gestured at the storm. “And in these parts, that’s news right now.”
Chloe winked, her lively amber eyes twinkling. “Just making conversation.”
“Plenty of that to be had.” Curious, Madison looked Julie’s way. “So when are you going to share this big news of yours? We’re dying to know.”
Since she realized her friends wouldn’t be arriving at the same time as planned, she had been debating this. Initially, she’d envisioned sitting down as a group, maybe having a drink or several, then dropping the bomb on them all at once.
“Hey, it turns out our meeting wasn’t a coincidence,” she’d say.
“It wasn’t?” one would respond.
“Nope, in fact, chances are good you’re all a bunch of witches.” She’d chuckle and act truly impressed. “Even better? You’re destined for Scotsmen from the medieval period who are either wizards or maybe even dragon shifters. How ‘bout that? You all have destined true loves. Fated mates! Pretty damn awesome, right?”
Naturally, they would be shocked at first. But at least they would all be here, going through it together, with Julie available to answer any questions they might have.
Yet they were not all here.
Was it a big deal going through the whole thing twice? Not really. Just a tad much and not as organized as she liked to keep things. After all, she was fairly practiced at dealing with the MacLomain’s Viking ancestors and their time traveling mates. She’d done it enough over the years. As to the MacLomain’s Brouns? She had zero practice. She did, however, know a few MacLomains. Maybe she should start there?
She thought about how she’d phrase things.
“So years ago I met these medieval Scottish wizards,” she’d say. “Grant and Adlin.”
“Medieval Scottish wizards?” one of her friends would respond in disbelief. “You’re joking, right?”
“Nope, they exist. I’ve mostly dealt with Adlin lately, though,” she would inform, smiling fondly because she couldn’t help herself when she thought about his prodigy. “And his son, Tiernan.”
“You seem fond of Tiernan,” would be the reply.
“Definitely.” She’d recall the many times she had seen him over the past year and a half. Time went by differently between Scotland and New Hampshire, so years flew by there where only months passed here. Therefore, she’d known Tiernan his whole life. “He’s such a great person. Always has been.”
He was too. At every age. Not only was he kind and thoughtful but powerful.
Not to mention hot.
“So damn hot,” she murmured.
“Hot?” Madison frowned in confusion before her brows flew up in surprise. “So, this news is about a guy then?”
She blinked, not sure what to say because technically it was about a guy. Several of them, for that matter. Not just Tiernan but his cousins if she were to guess. Yet again, she bit back a frown. While the other guys were fine, something about Tiernan being meant for a Broun just didn’t sit right. Being meant for any woman actually.
God, she wished her best friend Viv was here to coach her through this, but alas, she fell in love with a dragon shifter and moved to medieval Scandinavia. Somewhere, quite frankly, Julie thought she would be by now too, but evidently not. It seemed she was just the overseer of homes meant to usher in the next round of love connections.
“Well?” Chloe prompted, pulling Julie from her sad, loveless reverie. “Who’s the guy then?” The corner of her mouth curled up. “He must be something for you to gather us all together to tell us about him.”
“He’s...um...” What the hell was she supposed to say? He’s a hottie from the fourteenth century who travels through time fairly often to visit me. I’ve known him since he was an infant, which wasn't all that long ago. Oh, and now I’ve got a thing for him. How crazy is that?
No, that wouldn’t work.
Madison cocked her head. “He’s...um, what, Julie?”
Thankfully, someone knocked on the front door before she could respond.
It never occurred to her that nobody should be knocking on the door at this hour, especially in this storm. So she was completely caught off guard when she opened the door to the man she'd just been thinking about.
Her heart leapt into her throat at the sight of him.
“Tiernan,” she whispered, unable to find her voice.
He had aged some since she last saw him, and it only made him that much hotter. Tall and broad-shouldered, his dark hair offset his gorgeous pale blue eyes. His face was still a chiseled masterpiece, and his well-sculptured lips just begged to be kissed.
“Julie,” he said softly. His warm gaze lingered on her face. “It’s been too long.”
One month, two days, and eight hours to be precise. “It has.”
They continued staring at each other, the moment stretching before her friends snapped them out of it.
“Is this him then?” Chloe eyed him with appreciation as she and Madison joined Julie at the door.
“It must be.” Though less obvious, Madison’s appreciative gaze was just as thorough. “Aren’t you going to invite your boyfriend in out of the cold, Julie?”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” she managed. It felt like the temperature had spiked a thousand degrees, she was so flustered. “This is my good friend, Tiernan.”
Pull yourself together, Julie, she preached. You can do this.
Gathering herself, she finally did what she should have done from the start. She invited him in and embraced him like always. Yet it felt awkward this time. Really good but definitely awkward. But why? It had never been this way.
Deep down, she knew, though.
Something had shifted between them. Or maybe something had just become more obvious. What that was, however, was sort of hard to pinpoint. Or was it? Because the way he looked at her was telling.
Tiernan held her a moment longer than she expected before he stepped back and nodded hello to her friends who introduced themselves before she had a chance to. Only then, finally free of her he’s-actually-here stupor, did she realize he wasn’t dressed in his medieval Scottish garb but twenty-first-century clothing. She took in his jeans, black sweater, and jacket, curious about what he was up to.
“This is for you and your friends, lass,” he said to Chloe and handed her a red velvet box. “A gift for the holidays.” He handed a smaller box to Julie. “And for you, Jules.”
He was the only person beside Viv who called her by that nickname.
“Thank you.” She took his jacket. “I didn’t know you’d be here.” Then she thought better of that statement. His timing couldn’t be more perfect considering her friends thought her big news was about a guy. So she added, “With gifts.”
“I couldn't help myself.” He smiled at Chloe and Madison, his brogue turned way down but still sexy as sin. “It is that time of year, aye?” He turned his heart-stopping smile Julie’s way. “I was so looking forward to meeting your friends.”
No doubt, he was, and it hurt like hell.
She forced a smile, w
ondering which one of them he was destined for. In her opinion, the two here weren’t quite a fit. While it worked fine for her profession as a journalist and didn’t bother Julie any, Chloe was too inquisitive. She’d drive Tiernan nuts with her endless questions. He had a clan to run, so constantly having to answer her would be a no go.
And Madison? She was very nice, but dry on occasion, her obsession with numbers a bit much. Again, good for her job as an accountant, but was that really Tiernan’s thing? Sure, he appreciated intelligence, but she couldn’t see him talking numbers morning, noon, and night.
“Right. Night,” she muttered, again speaking aloud without meaning to. Tiernan and Madison probably wouldn’t be talking numbers but doing something else. She frowned at the thought, eyeing Madison with her lithe height. It suited his six foot five frame well, didn’t it? Everything would line up just perfectly in bed.
When the three of them looked at Julie in question, wondering what she meant, she improvised though not overly well.
“Night...you know.” She gestured out the window. “It’s night, so we should...” Think, Jules. Say something halfway intelligent. “Drink.” She nodded once. “We should definitely drink.”
“Aye, lass, I’m up for a wee dram if you have one.” Almost as if he knew what she’d been thinking about, Tiernan’s eyes sparkled with amusement. He had to be amused by something else, though. Because his wizardly telepathy could only happen with his kin and his destined love.
“A wee dram it is,” Julie said, at last herself with him. Comfortable despite her helpless attraction. But then Tiernan made it so easy. She might not see him as much lately, but outside of Viv, he truly was her best friend. Not that Vivienne knew that or even knew about him.
“I wish we knew you were getting us a gift, Tiernan,” Chloe commented, peering at the pretty box as they headed into the kitchen.
She knew Chloe purposefully refrained from mentioning that she hadn’t known he existed until he showed up at the door.
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