A Scot's Pledge (The MacLomain Series: End of an Era, #1)

by Purington, Sky

  Stranger yet, she almost felt them for lack of a better description.

  All were damn handsome, and all were tall, broad-shouldered, and perfectly muscled. One had short dark brown hair, startling light turquoise eyes, and wore the Hamilton plaid. That could only be Aidan, Grant’s great-grandson. The other two were undoubtedly MacLeod dragons.

  While she had dealt with Sigdir dragons before, what she felt when these dragons' eyes locked on her was entirely different. Alarming. Seconds later, a low growl rumbled in both men’s chests.

  Tiernan tensed and held onto her tighter.

  Bright blue light flared in his eyes, signifying his magic had ignited.

  If all that wasn’t enough, the blonde strode right up to them, his fiery dragon eyes flaring with possessiveness, his words ground out. “She belongs with a dragon, Tiernan.”

  More alarming still, her bubble of bluish-green magic didn’t wrap around just Tiernan now, but encompassed them all.

  Chapter Ten

  “STEP ANY CLOSER, Cray,” he warned, never more serious, “and ye will find out precisely what an arch-wizard can do to a mere dragon wizard.”

  His magic might be fluctuating, but he'd find a bloody way to keep Julie safe from his cousin. Even if he had to lay down his life to do it. He knew Cray was unstable because of what was going on with their magic, but that mattered little right now. All he cared about was keeping her out of harm's way. He conveniently set aside that her magic seemed determined to keep Cray safe in turn. He also set aside that he himself was off-kilter and responding with anger rather than reason, which was out-of-character.

  “Mere?” Cray’s dragon eyes flared with rage. “Ye bloody—”

  “Enough, Brother,” Marek bit out, clenching his fists, clearly trying to keep his distance. “Now.”

  “Aye.” Tiernan narrowed his eyes at Cray, moments away from setting Julie aside and attacking. Again, jealousy ruled his emotions, but he couldn’t stop himself. “Ye best listen to yer laird, Cray, and ye best do so straight away.”

  Meanwhile, Julie’s blasted light that he thought was only for him pulsed around him and his cousins. Interestingly enough, his parents had entered but were observing rather than interfering.

  “Back off.” Julie frowned at Cray, not intimidated by him in the least. But then she'd had plenty of practice dealing with dragons. “I’m not a Broun, so I won’t end up with any of you.” She went on, making Tiernan happy indeed. “And just to be clear, if I were meant for anyone, you can bet your ass it would be Tiernan.” She narrowed her eyes at his cousin. “So should we start over, Cray MacLeod? My name’s Julie, nice to finally meet you.”

  His typical scowl firmly in place, Cray narrowed his eyes right back. “Ye’re bold.”

  “When it comes to dragons, yes,” she replied. “Especially dragons like you.”

  “Dragons like me?” His brows flew together. “What is that supposed to mean, lass?”

  “It means, as I’m sure you already know because you’re not typically this much of a dick,” she replied, earning a chuckle from the others, “that I’ve dealt with enough Sigdir and Ancient dragons to have come across a few like you.”

  “And what am I like?” he growled.

  “Angry initially,” Julie informed. “But probably the most fiercely protective of those you love once you simmer down.” She shrugged. “Which says something because dragons are instinctually protective creatures.”

  Cray crossed his arms over his chest and considered her for a moment before he came to a decision as quickly as he could take to anger. “You are respected by the dragons you have dealt with, aye?”

  Interestingly, as his anger simmered down, Julie’s protective barrier faded.

  “I am respected, actually,” she confirmed. “But then, I respect them in turn.” She winked. “Dragons tend to like that.”

  “Aye, she’s got you figured out, lad.” Aidan chuckled then introduced himself, kissing the back of her hand despite her still being in Tiernan’s arms. He gave her his name, which she seemed to have figured out anyway. How could she not with this particular cousin?

  “’Tis nice to finally meet you, lass,” Aidan said. “I have heard a great deal about you.”

  Tiernan had always been closest to Aidan. He sensed it was due to their connection to Adlin and Grant, who were equally close, having apprenticed together in one lifetime or another.

  “I’ve heard a lot about you too, Laird Hamilton.” Julie smiled. “It’s nice to finally meet you.” Her gaze swept over the others. “All of you, for that matter.” Before they could respond, she went on. “Just so you all know up front, and hopefully understood when I was dealing with the younger dragon, I’m not here to try to steal a Broun’s place. I’d never do that, and Tiernan knows it.”

  Stating Cray was the younger of the two dragons earned her another chuckle from all but Cray. It had been a fine way of pointing out that his youth was to blame for his actions because his brother had behaved much better.

  “Tiernan brought me back in time without asking,” she continued, assuring them this was temporary. “And I’m working on getting back.”

  “Wishing you the best of luck with that,” Aidan said, amused, taking in her current position in Tiernan’s arms, his double meaning clear. “I dinnae think Laird MacLomain intends to let you go now that he has you.”

  “As astute as ever, my lad,” da said, finally joining the conversation. “Nor, do I suspect, he’s meant to.”

  It hadn’t gone over his head that the great hall had cleared out because his father had subconsciously nudged everyone along. Had Tiernan been thinking clearly, he would have done the same, but he’d been too focused on protecting Julie from Cray.

  “Please, everyone sit,” da went on. “There is much to discuss.”

  “Telling news, I hope,” Marek grunted. “My dragon grows tired of being repressed.” He gestured at his brother. “’Tis putting us all in a verra foul mood.”

  “Repressed?” Julie said, surprised. “So, you can’t shift?”

  Marek shook his head. “Nay, not since whatever this is began.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.” She gave Tiernan a pointed look, reminding him that he had accomplished his goal. “I think it’s safe to say I’m officially over the threshold.”

  Not of my chambers, he nearly said but knew they needed to focus on the matter at hand. So he reluctantly set her down, keeping her close and away from the dragons when everyone sat at the head trestle table.

  “Now that I’ve caught everyone up telepathically about what happened at the stones,” da announced, clearly glad his magic had allowed him to do such, “I think the first thing we should discuss is Julie herself.” Tankards of whisky were set down for everyone. “More specifically, what I discovered about her at the Fir bhrèige.” He sat across from Tiernan and Julie. “Something confirmed not only when Julie's magic brought us here to this castle, but when it protected all of you just now.”

  “I don’t have magic,” she muttered, yet she was as curious as everyone else to hear what da had to say.

  “You do have magic, Julie,” da corrected. “You have a great deal of it.” His kind eyes remained steady on her. “And whilst it could be said you’re a late-bloomer like Tiernan, it wasnae quite like that.”

  Da gestured at Tiernan, but his gaze never left Julie. “Where my son's magic was sparked by true love, yours was, as I suspected, triggered by the need to protect him.” He put up a finger to stop the others from interrupting. “Dinnae mistake my words for saying you dinnae feel precisely the same love for him, Julie. ’Tis true indeed. Otherwise, this would be impossible.” He shrugged. “You simply did not need magic sooner.”

  Da appeared to consider his own revelation then spoke before anyone could get a word in edgewise. “I am inclined, however, to say your dormant magic most certainly helped you oversee things in the future over the years, Julie.”

  “Da,” Tiernan kicked in before his father
’s thoughts led him down various paths as they could often do. “Mayhap ‘tis best to stay on track for now?”

  Da frowned. “I am staying on track.”

  “Somewhat, dear.” Ma patted da on the shoulder and sat beside him. “Perhaps you're thinking out loud some?”

  “Was I then?” He shrugged and grinned at his wife. “I tend to do that more with the years, aye?”

  “Certainly more as you come into who you were always meant to be,” she conceded, offering da the smile that made his eyes light up more than usual. “Luckily, I loved the man you were in our last life as much as I do this one.” She tilted her head in Julie’s direction. “Now stop making the poor girl wait. Tell her what’s going on.”

  “Aye, then.” Da grinned at Julie. “Simply put, lass, you’re a Guardian Witch.”

  She chuckled, obviously thinking he joked. “A guardian what?”

  “Witch,” Tiernan provided.

  “Yeah, got that,” she said slowly. “Just...not really sure...” Her brows pinched together. “What’s a Guardian Witch?”

  “A witch,” Ethyn reminded, grinning.

  “Oh, stop you two,” ma chastised. She shot Tiernan a look that told him they better stop joking around or else.

  “Sorry, lass,” he said into Julie’s mind. “We’re just trying to keep things somewhat light for you.”

  “I know.” Her eyes flickered to his. “But I’m with your mom on this.”

  “People usually are,” his father mused, hearing their telepathic conversation just fine now it seemed.

  “To put it more simply,” his father said aloud, continuing his explanation. “A Guardian Witch is the only living creature born with the blessing of the old gods and the one true God.” He eyed Julie, impressed. “You're essentially harnessing a very old and rare power born of a time when gods set aside their strife and wanted all their people watched over.” He sighed. “For as it stands, many religions do not protect those who dinnae believe in them.”

  Julie went to speak but instead took a swig of whisky. Then another and another.

  Meanwhile, his father continued.

  “Honestly, I thought Guardian Witches no longer existed.” He rounded his eyes at ma. “They werenae even around way back when I created my Defiance.” His eyes widened further. “Even when the Celtic gods delivered me to Scotland.”

  He noticed his father had been mentioning his Highland Defiance more often of late. It had been a magical building he’d created in his last life. A place to bring pagans and people of the Christian faith together in unity. Unfortunately, it hadn’t gone as he had hoped, so he began the MacLomain clan instead, encouraging his kinsmen to believe in whatever deity they wished whilst living in peace.

  “Yet it seems Guardian Witches do still exist,” his mother replied to da, her eyes kind as they went to Julie, who had now downed half her mug. “It will be okay, sweetheart. You’re not going through this alone.” She gestured at everyone, then Tiernan. “My son, above all, will be by your side every step of the way. He, like all of us, has been through the awkwardness of navigating our magic for the first time.”

  “Aye, and he, above all, will most certainly see to you, and you will see to him,” da said. “After all, once a Guardian Witch connects with he she is sworn to protect, the bond is unbreakable and eternal.”

  Chapter Eleven

  THOUGH WELL AWARE she was catching a buzz, it didn’t stop her from taking another swig of whisky. Adlin had to be wrong. He just had to be.

  “So you’re saying I’m some sort of a...guardian angel...” she managed, “yet technically a witch?”

  “That is precisely what I’m saying.” Adlin nodded, pleased. “You are the culmination of divinity and paganism.”

  “Uh, huh,” she murmured. To hell with girly swigs, she downed the rest of the mug in one long swallow. “And I’m bound to Tiernan for life?”

  Oh, but if that were only true. Then it occurred to her she might be bound to watch over him while he loved another woman. That would just flat-out suck.

  “Aye, you're bound to him for life.” Adlin smiled. “’Tis every bit as much a bond as the MacLomain-Broun connection.” He turned his grin on Milly. “See, I told you I was right about them being meant for each other.”

  Meant for each other. Not her watching him love another. If only.

  “And I told you I agreed they were meant for one another,” Milly reminded Adlin, once again gesturing at Julie. “Now, don’t get distracted. Tell the girl all of it.”

  “Right, aye, then.” Adlin focused on Julie again. “Mind you, I only know so much about your sort of magic.” He shook his head. “Which means I cannae tell you everything because it wasnae something that existed in my time. Nor were rumors about it overly informative.”

  “Of course not,” she muttered, stealing Tiernan’s mug. “Just lay what you know about me on the line, then I guess I’ll go from there.”

  Because Adlin was definitely serious despite his lighthearted nature.

  Which meant if he said she possessed magic, then she did.

  “Or...” She narrowed her eyes, not sure she should get her hopes up, however scary possessing magic might be. If it meant being with Tiernan, she’d deal. “What if what you think I am is all part of your magic fluctuating, and isn't true?”

  “You saw ley-lines, did you not?” Adlin asked. “Then, you saw how your magic protected Tiernan in battle?”

  “You mean the pendant he gave me,” she reminded. “Which I’ll bet he put a protection spell on.” She was about to say more when it occurred to her what he’d led with. “Did you say ley-lines?”

  “Aye,” Adlin confirmed. “You know what they are then?”

  “Yeah,” she replied, going with one of her many theories. “Hypothetical lines stretching from Stonehenge to Stonehenge across the world.” She snorted. “But those are just made up.”

  When Adlin perked a brow at her and shook his head, she sighed and said, “So not made up?”

  “Nay, lass,” he said. “Our magic tells us they exist, but to the best of my knowledge, they have never actually been seen by anyone.” He gave her a telling look. “The confirmation that ley-lines are actually visible was once handed down from Guardian Witch to Guardian Witch. Eventually, the witches were no more, but the knowledge lived on.”

  Adlin looked at her with admiration. “As far as I know, Guardian Witches, you, are the only ones who have ever seen them.” He cocked his head in consideration. “’Tis also said ley-lines dinnae just connect Stonehenges but holy places too. ‘Tis a combination of the old gods and new.” He gestured at the MacLeods. “That is why you could manage dragons so well in the twenty-first century, then just now attract them as you did.”

  She narrowed her eyes slightly at Cray, with his tattooed blonde chiseled good looks, warning him not to start again then peered at Marek curiously. With black hair, and a scar on his temple that only added to his fierce handsomeness, it made sense he was the chieftain of his clan. Though all the turbulent emotions common to a dragon shifter simmered beneath the surface, he had learned to manage his exceptionally well.

  “Why is that?” she asked Adlin, focusing on Tiernan's dad again, not quite getting it. “What’s my connection to dragons?”

  “Their ancestral gods,” he replied. “Whilst most MacLomain's have Norse ancestry, dragons such as Marek and Cray have closer ties to our Viking ancestors due to their inner beast. Which means closer ties despite who they might worship now, to the Norse gods our ancestors worshipped.” He gestured at the non-dragon wizards. “Then, of course, some worship the Celtic gods.”

  “And of course the one God,” she murmured, knowing full well which deity Tiernan paid homage to.

  “Aye,” Adlin confirmed. “Interestingly, from what I witnessed at the Stonehenge, it seems the Viking magic in the sword is also interconnected. To what end, I havenae figured out, though ‘tis safe to say ‘tis working in our favor.”

  “What ab
out Tiernan’s cousins?” She frowned. “Why did my magic, which might I remind you came from the pendant Tiernan gave me, protect them?”

  “From what I’ve heard,” Adlin replied, “your power will protect any who would die for he you are sworn to protect,” he rolled his eyes at Cray, “despite their behavior.”

  “Why didn’t it protect you at the Stonehenge then, Adlin?” she asked. “Because you’d definitely die for Tiernan.”

  “Mayhap because it had just ignited and was still adjusting,” Adlin theorized. “Or because whoever those monks were affected it somehow.”

  “So should I assume that for whatever reason, the source of my magic comes from this pendant?” She fingered it and sipped more whisky. “Because beyond some weird sensations here and there, the obvious stuff comes from this.”

  “I think that and whatever is going on in Scotland helped spark your magic,” Adlin replied. “Yet, I suspect the strange sensations you’re having are more directly connected to what exists within you.”

  “So, how am I supposed to use it?” She frowned. “Control it?”

  “As time goes on, ‘twill become clearer, lass,” he promised. “Though haphazard at times, magic tends to work itself out. ‘Twill show you the way.” He gestured at everyone. “Plus, as Milly said, you have all of us to help you the best we can.” Then he looked at Tiernan. “Most especially, my son.”

  “Right,” she murmured, her head swimming a little from the whisky. “Who I should stay with through this, I take it? Or should I go home and let my friends know what’s going on?”

  “Unfortunately, outside of your new magic,” Tiernan said, “we still dinnae know what’s going on.”

  “We are, however, one step closer,” she said softly, sure of it though she had no idea why. “We know those monk warriors initially did something at the Calanais Stonehenge that left dark magic behind, likely somewhere around the tomb.” She met Tiernan’s eyes. “And we suspect they’re manipulating the magic of the ley-lines to travel around Scotland.”