CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN –Willow–
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
–Willow–
NOTHING HAD EVER made me happier than finally marrying Sloan beneath our willow at the edge of the forest beyond MacLeod Castle, surrounded by family.
He took my breath away as our wrists were bound and we became each other’s in every way possible, and he kissed me, only for the Morrow to appear and reveal more secrets.
More so, it revealed that both my parents were from this era.
If that weren’t shocking enough, given that I was the youngest of the sisters, I remembered the lullaby my mother had sung to me as a baby, and it surprised everyone because it clearly had to do with what was happening now.
“She sang of two warring clans and an ancient pact,” I said softly, still recovering from the emotional impact of seeing her again in a memory born of the Morrow.
Seeing my father again, too. It was a poignant reminder that I had been loved by them both, even though it seemed my father was never there.
He had been, but like it was for Hazel, those memories had vanished from my mind, whitewashed in magic, until the time was right.
I recalled the sweet burr of my mother's voice as she told me a story I couldn’t remember in its entirety. “She also sang of kin and country and the power of family and fated mates.”
“And what else?” Chara prompted, her eyes flaring gold with her inner magic as she rested a hand on my shoulder where we still stood beneath the willow tree.
“Strength,” I managed, my voice wobbly with emotion as bits and pieces came back.
“Of great inner strength and of protectors. Of great love and the power to persevere.” I couldn’t help a small smile.
“She sang of deceiving others for the greater good on the morrow and even into the hereafter.” My eyes went to Sloan, who remained close with his hand in mine, and another tear slipped down my cheek, given how far we had come.
“And she sang of embracing the strength I would find with my fated mate and cherishing the eternal love we would someday find together.”
“Such a telling lullaby,” Chara murmured, squeezing my shoulder in support before she stepped away, seeming to sense, like I did, that for now, that’s all I was supposed to take away from the lullaby. The rest would remain a mystery until Ellie’s journey into the hereafter revealed more.
“A journey my son Tavish knows well,” Chara said, her eyes flickering gold again and her voice different as she tapped into something in that way only she could. “A journey he took when he lost her.”
When she blinked as if awakening from her own reverie, her husband Marek slipped his hand into hers. “You mean when he lost his lass years ago? For ‘twas deep love betwixt them.”
And from what I’d heard, the grief had changed him greatly. While he was once lighthearted with a sense of humor, now he was dark and brooding.
“’Twas deep love betwixt them,” Chara agreed, narrowing her eyes as if trying to pinpoint what she might have meant. “But I’m not sure ‘twas her…not entirely anyway.”
“Maybe something to do with Ellie, then?” Aspen prompted, as curious as the rest of us, but when Chara shook her head, we knew we weren’t meant to know just yet. But I knew somehow, as I had the strangest feeling, it was definitely meant for Tavish and Ellie.
Something else was meant for us, though, and it caught my attention when moonlight flickered near the base of our tree and I drifted that way, only to find a small scroll tucked under the root where I had first stood when I traveled back in time as a little girl.
“What is it, lass?” Sloan wondered, joining me.
“One last letter from Storm,” I said, certain I was right as I unrolled it and read the simple message.
Might you find everything you’ve ever longed for in the Morrow, my friend.
Until we finally meet,
Storm
No sooner did I read it than it caught on the wind, drifted up into the branches, and vanished in the last rays of moonlight. Moments later, churning dark clouds billowed in, and icy rain mixed with snow began falling.
“Well, it sounds like Storm’s on the ball yet again.
” Hazel grinned at us. “Because you certainly found everything you longed for in the Morrow.” She eyed the worsening weather and kept smiling, as happy for us as everyone else.
“So, how about we head back to the castle so I can cook you an amazing wedding feast? All your favorites.”
Sensing there was more to Storm’s letter, I met her smile. “Sounds great, sis.” I looked from Sloan back to her. “Meet you there in a little bit? We’d like a few more minutes alone beneath our tree first.”
“But it’s going to pour,” Hazel pointed out before she seemed to understand, and her smile only warmed in understanding. “Of course, take your time, but keep in mind the weather can be—”
“Wonderful for a dragon,” Lucas said, steering her in the direction of the castle, as everyone seemed to understand because they were already smiling at us knowingly.
“Aye, verra soothing for a dragon,” Evan agreed, falling in on Hazel’s other side when she seemed determined to leave us some kind of food or drink. “Now let’s get inside and ye can cook to yer heart’s content.”
After that, not just the storm but the Morrow flickered around us, enclosing us beneath the willow in our own little oasis, and everything else faded.
Everything except my Scot of the Morrow, who pulled me into his arms and cupped my cheek. “What did you sense in Storm’s letter, because I know you sensed something. I could see it in your eyes and…”
When he trailed off and inhaled deeply, his dragon eyes flaring, I knew he finally understood, his brogue thick with emotion when he realized I had gone into heat, making me extra fertile. “’Twas not just what ye already found in the Morrow but what ye would soon find in the Morrow.”
“Safe to say, husband,” I murmured, done with talking as I pulled his lips down to mine and kissed him deeply, sensing I would not only conceive tonight but they would be blessed by the magic they would take from this place.
After all, they would possess the magic of the Morrow.
I couldn’t say when we chanted away our clothes, and Sloan lowered me to the warm grass growing beneath our tree, only that our passion was as intense as the storm raging beyond our conclave.
As wild as the thunder crashing and ocean booming in the distance, our kisses went beyond crazed to near-violent in our need for each other.
Frenzied, he finally spread my thighs, thrust deep, and I arched in pleasure.
After that, everything was completely out of control as he was on top one moment, then me, then him again as we rode each other, giving into raw, primal driving lust until he slowed and met my eyes as we bordered on the edge of bliss.
“I’m ready,” I gasped hoarsely, knowing it was time. “Please.”
His eyes stayed with mine as he pressed deep one last time and took us both over the edge into such pleasure there could be no doubt the Morrow never looked so bright, whether around us or within us.
The evil witchy dragon and her equally sinister son still ruled over their kingdom, and an unraveling curse and a terrible pact were still upon us. Secrets were being revealed, and heroes continued to rise up and find the strength of their fated mates, including us.
So it was that my Sad, Angry Fairytale turned into the perfect Happily Ever After with my beloved hero. One who proved in the end he hadn’t just loved me yesterday and today, but would love me as I would love him into every morrow until the end of time.
The End
What will happen to Ellie and Tavish now that Ellie’s on the run? Find out in Her Scot of Hereafter, the epic conclusion of MacLeod Dragons.