Chapter 32 #2
Nothing makes any sense. I’d thought I lost my mind when I first arrived but now I know—this, this is the real madness.
I feel jangly and insubstantial, like I’ve grabbed an electrical wire, and it’s scrambling my brain, shrinking my skin too tight for my body.
When I arrived, I questioned why I was here.
Now all I want to know is why I have to go.
My voice breaks as I ask, “If tonight wasn’t a lie, then what was it?”
He strokes me with restless fingers—grazing my cheeks, hair, chin, shoulders—as though needing to touch me everywhere all at once. “This…it’s not how I’d hoped it might be. I wanted…I’d dreamed…well, that’s not to be. But I’d not trade a single moment. What we had, ’twas worth it.”
“Had? What do you mean, had?”
He casts an urgent look into the trees behind us.
“There’s not much time,” he says, speaking faster.
His hands slide down my neck and curl into my shoulders, as though he might anchor me forever in place.
“Knowing you has made my life worthwhile. You’ve given me back my pride, and while a Campbell might take my life, none could ever take that from me.
More than pride, you’ve given me family again.
” He lifts a hand to my face, skimming my lower lip with his thumb.
“My magnificent Rose. You are my family.”
When his lips touch mine, I spear my fingers through his hair, seizing him closer. I need him closer, and deeper, and forever.
His kiss has already changed everything for me. Now I want it to make everything disappear.
Far away, a branch snaps.
With a sharp inhale, Callum pulls from me.
The hiss of steel drawn from several scabbards drifts on the wind.
“It’s time,” he whispers.
Dazed, I let myself be led to the door of the cottage. For an exquisite moment, I think he’s bringing me inside to hide. But then he stops. He twines his fingers tightly with mine, so tightly it hurts. Eyes drifting shut, he starts to chant again.
“No.” I try to tug free, but his fingers are locked with mine. “Let’s just run. We have to get out of here.”
His voice intensifies, grows louder, and I hate it. For a second, I hate him.
“Stop it,” I snap. “Callum, stop.” I can’t bear this repetitive chanting, these strange, resonant words that rise from his throat sounding so hollow and deadened. “What are you saying? Callum. Speak English.”
There’s a shout. Voices calling back and forth.
I shake his arm, begging, “Please, Callum. Please. Just come with me.”
There’s an explosive rustling of branches. Loud, like men running. Toward us.
He opens his eyes. “They come. You must be brave.” He plunges his fingers into my hair, cradling my face in his hands. “We must both be brave.”
I sag into him, pressing his hands hard to my skin, curling my cheek into his palm. “Why can’t you come with me?”
“The chant is only for one,” he says tenderly. So sad, so definitive. “And it will only work for a red-haired lass. Beautiful beyond reasoning.” He adds in a rasp, “Most beloved among all women.”
His eyes lock with mine, an eternity passing in a single heartbeat. He kisses my forehead, and his lips linger softly, long enough that I feel his breath on my skin.
There’s a loud rustling. A laugh.
Callum abruptly pulls back.
A man stands just beyond the cottage. A thin shaft of torchlight catches his gap-toothed grin.
Hamish comes from behind. Pushing the man aside, he steps from the shadows. “How precious you both are.” He picks his way over a fallen log to get closer. “But I warned you. I will have my turn plucking this bonnie rose.”
Callum draws his sword. “You’ll not pluck anything but my steel from your belly.”
Hamish gives him an amused smirk. “Is that so? ’Tis well enough. I’ll do business with you first.” He unsheathes his sword. “There’s no bog at hand, but I can devise other punishments suitable for a thief.”
More men emerge from the trees, gathering around Hamish. The young Campbell is issuing instructions, and though I recognize the words as English, I can’t wrap my mind around their meaning.
I want to press pause. To stop. To think.
Callum turns his complete and urgent focus on me. “You must go.” He uses his free hand to pull me to the door, and kicks it open.
The blackness inside terrifies me more than Hamish and his thugs. I dig in my heels. “No. Not without you.”
“Only you may pass. Please, Rose.” He nudges me, enough that I stumble closer to the doorway. “It must be now.” I look back at him in disbelief, and for a heartbeat, something in his eyes falters, breaks. His jaw clenches, voice dropping. “Go.”
Pain slices through my chest, stealing my breath. Do hearts actually break? This can’t be happening. I found him across centuries. I fought for him, ran with him, chose him. I would have given up everything for him.
And now he’s making the choice for me.
I resort to stupid, childish, adolescent sentiments, flinging the only words I can manage. “I thought you cared about me.”
“Och, fool lass.” His hand spasms around mine, fiercely pulling me back to him. Our chests slam together, and he kisses me, hard. “I love you. Only and always you. And that’s why I must do this.”
His eyes are molten now, the gray gone to liquid silver, searing through me.
The men are speaking, laughing and sauntering closer, but my entire self is only for Callum. I plead in a frantic whisper, “Let’s stay together. I don’t care about curses.”
“My dearest Rosie-love,” he rasps. “Don’t you see? Donag’s curse demands MacGregor blood. Mine will do.”
The words strike like a blade. He’s made his choice. And I know, there’s no stopping him. Not with love. Not with logic.
Not even with me.
He chants a quick stream of words and shoves me toward the doorway. I lurch forward, trying to catch myself, but the world bends and warps around me.
“Wait!” I reach for Callum, but my hand slides through him.
A sob tears from me as I spin, grasping for the door frame, but my fingers pass through air. I’m already dissolving. Vanishing.
“I love you,” he shouts, voice cracking on the words. “My dearest, my only, my Rosie MacGregor. ’S ann leatsa a tha mo chridhe gu bràth—my heart is yours forever.”
“No!” I reach desperately for the rotted wood, my hands grasping at nothing. I can’t feel anything anymore.
I see Callum’s face, his eyes burning with love and agony.
He pushes me one last time.
And the world disappears.