Chapter Three
–Ellie–
ICAN’T TRULY DESCRIBE how it felt to pass through my elm tree in the twenty-first century only to emerge into medieval Scotland. Only that I felt like I had come home, even though it wasn’t the home I remembered, and it never could be again.
Yet, as I gazed upon the woodland, caught forever between the past, present, and the Hereafter, I saw the subtle changes. Saw it in a way only I could, reminding me that I needed to do right by it and see the pact through.
The last thing I wanted was for the carnage I had foreseen to become Scotland’s fate, so I rallied my courage and stood strong as Adlin and I were escorted into King Robert’s encampment.
More so, I wore a mask of indifference when we entered the king’s tent and discovered Tavish was there as well.
A fact I suspected Adlin knew all along.
Now I had no choice but to meet Tavish for the first time beyond the Hereafter.
Beyond scattered dreams and what we’d left behind in another life.
When our eyes connected for the first time, a jolt of electricity shot straight through me, and it almost took more than I was capable of not to react because all I wanted to do was fly into his arms and never let go. But I couldn’t because he was no longer mine.
Not anymore.
Dressed in a léine, a black and red MacLeod plaid, and heavy boots, he was every bit as handsome as I knew he would be.
His thick ebony hair and chiseled features drew my eye every bit as much as his deep-set, piercing sky blue eyes and tall, muscular, broad-shouldered build.
Where he used to wear a never-ending smile and naturally drew people to him, now he was a scowling beast who probably saw trouble around every corner.
Or, for those like me who knew him best, he hid his heartbreak behind anger.
Yet, when our eyes met for the first time, and I felt his inner beast take notice of me, I knew nothing about this was going to be easy.
Even so, I had to push my feelings down because I wasn’t here for him but for King Robert.
Although not as tall as Tavish, the king was relatively tall, with graying, reddish-brown hair, a beard, and deep starbursts of lines around his eyes, speaking to a man who liked to laugh.
Not right now, though.
After introductions were made and I shared not just my tattoo but my intention to go straight to the Sutherlands, because of the gem over my dragon’s heart, he seemed dumbfounded.
And from the way he eyed me and scowled, I think my willingness to shift right here and now finally pushed him too far.
“Nay, and for two reasons,” the king said firmly.
“I know enough about dragons and this blasted pact to know if ye shift and possess the gem as ye claim, ‘twill attract the Sutherlands, and I dinnae want them here causing strife amongst my men.” He gave me a pointed look.
“Not just that, but gem or no gem, I have made myself clear about ye returning to MacLeod Castle to repay yer sister, Willow, for saving my life.” He shook his head.
“And I know without question that willnae happen if ye shift now.”
“I will still honor your wish,” I lied. “Even if I shift.”
In truth, I fully intended to disobey him.
Now I was home, I had a feeling I might be able to elude Adlin, too, because my magic was even stronger here.
It took being near Tavish to realize it, and I suspect it had everything to do with us loving each other, whether he realized it yet or not.
He strengthened my dragon and, in turn, my inner witch.
“Aye, lass,” the king replied, drawing me back to the conversation, “but again, if ye shift ‘twill attract the Sutherlands, and I cannae imagine they will allow ye to stay with the MacLeods and not with them.” He gestured at Tavish, who sat stoically, even though deep down he probably knew I was about to wreak havoc on his life.
Despite trying to keep his face devoid of emotion, the slightest twitch of his jaw gave him away, and his expression grew darker by the moment.
“To that end,” King Robert went on, “Tavish will escort ye to MacLeod Castle and nowhere else.”
I tensed and shook my head, knowing that wasn’t a good idea.
“While I appreciate the offer, I would hate to pull Tavish from his duties when I have Adlin here to protect me. As you know, he is one of the most powerful wizards ever born to Scotland.” I glanced from Adlin to the king.
“Adlin, who ensured I came to see you when I argued that I would rather go directly to the Sutherlands, so he can be trusted to abide by your wishes.”
“And I dinnae doubt that.” The king looked to Adlin graciously before meeting my eyes again, his voice a tad firmer this time. “Nevertheless, ‘twould please me if ye have one of my most trusted warriors with ye, for protection, of course.”
Bull. I could tell by the look exchanged between the king and Tavish he was not only going to protect me, but would personally see I did as the king asked, no matter what it took.
While at one time I could have used my wits and magic to outsmart Tavish to do whatever I wanted, I sensed from his inner beast that might not be the case anymore.
If that weren’t alarming enough, I was becoming increasingly aware my inner dragon didn’t seem quite as in sync with my human half as she was before I got here.
There was no need to wonder why, either, given the palpable energy fluctuating between me and Tavish.
Something I suspected he felt as well, but didn’t know what to make of it.
And I could only hope it stayed that way, hovering between us, a loose tether I could break free from in the end because I had no other choice.
“Well, I for one am most pleased to have such a valiant protector with us,” Adlin said, grinning at me and Tavish. “’Twill make the journey north much more enjoyable.”
Although I was tempted to narrow my eyes at him because I knew he was up to no good and trying to play matchmaker despite knowing my history with Tavish, I kept my expression neutral and nodded at the king. “As you wish, King Robert.”
Robert eyed me for a moment, gauging how genuine I was, before relenting, because honestly, what other choice did he have?
I was both dragon and witch, and he wasn't, so he could only hope for the best and pray I stayed true to my word.
Especially given how determined I was to go to the Sutherlands.
“Verra good.” He shook his head. “Whilst I would like it verra much if ye were to remain in the encampment tonight so we might dine together, I think given how close we are to the border, ‘twould be best if ye set out now and camp further north. That way ye will be in the safety of MacLeod Castle by nightfall on the morrow.”
“Aye,” Adlin agreed. “I dinnae sense any storms on the horizon this eve, so ‘twill be a good night to spend amongst the wilds of our homeland.”
“No doubt.” The king looked at me. “Do ye know how to ride, or will ye be riding with Tavish?”
Not Adlin but Tavish.
“I do know how to ride,” I replied, fully aware Tavish had tensed at the king’s question and visibly relaxed at my answer, without a doubt not wanting me that close to him, given the pull between us.
A pull he hadn’t felt since he lost the love of his life, who just happened to be me, though he wasn’t aware of that fact yet, and he wanted nothing to do with it.
Nothing to do with feeling that kind of pain again.
“Perfect.” The king stood and gestured at the tent opening. “Then let us make our way out. I had satchels of provisions made up for ye to see ye through yer journey.” He glanced at Tavish as we headed outside. “I trust ye’ll keep me abreast of everything?”
“Aye,” he replied. “As soon as we arrive at MacLeod Castle and assess the situation, I will send word.”
“Aye, then.” The king helped me mount the grey horse they provided, a telling sparkle in his eyes when he glanced from me to Tavish, letting me know he was astute indeed. “’Twas a pleasure meeting ye, Ellie. I can only pray when next we meet ye will be a MacLeod and nae a Sutherland.”
Somehow, I wasn’t all that surprised he had said that.
I could only guess he hoped I would end up with Tavish, hence the real reason for allowing his top man to escort me when we both knew full well he was needed more at the border than with me.
But if I had gathered nothing else in his tent just by watching the men interact, it was that they shared a deep friendship born of respect, so it made sense he would want to see Tavish happy.
Especially given how sad and angry he had been for far too long.
“Thank you, King Robert.” I met his smile and kept my response vague because I knew things couldn’t go the way he hoped. “I look forward to meeting you again as well.”
Everyone said their goodbyes, and we headed into an autumn forest awash in late-day sunlight, looking at a few hours of riding ahead of us before we made camp.
Although Adlin and Tavish discussed the ongoing skirmishes at the border, I remained mostly quiet, enjoying the peace the forests of my homeland could bring me, trying not to think about my other life.
About all the years I spent here with the only man I’d ever loved.
I tried to keep my thoughts equally quiet, just in case his inner beast caught one or two of them, but it wasn't easy.
And the closer we came to our castle, the more difficult I suspected it would become.
How could it not, considering all the memories we made there together?
While my memories were from my previous life, his were from this life and thus much closer to his heart and mind, so the odds of his dragon catching on would increase tenfold. Therefore, allowing him to escort me all the way to MacLeod Castle would be way too risky.
Somehow, I would have to escape and head to the Sutherlands.
I understood my actions would distress Aspen, and while I would never risk her pregnancy on purpose, at this point, I had no other option. Deep down in my soul, I knew if I didn’t face the Sutherland’s, the long-term effects would be far worse.
Like I told Adlin, I had seen her fate.
And that of her pregnancy.
I couldn’t let that happen. Ever.
I knew my visions would definitely happen this time, despite Adlin reminding me I had been wrong on occasion. It was rare, and they weren’t about anything nearly so dire. No, this time my foresight was spot on, and the longer I was in my homeland I only became more certain.
It was going to be deadly accurate if I didn't see the pact through.
So one way or another, I had to give myself to Dugal Sutherland to save everyone. To that end, my frustration with Adlin only grew for making me go to King Robert first and getting Tavish involved because the old wizard knew exactly what he was doing.
Given the fondness in his eyes as he and Tavish talked, he wanted me with Tavish as much as the king did and undoubtedly knew putting us together would make my mission that much harder.
It was clear he loved the MacLeods, and it wasn’t surprising, all things considered, given his clan had been allied with theirs for generations.
Not just theirs, either, but the Hamiltons, and that became even more clear as we traveled.
“He's here,” Adlin said hours later when we happened upon an all too familiar cave cut into a huge boulder. He spoke within the mind to keep the conversation from Tavish as he referred to seeing Grant Hamilton's ghost in the Hereafter. “So I think mayhap we’ll be safe here for the night.”
“Just because he's here doesn't mean we should stop,” I countered, seeing him, too, yet I worried because this location was far too connected to me and Tavish, and I didn't doubt Adlin and Grant knew it.
Tavish frowned my way. His brows whipped together, and his hand went to the hilt of the blade sheathed at his waist. “Who is here?”
Unfortunately, it was just as I feared. The more time I spent with Tavish in medieval Scotland, I knew without a doubt he would start catching my private conversations.
And he did so remarkably fast.
I was about to play dumb and ask what he meant when the last thing I wanted to see appeared, and I knew I was in big trouble.