CHAPTER SEVEN
–Willow–
EVER SINCE CHARA assessed my ring with her unicorn magic of all things, my unease had grown.
Can you blame me, considering she implied I might be meant for someone other than Sloan?
While I certainly had no intention of being with him so long as he was engaged to Lorna, it had never once occurred to me that I might be destined for anyone else.
Why would it when my heart had only ever belonged to Sloan?
Yet now that Chara had revealed the Morrow was made up of ancient magic attached to my mother’s ring, and part of something called an unraveling spell, my worry grew, and not just for obvious reasons.
It was almost like her words spoke to a truth buried deep inside me, and it made me feel off-kilter in a way that was swiftly bypassing being uneasy.
So when Chara led us around a bend in the stream, I was relieved to see my sisters waiting for us, along with two men who were clearly related to Sloan because they were built just like him.
But could the four of them see Sloan and me?
Thankfully, they could, which I was both grateful for and alarmed by, because they didn’t have the same aura about them that Chara did. They looked totally normal. That spoke to the Morrow weakening or perhaps fading away altogether, and that was the last thing I needed right now.
“Oh, wow,” Aspen exclaimed, blinking at our approach as if we hadn’t been there moments before.
“You really are here.” Wide-eyed, she looked from Sloan to me, then pulled me in for a big hug before she held me at arm’s length and looked me over.
“How are you, sis?” She shook her head. “I’ve never seen anything quite like that.
One minute, there was nothing there, then Chara appeared, followed by you, and—” she perked an eyebrow at Sloan— “Sloan, I assume?”
“Aye, m’lady.” He lowered his head in a sign of respect before meeting her eyes, acknowledging her marriage to his chieftain.
“’Tis good to finally meet you.” He looked from the handsome ebony-haired man beside her, who could only be Broderick, back to her.
“Congratulations to you both on your nuptials and your bairns.” He smiled the sort of charming smile that had always made me blush, no matter his age.
“I look forward to meeting my wee nephews. May they grow to be strong lads with swift wings.”
“Thank you, Sloan.” Aspen met his smile, the same yet different in the way she handled herself now she was Queen of the Castle, so to speak.
“I look forward to getting to know you better once this is all over and you return home.” Her worried eyes returned to me.
“Because you’re not really home yet, are you? ”
“Clearly not given home’s six hundred years in my future,” I reminded, because what else could I say?
Sloan was engaged to someone else, and I sure as hell had no intention of remaining here if I wasn’t with him.
I could admit that much. I finally realized the anger I’d been carrying all this time was that of a young girl who hadn’t truly understood what he was going through.
Rather than respond to my comment about my home being in the future, Aspen made introductions not just to Broderick but to Hazel’s new husband, Lucas, who was as handsome as the others. His hair was dirty blonde, and his eyes cobalt blue, unlike Broderick’s eyes, which were sea-green.
While Aspen looked as beautiful as ever with her black hair pulled back, and Hazel just as lovely with her vibrant red hair down, both had a glow about them, and I could gather why, given the loving looks they exchanged with their guys.
It was odd seeing my sisters wearing medieval clothing, but somehow it suited them in a way I hadn’t expected.
“Which surprises me, given you actually did believe we were witches after all,” Aspen said, following my thoughts with unexpected ease, speaking to how much she had changed since shifting for the first time.
She narrowed her eyes but kept a small smile, letting me know it was all right, her gaze once again flickering from me to Sloan.
“Not just that, but you saw authentic medieval clothing plenty when you traveled back in time when you were younger. And while I’m tempted to ask why all the secrecy, there’s no need to because everyone’s dragons are already connecting and they’re catching us up. ”
“Which means we should talk whilst we can,” Chara said.
“Because if we can all see each other normally and sense the secrets our inner beasts managed to keep from us, then the unraveling spell is at work and ‘twill only be a matter of time before the tree takes them away.” Her gaze dropped to the Viking blade sheathed at my waist. “Or that, as it seems to be working alongside the spell.”
“And I imagine ‘tis a good thing given it brought the four of you together,” Sloan noted, looking at my sisters and their mates. “Which means this unraveling spell is likely only bringing Willow and me closer rather than further apart.”
I hadn’t missed Sloan subtly moving closer to me since learning about the spell, as if he were afraid it might take me from him.
Nor had it gone over my head that he hadn’t given up hope of us somehow being together despite Lorna still being in the picture.
And while I shouldn’t allow him so close, I could admit I liked it.
“We can only hope the unraveling spell does bring you and Willow closer, cousin,” Broderick agreed with Sloan. “But until then, ‘tis best you know we heard from Kenneth MacLomain. Someone arrived at Sutherland Castle since you retired for the eve, Sloan.”
Since Aspen and Broderick came together, Kenneth had been discreetly keeping an eye on the comings and goings at Sutherland Castle.
His task above all was to keep the MacLeods abreast of how Lilias and her daughter were doing, now that we knew they were family, whether they belonged to Dugal Sutherland or not.
It turned out not only was Lilias married against her will, she was our half sister.
“Och,” Sloan exclaimed, catching Broderick’s thoughts. “Lorna and her father are at Sutherland Castle?” He shook his head. “What are they doing there?”
“He couldnae say other than ‘twas rather discreet arriving under the cover of darkness, and they were greeted by both Dugal and Elspet,” Broderick said. “Which he found odd, and I would have to agree.”
Aye,” Sloan concurred, sighing, “Yet Lorna considers herself my betrothed, so it doesnae surprise me she somehow found her way to Sutherland Castle if she learned I was there. Any more than how she found her way to MacLeod Castle so she might counsel me on how to better myself and continue cultivating my relationship with the king.”
“Mayhap ‘tis just that.” Broderick’s brow furrowed.
“But if that were the case, why not greet her more openly, given she’s to be yer wife, one of the king’s closest, most trusted warriors, not to mention her father, who is also one of the king's best warriors?” He shook his head.
“It makes little sense on several fronts, aye? Little sense given Dugal and Elspet’s love of being allied with King Robert, and how important they think it makes them look? ”
“And that’s what troubled Kenneth as well,” Aspen said. “Because, according to him, they vanished into a side door rather than entering through the front. The whole thing seemed far too secretive when, as far as we know, the four of them shouldn’t be sharing any secrets, should they?”
“Nay, they shouldnae.” Sloan’s dragon eyes flared. “’Tis troubling.”
“Since the marriage is so important to them, maybe they’re just there to keep an eye on Sloan,” I theorized. “And requested it be done discreetly?”
“Nay, Lorna thrives on fanfare.” Sloan shook his head.
“She would want everyone to be impressed by her arrival every bit as much as Dugal and his mother would want to openly welcome allies of the king, whether they were there for me or not.” He clenched his fist rather than take my hand.
“And before you say Lorna is there to remind me of our marriage agreement, remember this. If you dinnae end up having the heart over your chest and are destined to be mine, she would be coming in the front door, reminding everyone who she is. More so, who I am.”
“He’s right,” Chara said, flinching when my willow tree appeared nearby. “So something is going on we didnae see coming.” She looked at us in warning. “Something I suggest you both be wary of because ‘tis off somehow.”
I tried to keep my unease and nerves at bay, but the moment the willow appeared and I caught the glow of the blade sheathed at my waist, it was hard.
I was no coward, though, so I stood up straighter and got ready to face what was coming next because this wasn’t the first time life had thrown challenges my way.
Who knows? Maybe Sloan and I would continue a pointless walk down memory lane, but somehow my gut said things wouldn’t go that easily.
I frowned at Sloan. “What happens if we end up back at Sutherland Castle? How are you going to explain my sudden appearance in the chamber they gave you?”
“We will figure that out when and if the time comes,” he assured, seeming calm enough, but I caught the tension he hid, so I wouldn’t be frightened of what lay ahead. “The unraveling spell has kept us together and safe thus far, so I dinnae doubt ‘twill continue doing so.”
He was right. It had. Still. There were a lot of unknowns ahead of me, not to mention an uneasy feeling I couldn’t shake.
“You mentioned my mom’s magic being powerful, Chara,” I said, forcing myself to say it, because I needed to know the truth, or at the very least her take on things, because I sensed she had one.
“Just how powerful, exactly, given the whole point of this pact is to find the witch among the MacLeods who descends from the Sutherland sorcerer?” I glanced from Sloan back to her.
“And I think it’s safe to say, given our history, that I’ve been found among the MacLeods. ”
In turn, Chara’s gaze flickered from my ring back to my face, and she gave me the cold, hard truth despite her attempt to soften it.
“Based on the magic I feel in that ring and in this Morrow, she was one of the most powerful witches I’ve ever come across.
A witch who could access ancient magic that can run both dark and light.
” She shook her head. “But that doesnae necessarily mean she’s born of the sorcerer’s bloodline, for there are numerous bloodlines of old capable of such. ”
“And how many descended from Scotland?” I returned, having a feeling she knew.
She responded, but I couldn’t hear what she said as everyone faded, and the willow tree took me without me walking toward it this time. Not before I sensed the truth, though, and it wasn’t good.
Only two such powerful bloodlines descended from Scotland.