CHAPTER 11 #2
“Yes, I do, Eve. It was because of you I was able to achieve my dreams.” She peered down at her red palm in her lap.
A lot of good it did her to graduate with honors.
If she was stuck in the past, her career was over.
She shook herself free of her melancholy and glanced up at Evie.
“And if Callum does anything to hurt you, he’ll have to answer to me. ”
They shared another smile and a giggle as Evie sat next to her. She told her how she had landed in this time, how Callum was convinced she belonged to Clan Sinclair and had tried to leave her with them.
“Angus Sinclair?” Chloe interjected.
“Yes.”
Nodding, Chloe explained how she had met Angus, his wife, Fiona, and their son. How Malcolm had insisted they spend the night to allow her to recover and how they had traveled to Dundale together.
“I think they’re our ancestors.”
“I think so, too,” Evie said with a nod.
Her sister then told her about Hamish, Callum’s father, and how the castle had come under attack. When he was killed, Callum was named laird of Dundale. She told the story with mist in her eyes.
“There’s more. It may be difficult for you to understand, but you have to believe what I’m about to tell you is the truth.”
She drew her brows together. “That sounds ominous.”
Evie kept her gaze down as she fiddled with the edge of her sleeve. “There’s a prophecy. Hamish shared it with me before he passed.”
She remained still as she peered at her sister’s profile. She had more questions now than ever. “A prophecy?”
“Yes, and it’s all coming true.”
“What is this prophecy?” she asked.
“It started with the Night of Shadows and the Shattering,” Evie said.
“There were three goddesses representing Past, Present, and Future who protected this keystone that holds all of Time itself.
Others tried to steal the keystone and breach the barriers between the mortal realm and the realm of chaos.
That became known as the Night of Shadows.
So, the three goddesses decided to break the stone into three pieces and hide it to keep it out of their hands. The Shattering.
“When the stars align and the shadows of chaos eclipse the sun once again, the time will come to unite a warrior’s heart and a maiden’s grace.
Together, they’ll reunite the pieces of the keystone and protect it, to safeguard it for time eternal.
Three pieces of stone. Two ancient bloodlines. One divine destiny.”
Evie recited the words as if she had committed them to memory, as if someone had drilled them into her. Then she pulled her piece of the stone out of her pocket.
“I believe my piece of the keystone represents the Present.”
“And my piece?”
Evie shook her head. “I don’t know yet.”
She stared at her for a long, quiet moment as she processed the words, her heart a wild drumbeat.
“Don’t you see, Chlo? We were meant to come here just as we were meant to get the pieces of the keystone.”
She ran her hand through her tangled hair, the headache continuing to throb at her temples. “You’re speaking of fate and destiny, Evie.”
Did she believe in fate and destiny? Once, she might have.
She wasn’t sure if she did now. Everything she knew had changed—the man she thought she loved had betrayed her.
The man she thought she wanted to spend the rest of her life with had deceived her.
And now, her sister, her best friend, the one she counted on the most, was telling her they were fated to go back in time.
Two ancient bloodlines. One divine destiny.
She thought she understood what that meant—the Sinclairs and the MacLeods were the two ancient bloodlines. And their divine destiny? Protecting all of Time? That seemed farfetched.
“I am,” Evie agreed. “I have a piece of the stone and so do you. There is a third piece still missing,” she said, giving her a pointed look.
Something about the way she looked at her made her senses tingle. There was a knowing glint in Evie’s eyes, as though she tried to tell her something without coming right out and saying it.
She rubbed her temple with her forefinger. “And where will this third piece come from?”
“Moira has to give it to someone to bring to us.” Again, it sounded like a hint. “There is only one person who can do that.”
Oh, God. Chloe understood then. If Evie was here in the past, and she was here in the past, that meant…
“Brianna.” She breathed their older sister’s name as though it were a curse.
Evie nodded.
“No, Eve. That can’t be right.” Chloe sprang from the bed and started to pace, clutching her elbows.
The thought of Brianna here, in the past, with them was absurd. Brianna would never go to Scotland, much less time travel. She was a beach bum to the core. She had no thought whatsoever for anyone other than herself.
“I don’t believe you.”
“Believe it,” Evie said. “I can prove it.”
Chloe halted and turned to face her, a sudden chill passing through her. Gooseflesh erupted on her arms and skittered down her body.
“Then prove it.”
“I will. But first, it’s late. You must be exhausted from traveling. And hungry. Plus, you need something to sleep in. I’ll fetch you something from the kitchen to snack on and you can borrow a shift.”
Chloe stared at the woman across from her as though she had grown a second head.
Evie sounded so authoritative, so sure of herself, she hardly recognized her.
Truth be told, she was exhausted after riding all day with Malcolm.
And now that she thought about it, her stomach did rumble with hunger pains.
“Plus, you’ll need a change of clothes for this time.”
Chloe glanced down at herself. She still wore the cloak as well as her jeans and fuzzy sweater. “My clothes are fine.”
She shook her head. “You’ll freeze your ass off here in that. You need layers. Trust me on this. I’ll be back soon.”
Evie headed for the door.
“Evie?”
Her sister turned, her hand on the doorknob. “Yeah?”
“I’m glad we’re together again,” she said, and meant it.
A smile played upon her lips as she nodded. “Me, too, Chlo. Me, too.”
When Evie left, Chloe stood and removed the borrowed cloak and tossed it on the bed.
She peered down at the fire. All of this was too much to take.
It was hard to grasp she had time traveled and ended up in what appeared to be the Middle Ages.
She understood enough about history to know this time period was not kind and, frankly, she was terrified. Not only for herself but for Evie.
This was a brutal, unforgiving world, especially for women.
Though the way Evie talked about Callum told her she had managed to be okay.
What worried her the most was that Bruce had traveled back in time with her.
Where was he now? What was he doing? Did he have plans to find her again?
It was apparent to her he was desperate to get his hands on the stone.
He knew Evie had a piece and that’s why he had chased her through the museum.
What was to stop him from coming after them both now?
Fear trickled through her as she leaned on the mantel, peering down into the fire. It was something she couldn’t worry about now. She was safe here with Evie and Callum and, yes, even Malcolm. Perhaps even Jamie. She had to trust everything was going to be fine.
The door opened, then, and Evie returned with an older woman carrying a tray with a tea pot, a cup, some bread, and a wheel of cheese.
“Chloe, this is Roslyn.”
“I’ve heard a lot about ye, lass,” the woman said, her face crinkling into a bright smile. She placed the tray on a table near the fire. “Pleased to meet ye at last.”
She excused herself to return to her final nightly chores, leaving the two of them alone once again.
Evie handed her the thick shift as well as a pair of woolen stockings. “Here. You’ll want these, too. There’s extra wood and peat for the fire when it starts to die. Toss on the peat and it should keep going.”
Chloe didn’t know what else to say except thanks.
“I’m down the hall if you need anything,” she said. Then she reached for her and pulled her into a fierce hug. When she pulled back, she held her at arm’s length. “In the morning, I’ll show you that proof. I promise.”
“All right,” Chloe said.
Evie smiled, her face glowing with joy. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Then she bid her good night and left her alone. Chloe stood a moment by the fire, numb, staring at the closed door, holding the shift and the stockings, and wondering how she was going to survive in this world.
Thankfully, she had Evie to help her navigate it all.
With a sigh, she changed into the shift and the woolen stockings.
Evie was right. She was freezing and grateful for the warmth of the stockings.
Exhaustion burned through her. She opted to ignore the food and climbed into bed, pulling the blankets to her chin.
In a matter of minutes, she was fast asleep.