Magick in the Mist #8
Isobel entered her nana’s chambers, certain Roderick had not acted alone.
She choked out a bitter laugh at finding the room empty.
Mayhap her nana had seen the wrong Mackenzie with the wrong Forbes.
Mayhap it was Roderick who was Olivia’s true love.
A moonbeam cut across the room, the Forbes heart stone glowing in the bright swath of light.
Isobel strode to the table and angrily closed her fingers around the rock, knowing instantly what she had to do.
She would not let another Forbes lass suffer her fate.
Waste years pining for a man she thought was her true love, only to discover he would never love her in return.
She stifled a broken sob with her hand and ran blindly from the room, down the staircase to the entryway. Opening the door to the keep, she stepped outside into the mist. She ran across the courtyard.
“Isobel, what the bloody hell do you think you’re doin’?” Ewan’s voice cut through the dense fog.
“Doona you come one step closer, Ewan Mackenzie.” She groaned when he stepped through the mist into the moonlit courtyard.
His gaze searched hers and he released a shocked breath. “’Tis you. ’Twas you all along.”
“Nay, I had nothin’ to do with it. ’Twas your grandda and my nana’s fault you—”
He shook his head, looking bemused. “’Twas no’ what I meant. You’re the lass from the Burnetts’ moors.”
“Aye, ’twas me,” she said with a brittle laugh. “The foolish lass waitin’ for her true love to ride through the mist, only it was you and you didna want me then and you doona want me now.”
He took a step towards her. “I did want you, Isobel. You were too young that first time. I told you I would come back for you.”
“But you never did.”
“The second time I tried. I went after you and managed to knock myself out on a branch.” He smiled a crooked boyish grin. “I searched for you all the next day and—”
“Your betrothal to Lorna Sinclair was announced that night. I was there.” She barely managed to get the words out, her throat painfully tight as she remembered her devastation upon hearing the announcement.
“Aye, it was,” he said quietly. “But I’ve found you now, Isobel, and you’re my wife.”
“You doona want me. I heard you yellin’ at Roderick. You would have had our marriage annulled if he hadna tricked you.”
“Aye, and in truth I should have thanked him for doin’ so, but I was angry I’d hurt you. I would have taken my time had I kent you were still innocent.” He brought his hand to her face. “So are you tellin’ me that you’ve been waitin’ for me all this time, that I’m your true love?”
She snorted her disgust. “Aye and I’m goin’ to throw this heart stone in the loch on the morrow so no other lass has to suffer.”
He frowned. “Why? We’re together now.”
“Aye, but you doona love me.”
His look softened and he stroked her cheek with his thumb.
“I do, Isobel. I doona ken how much you’ve heard aboot my marriage to Lorna, but ’twas no’ a happy one.
She made my life and that of my sons miserable, ’tis why it took me a little longer to trust you with my heart than it should have.
But I do trust you, Isobel,” He said, smiling down at her as he swept her into his arms. “Now, why doona I take you inside and show you just how verra much I love you.”
Isobel’s breath caught in her throat. Ewan’s love for her was reflected in his eyes.
She fought back tears of joy and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.
“I’ve waited a verra long time for you, Ewan Mackenzie.
You have a lot of years to make up for.” Her voice was husky, overwhelmed with the emotion that clogged her throat.
Laughter rumbled in Ewan’s chest. “I’ll spend my life makin’ it up to you, my bonny wife.”
Isobel released a contented sigh, certain she’d never been happier than at this moment. “And you, my bonny highlander, were well worth waitin’ for. I love you, Ewan and I love Robbie and Connor, too.” A thought occurred to her and she frowned.
Ewan looked down at her. “What is it?”
“I’m thinkin’ mayhap things worked out as they were meant to. Even though it wasna easy to wait so long for you, if you hadna married Lorna, we wouldna have Robbie and Connor.”
He touched his forehead to hers. “Do you ken, Isobel, I doona think I could love you more than I do at this moment.”
She kissed him and he tightened his arms around her, deepening the kiss until he had her breathless with desire. “Mayhap we should go inside now,” she panted against his lips.
“Aye,” he said gruffly, pushing open the door to the keep. Her nana hurried towards them. “Isobel, do ye have the heart stone?”
Isobel’s brow furrowed. “Aye,” she said, opening her palm. Olivia plucked the stone from her hand and marched out the door. Roderick, wearing only his plaid, came to stand beside them, scratching his head. “Do ye ken why Livie wants me to go lookin’ for her in the mist, henny?”
“I suggest you get out there, grandda. If you doona, someone else may claim her before you do,” Ewan said with a grin.
“I’m comin’, Livie, my henny,” Roderick called out.
As Ewan walked up the stairs with Isobel in his arms, he said, “You ken they’ll be livin’ with us, doona you?”
“Aye, doona worry, I’ll no leave you because of it. Besides, we can always send them to visit my da.” Isobel laughed. Her patience was finally at an end.