“And ‘twill continue to be so,” I assured, tracing my fingers along her soft jaw because it was impossible not to touch her. “With me by your side until you're finally my wife and mistress of this castle.”
The corner of her mouth curled up even more. “You don’t give up, do you?”
“Never,” I swore, sighing as I slipped my hand into hers. “’Tis time to go below stairs, lass.”
We said little after that but made our way along until she stopped in the same spot where she had stood the previous morning with Kenneth and Lucas. Her gaze once again swept over the tapestries with appreciation before homing in on the largest of them all.
“That’s a female dragon,” she realized, admiring the elegant dragon navigating stormy skies and the masculine face caught in the clouds gazing at her through fiery eyes.
“Aye,” I confirmed. “’Tis a means to remember our ancestor Torra MacLomain and the considerable strength she brought to this clan when she found love with her soul mate, Colin MacLeod, seen watching her always.” I touched the small of Aspen’s back, ensuring she caught the double meaning. “Therewith her always.”
Our eyes met for a lingering look that told me Aspen cared for me every bit as much as I did her before we made our way down to the great hall and our waiting clansfolk. Keeping Aspen by my side so my people might see how much she meant to me, I spent time among them, assuring all was well before joining my parents and cousins in front of one of the fires. There was no need to catch them up on the vision Aspen and I had shared because they already knew it based on their various expressions.
“Whatever you do, youmustheed that vision, son,” my mother warned, eyeing the blade at my back before nodding at Aspen. “’Twas born of not just great Viking magic, but of your mate, whose gifts are powerful in their own right.”
“And what are those gifts?” Lucas asked curiously, eyeing Aspen with appreciation, and I didn’t blame him. She lookedradiant after a night of lovemaking, her flawless skin almost luminescent and her ebony hair flowing in velvety waves down her back.
“Honestly, it’s always been hit or miss with me,” Aspen confessed, shrugging. “Nothing overly concrete, really. Just enough to know I’ve got a little something extra going on.”
“More than you might realize,” my mother said, seeing something only she could when looking at my future wife. “However it manifests, ‘twill be made up of what you have possessed without pause since childhood. Patience. A steadfast nature and refusal to give up on anything you set your mind to. ‘Twill also be made up of a great inner strength and the ability to weather whatever change comes your way with courage and perseverance.”
“I can only hope you’re right,” Aspen said.
“She is,” Kenneth said, his eyes flickering with his inner wizard as he saw the same thing as my mother. Something I felt more than saw, and I could only pray it kept Aspen safe if I somehow could not.
“I suspect you will become more familiar with it sooner rather than later,” my mother said, taking in how Aspen and I were together now with a knowing look. One I had never seen her wear, and with good reason because I had never been in love before. Never felt this incredible pull toward another. Not even with Storm. It was so different, and I could see that clearly now.Feelit.
“I think you’re right,” Aspen replied to my mother. Her inner beast simmered in her eyes, then vanished, telling everyone she was getting better and better control over her dragon. That, combined with coming together with her fated mate, was often the key to one’s powers expanding if they had been repressed.
Aspen offered me a reassuring smile, whereas most in her position would do the opposite. If anything, they would be trying to find a way back to the twenty-first century and out of harm’s way.
“So, is there anything I should know about King Robert II before meeting him?” Aspen wondered. “Things that might not have made it into history books? Not obvious things like him being the first Stewart king. More like personality quirks per se?”
“In that regard, we are lucky,” I replied. “Generally speaking, the king is a kind and generous man, with somewhat of a cheerful nature during less trying times.” I shook my head. “Outside of talk of the Sassenach’s, ‘tis rare we’ve seen him in a foul mood.”
“Well, that’s good,” she said, choosing to see the bright side despite being aware the English were likely going to be at the heart of his discussion with us when he arrived. “Should I assume he knows I’m from the future and the MacLeods and Sutherlands possess dragon blood?”
“You should because he does,” I confirmed. “Not just knowledge of time travelers but that of dragons was handed down to him through the generations, including from King Robert the Bruce himself.”
“Yet he prefers to keep his knowledge of dragons a secret like the rest of you?” she presumed, cocking her head. “When having them backing him could very well mean certain victory over England? I would think certain victory over any country he wished to conquer.”
“It verra well could,” I agreed. “But he swore an oath that dragons were to remain Scotland’s best-kept secret for the sake of history. For the sake of what might happen to his beloved country and its dragons if the truth ever got out.” I shook my head. “King Robert is first and foremost an honorable man who puts hiscountrymen before all else, so he would not put the MacLeods or Sutherlands in the line of fire like that.”
“And it would be just that, wouldn’t it?” she said softly. “One way or another, mankind would destroy you, us all, no matter how powerful we might be because we were higher on the food chain.”
“Without a doubt,” I concurred, about to say more when my man signaled me from the door, then announced the king would soon arrive.
“’Tis time, lass.” Praying things went well, I held out my elbow to her. “Let us make our way to the courtyard so you might meet your first medieval Scottish king, as you would put it.”
Despite her circumstances, the adventurer in Aspen shone through in the excitement in her eyes when she slipped her arm into mine. “Lead the way.”
So I did, and she finally met her first medieval king.
Unfortunately, that also meant she would end up meeting the last man I wanted her to.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
–Aspen–
