IKNEW I shouldn’t agree to spend time with Sloan in the Morrow because I was still attracted to him, considering my love for him had never died, and I knew I’d be pressing my luck, but what was going on with this blasted pact was bigger than the two of us. Bigger than me dying if I didn’t know how to shift when the time came.
This was about my sisters’ safety, too.
About Clan MacLeod and the rest of not just medieval Scotland, but possibly modern-day Scotland if we didn’t keep history on track.
So I had a stipulation when Sloan asked once again if I’d spend time with him in his,our, Morrow because he was very much a part of it. He always had been.
“Fine,” I replied, from where we stood together in front of the living room fire, doing my best to keep my heart under control at his proximity. He was huge and gorgeous, and so damn distracting. “But only if your fiancée, Lorna, knows and things remain one hundred percent platonic.”
“Aye, things can remain platonic,” he vowed, shaking his head. “But Lorna cannae know nor can anyone in my era. ‘Tis far too dangerous.”
“On that we agree,” Adlin said, seeming to know just when the timing was right to return with Ellie. “’Tis best only those in this room know for now, Willow. As it is in this era, people tend to talk and ‘tis impossible, especially in our day and age, to know who can truly be trusted.”
Adlin shook his head before continuing. “There are clans who would benefit from the MacLeods and Sutherlands going to war, currying favor with the king for starters, eager to fill the MacLeod’s role because ‘twould be your MacLeods on the wrong side of the battle. Your MacLeods who would suffer for not staying true to Sloan’s vow to Elspet and Dugal and breaking their word to the king.”
I was about to say they weren’t my MacLeods, but I couldn’t seem to get the words out of my mouth. The truth was that, deep down, from Sloan sharing so much about them over the years, I was eager to call them family, because theyweremine. They always had been in a way I’d never been able to shake free from, despite shunning him and repressing my dragon. Not just that, but two of my sisters were now married into the clan, so officially, they were family.
“Aye,” Sloan agreed, following my thoughts a little too quickly now. “Plus, you have nephews on the way that dinnae need to be born into a clan shunned by not just our king but all the clans that would side with him.”
He didn’t need to say what else he was thinking because I caught it clearly enough. If the MacLeods ended up on the wrong side of this, it could very well risk Aspen’s pregnancy, and nothing would be more tragic, given they were the only children she would ever be able to have.
“Holy Hell,” I cursed, focusing first and foremost on Aspen, given things were heating up so much in medieval Scotland. “Is she okay?” I looked at Adlin. “Does she need me? Should I go—”
“Nay.” Adlin shook his head. “She has an entire clan of MacLeods protecting her, so she’s just fine, but I’m sure you ken the urgency to go about this correctly now, aye? Not just for the sake of the pact, but because Apsen doesnae need to lose a sister nor end up an enemy of the king.”
“No,” I managed, frowning at Sloan. “Why didn’t you tell me right away? I should have known what was going on the moment we reconnected again.”
“Because I didnae want to upset you any more than you already would be when you found out Hazel was gone too.” Sloan’s gaze still lingered on my face as if he hated looking away. “You’ve my word I willnae do anything to make you feel uncomfortable in the Morrow. ‘Tis only to help your dragon surface so when the time comes, you can protect yourself.”
“Assuming I’m not destined for a Sutherland,” I reminded him, having trouble believing it, given how strongly I felt about Sloan.
“Aye,” he agreed roughly, clearly having as much trouble believing it. “Assuming as much.”
“Then ‘tis decided?” Adlin perked his white eyebrows and looked back and forth between us. “You’ll stay in the Morrow, wherever that might be, for as long as you can?” He cocked his head. “Which is how long, again, as time passes for you in the Morrow versus here or in medieval Scotland, as it were?”
“Usually, until my tree reappears, then I know it’s time to go,” I said. “Assuming, of course, things still work like they used to, which, again, was a long time ago and under much different circumstances.”
“Indeed, they were,” Sloan said softly. “Far too long ago, and I never traveled to you in the future.”
“Nope, you coming here was a first.” My gaze fell to the blade sheathed at his waist when it flickered with a deep reddish light. The very color my dragon vision became years ago, even though I had never shifted. I wasn’t sure how that helped me understand what the blade was, but I did. “And I’m guessing that’s at the root of it? That’s the Viking sword I’ve been hearing about, even though it’s not a sword right now?”
“’Tis,” Sloan confirmed, his pupils flaring as his eyes remained on mine and he unsheathed the blade. Surprisingly, he held it out hilt first. “And something tells me, by what I just saw in your eyes, it’s staying with you now.”
When I frowned in confusion, Ellie enlightened me, relief in her voice.
“It’s happening already, sis,” she said. “Your dragon eyes flickered when you looked at the blade.”
“You mean the blade flickered because my vision didn’t change,” I countered.
“Yet your dragon was there nonetheless.” Adlin rocked back on his heels and rubbed his hands together in anticipation, his eyes merry once more. “At least now Sloan’s in the Morrow, so your magical place must be working.”
“But this isn’t the Morrow.” I narrowed my eyes and looked around. “Although our surroundings are typically the same, the Morrow has a distinct look and feel about it, enchanting everything somehow. It's hard to explain.”
“At least the Morrow does that in my era,” Sloan said. “Mayhap ‘tis different when I travel to your era?”
“Either way,” Ellie said, “I would say it’s a promising first step.”
“And I agree,” Adlin added. “Not just that, but the willow out front hasnae faded, so I would say you’re en route to where you’re supposed to go.”
