Page 100 of Dark Victory

“Why do you look so uncertain?” Allie exclaimed. “Because he can behead his enemy without blinking?”

Tabby smiled grimly. “He can be cruel and he is ruthless.”

“He’s a Highlander, girlfriend. And in case you haven’t figured it out, grudges are carried for life around here, his mortal enemies are as cruel and as ruthless, and given a choice, these machos like using their swords. Hey—they are real men.”

Tabby almost smiled. Ye need a real man….“You’re so cool about it.”

“I want Royce alive, Tabby, and at my side.”

Leave it to Allie to find the bottom line, Tabby thought. “He put a boy in stocks, without food and water, intending to let him die there. I couldn’t allow it, Allie. But I could barely reason with him.”

“I never said the medieval-modern thing was easy, but it’s worth it. But you already know that—and I know it.” Her grin was saucy.

Tabby sighed, thinking about all the good times and all the bad times—and all the nights they’d shared. “He cares about me and he’s proven it time and again. He’s even sworn off vengeance. At first it was just sex.” She blushed. “Maybe it is worth it.”

Allie said softly, “Yeah, Tabby!”

They’d had many late-night talks, discussing their love lives and Tabby’s problems. “I don’t even know how this has happened, but I really care about him, too. I care so much.” Her heart thundered. “I love him,” she whispered, and the moment she’d spoken, she realized it was true.

Allie touched her arm. “You are his better half,” she said softly. “And, Tabby, gentle soul that you are, he is your other half.”

Tabby bit her lip, wondering exactly how much Allie knew about her future.

Royce came forward, his gray eyes hard. “Ye canna divulge the future, Ailios,” he warned. “Not even to Lady Tabitha.”

Tabby looked back and forth between them, wondering what his words meant, exactly. Did he know her, too, in the fifteenth century? Was she going to choose to stay with Macleod in his medieval world? It sounded absurd! But leaving him felt crazy, horrible…and impossible.

Allie smiled. “Royce is uncompromising. Before I came along, the Code was his love and his life.”

Royce gave her an annoyed look. “We have overstayed our welcome.”

Tabby started, alarmed. “You are totally welcome!”

Allie took her hand and gave Royce a dark look. “I am not ready to leave her yet, when she is confused and upset.”

Royce said softly, “Macleod would confuse an’ upset any lass, even Lady Tabitha. He confuses ye, most o’ the time! She an’ Guy need to help themselves—as we did.”

Allie gave him a long look and he flushed. “I will make this up to you, Royce,” she finally said, very softly.

Tabby looked away, but not before she saw him hesitate. Then he sighed and stalked from the room. Tabby looked at Allie. “How long have you both been together?”

Allie laughed. “Almost sixty years, and, yes, I can still manipulate him with sex! He is supersexed and the promise of my best behavior in bed always gets me what I want.” Then she became pensive. Her dark stare was direct. “I love him so much.”

“I can see that. And I am so happy for you.” Tabby stood and paced to the window. Her smile faded. She wished Macleod would walk through the door so she could go into his arms. Was he the love of her life after all? Was it possible? She was never going to forget how frantic he had been when she’d been dying. And he’d given up his vengeance so he could leap to get her help.

Tabby wondered if she was remembering that correctly. It was such a blur of pain and fear. And where was he?

She turned. Allie and Royce were a super couple. There was no doubt in her mind that they were attached at the hip, the heart and the soul. There was something obvious, powerful and natural about it. Suddenly she wanted that bond for her and Macleod.

Allie stood and came over to her. “So what’s going on here? What attacked you?”

Tabby shivered. “A ghost…that came from the sixteenth century.”

“Great.” Allie smiled, unperturbed. “Is it human?”

“Actually, its corporeal self is a fairly immortal witch that is living at Melvaig right now, even as we speak.”

“Interesting. How are your powers?”