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A MISSING ENTANGLEMENT

PROLOGUE

Originally published as book 4.5

If Magnus and Kaitlyn’s life is a tapestry, then these first seven chapters, dear reader, would be an unraveling thread.

This happened. Tis the truth of it, as our beloved Magnus would say, except no one in the world knows or remembers.

The fifth part of their story can be told without this thread. We could snip it off and drop it to the floor, except…

We ought to know of it to carry on. We can remember.

Because this strand, that once weaved their life is gone now — replaced by another, stronger, more exquisite weaving — but it existed. And it changed their whole story.

PROLOGUE - KAITLYN

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2:05 PM.

Amelia Island, Florida

Magnus tugged my bodice down to my waist. We tucked in all the layers of long underwear. Then I gathered my hair to the side while Magnus tightened the laces one by one and tied them secure. Then he rested his hands on my waist and pressed his lips to the back of my neck. “How come as soon as I finish with your lacings I want tae take them off again?”

I wrapped my arm around his head and held him embracing me from behind. His arms around. I loved this position. Wrapped, pressed. His strength was a shield around me, enveloped and protected. His voice near my ear, his breaths, now sure and healthy, warm and deep, filling the air around me. The scent of him on me. I pressed back and nestled into his chest. He kissed my ear and ran his hands up and down my tight bodice. This position was protection and desire, both, wrapped.

“Can we stay here, like this?”

His arms wrapped tighter around, a hug that warmed me. His cheek pressed to my forehead. We held it for a long time. It was very much like a parting embrace, though we weren’t, but what we were doing was so full of uncertainty that we held each other like a goodbye anyway.

His voice rumbled up from his heart. “I want ye tae ken, mo reul-iuil, that I love ye beyond what I have the words tae say. I canna describe the depths of it, but I want ye tae ken that I will live my life tryin’ tae speak tae ye on it.”

I pressed against him. “Then I will spend my whole life listening.”

“Aye, mo ghradh, I thank ye for it.”

Finally we pulled away.

Magnus strapped a knife to my leg.

And then he finished dressing, quietly, methodically, it was how I knew he was scared.

We drove through McDonald’s for three combo meals, one for me, two for Magnus, and we, with ac blasting, were headed south to a few acres of unused land outside of Gainesville, where we had hidden our vessels.

PROLOGUE - KAITLYN

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 4:45 PM.

en route to Gainesville

Zach called, “Wanted to let you know that Emma, Ben, and I are headed home, our honeymoon was great.”

“We won’t be there to greet you, we’re on our way to Gainesville right now, we’re going to get Quentin.”

“Good. Tell Magnus I said I’ll have dinner ready when you all get back.”

“His eyes are closed. I think he’s sleeping.”

Magnus said, “I am nae sleepin’, but ye are hurtlin’ the car down the highway and tis too fast.”