Page 73
She nodded. “Without Paul, everything might change. If Robert III dies at that battle, there won’t be a clear heir to the throne. There may be more bloodshed. England might interfere. Who knows what could happen. Such things might have consequences for the course of world history. Like the butterfly effect.”
He frowned. “The butterfly effect?”
“Yes, it means that even the slightest change in history can have major consequences. It’s like a butterfly flaps its wings and causes a huge storm. Of course, in reality, it doesn’t work like that. But it’s a metaphor to imagine the idea.”
He growled out a sigh. “I understand the idea, lass. What I dinna understand is why did ye save me from Euphemia if ye still think I should marry her.”
As though sharing Angus’s outrage, a bird somewhere in the darkness screeched. Rogene winced and looked up into the bottomless night sky, stars like diamond dust against the inky space.
They were still under the same sky, even if she would be born hundreds of years in the future. They were still walking the same earth. Only time was different. Nothing else.
When she looked at him, the knife in her heart was turning. “Because I couldn’t bear the thought of anyone hurting you.” She put her hand on top of his. The touch sent a wave of tingles through her. “Because I wanted to be your shield.”
He withdrew his hand and lay on his back, staring into the stars. “But I dinna have a choice, do I, lass?” His Adam’s apple bobbed, and his dark eyes met hers. “After all, nae matter how much I want to choose ye, I still have a duty much bigger than I’ve ever imagined.” He closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. “My duty is nae to protect my siblings against my father nae more. ’Tis to protect Scotland’s future, generations of people, thousands of lives. Including yers. Ye may never be born, is that true?”
She nodded. “It’s a possibility, yes. I’m afraid so.” Her voice cracked.
“And ye’re sure ’tis what has to happen?” he said.
“Yes. I’ve seen the documents myself.”
He shook his head. “By God’s blood, lass. Why did ye have to come and stir up everything? I would have marrit Euphemia. I would have fathered Paul. I wouldna have kent love. I wouldna have hurt like I’m hurting now.”
Her eyes watered, and he became a blurry, orange, glowing fleck. “I’m sorry, Angus.”
They were silent. He stared at the sky and she stared at him. Emptiness and coldness filled the space between them. The bubble had burst, and she was the one holding the needle.
Wiping her tears, she said, “What happens now?”
He chuckled. “I had hoped to convince ye to stay with me. To marry me. But I see that ’tis nae possible, is it?”
She shook her head, her chest tearing at the seductiveness of that thought. “It was never an option, Angus. No matter how much I would have wanted to stay. I have David to think of. You have Euphemia, and you’ll have a son you can teach how to be a good man…”
“As though I want a son from that woman.” He met her eyes, and his were burning like coals. “I want a son from ye.”
She felt a tear roll down her cheek. “That damn faerie. Why send me all the way here, give us love and hope, only to crush everything when nothing is possible, anyway.”
His eyes softened. “At least I have ye with me for now.”
He opened his arms and she fell into his hug as if into a soft cloud. As he wrapped his huge arms around her, she laid her head on his chest and heard the erratic thumping of his heart.
“I’ll deliver ye to Eilean Donan,” he said. “Once ye’ve gone through the rock, I’ll return to Euphemia. Yer history will be safe, Lady Rogene, from the future. I’ll choose duty yet again. It seems my father was right, after all, and I canna escape my fate.”
Chapter 30
Four days later…
The sight of Eilean Donan didn’t bring Angus joy.
It brought sadness. It meant losing the woman he loved forever.
As they rode down the streets of Dornie towards the small port, he was aware of her gentle frame pressed against his back, her arms wrapped around his waist as she hugged him tightly. God Almighty, what he wouldn’t give to have her wrapped around him like that for an eternity…
The village wasn’t as busy as usual, with most people gone to plant the fields of barley and oats around the village. People carried baskets and firewood, pushed barrels on wheels, swept their houses. A blacksmith was banging against his anvil somewhere, and a carpenter hammered against wood. The scent of baked bread and brewed ale hung in the air, mixed with the scent of sheep dung that was being spread on the fields. People greeted him as some recognized him.
Since only one horse had been left in the grove when they’d arrived upon fleeing Delny Castle, Angus had assumed Raghnall, Catrìona, and the rest of the band had taken the horses and made their escape, as well. He hoped they had made it home safe already or would soon arrive.
As Angus and Rogene arrived at the small port, he descended and helped Rogene to get down from the horse. Their eyes locked, and hers were wide and sad. They both knew what this meant. As soon as they arrived at Eilean Donan, he’d accompany her into the underground and she’d be gone forever. Part of him still hoped the rock wouldn’t work. Or that all she’d said about time travel wasn’t true.
