Page 92 of Treachery in the Highlands
"What you're saying," I suggest, "is that we patched the leak but there might still be a few drops getting through?"
Kieran crosses his arms over his broad chest."I dinnae like the sound of that.We've had enough trouble with time-hoppers to last several lifetimes."
"The ripples are not permanent," Efrica says, closing the book with a decisive thump."But they need time to heal properly.Like a wound that must be allowed to mend without being disturbed.Believe me when I tell you that neither An Bodach nor those mafia intruders will never again harass you, Rachel, or any of us."
"And until then?"Rachel asks."Are we vulnerable to more...visitors of other sorts?"
"Not vulnerable precisely.But certain individuals---those with a connection to the original breach---might find passage easier than others would."
I groan.That's just awesome."Anyone connected to the mafia guys we just dealt with could potentially pop through.Is that the gist of it?"
"There might be moments and places wherein the veil between centuries grows thin enough that small things might slip through."
I cross my arms over my chest."Define 'small,' please.Are we talking squirrels and butterflies, or handguns and hitmen?"
Efrica's green eyes veer to me."Information.Memories.Perhaps smaller objects.I dinnae see anything as substantial as a full-grown man passing through.But dreams, visions...those could filter between worlds for a time."
"Terrific," I mutter.
"Or warnings," Rachel suggests."Perhaps 'tis not all bad, Joey."
I give her a sideways look.Only Rachel could find the silver lining in magical time-space tears.But then, that's one of the many reasons I'm crazy about her.
Kieran paces the stone floor, his boots echoing in the chamber."How long will these...ripples persist?"
Efrica clutches the book to her chest, her fingers tapping rhythmically against the worn leather."The next full moon should see the last of them sealed.Until then, we must be vigilant."
"Three weeks," Rachel calculates."That's not so terrible."
I want to agree with her, but my experience with the MacTaggart clan has taught me that three weeks of "magical ripples" undoubtedly translates to three weeks of absolute chaos."And what exactly does 'vigilant' mean in witch-speak?Because in my world, it usually involves guns and lookouts."
Kieran grunts."Yer living with several witches, laddie.Have a wee bit of faith in their talents."
I turn toward Rachel---and smile."Maybe having faith isn't that difficult after all."
Rachel's brow furrows."How long were we gone in this timeline?Days?Weeks?"
"Oh, no, not that long," Alyssa confirms.Then she glances at her husband."Isn't that right, Kieran?"
"Aye.'Twas no more than a matter of hours."He turns to me."When are ye planning to wed my daughter?She must be with child by now."
I hadn't even thought about that.With all the commotions we've experienced lately...well, I still should have guessed that our frequent lovemaking would result in a baby.Rachel can't be more than three or four weeks pregnant.And that realization leads to a question."How could anyone know that Rachel is, uh, with child?We've known each other for barely a month."
Kieran smirks."Yer living with witches,mo macan.Nothing is impossible."
I smack my forehead."Duh.I should've guessed as much."
Big Daddy claps a hand on my shoulder."Ye have an urgent task to complete, aye?"
"Urgent?No, I don't think..."Then his meaning finally hits me, and I give an exaggerated wink."Oh, right, yeah.That thing I need to do."
Kieran smirks again, lines of humor crinkling around his eyes."Best get to it, eh, laddie?"
I salute."Yes, sir."
Then I seize Rachel's hand, hauling her out of the solar and out of the house.I don't stop dragging her along with me until we've left the castle grounds and are heading to a place that has come to mean a lot to us.
I stop and turn to face Rachel."Remember this place?"
