Page 35 of Her Scot of Bygones
I could only hope, given Dugal’s distrust of the wolf.
“Has Hazel heard anything from Storm?” Aspen wondered, referring to the lass who had been writing letters to Hazel and her sisters since they were children, and was responsible for sending them Flame. “Perhaps a hint at what might come next?”
“Nay.” I shook my head, still struggling to stop myself from fleeing after Hazel when Broderick requested I join him and our kin in the War Chamber, where we might discuss things in private. Once the door closed behind us, I went on, saying what I knew Hazel would want me to say. “It should be of note that Willow has been part of our journey back to each other, and I cannae say if ‘tis good or not.”
When Aspen frowned at me, I told her about seeing a willow tree when I went to the future despite hazelnuts leading me to Hazel, and then about Hazel’s concern that her sister was in danger when we approached the castle.
“Are we sure Willow is alright?” I asked. “Has anyone spoken to Adlin? Is he even at the colonial?”
“All is well,” Broderick assured. “Willow claims she never left the night you took Hazel. She simply woke up to find Hazel gone, but not her car.”
“And Willow believed Hazel traveled back in time?” I looked at Aspen. “I was under the impression she doesnae even believe she’s a witch, let alone you and your sisters are time traveling.”
“She might say that—” Aspen shook her head— “but something tells me deep down she’s buying into all of it.” She looked at Broderick. “While I’m not so worried about Lucas seeing a willow tree instead of a hazel tree because I get the feeling it was Hazel’s magic at work trying to keep herself safe, but now she’s coming into her true self and inner beast, we should pay attention to her concern over Willow’s safety, for sure.”
“I agree,” Chara said softly, sensing something in it, her gaze a little off as she tapped into her magic. “She’s too focused on the morrow when she should be focused on today.”
Aspen frowned. “What does that mean?”
Chara seemed to snap out of wherever she'd been because her golden eyes cleared, and she shook her head. “I couldnae say other than ‘tis relevant.”
“As are other things,”Kenneth MacLomain said into our minds, reminding me I wanted to know what he’d observed at Sutherland Castle while keeping an eye on Lilias.
Chara poured us whiskies.“What is it, Kenneth?”
“The king’s man has arrived to keep an eye on things,”he revealed.“And he isnae alone.”
“Sloan’s with him,”Broderick exclaimed, sensing it before the rest of us.“Yet we didnae request that of the king.”
While it was a relief to have a MacLeod there, it was surprising. Sloan and Tavish were supposed to be at the border fighting on behalf of the king.
“Whether ye did or didnae request Sloan be sent, he’s here and I thought ye would want to know,”Kenneth said.“As far as I can see, all is well with Lilias and her daughter, Marjorie.”He directed his conversation my way.“Lucas, I will keep an eye on yer lass to the best of my ability and let ye know anything of relevance.”
“’Tis much appreciated, cousin,”I replied, grateful to have two sources of information now, may Flame make his way along without strife, and I said as much to Kenneth.“Keep an eye out for him because I suspect he willnae be obvious at first.”
“Aye,”Kenneth acknowledged before he vanished from our minds, and we were left to wait and hope for the best.
“Why would Sloan, of all people, travel to Sutherland Castle?” I wondered.
“’Tisodd,” Marek agreed, having been quiet up to this point as he gazed out at the countryside with his arms crossed over his chest. “Especially Sloan, given he’s always the first to volunteer to fight for king and country. ‘There's no doubt he loves his kin, but ‘twould be unlike him to volunteer for anything that took him away from the king’s side.”
“Aye,” Chara agreed. “Yet if it were a way to curry favor with King Robert so Sloan and his intended may always be looked upon favorably, then ‘tis possible.” She gave Marek a look. “Ye know how important that is to his intended.”
Shewasthat kind of woman, indeed.
“Yet why send him to Sutherland Castle when the king’s man could just as easily ensure Hazel doesnae get thrown off a battlement?” I wondered.
“I think mayhap ye underappreciate just how important peace betwixt our clans is,” Broderick reminded. “It would be sound thinking on the king’s part to have Sloan there.”
“Aye,” Marek agreed. “I love him like he’s my own, but ‘tis safe to say Sloan is as diplomatic as he is beholden to what he’s cultivated with King Robert. He has made himself invaluable and, in turn, the king’s puppet when need be.”
“’Tis true,” Chara agreed softly, getting that strange look in her eyes again. “But ‘tis also true Sloan’s a MacLeod dragon who has not yet found his fated mate.” Her gaze cleared and leveled on us. “Might there not be something to that, given Hazel sensed Willow was in danger upon arriving here?” She shrugged. “And now Sloan is heading for Sutherland Castle.”
“Thatdoesseem telling, doesn’t it?” Aspen murmured, seemingly less worried by the moment despite how concerned we all should be right now.
“Yet none of it will matter if Hazel has the gem over her dragon heart,” I reminded, scowling at them and downing my whisky in one long swig. I didn’t go on, but I didn’t need to. They all sensed my inner turmoil, not only at the prospect of losing Hazel, but also the idea of her and Evan being together in ways I knew neither wanted. If all that weren’t bad enough, I still feared for my friend’s life if they weren’t mates because Dugal was nothing if not ruthless.
“And we will deal with all those moments when they come,” Chara said gently, refilling my whisky. “Until then, we wait just as Broderick did when Aspen went to them.”
