Page 20 of Her Scot of the Morrow
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
–Willow–
JUST WHEN I thought my day couldn’t get any more insane, it did in a crazy, exhilarating yet terrifying way. One minute, I was having the best sex of my life. The next, I was trapped in an incredible, not to mention powerful, serpentine body that decided it was my turn to catapult through the air completely out of control.
And it only got more extreme from there.
I apologized to my inner beast, earned her forgiveness, learned I had half a gem over my dragon heart, regained control, only to lose it again when my dragon decided to save Sloan from Sutherland Castle’s dungeons, and the truth is? However wrong it was, deep down I knew if I were the one in control, I would do it all over again.
I’m not sure if that makes me good or evil, but it’s my truth.
Now, Sloan and I sailed through thick clouds full of an incoming storm, getting ready to face off with a wall of MacLeod dragons, and I understood their reasoning. Respected it. Nonetheless, I would protect Sloan until the bitter end, even when he pulled out in front of me in a defensive position before I had a chance to.
And yet again, having none of it, my dragon took charge.
Or so I thought.
One second, a wall of ferocious MacLeod dragons was barreling down on us, and the next, reality seemed to shift, and Sloan and I were once again human, standing on the tallest MacLeod Castle battlement, surrounded by family.
“Bloody hell,” Broderick exclaimed, clearly just as surprised to see us appear out of thin air as we were to be there. He frowned in the direction of his warriors, and his brow furrowed. “I thought you were imprisoned in Sutherland’s dungeons?”
Sloan shook his head and frowned too, just as confused before he realized how Broderick knew that. “Kenneth MacLomain told you.”
“Aye, I just sent a fleet of our best warriors to assess the situation and let the Sutherlands know we were watching.” He shook his head. “And that we werenae pleased.”
“Yet here you two are safe and sound,” Chara said softly, regarding us with knowing wisdom, noting the Viking blade had returned to normal and was once more sheathed at Sloan’s back.
“And you’re no longer in the Morrow, I assume?” Aspen said, embracing me before Hazel.
“Well, not technically,” I said tentatively as the first icy drops of rain mixed with snow fell and thunder rumbled nearby. “Mostly.”
When Aspen and Hazel narrowed their eyes in confusion, Chara spoke up.
“Why don’t we head down to the War Chamber, where we won’t be overheard, and have a wee bit o’ food?” She eyed me with a mother’s concern. “You look like you could use some nourishment and mayhap some rest.”
She was right, and I could tell by the way he looked at me, Sloan was worried. According to his thoughts, I was too pale. And despite knowing what I had gone through, he hadn’t seen me eat or really sleep since I traveled back in time.
He slipped his hand into mine and frowned, noting how chilly I was, which was unusual for a dragon, and chanted a fur cloak around my shoulders before securing it around my neck. “When was the last time you ate?”
“I’m not sure.” I shrugged, cozying into the warmth of the fur because even though it had been manifested by magic, it smelled like him. I yawned and fought the exhaustion that actuallywasstarting to hit me. “Earlier. Yesterday. Not sure.” I shook my head. “I’m not really a big eater or sleeper.”
I could tell by how everyone watched us that they could see just how far we had come. How close we were despite still thinking he was engaged to another woman.
“Come then,” Broderick insisted, heading down a narrow passage that led to a secret stairwell so nobody would realize we were here. “Now Hazel has come home to us, the fare is fine indeed.”
“Aye,” Lucas agreed, keeping my red-headed sister close, clearly smitten. “But I’m sure Willow already knows that.”
“I do,” I confirmed, more than eager for some of her cooking as I eyed the small, dark, torchlit corridor we headed down with wonder. “I can’t believe I’m finally here.” A wave of emotion washed over me because I had dreamt of being able to get this far, but the Morrow wouldn’t let me. I glanced at Sloan and blinked back tears. “I’m finallyinyour castle. I finally made it.”
“Aye, and I couldnae be happier.” Clearly feeling the same emotion, he squeezed my hand. “Might ye never leave again because there is so much more to it than hidden hallways. So many things I want to show ye…share with ye.”
“We shouldn’t be here, though, Sloan.” I swallowed hard and stopped short, my emotions definitely getting the better of me due to lack of food and my growing exhaustion. “They should know we shouldn’t be here.”
“Aye,” Sloan agreed, feeling the same shame and having trouble understanding why he wasn’t thinking clearly. Why he had let things get this far and not been transparent with his kin on the battlement.
“Because ye’re in love, nephew,” Chara said softly, catching his thoughts as she urged us to move along. “All of us see it clearly because we feel the same way about our mates. And we realize the way ye arrived speaks to trouble, but ye’re kin, and that’s that. We’ll talk everything through once we’re in the War Chamber.”
Sloan nodded in agreement, and we continued in silence until we arrived at what most would call a study, complete with a large desk meant for the chieftain, several sizable chairs, a cozy settee with dragon feet, and small tables for drinks and beverages. A fire crackled invitingly, as Hazel chanted wooden plates of this and that around the room, all the while mumbling how she preferred cooking from scratch with ingredients less tainted by magic.
