Page 11 of Her Scot of the Morrow
“Aye, it does,” she conceded. “But the magic attached to that ring is verra old and made up of something called an unraveling spell.” She gestured at our surroundings. “The Morrow, as you call it, is part of that spell, designed to reveal Willow’s destined mate.”
The more she spoke, the more uneasy I became, and I knew Willow felt the same way. What was my aunt alluding to? Because it was beginning to sound like something I wasn’t going to want to hear.
Yet it seemed Willow was figuring it out faster than I was.
“My destined mate lives in medieval Scotland,” Willow said softly, “firmlyin medieval Scotland.”
“As I do,” I reminded, frowning.
“But only within the Morrow, aye?” Chara pointed out. “Which isnae entirely medieval Scotland but some sort of magical in-between.”
I tensed and countered with what seemed logical enough. “And now the pact is upon us, the Morrow is finally revealing me on solid medieval Scottish ground, is it not?”
“That could verra well be,” Chara replied gently. “I merely point out that things are not always what they seem.”
“Then why was I compelled to be there when Willow first arrived all those years ago?” I said because it was perfectly clear to me. “Why would I have been the first person Willow saw when she traveled back in time?”
“I couldnae say other than I’m sure there was a reason for it.” Chara looked at me with reassurance, giving me hope when I sensed she might not feel as optimistic. “But that isnae the concern at the moment.” She gestured ahead. “Let us get around that bend, and we’ll talk more.”
However curious the statement, because talking where we were didn’t seem to be a problem, I could tell by the way she glanced at me that it was best we wait, and I soon understood why.
CHAPTER SEVEN
–Willow–
EVER SINCE CHARA assessed my ring with her unicorn magic of all things, my unease had grown. Can you blame me, considering she implied I might be meant for someone other than Sloan? While I certainly had no intention of being with him so long as he was engaged to Lorna, it had never once occurred to me that I might be destined for anyone else.
Why would it when my heart had only ever belonged to Sloan?
Yet now that Chara had revealed the Morrow was made up of ancient magic attached to my mother’s ring, and part of something called an unraveling spell, my worry grew, and not just for obvious reasons. It was almost like her words spoke to a truth buried deep inside me, and it made me feel off-kilter in a way that was swiftly bypassing being uneasy.
So when Chara led us around a bend in the stream, I was relieved to see my sisters waiting for us, along with two men who were clearly related to Sloan because they were built just like him.
But could the four of them see Sloan and me?
Thankfully, they could, which I was both grateful for and alarmed by, because they didn’t have the same aura about them that Chara did. They looked totally normal. That spoke to the Morrow weakening or perhaps fading away altogether, and that was the last thing I needed right now.
“Oh,wow,” Aspen exclaimed, blinking at our approach as if we hadn’t been there moments before. “You reallyarehere.”Wide-eyed, she looked from Sloan to me, then pulled me in for a big hug before she held me at arm’s length and looked me over. “How are you, sis?” She shook her head. “I’ve never seen anything quite like that. One minute, there was nothing there, then Chara appeared, followed by you, and—” she perked an eyebrow at Sloan— “Sloan, I assume?”
“Aye, m’lady.” He lowered his head in a sign of respect before meeting her eyes, acknowledging her marriage to his chieftain. “’Tis good to finally meet you.” He looked from the handsome ebony-haired man beside her, who could only be Broderick, back to her. “Congratulations to you both on your nuptials and your bairns.” He smiled the sort of charming smile that had always made me blush, no matter his age. “I look forward to meeting my wee nephews. May they grow to be strong lads with swift wings.”
“Thank you, Sloan.” Aspen met his smile, the same yet different in the way she handled herself now she was Queen of the Castle, so to speak. “I look forward to getting to know you better once this is all over and you return home.” Her worried eyes returned to me. “Because you’re notreallyhome yet, are you?”
“Clearly not given home’s six hundred years in my future,” I reminded, because what else could I say? Sloan was engaged to someone else, and I sure as hell had no intention of remaining here if I wasn’t with him. I could admit that much. I finally realized the anger I’d been carrying all this time was that of a young girl who hadn’t truly understood what he was going through.
Rather than respond to my comment about my home being in the future, Aspen made introductions not just to Broderick but to Hazel’s new husband, Lucas, who was as handsome as the others. His hair was dirty blonde, and his eyes cobalt blue, unlike Broderick’s eyes, which were sea-green.
While Aspen looked as beautiful as ever with her black hair pulled back, and Hazel just as lovely with her vibrant red hair down, both had a glow about them, and I could gather why, given the loving looks they exchanged with their guys. It was odd seeing my sisters wearing medieval clothing, but somehow it suited them in a way I hadn’t expected.
“Which surprises me, given you actuallydidbelieve we were witches after all,” Aspen said, following my thoughts with unexpected ease, speaking to how much she had changed since shifting for the first time. She narrowed her eyes but kept a small smile, letting me know it was all right, her gaze once again flickering from me to Sloan. “Not just that, but you saw authentic medieval clothing plenty when you traveled back in time when you were younger. And while I’m tempted to ask why all the secrecy, there’s no need to because everyone’s dragons are already connecting and they’re catching us up.”
“Which means we should talk whilst we can,” Chara said. “Because if we can all see each other normally and sense the secrets our inner beasts managed to keep from us, then the unraveling spell is at work and ‘twill only be a matter of time before the tree takes them away.” Her gaze dropped to the Viking blade sheathed at my waist. “Or that, as it seems to be working alongside the spell.”
“And I imagine ‘tis a good thing given it brought the four of you together,” Sloan noted, looking at my sisters and their mates. “Which means this unraveling spell is likely only bringing Willow and me closer rather than further apart.”
I hadn’t missed Sloan subtly moving closer to me since learning about the spell, as if he were afraid it might take me from him. Nor had it gone over my head that he hadn’t given up hope of us somehow being together despite Lorna still being in the picture. And while I shouldn’t allow him so close, I could admit I liked it.
“We can only hope the unraveling spelldoesbring you and Willow closer, cousin,” Broderick agreed with Sloan. “But until then, ‘tis best you know we heard from Kenneth MacLomain. Someone arrived at Sutherland Castle since you retired for the eve, Sloan.”
