Page 53 of The Highlander's Alluring Spy
How is it that I cannae see the sky, but this wee pond reflects the stars?
“Why, it’s magic, o’ course,” a familiar voice told him. He turned his head, feeling every muscle in his body contract from his fingertips to his very heart. “The kind o’ magic that only comes to the sleepin’.”
She was as beautiful as she’d always been, but this was no ghost, not this time. Catrina sat directly across the pond from him, solid and whole, smiling warmly. “I’ve been wonderin’ when ye’d make yer way here, me love,” she said gently.
Nathair opened his mouth, but he could not speak. There was something different about her, something celestial which he could not quite place. The last time he had seen her, her belly had been swollen, her face streaked with tears, blood, pain, and death choking all of his senses.
But now she sat, serene and peaceful as the stories of theAos Sith.Her long green dress almost blended entirely with the grass around her. Her dark hair was in an elaborate knot, decorated with flowers and sparkling gold. And her eyes, those gray eyes–Elaine’s eyes–burned into him, waiting.
“Am I dreamin’?” he asked hoarsely. “Is this a dream, Cat?”
“It is, aye,” she said, her voice like music on the wind. “Dae ye think it matters?”
Nathair swallowed. He ached to touch her, but he somehow knew that if he tried to cross the pond, tried to get to her, she would be gone for good. So he sat, frozen in place, and said, “So ye did run away wi’ the Fair Folk, just like Elaine always believed.”
Catrina’s tinkling laugh was like the lightest silver bell. “She’s turned intae a fine wee lassie. I’m proud. Ye’ve done a good job wi’ her, Nathair.”
He blinked his burning eyes. “I’ve done what I could. Elaine doesnae have a maither. I cannae be that for her.”
Catrina nodded. “Aye. But someone else can. Are ye ready to listen to me now, me love? Really listen?”
Pain tore at his heart, a desperation to escape this conversation because he knew what it meant. When it was done, when it was over, she’d be gone. He couldn’t say how he was confident of this, but he knew for sure–if he let her speak now, it was highly unlikely he’d ever talk to her again, ghost or dream or otherwise.
Nathair let out a sob, his pride meaning nothing now. “I love ye, Cat.”
“I love ye too, me jo. That willnae change. Nothin’ will ever change that. I’ll always love ye, and Elaine, and I’ll always be takin’ care o’ ye as much as I can from right here,” Catrina said steadily. “Now, will ye listen to me?”
Nathair closed his eyes. That made twice. He knew the rules of the Fair Folk as well as any Scotsman, and he knew, somehow, that they applied here. The law of three bound the asker and the asked when a question was uttered thrice. He would be forced to speak truthfully or not speak at all.
Now, he had to make a choice.
Am I ready? Can I dae this?
“I’ve told her everythin’ about ye,” Nathair said. “Elaine, I mean. She loves ye dearly. She tells stories o’ the Mamaidh she never met to anyone who’ll give her the time o’ day.”
Catrina nodded. Her skin reflected moonlight even though there was none, and her breathtaking beauty seemed to take over his entire mind, forcing him to focus on her. “Are ye ready to listen?” she asked quietly for the final time.
He felt theclickas the third time locked the question into place, and he dipped his head. There was no going back now. When the dream was over, he would wake, and she would be gone. “Aye,” he said. “Aye. Tell me.”
“Magnolia,” Catrina said, and the word was the brightest song. “Ye didnae expect it, I ken, but it came nonetheless.”
He said nothing.
She waited a moment to give him the chance to answer, then continued. “I died near five years ago, Nathair. There’s nae way I’ll be back. Ye ken that, dinnae tell me otherwise. Ye’re the one dreamin’ me now. Ye ken everything that I ken.”
Nathair flinched but stayed silent. He had to listen now, not speak. If he spoke before it was time, he’d ruin it.
“But Magnolia’s alive. And so are ye. Ye have to stop forgettin’ that. Ye and Elaine and Magnolia, ye’re a unit now.”
He shook his head, though not in disagreement.
It’s been less than a month. How can ye say…how can I think, how can I feel…
But Nathair couldn’t even finish his own thoughts.
Catrina smiled warmly. “I’ve been tryin’ to tell ye for such a long time now, me jo. I need ye to remember what I’d want for ye and Elaine. I cannae be free until ye dae that.”
Now was the time to speak, he knew, but he felt the words lodge in his throat. She waited and watched, and finally, he forced them out.
