Mark of the Highlander (The MacLomain Series: Next Generation, Book 1) (28 page)

McKayla frowned, remembering. “The rock in the trunk that Malcolm was so determined that
I
open.”

“Oh, sure,” Colin conceded. “He didnae want to be enveloped in its magic.” His eyes grazed over Sheila. “You all now wear the Claddagh ring that ties together the MacLomains and Brouns. The white stone at the heart of your ring was broken off the original Highland Defiance, giving you the power to travel through time. ‘Twas Torra who somehow had a hand in that. Thanks to Seth, the ring itself will only warm and shine when you’re near your true love.” He winked. “‘Tis his way of ensuring you know without doubt you’re always with he who truly loves you, not a possible shape-shifter with questionable intentions.”

Colin cast an amused glance at Seth. “Despite the evil, who knew the lad had such a romantic heart.”

McKayla looked at Seth as well. “You are outstanding, my friend.”

Seth shrugged in resignation. “I am, aren’t I?”

Colin doubled over, holding his side tighter.

Uneasy, she put her hand against the mark.

Nothing.

Her touch would not heal this time.

“He needs to get home,” Seth said, worried but hopeful. “Or stay here and learn more about us warlocks.”

Looking more and more ill, Colin stood.

“Come on, brother.” Seth was at his side in an instant, arm around his back. “Let’s get you to bed.”

“Aye,” Colin mumbled.

“Nay,” McKayla whispered. She stood and twirled the ring on her finger. Looking at Seth she said, “We need to get him home.
Now
.”

“I can be trapped in one time or the other, lass,” Colin said. “It doesnae need to be there.”

But she knew he said that to comfort her. He would go back to his clan.

And he wouldn’t be going alone.

Her eyes met Sheila’s and Leslie’s. Did they know? She looked at Seth. He knew.

Heart in his eyes, he nodded. “I think she has the right of it. You need to go back to your clan.” Seth ground his jaw but said exactly what she needed him to. “You made them a promise, eh?”

Colin said nothing as Seth walked him away from the house.

“McKayla,” Sheila whispered. Emotion seemed to clog her throat. “What are you doing?”

“I have always loved him,” she said absently, unable to look her cousins in the eyes. “So very much.”

Leslie grabbed her hand and wiggled it, forcing her to meet her eyes. “I know you love him. And I’m good with that now. Really I am.” She looked at the colonial and straightened her back, fighting emotion while she tried to gather her thoughts. “I’m not sure I ever told you how proud of you I am. What you accomplished here was remarkable. I think this house made it possible for you to write a bestseller. You couldn’t do it alone. Sometimes we just need to be shoved in the right direction.”

“As in she couldn’t do it without
you
?” Sheila said.

Leslie teared up as she looked at McKayla. “No, she couldn’t do it without
herself
. And she found herself here.”

“Oh, well then.” Sheila nodded. “That I agree with.”

“Get it published. I’ll write more,” McKayla promised.

“You better,” Leslie said.

Her cousins understood what she was doing when they pulled her in for a hug. Squeezing, she held on tight. If what they’d been told was true, their Seth/Torra magically enhanced rings ensured they wouldn’t lose touch but what if…

When at last she pulled away, they all had tears in their eyes.

Sheila wiped away hers. “We’re going to have to toughen up if we’re going to be MacLomains.”

Leslie released an unladylike snort. “I have no intention of becoming a MacLomain.”

McKayla turned away from their chatter to find Seth standing behind her. Colin slumped against the barn door.

“Are you going to be all right, hon?” Seth asked, seemingly laid-back. But she didn’t miss the pain he tried to hide.

“What do you think?” she asked, determined to give him the response he expected.

Arms akimbo, a challenge in his eyes, he said, “I think you better love him half as much as I love Alana or this shit isn’t going down.”

“As Ilisa would say, like horse and cow manure?”

“Exactly,” he mumbled. But their eyes held. He’d never been more serious.

“Thank you so much for all you’ve done, Seth. I hope Colin said as much.”

“He did. We’re good.” Seth scuffed his foot. “I even like him now. As much as any warlock can really like a wizard that is.”

She chuckled. “Don’t let him hear that.”

“No doubt he already did. The man’s extremely tuned in when it comes to you…
lassie
.”

Colin continued to lean against the barn door with his head down.

“I have to go to him.”

“And you always will.” Seth pulled her in for a tight hug. “May your life be half as interesting as mine.”

“No doubt it will be,” she managed, fighting a rush of emotions as they pulled apart. “I love you wicked, my friend.”

He squeezed her hand. “Back at ya.”

She smiled. “Time for you to go home to Alana.”

“I can’t wait. You’ve no idea.”

“Yeah I do.”

They walked backwards away from one another. “This isn’t goodbye.”

“Never is,” he said.

“Hey Leslie,” she said, looking over his shoulder.

Her cousin, who had never turned away said, “What?”

“I’m sick of being told what’s what. Let our publisher know that the new title is…” She paused. “
Mark of the Highlander
. And have a ghost writer rework it a little. Instead of Iosbail being the heroine’s subconscious voice let’s make her a woman that she travels back further in time to consult with.”

When Leslie seemed undecided, McKayla said, “Love you cuz, but this one’s not up to you. If the book’s to be published introduce a wee bit o’ time travel.” She grinned and couldn’t help herself. “And if you’re so inclined maybe a bit of magic?”

Even as she turned away she heard Sheila say, “Ha! Look at her go.”

“A little too assertive if you want my opinion,” Leslie said.

Their voices, however, faded fast when she again focused on Colin. Though he remained standing, it was but barely. Next to him once more she said, “Sorry. They talk a lot.”

He grasped her hand. “McKayla, you dinnae need to do this.”

“Do what?” she said and entwined their hands.

Sweat glistened on his brow. “I want you to be happy.”

Twirling the ring on her finger she said, “Me too. So let’s make that happen.”

Power started to slip and slide around them.

They leaned against the old barn as the world shifted. The sugary smell came and went. The barn was there and it wasn’t. Then it reappeared. This travel through time was different. Precarious almost.

Would they make it?

Then, as if it’d never been there, the barn totally vanished and they fell back. Luckily, his horse was ready to support them. They were back in medieval Scotland. Arms now wrapped around her, Colin whispered. “Why did you return?”

“Because I needed to make sure you were safe.”

“Simple answer.”

She pulled back and looked up at him. “The same answer you gave me.”

“Was it? I dinnae recall,” he murmured, smelling her hair, running his hands over her arms. “I dinnae expect you to stay, lass.”

With a disappointed tone she said, “Well then I’ll see you home safely and be on my way.”

“Aye, if you wish.” But there was a defiant glint in his eyes. His energy and vitality had all but returned.

Her gaze drifted to his abdomen. 

Colin understood. “‘Tis a closed circle now. As far as I know, I cannae travel through time anymore.”

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered. It was impossible to comprehend how that must make him feel.

“Dinnae be,” he said, pulling her close. “I am where I need to be. And now you are free to be where you need to be as well.” Colin brought her ringed finger against his heart. “‘Tis a fine gift Seth gave you. He’s a good man.”

McKayla tilted back her head and felt the warm highland wind caress her face. Never had she felt as alive as she did now, standing with him in a time only recorded in history books. “You’re right. I am finally free to be where I
need
to be. I moved from the Cape because I was lost. At the colonial I found myself but only through a book I’d written.” Her eyes met his, reflective. “Then there was you, always you.”

When he started to talk she put a finger to his lips and shook her head. “
You
will always be on the next page in my book. In the life I want to live. Sure I’ll miss the twenty-first century but what’s the point of all that if you’re not there?”

“So again you sacrifice for me.”

“Is that what this is,” she said, coy eyes on her highlander. “Then I guess I’m more than content offering myself up.”

Colin, her best friend, the love of her life, shook his head. “I am so verra blessed.”

“
We
are so verra blessed,” she whispered.

When his lips closed over hers, everything seemed to fade away. Beneath his touch, beneath his love, she cherished the journey ahead. In the midst of their never-ending kiss she smiled against his lips, sure she heard the sound of bagpipes. When at last they pulled apart her suspicions were confirmed.

Kilted, little legs crawling along, a flashlight bobbed away to a merry highland jig.

Colin grinned and winked.

McKayla laughed and released a little yelp when he scooped her up and planted her on his horse. Swinging up behind, his husky words came close to her ear. “Do you recall me speaking of the lusting that follows a battle?”

“Aye,” she said softly.

“Well, I’ve had the battle but still I lust.”

“Then we better hurry home, my laird.”

“Aye, we better.”

McKayla held on tight as the horse took off, once more flying around the trees. When it broke free and sailed across the meadow she knew they raced not only toward a magnificent castle but an extraordinary future.

Memories would be created. 

Love would flourish.

But best of all, though many chapters in…their story had only just begun.

The End

Continue the series with
Vow of the Highlander
.
(Bradon’s story).

Follow the MacLomains from the beginning in
The MacLomain Series- Early Years Boxed Set
and then the original
MacLomain Series Boxed Set
.

Read Seth’s story in
The Tudor Revival
. Also available in the
Calum’s Curse Series Boxed Set
.

The Next Generation

Mark of the Highlander
(Colin’s story)

Vow of the Highlander
(Bradon’s story)

Wrath of the Highlander
(Malcolm’s story).

Faith of the Highlander
(Grant’s story).

Plight of the Highlander
(Torra’s story).