Redeeming Vows (25 page)

Fin fiddled with the poles to the tent and cursed several times. Even the sixteenth-century knight was having trouble with their deluxe accommodations.

The phone in Selma’s pocket chirped as it rang.

When she answered, she swiveled around, greeted yet another family member, and walked a couple of feet away.

A couple of kids rode by on their bikes, laughing.

They were a couple of years younger than Simon and didn’t seemingly have a care in the world. Liz swallowed the lump in her throat. Squaring her shoulders, she walked over to Fin, leaned down, and grasped one of the metal poles. “This is easier with two people.”

“I can manage to erect shelter for us, lass.”

Liz snorted a laugh. “As much as I’d love to watch you struggle with this thing for the next hour, I’d like to get inside and hide instead of standing here like an idiot waiting for someone to find us.”

“Why not use your energy warming something to eat while I finish this.”

Liz tossed the pole she held to the ground.

“Don’t start that sexist shit with me again, Fin.”

Leaving the pole and tent aside, Fin stepped her way and placed his hands on her shoulders. Liz pulled out of his grip only to have him come closer and hold her more firmly. “I’m not battling you, Elizabeth. I too want to keep anyone here from 217

Catherine Bybee

seeing us completely. I can manage the tent, and if you hurry with a meal, we can escape the night quicker and avoid being seen.”

What a bitch. What was wrong with her? She’d jumped down his throat and all he was doing was expediting their same goal. She covered her face with both hands and shook her head. “I’m sorry.”

“We’ll both rest easier when we’re home,” he told her as he gathered her close to the large expanse of his chest. Liz leaned into him, resting her head, and pushing back every what-if that entered her brain.

She didn’t want to think about the possibility of not returning, of never seeing her son again.

“This is going to be fantastic,” Selma boasted as she snapped closed her phone.

“When are you going to let us in on your plan?”

Selma sat at the rickety wooden picnic table and waited for them to sit. Fin straddled the bench seat and pulled Liz back into his arms while Selma explained.

“You said that Grainna held the soul of hundreds of Druids.”

“Yeah, so?”

“If I’m a Druid, then it’s safe to say those in my family are too, at least some of them, right?”

Fin nodded.

“I’ve asked them to gather with me to help send you two back. I may not be able to assemble hundreds, but I can bring together a dozen members of my family in hope of helping.”

“I doubt a dozen will be enough,” Fin said, expressing Liz’s thoughts.

“They can’t hurt. Last night when we saw into the past, some window opened with only the three of us. The power of the moon, the eclipse, and my family may be enough.”

Liz thought of Tara, Myra, and Amber and the hours they sat in a circle chanting spells and 218

Redeeming Vows

wielding their collective power. Together they were strong, could achieve nearly anything they set their minds to. They were connected by blood, either by birth or by ritual. Maybe Selma was right. Perhaps the right amount of weak power would generate enough strength to push her and Fin back in time.

“In order for your plan to work we need to do something first.” Liz lifted her gaze to Selma and offered a smile.

“What’s that?”

Around them, the campground grew quiet.

Large bushes and trees hid their actions from any prying eyes.

“Fin, bring me your sword.”

Before Selma could ask why, Fin brought his claymore to the table and sat it between the women.

“Tara, Myra, Amber and I have all shared this spell. A circle of Tara’s blood forced Grainna through time before she regained all her power. I’m not certain that this ritual will help, but it certainly can’t hurt.”

Selma squirmed in her seat. “This is going to require me to bleed, huh?”

Liz chuckled. “Only a little.”

Running a finger along the sharp edge of Fin’s sword, Liz waited for Selma to do the same. Liz placed her elbow on the table and grasped Selma’s hand until both their bleeding fingers touched and their blood mixed.

“In this day and in this hour, I call upon the sacred power. I choose to give my blood to thee, I choose you as a sister to me.”

Selma gripped her hand and repeated her words. As the last one slipped from her lips, Liz’s hand warmed and a shimmer of hope washed through her.

Before her newest blood sister let her hand go, Selma said, “When you two are safely tucked back in 219

Catherine Bybee

your century, I’m going to do a serious genealogy search. If I don’t find a MacCoinnich in my heritage, I’ll be shocked.”

“I would be, too.”

Wiping away a tear, Selma let go and stood.

“If you two are good here, I’m going to cut out for the night.” Selma gathered her purse. “I’ll call first thing in the morning. If anything happens, call any of the numbers in the phone and let them know where you are. I’ll find you.”

When Selma drove away, Liz turned toward Fin.

“I’m going to miss her.”

“We’re forever indebted to her.”

“Somehow, I don’t think she sees it that way.”

Fin returned to the tent while Liz placed a couple of logs in the fire pit. Making sure no one watched first, she lifted her hands and forced a spark of flame on the dry bark. Soon the logs caught and the orange glow of the fire warmed their small space.

Inside the waterproof container was a package of hot dogs, buns, a few condiments, and chips.

Selma had tossed in a couple of sodas and had the good sense to add the makings for s’mores. After tossing a marshmallow in her mouth, Liz placed two dogs on the long metal stick and roasted them over the fire.

With any luck, this would be her last day in this time.

Damn, when had that happened?
When did she stop thinking of the twenty-first century as her time? She glanced toward Fin who’d managed to erect the tent and now filled the inside with blankets and their things.

She would have done anything to return here months ago. She’d vowed to come home once Grainna was destroyed and she and Simon could do so safely. Would she try once that task was 220

Redeeming Vows

complete? Liz turned the hot dogs over and pondered.

If Simon were here, would she be working her way back?

Everything had changed. The family Selma had would have left Liz green with envy if she didn’t feel the same connection with Fin and the others. They all counted on each other. Every day, every hour.

“What are you thinking about, love?” Fin sat beside her.

His deep, penetrating gaze burrowed into her.

Her heart twisted. “What if we can’t return?”

“We will.”

“But what if we don’t? Or what if the Ancients shift you through time, but not me?” Where had that come from? Having Fin with her was the only thing keeping her sane. Her mind shifted. For a moment, the loss of Fin, her son, and the others threatened to engulf her. She gasped and dropped the hot dogs in the fire. She started to shake.

“Stop.” Fin gathered her in his arms. Liz clung to him like a life preserver for a drowning man. “We will return together. Please, love, don’t cry.”

But the tears came until she soaked his shirt.

She pushed her mouth into his shoulder to quiet her sobs. Gentle hands stroked her back and allowed her to break down.

Once she quieted, Fin reached for her face and brushed the tears away. His tenderness no longer surprised her. Her acceptance of it did.

Liz leaned forward and captured his lips until the pain and worry lifted and blew away. Strong, capable hands pressed her closer.

Desire, never far from the surface whenever she was in Fin’s arms, grew. When had she fallen so helplessly in love with him? Another sob tore from her throat.

Fin pulled away.

221

Catherine Bybee

“Don’t, Lizzy. Please, it tears me apart to hear you cry.”

Forcing the knot down her throat, she met his stare.

Deep inside him, something sparked. Hearing her cry, feeling her anguish exploded his heart into a thousand pieces. He dipped into her mind softly, careful to only seek what she wanted him to see.

“Don’t be frightened,” he told her, knowing that was some of her worry.

“I am.”

“We both are.”

Her brows pitched together. “Really?”

“The uncertainty of tomorrow weighs on both of us. Don’t feel like you carry that burden alone.”

Her eyes shifted from his, their connection lost.

“You’re talking about our journey back.”

It wasn’t a question. It wasn’t what she worried about. “There will be many tomorrows for us both.”

She started to tug away. He couldn’t let her go.

She didn’t understand what he was trying to say.

“Both of us together, Elizabeth.”

Fin followed the path of her gaze, which landed on his sword sitting on the table. A dark patch of her blood marred the blade. She’d bonded with Selma and his sisters. There was no mistaking the power they held together.

“We are stronger together.” As the words left his mouth, Fin reached for his sword and forced the blade into his palm. “In this day and in this hour, I call upon the Ancients’ power. I choose to give my blood to thee…”

Liz sat tall, her eyes met his, and a grin splashed over her face. “If you say brother, I may have to hurt you.”

He laughed. “I choose that you are bonded to me.” “What are you saying Finlay?”

222

Redeeming Vows

“I’m saying that today, right at this moment, you mean more to me than anything possibly could.

That regardless of what may come tomorrow, I want you to be by my side so we can meet it together.” The words no sooner left his tongue than he felt the weight of them nail into his soul. Did she know what he meant? Something told him that if he’d said he wanted to spend forever with her, she’d pull out of his grasp and hide. They were close, so very close to forever.

Fin held his breath, only releasing it when she reached for the sword and tore her skin against the blade. “In this day and in this hour. I beg the Ancients for their power. I choose to give my blood to thee, I choose that Finlay is bonded to me.”

She grasped his hand. When their eyes met, she touched her blood to his. All the air left his lungs, his head grew dizzy, and the world tilted out of focus.

He awoke to Lizzy’s lips on his. Fin crushed her to him and sealed their vow with a soul-searching kiss. When he came up for air, Lizzy panted and stood. Reaching for him she said, “Make love to me, Finlay.”

Her request humbled him.

After gathering a blanket from their tent, he led her away from the camp filled with strangers until he found a secluded section of the beach. Once he spread the blanket out on the sand, he beckoned her with one finger. “Come here, love.”

The moon lit her eyes and sparked brilliant stars within them. He brought his lips to hers in a gentle kiss. She sighed and brought her frame along his until every part touched and molded together.

Her hands wound around his back and down his hips and thighs. His body tightened, strained against the jeans he wore.

Bending her knees, he lowered her to the ground 223

Catherine Bybee

and pressed his body to hers. When her tongue swept into his mouth, all he could think of was how much he wanted to bury himself inside her. Her hand tugged at his shirt, Fin released her lips, brought his tongue to the lobe of her ear, and gave a gentle tug. Once she shivered, he knew he’d made her forget everything other than him. Her hips pushed against his. Liz wrapped her jean-clad thighs around his.

“I love your arse in these jeans, but pine for the ease of a dress.”

Her fingers found the button of his clothes and popped them free. “Back at ya.” Her fingers dipped inside his pants until she grasped onto his erection and sprung him free.

He gasped for air and forced control. “Careful, love.”

She chuckled and helped him remove his clothes completely.

Only after she kicked her garment free of her legs, and swept her shirt and underclothes to the side of the blanket, did he cover her with his warmth again.

He feathered kisses over her lips. “The moonlight has never looked so good.”

“You had me at
come here
. You don’t have to quote poetry to me.”

He trailed his lips over her breast and pulled one erect nipple into his mouth. Once her body went limp, he drew away. “I don’t know any poetry.” He bent to the other nipple.

“Oh, God. Yes, you do.”

Her leg wrapped around his hips, her heated core pressed against his throbbing erection. If he slid home now, he’d hardly be able to control his seed from spilling. She wanted him to make love to her and he vowed to do so slowly, thoroughly.

Reaching between them, Fin palmed her mound 224

Redeeming Vows

until she rode against his hand and his finger slipped deep inside her wet folds.

A short span separated her breast to her navel.

He met her skin, taking the path with his tongue.

The salt air drifted over her wet skin. Her hands stroked his hair as he reached lower. He would taste her, explore her body until he knew every inch.

The musky sent of her sex met his senses before he forced her legs aside to make room for him. With the first pass of his tongue, Liz opened farther and pressed him closer. He wanted to laugh, not at her, but for her. She knew what she loved and had no qualms about asking for it.

He found the part of her body that made her breath hitch and her body weep.

“Fin,” she moaned her approval and he felt her passion rise and met him. Her thighs pressed against his face until he heard her call his name again and again with her release.

Not allowing her body to settle, Fin crawled up her frame and sunk into her body.

She opened her eyes and wrapped her legs around his waist.

He moved inside her. Slow gentle strokes until he felt her body gripping onto his tighter. Perfect.