“THEY’VE BEEN GONE too long, haven’t they?” Christina muttered as she pulled back the tent flap and peeked out. “And who do you think they downed? Sven or Bryce?” She shook her head. “It’s hard to imagine either of them.”

“Staring out there isn’t going to make them return any faster,” Lindsay said. “Sit and drink some whisky with us. They’ll be just fine.”

Graham, Conall, and Grant had gone off with Robert and several of his men to see what all the commotion was about. That seemed like ages ago. Meanwhile, she and the girls were tucked away in Robert’s tent with several men guarding the entrance, including his brother, Edward who tossed her a lustful look before she closed the flap.

“How do you know they’re fine for sure?” Christina asked as she joined Lindsay and Kenna by the fire.

“I just know,” Lindsay assured. “Once you finally see them fight you’ll understand. It’s breathtaking.”

Christina chuckled and perked her brows. “Breathtaking?”

“Definitely. You’ll see.”

“That fighting is breathtaking?” She shook her head. “I highly doubt that.”

“Aye, ‘tis most impressive,” Kenna agreed. “Graham and his kin are verra talented.”

Christina couldn’t help but wonder if there was a double innuendo there but when her eyes went to Kenna, she dispelled the notion. The Scotswoman was both sweet and strong to a fault. Not the sneaky sort who secretly had designs on Graham and was trying to swindle him into marriage by claiming her clan’s well-being was on the line. Because the thought had crossed Christina’s mind when she watched them together earlier. She didn’t mean for it to, but it had.

They made a cute couple. A very attractive one actually. As a matter of fact, they looked so good together it was enough to draw her eyes from Robert on occasion. Enough to cause an annoying itch of jealousy to flare and never let go. If she knew what was good for her, she would support the whole thing and be happy for Graham. Instead, she found herself imagining inappropriate things.

First, that Fraser appeared out of nowhere on a white horse, arisen from the dead as he swept Kenna into his arm’s, leaving a crestfallen Graham in his wake. One who quickly turned secretly thankful eyes Christina’s way. Then in another scenario, she envisioned Graham lurching to his feet, closing the distance between them before growling, “I cannae be without ye anymore, Christina. I refuse to!” Then he would yank her close and kiss her hard.

“Did you hear me, darling?”

Or maybe it would happen all at once. Kenna and Graham would be gazing at each other one second then see the truth clear as day. They would shake their heads and stand at the same time, declaring simultaneously, “This is all wrong! What were we thinking? We’re not meant to be together.”

“Christina,” Lindsay cut into her thoughts. “Did you hear me?”

“What?” She blinked several times and looked at Lindsay. “Can’t say I did, sweetheart. Mind repeating?”

Lindsay’s eyebrows perked. “I was just wondering if you were going to acknowledge that Kenna just refreshed your drink.”

“Oh.” She looked from her full mug to Kenna and plastered on the warmest smile she could manage. One she suspected didn’t quite reach her eyes seeing how this woman would be sharing Graham’s bed the rest of her damned life. “Well, bless your heart, darlin’. Thank you.”

“My pleasure.” Kenna eyed Christina, her words soft. “I know well of the connections betwixt MacLomains and Brouns. The fated love that exists.”

Lindsay tossed Christina a look as Kenna continued. “’Twas something Fraser vowed would not happen to him. He had seen it.”

Lindsay narrowed her eyes. “Fraser had seen it?”

“Aye.” She nodded. “He had the gift of foresight and knew ‘twas not part of his fate. Nay.” She shook her head. “He was fated for something else entirely.”

“Death,” Christina whispered.

“Nay, actually.” Wisdom lit Kenna’s eyes. “Not when he was so young anyway.”

“I’m sorry his gift didn’t help save him then,” Lindsay said softly, respect in her voice.

“So we all think,” Kenna whispered. “But ‘tis hard to know.”

Christina and Lindsay frowned.

“But we do know,” Lindsay said more bluntly than she likely intended. “He died.”

“Did he then?” Kenna’s eyes leveled with hers. “How can ye be so sure?”

“Because I’ve been inside Conall’s mind and I saw his last moments,” Lindsay said gently as she took Kenna’s hand. “He’s gone, sweetness. He really is.” She shook her head. “And I’m so very sorry.”

“Sometimes things arenae as they seem,” Kenna replied, not defiant in the least but rather matter-of-fact. “Sometimes there is more going on than meets the eye.”

Christina took a deep swig of ale. She couldn’t help but wonder why they were having this conversation right now. Why Kenna would not have talked to Graham or any of his family about it first.

“Have you mentioned your thoughts to any of the MacLomains?” Lindsay’s lips turned down in concern. “Adlin? Grant? Moreover, Fraser’s parents, Cassie and Logan?”

“Nay, nor will I ever,” Kenna said softly. “’Tis not my place. They have been through enough, and I willnae dredge up something they are only just healing from.”

“Fair enough.” Lindsay kept frowning. “But what if he’s trapped where Conall’s father Darach was? In another dimension created by a warlock?” She shook her head. “If that’s the case, we might be able to save him.”

“’Tis not like that.” Kenna’s eyes were haunted. “Where he lives, how he lives, may verra well be beyond the scope of saving.”

Well, what the hell did she mean by that? Christina was about to ask when a harsh chill swept over her.

Something was wrong.

She barely had time to process what was happening when a dagger whipped in from the backside of the tent and pinned Lindsay’s hand to the table. Before she had a chance to turn her head and enchant, three men rushed in. One put a burlap bag over Lindsay’s head and muffled her screams not only with a hand over her mouth but with a dagger to her neck as his eyes met Christina’s and he shook his head.

She knew what that meant.

Make a sound and Lindsay died.

Though more than tempted to use her magic, nothing said she could take these men down before that blade sliced Lindsay’s neck. And that was a risk she wasn’t willing to take. Terribly shaken but not about to show it, she stood and prayed her legs kept working as she met Kenna’s eyes and nodded. Thankfully, the Scotswoman kept her mouth shut and stood as well. Moments later, she and Kenna were tossed over the men’s shoulders and taken.

Though frightened, all she could think about was Lindsay because she was fairly certain her friend had been left behind. If so, had she been killed? She bit back tears as she realized the truth. Why would they let her live when they clearly knew what kind of threat she was? Or so said the fact they covered her eyes and hair, two features very much intertwined with her ability to enchant.

Knowing better than to make a sound, she fell back on what she had been told about the MacLomain, Broun connections. That if she had a true love, they should be able to hear her telepathically. So she took no chances and screamed into her mind, “Graham, Bryce, help! Lindsay’s in trouble! Someone’s trying to kill her!”

She said those words over and over, praying one of them would hear.

What she never expected was a response. “We’re heading back now, lass. What’s happening?”

Bryce? 

He might sound different within her mind, but there was no mistaking him.

“We’re...they’ve...” she stuttered in her head, so thrown off he wasn’t Graham she could barely make sense of what he was saying.

“Try to remain calm and think clearly no matter how difficult,” Bryce responded. “Once you’ve gathered yourself share everything with me, aye? Are you safe? Where are you?”

He was right. She needed to remain focused and calm the hell down. So what if Graham didn’t respond. That should be the least of her concerns right now. With that firmly in mind, she managed to tell him what happened.

Afterward, there was silence until he finally said, “I need you to try to think and communicate more clearly, lass. All you said was the same word over and over again.”

She had? “What word?”

“Earrach.”

“What does that mean?”

“Spring.”

She frowned and flinched against the pain of being jostled on someone’s shoulder. “Sorry, I might know the word spring but not that other word. So I definitely didn’t say it.” Lord above, she wanted to beat the crap out of the man carrying her. “Why do you suppose I would say that?”

“I dinnae know.” She heard the frown in his internal voice. “But ‘tis uncanny considering today is the last day of spring.”

That was a little strange, wasn’t it?

Apparently, Milly and Lindsay had also said seasonal words in Gaelic. Milly, autumn and Lindsay, winter. So it appeared they were going in order. The reason for the words still remained a mystery. If nothing else, they seemed to align with the time of year each one experienced their adventures. The general consensus was that it was a good thing to hear or say the word. It meant they were on the right path.

This didn’t quite feel like the right path though.

But then what did she know about destiny and fate?

“Have you gotten back to Linds yet?” she asked. Worry, above all, likely clouded her thinking and that’s why he wasn’t getting her message. “Is she okay?”

“Lindsay will be all right,” he responded. “But you must continue on as if you dinnae know that, lass. Do you ken?”

“Yes,” she replied, understanding full well the less her captors knew, the better.

“Keep reporting back to me, Christina, and stay strong,” Bryce continued. “We will come for you. Dinnae doubt it for a moment.”

She grunted in pain as a creaky door opened and the man started up stairs. The air was musty and cold, all of which she shared with Bryce. “It sounds like he’s walking on stone. We’re definitely in a building of some sort.”

“You’re coming across clearly now,” he responded. “Just keep talking to me, aye, lass?”

“You got it.” He might not be Graham but he was a soothing presence, and she was grateful he was there. “How is everyone else doing, Bryce? Sven and yourself? We were told one of you were hurt.” And because she couldn’t help herself. “And how’s Graham?”

“All’s well enough,” he replied. “Nobody was hurt. ‘Twas a decoy so that you lasses would be more readily accessible.”

“Oh damn.” That made sense.

“As to Graham...” There was a hesitation. “He isnae verra happy.”

“I imagine not considering Kenna was taken,” she remarked. “And Lindsay was nearly killed.”

Bryce didn’t respond to that, but she sensed he wanted to. That there was more to it. “What is it, Bryce?”

“’Tis nothing. You need to keep focused on your surroundings,” he continued before she cut him off.

“Just tell me, Bryce.”

“’Tis you he frets over, lass,” he murmured. Silence stretched before he continued, his brogue evident with his emotions. “And whilst the two of ye claim to be together, ‘tis now clear yer meant for me. It cannae be any other way because ‘tis me who heard yer call and ‘tis me speaking within yer mind.”

Christina wasn’t quite sure how to respond to that, so she said nothing. She barely knew Bryce. But then she barely knew Graham. Yet her mind fought the idea of her being meant for anyone besides Graham...or maybe even Robert.

A mind that wasn’t supposed to want a man, to begin with.

She cursed under her breath when she was plunked down on a hard stone floor. Then she heard a door slam shut and a key latch lock. She blinked, trying to adjust to the pitch black room but it was slow going.

“Kenna?” she whispered. “Are you here, honey?”

“Aye,” came a soft voice.

Relief washed over her. They were both alive, and she reported as much to Bryce.

“Is there a window?” he asked. “Mayhap you can look out and get a better lay of the land?”

“Maybe but it’s hellishly dark.”

When she heard scuffling, she frowned. “Kenna, is that you?”

“Aye,” she replied, apparently on the same wavelength as Bryce. “I think I see a window. I’m going to look.”

Christina nodded and felt her way along the cold, rough wall.

“I can see out the window,” Kenna said softly. “We’re up high...a castle I think.”

When Christina said as much to Bryce, he replied. “It can only be Stirling Castle.”

Stirling Castle? She had heard about this castle. “Really?”

“Aye,” he said. “’Tis currently occupied by the Sassenach but under siege by the Scots. That means there’s a way in and we’ll find it.” He paused. “It sounds like they put you in a tower. Get as many details as you can from Kenna.”

So she did, and it was pretty much confirmed.

They were imprisoned in one of the most famous castles in Scotland.

She had just found her way to a corner and was closer to Kenna based on the sound of her voice when a harsh chill raced over her skin. Moments later, it felt like she was sitting in a walk-in freezer. She was suddenly so frightened that breathing became nearly impossible. “Bryce, I think something’s wrong.”

No response.

“Kenna?” she whispered, straining to see in the darkness.

Unlike Lindsay, she wasn’t a big fan of the dark. Mainly because it meant the power had been shut off when she was a kid. There was no money to pay the bills again. Not Granny’s fault, not really, just a kind heart unable to say no. A kind heart who had a habit of not putting the scant few dollars they had in the right place.

The electric company.

So Christina would light a candle and read a good book, often to Granny to help ease her guilt. And often the Bible because it was one of the few books they had. Back when books were paper not digital. Good thing, because Lord knows they would never have been able to afford an e-reader.

“What is that?” Kenna’s voice was a hoarse squeak in an echoing chamber. “Do ye feel that, lass? The unnatural cold?”

“Yeah.” She scrambled toward Kenna’s voice until she finally bumped into her. “Sweet Jesus, there you are.”

“Aye.” Kenna’s hand slipped into hers, and she whispered, “I dinnae think we are alone, Christina.”

That’s when she sensed it. Something dark, foreboding, and towering. Rather than squint into the darkness, she tucked Kenna behind her, closed her eyes and focused. To hell with not using magic. If something was coming for them, she intended to fight it for all she was worth.

At first, there was nothing, then most certainly something. It was tall, slender and clothed from head to toe in black. It stood mere feet away, its soulless eyes watching her closely, its curiosity in her gift obvious.

She remained perfectly still, anticipating the worst.

What was it going to do? How painful was this going to be? Though she should be terrified, she felt rather detached. Ready. More than that? Angry as all get out. This thing was going to hurt Kenna over her dead body.

“Who are you?” she ground out, shifting so that Kenna was better protected. While she should probably stop talking she was far too confrontational for that. “Stop being a coward and give it to me straight.”

“Good, yer remaining strong, Christina,” it said, his voice raspy and grating. “I had so hoped ye would.” He flashed a creepy grin. “The wee witch so hoped ye would.”

“What wee witch?” she asked.

“Ye will know soon enough,” he responded, his voice like sandpaper on metal.

She opened her mouth to respond, but he was gone. Snuffed out. Just like that, in the blink of an eye, he had vanished and his harsh chill with him.

“’Twas true evil, aye?” Kenna whispered, trembling behind Christina as the moment stretched on.

Was it gone for good? Would it come back?

“Hell yeah that was evil,” Christina agreed when she finally found her voice. “Up one side and down the other.” As her body caught up with delayed terror, her legs turned to jelly, and she sank down the wall until she was sitting. She tugged at Kenna with a shaky hand. “Join me, sugar.” Then her voice grew as shaky as her hands. “I sure could use the company. Conversation. Anything to get my mind off of...that.”

Kenna slid down beside her and squeezed her hand. “Thank ye for protecting me, Christina. ‘Twas verra brave.”

“Probably more foolish than anything.” She released a nervous chuckle that sounded forced even to her own ears. “I don’t think I could’ve stopped that thing so I’m not so sure you should be thanking me.”

“Whether ye could or not, ‘twas that ye intended to,” Kenna said softly. “And that is more admirable than ye know...especially considering ‘twas me ye defended.”

She frowned though Kenna couldn’t see it in the darkness. “Well, what do you mean by that?”

“’Tis clear ye love Graham,” she replied. “And ‘tis also clear yer a wee bit jealous of me.”

“Hush your mouth,” she chastised far too quickly and definitely too lightly. “I’m no such thing.”

“What?” She heard a small smile in Kenna’s voice. “In love with Graham or jealous of me?”

“Both.”

“He feels the same ye know,” Kenna commented. “’Tis all over his face every time he looks at ye.”

Bull. Yet an annoying little thrill whipped through her.

“Why are you telling me this?” Christina murmured. “When you two are to be married.”

“Because we arenae,” she whispered. “And I should have already told him as much.”

“What do you mean?” Christina swallowed, not sure what to make of this turn of events. “Why not?” She shook her head. “Don’t you have to in order to keep your clan safe?”

“Aye,” she said softly. “But I will find another way. ’Twill not be like this.”

“Like what?”

“I willnae take true happiness away from a friend who is finally so close to getting what he has long deserved.”

“And you think that’s me,” Christina said.

“I know it is.” She could almost feel Kenna’s eyes turn her way as her voice became whisper soft. “Yer a verra lucky lass, Christina.”

Based on the emotion in Kenna's voice, it didn’t take Christina long to figure things out.

“Aw, shoot,” she whispered, seeing it all too clearly now. “How long have you loved him?”

“Long enough,” Kenna murmured.

“Before or after Fraser?”

When she didn’t answer right away, Christina sighed and leaned her head back against the wall. Kenna had loved Graham all along. “Did Fraser know? Graham?”

“I think Graham only really started to figure it out this eve,” she murmured, her voice distant as if caught in memories. “Fraser knew at the end.” Her emotional swallow was loud enough to hear. “He learned of it right before he went off to battle that last time...before he left us all.”

“God, that sucks,” Christina whispered. “For all of you but mostly poor Fraser.” She frowned, defending a man she never knew. “Did you ever love him?”

“Aye,” Kenna said. “Just not as much as he deserved.”

Christina thought about that, mulling over what Kenna was willing to do. “Now, when he’s determined to marry you, you’re willing to just let Graham ride off into the sunset with another woman?”

“Ride off into the sunset?” Kenna asked.

“Up and run off with another woman,” Christina rephrased.

“Run off?”

“Love another woman.”

“Aye,” Kenna replied, her voice soft again. Firm. “Because I love him, I want what’s best for him...even if that isnae me.”

“That’s noble of you,” Christina replied, more dryly than intended. “But a little unbelievable if you don’t mind my honesty.”

“Once ye get to know Graham better ye’ll ken my actions,” Kenna murmured. “He’s got such a kind heart and willing way.”

Christina tensed. Had they already slept together? “Willing way?”

“Aye,” Kenna responded. “There isnae anything he wouldnae do to help those in need.”

“Any specifics?” she asked, still fishing for a possible roll in the hay not being discussed.

Silence settled for a moment as Kenna evidently hashed out what to say. Thankfully, it was not what she figured was coming.

“There were many admirable moments that stand out,” she murmured. “But I suppose the one I remember best was the time he stood up to my uncle. Da and Fraser were off to battle, but Graham had been ordered to stay behind to watch over MacLomain Castle and its surrounding lands which he readily did.” Christina sensed Kenna shaking her head. “He was only fifteen winters but he didnae back down when my uncle came at me.”

“How’d he come at you, darlin’,” Christina said gently, almost afraid to ask.

“It doesnae matter,” she murmured. “What did matter is Graham was there and fought the bastard. He protected me the best he could until he was a bloody mess.”

“Graham or your uncle?”

“Graham, I’m afraid,” she said. “Though I know of his magic, many dinnae in these changin’ times including most of my clan. So Graham, not nearly the size he is today, fought him hand to fist. Ye’d have to see the size of my uncle to truly appreciate Graham’s courage.”

“So he defended your honor,” Christina said. “That’s great. It is. And I can see that.” She cocked her head. “But wouldn’t Fraser have too if he’d been there?”

“Aye, Fraser would have,” she said. “But ‘twould have been a much different story because he is a much different man than Graham. And ‘twas not just the one time but many times Graham fought on my behalf. Too often by far.”

Dear Lord, what kind of life had this woman endured?

“How would Fraser have been so different than Graham?” Christina asked, truly curious. “Defending honor seems pretty cut and dry to me.”

“But it isnae,” she replied softly. “Some men can do it and walk away mostly unscathed but ‘twould not have been the case with Fraser. He had a rage inside him that when provoked, didnae allow him to stop when fury took him.”

Christina contemplated that. “He would’ve downright killed your uncle, huh?”

“Aye,” she said, “and that would have created more trouble for my clan than they already had. Because the MacLomains would have sided with Fraser and strife with such a mighty allied clan would lead to worse things indeed.” Her voice wobbled slightly. “Things that would have led to pointless battling and more bloodshed. More loss and heartache.”

Moment by moment, she was getting a much clearer picture of Graham. The forward-thinking kind-hearted honorable man he truly was. Something she never doubted but liked to better understand.

Fraser, however, she was starting to wonder about.

“So I take it Fraser had a bad temper,” she said, dreading her next question. “Did he ever hit you, Kenna?”

“Fraser? Och, nay, never,” Kenna replied, her voice a little lighter. “He would never hit a lass. He was just more intense than most. He took things to heart and often believed battling was a better means to an end than diplomacy. We were wee bairns together, all of us, and his temperament just led him in a certain direction. Battling was always his favorite pastime and plotting the Sassenach’s ruin wasnae far behind that.”

“What about love?” Christina asked softly, getting a much clearer picture for sure. “Not at the top of his list, eh?”

“He was a true warrior,” Kenna whispered, emotion evident in her voice. “And I fear that was all he would ever be. All he truly cared about.”

Everything made perfect sense now. Kenna might have loved Fraser if he didn’t have what sounded like a hardened heart. And damn, if a man the likes of Graham defended her honor that much, how could she not fall head over heels for him?

“Yet Fraser loved you, so he had a softer side,” Christina said. “Right?”

“Aye,” Kenna murmured, her voice suddenly a bit whimsical. “When he chose to be charming, ‘twas verra difficult to refuse him. Impossible really.”

“And so you didn’t.”

“And so I didnae,” she whispered.

If Christina didn’t know better, she would say Kenna was in love with both Fraser and Graham but decided to leave it alone. She understood things a lot better now and was grateful for the chat. Actually, she was grateful for the time alone with Kenna, no matter how dank their surroundings.

“I’m not lookin’ for a man, Kenna,” she said for no other reason than she liked Kenna and wanted to come clean. “So you don’t have to worry about Graham and me.”

Kenna chuckled, squeezed her hand and rested her head on Christina’s shoulder without saying a word. Just fine with that, ready for some quiet time to contemplate, she rested her head against Kenna’s and closed her eyes.

Big mistake because she must have dozed off.

The next thing she knew, pre-dawn light filled the chamber, and she was being dragged across the floor by her hair. Ever the scrapper, she kicked and screamed, fighting like hell and ready to embrace her magic, but it was too late.

A heavy fist came down hard, and everything went black.