Page 42 of Farlan (Immortal Highlander Clan McKeran #3)

“From the tenor of your reflections, I dinnae believe you shall.” Rory mopped the sweat from his face before he regarded the misty cloud of her spirit. “Only ken I never asked for the taint in my blood, any more than you desired steal a body from the spirit born to it.”

So he could hear her. Never shall I do thus. I’m reborn like all druids, to live again in an unborn babe with yet no mind formed.

He nodded. “’Tis the way of your kind, just as thieving and killing, ’tis the way of mine.”

You cannae blame yourself for your nature, Torra thought, a little worried now. But you cannae give into the wickedness, anymore than I may steal a body and a new life from another.

“Already I’ve lost that battle.” Rory rubbed his eyes. “The damage to the stronghold, ’tisnae from the enchantment failing, or a quake in the spell trap. ’Twas my doing.”

No’ by purpose.

“You defend me so quickly when you dinnae ken what I’ve done.” His mouth hitched. “Only you’re right, my lady. I didnae choose to make the walls weaken and collapse. ’Twas from dozing off, having dreams, and talking to Chomha in my sleep. Lady Ava revealed the truth to me.”

Dread seized her. She knew the armorer’s mortal weakness might someday cause the entire stronghold to collapse. Yet he wouldn’t be telling her unless he wanted her aid.

What can I do, lad?

He held out his hand. “Share my body when I need sleep, and keep me silent.”

“ W here is that useless mortal?” Bodach muttered to himself as he stalked through the passages leading out to the back archways.

When he stepped outside the castle, he saw clothing scattered on the muddy ground, and the imprint of tracks.

He followed them to a small clearing in the woods, where Rona stood naked in front of a spindly-looking scrub pine tree that appeared dead.

All the old scars from her back, buttocks and legs had vanished, as had the bruises he’d left on her.

She seemed to be staring through the trees at something he couldn’t see.

“What are you doing?” he demanded.

“Saying good-bye.” She turned and smiled at him, and the thick, cloying scent of candy wafted into his face. “The nice lady who gave me all the pretty clothes and things told me it’s time I leave this world.”

Her skin had grown noticeably darker, Bodach saw, and her thin eyebrows had started sprouting green quills. She’d removed the old watch she’d been wearing, revealing two puncture wounds on her left wrist that reminded him of Chlíodhna’s rabbit teeth.

“Your nice lady, my ass. Did she promise she would make you immortal?” Bodach asked, sneering the words. “Because she lied. No matter how many times she bites you, she’ll just drink your blood. It gives her power over your idiot brain.”

Rona glanced down at her wrist. “She didn’t promise me anything. She just offered me a place to live in peace.”

A flurry of green-brown magic wafted around them, and Chlíodhna walked out of the lights, still in the form of the sweet-faced little old lady mortal.

Bodach suspected the old being was about to sacrifice his poor little Rona to her forest world, or whatever she considered sacred, which was a spectacle that would distract the ancient being—perhaps long enough for him to use a crystal on her.

“By all means, don’t let me stop you,” he told them. “I love a good sacrificial ritual as much as the next dark Fae.”

Chlíodhna ignored him as she reached out to touch the withered bark of the dead tree, which immediately came back to life, bristling with new green needles as it grew wider and taller.

Rona watched wide-eyed as the rippling bark formed the edges of a door made of green-brown light, and then swung open.

Bodach had to squint to see inside the tree, which appeared to contain another forest filled with birds, animals and luscious-looking plants. A small cottage erupted in the center of a flower-speckled meadow, and a large golden-haired dog came galloping out and barked at them.

“Is that Ranger?” the mortal female whispered, her eyes huge. “I saw Daddy kill him when I was a little girl.”

“It is your dog, and the home you always wanted,” Chlíodhna promised, patting her back gently. “Ranger has been waiting for you.”

“If you go in there, Rona, she’ll never set you free again.” Bodach leaned back against an ash tree and folded his arms. “You’ll have to spend eternity amusing her. Do you know what her kind do to their pets when they’re bored? Trust me, it makes your father look like Mother Theresa.”

Rona regarded him. “I loved you. You could have loved me back.”

“Love a thing like you?” He chuckled. “You were hardly worth the energy it took to beat and fuck you.”

“I loved him,” she said to Chlíodhna, who smiled and nodded. “I would love you, too.”

“I know, my sweet child. But your only true love was that delightful pup in there. Now go to him, and live in peace.” As the mortal stepped through the door of light and into the other world, the old being closed and sealed the trunk, which turned to stone.

“Are you going to visit her later?” Bodach couldn’t help asking as he took a crystal from his pocket, and held it ready.

“No one may enter a world once I seal it.” Chlíodhna bared her teeth at him.

“She will live forever alone with her dog in that forest world, away from anyone who could harm her.” She stroked a hand over her silver hair, which turned bright red.

“Would you like me to create one for you and your pretty rocks, Goblin?”

White crystal dust poured from his hand, making him hide it behind him. “No, thank you.”

The ancient being laughed with delight, and then went to another tree, opened its trunk and stepped inside.

The two trees began sinking into the ground.

Bodach reeled backward to avoid being sucked in after them, and then watched the tops disappear into the soil.

A moment later it was as if the trees had never been, which they probably hadn’t.

Bodach shook the last of the inert crystal from his hand before he walked back into the castle, descending to the dungeon lair.

There he took out a bottle of very old cognac, uncorked it and drank from the bottle directly.

The spirit burned down his throat and settled in his belly like liquid heat.

For a long moment he stared at his palm, wondering how the old bitch had managed to defeat his crystal without even speaking a single spell word.

Then there was Rona, who had so happily thrown him over for a dog. A dead dog, no less.

“Why would she leave me for eternal solitude?” he muttered, more upset now than when he’d felt the crystal crumble against his palm. “Didn’t I give her what she wanted? Didn’t I treat her like the mortal scum she is?”

Only silence answered him.

S tanding and watching the sky turn from green to velvety black seemed surreal, Grace thought as the tiny pink and red finches that gathered every evening darted around her.

Like some of the other animals at Dun Talamh, they had blundered into the spell trap, but seemed content with their fate.

She imagined even a bird would appreciate the chance to live for eternity, even if it meant residing in such a limited space.

Farlan didn’t. Maybe that was why his mother had said that odd thing in the dream. Tell him no’ to hate his brothers, for they’re no’ to blame. Then suddenly Grace understood.

“I looked for you downstairs,” a low voice said, stirring the back of her hair with warm breath. “Did you come here to rethink our agreement?”

“I’d tell you that I’m falling in love with you again, but the first two hundred times were more than enough.

I was just thinking that you could be my reward, to make up for all the things I’ve suffered in the real world.

Only you’re not enough.” She took in a deep breath.

“No one, no matter how wonderful they are, will ever make up for what my mother did to me.” She turned around to face him.

“You saw everything. Inga told me you did.”

Farlan nodded slowly.

“The only way I survived it was by promising myself that I would never be like her. No husband, no kids.” Saying that made her throat hurt. “That way I could never abuse them. That’s why I didn’t want to love you, or marry you.”

Instead of reacting to her hard words he just watched her face. “You wish me leave you be, then, lass? For I shall always do as you wish.”

“You know what I just figured out? You don’t have resting bitch face.

You hate it here, more than anyone else.

That’s why you smile so much.” She saw how his muscles tightened.

“You loved the family you left behind, and they adored you. You can’t stand losing them the way you did.

You love the clan, but you also hate them for tearing you away from your mortal family.

Nothing will ever make up for what they took from you. ”

“Aye.” Farlan didn’t look ashamed or even surprised that she had figured out his secret.

“Now I’ll tell you my wish,” Grace said.

“We’re here. We’re together. We make each other happy.

That’s what we are, what we have. I think we’re enough for each other.

So much more than enough. I can’t give you a child, but I will give you everything I am for as long as we live. Is that enough for you?”

Farlan muttered something under his breath and pulled her into his arms. “Aye, now and for all time. Thank the Gods.”

“I think the rule that McKeran men never marry mortal women is no longer valid here,” she said, rubbing her cheek against his chest. “Thanks to the magic of this place everyone is immortal and can’t have children. Why don’t you ditch the rule?”

“The mortal lasses from our time would likely marry a clansman over a mortal lad for the chance at higher rank,” he said ruefully. “’Twouldnae be fair to the mortal lads.”

“But Tasgall and Alec married their ladies,” she pointed out. “And you want to marry me.”