Page 19

–Broderick–

NOTHING WAS MORE difficult than leaving Aspen’s side under the darkness of night, knowing she would be leaving me tomorrow and going to my rival clan to make up for the mistakes I made in another life. And they were my mistakes first and foremost, as I sensed the dream she had before stirring awake.

For the sake of love, I made a pact, then broke it, stealing her away and sealing the fate of strangers far in my future. I wanted her so much and loved her so fiercely that, in the end, I refused to let anyone else have her, but it came at a cost.

Little did I realize just how much until I lay in my pitifully empty bed, missing her and idly twirling my finger in the spiral design she claimed had helped her travel back to me, only to have a vision so vivid I knew it was real.

One moment, I was lying there.

The next, beneath an aspen tree, holding her limp body against me, wracked with such grief, there were no words for it.

I cupped the back of her head and looked down into a beautiful yet deathly pale face that wasn’t exactly hers, but close enough, I knew it was her. She was everything to me, and I had never been so in love or felt the joy she had brought me as the light dimmed in her eyes.

“Protect it,”

she whispered hoarsely, resting my hand on her womb.

“Protect it like it was yours, my love.”

I knew then, as I lovingly looked into eyes glazed over by pain, that I hadn’t taken her back soon enough. She had already conceived with the man I promised her to, and yet I knew as she faded away, there would be no saving her or the baby, as I couldn't stop the illness that swept through my clan and took them both, breaking my heart.

With grief came the certain knowledge this would cost my people dearly, for the babe in her womb had been half dragon, half witch, and would have been precious indeed.

“Bloody hell,”

I cursed, jolting awake to the here and now as that life snapped shut and I was returned to the present.

Now I knew without question what had happened.

After that, the Sutherlands had threatened to curse the MacLeod bloodline if I didn’t agree to a renewed pact. Our clan’s future offspring would suffer the same fate as the babe in Aspen’s womb. Gone before ever getting a chance to grow to adulthood.

Was that what our past life was trying to warn us about? Would it happen again if we broke the rules a second time? I could only assume so and could think of nothing worse. Yet the aspen tree, her aspen tree, had been in that memory, and now it was here again, having brought her back to me. Didn’t that prove we were meant to be together? It was impossible to know, and nothing irritated me more, given I was hours away from handing her over to Dugal.

After that, I couldn’t sleep if I tried, wondering how much my rival chieftain knew about what had happened, so before the sun rose, I sought out my mother. She seemed to be expecting my knock on her door but was unable to share anything beyond what I had seen. All she could do was insist that Aspen see this through.

It was the only way forward.

“There is hope, son,”

she said gently before sending me on my way, claiming she had to see to Aspen.

“That is all I can say for now.”

“Did ye know she has gone into heat?”

I exclaimed, disgruntled.

“That we’re sending her to them in such a state?”

“Aye.”

She nudged me along.

“Yet I sense she will have a protector along with her. One who I suspect will keep the dragons at bay despite his wee size.”

“We can only hope,”

I muttered, raking a hand through my hair in frustration after she closed the door. Flame was undoubtedly growing in his powers at a tender age, but still. This was a lot to ask of a young wolf shifter pup, however courageous he may be.

Although tempted to see Aspen one last time, I knew better than to risk it, so I headed down to the great hall to await the king, who, always an early riser, made his way down a short while later. Joining me at the head table, we broke our fast together, saying little at first because I feared my words might convey my frustration.

“Ye have every right to feel as ye do, lad,”

Robert finally said after swallowing a bite of bannock. He met my eyes and spoke from the heart.

“I see the way ye two look at each other, so I know the sacrifice ye make today, and I couldnae be more grateful. Ye’re a bigger man than most would be in yer position, and ye’ve my heartfelt thanks. Yer country’s heartfelt thanks.”

His voice dropped an octave.

“Because we both know how Dugal can be, and ‘tis rare he puts anyone’s interests before his own, despite how much he tries to convince me otherwise.”

“Yet ye heed him,”

I grunted.

“I heed him because the Sutherlands are one of the most powerful clans in Scotland for reasons known and unknown, and his fighting men are much needed in the cause.”

Robert eyed me grimly.

“And we both know nothing but trouble will come out of this if ye dinnae keep yer word.”

“And if something changes?”

I wondered, being candid.

“If Aspen goes to the Sutherlands and something happens that releases her from this pact, ye will support it?”

“If ‘tis a clean break with no threat of the Sutherlands retaliating, of course.”

Robert shook his head and sighed, blunt in a way I appreciated.

“Yet we both know ‘twill have to be something substantial for Dugal to let the likes of her go back to ye, of all people.”

“Then might we pray for something substantial,”

I muttered.

“Aye,”

the king agreed, compassion in his eyes.

“I will remain hopeful for ye both and thankful for yer sacrifices otherwise.”

Soon after, the hall filled, and Dugal and his man made their way down shortly before Aspen and my mother. I flinched when I saw she no longer wore MacLeod colors and did my best to temper my inner beast’s growing agitation.

Dugal frowned at the deceptively timid-looking pup by Aspen’s side, with drooping ears and a tail between its legs.

“What is that?”

“My wolf.”

Aspen scooped it up and met his frown.

“And I go nowhere without him.”

“Nay.”

Dugal shook his head.

“’Twill be nothing but food for my ilk.”

“Then I’m not going.”

Aspen notched her chin as Flame nuzzled close to her as if frightened, even going so far as to whimper in distress.

“I’ve been more agreeable than most would be in my position, but I won’t go without my emotional support animal.”

“Yer emotional what?”

Dugal said, disgusted.

“You know,”

she said.

“An animal to help me through a challenging time.”

Her eyebrows swept up.

“Namely, dealing with you.”

He was about to reply but must have caught Aspen’s scent because he inhaled sharply before nodding in agreement, willing to do anything to keep her with him now he knew she was in heat. “Fine.”

“I will travel with ye to the edge of MacLeod land, Dugal,”

the king said after requesting food be prepared for Dugal and Aspen so they could make haste and break their fast en route.

“Then my men and I will head back to the border, may ye join us soon enough.”

“Aye, my king,”

Dugal replied, clearly glad they wouldn’t linger much longer.

It took everything in me to keep my distance from Aspen as everyone made their way outside. I had ordered my stablehand to prepare one of my finest horses for her so she might travel safely.

“Here we are,”

my mother said, coming out with satchels of food. I couldn’t help but notice she had given Aspen one of her own. A special bag that could discreetly hold a dagger if need be.

“Many thanks, Chara,”

the king said, bidding all farewell as he swung onto his horse. His eyes connected with mine, and he nodded once.

“Take care, Laird MacLeod. I will keep ye abreast of the situation.”

I knew he spoke not just of the ongoing skirmishes at the southern border but the potential situation between our clans if either me or Dugal didn’t honor our word.

“Aye, my king,”

I managed, going to help Aspen onto her horse, only for Dugal to intercept me.

“I will see to her henceforth, MacLeod,”

he ground out, glaring at me in warning before he went to help her, only for Aspen to swing up with the pup in hand as if she had been doing it her whole life.

“I will see to myself,”

she cut back, narrowing her eyes at Dugal with as much warning.

“At least until ye cannae help yerself,”

he promised, implying she would desire far more from him soon. He went so far as to pretend to check that she was secure, then boldly touched her thigh, only for her to slap his hand away.

Rather than show frustration, a slow, arrogant smile curled Dugal's mouth before he shrugged and mounted his horse.

“Take care with him, Aspen,”

I said into her mind. I wasn’t going to speak to her telepathically lest it make this moment too difficult, but I couldn’t help myself.

“He cannae be trusted and assumes all lasses want him, whether they’ll admit it or not. ‘Tis a dangerous combination.”

“I’ve got this,”

she assured, meeting my eyes ever so briefly yet long enough for me to see how much she cared about me. How much she would miss me.

“My last life, or incarnation, is with me, Broderick. Helping me because I’ve never ridden a horse, at least not in this life, yet I know how to now as if I always have.”

“’Tis good,”

I replied.

“Listen to her and follow the trail of the aspen tree because ‘tis part of our journey back to each other.”

Or so I could only pray.

“I will.”

Her heart was in her eyes as her gaze lingered on my face before they made their way onto the drawbridge, and she had no choice but to face forward.

Hating every moment of this, I ground my teeth and clenched my fists as they left the bridge behind and made their way into the woodland. I was desperate to follow and take her back, bedamned what it meant for my people. We would figure out a way. Fight. Hold our ground.

“But ye would not,”

my mother said softly from beside me.

“’Twould be like yer shared vision and mean not just yer death but Lucas’s, leaving Aspen on her own with no hope for help because our clan would be at war with the Sutherlands for yer trespasses. Moreover, likely the king himself and all those who support him would be against us, for ‘twould be ye who broke the pact once again, not Dugal.”

“This isnae right,”

I ground out.

“She shouldnae have to suffer for my mistakes in another life.”

“’Tis verra debatable to say ‘twas all yer mistake, son, when we dinnae have the full story yet.”

She rested a comforting hand on my arm.

“Yet we will soon enough. Of that, I have no doubt.”

“Aye, and even more of the story if I have any say in it,”

Kenneth said from astride his horse. His eyes flickered with his inner wizard.

“I will make sure she stays safe, my friend. Ye have my word.”

“Thank ye, cousin,”

I said, wishing it were days before and he was riding in with Aspen in his arms rather than bidding us farewell and pursuing her once everyone had vanished.

I frowned at my mother when I found her wearing the oddest expression. As if she were trying to understand something.

“What is it, Ma?”

“I dinnae know,”

she said softly.

“I just had the strangest feeling, but it vanished before I could make sense of it.”

Her gaze drifted over my shoulder, where the Viking blade was sheathed.

“Mayhap ‘twas that finding its way along.”

“’Tis gone,”

Lucas exclaimed when I reached for the blade, only to find it missing. Yet I remembered the satchel my mother had given Aspen and saw the knowing look on her face, so I knew it had done what it was known to do on occasion. It transitioned to a blade more suitable for a satchel and followed Aspen, giving me a much-needed glimmer of hope.

Little did I know it would do far more than that.