Page 23 of See A Highlander (A Highlander Across Time #10)

CHAPTER 23

“ Y ou have summoned me and now I appear, my sweet ancestor.” Scathach stepped forward and smiled at Annie as she traced her fingers over Annie’s cheek. “How you have suffered needlessly because of this woman.” Her eyes flashed to Bella with disdain. “Do not worry now, all will be well.” She turned to Bella. “You interfered where you should not have. Forcing your way in when this travel was not meant for you. Brandishing weapons upon those I’ve blessed. Disrespecting this sacred place and these people. I will have no more of it.”

“Shut up! You’re lying! It’s all her fault! She’s the one who did this! She always gets everything! It’s not fair!”

“Drop your weapon, child,” Scathach demanded.

"No! I won’t,” Bella said.

“Bella, I would listen if I were you,” Annie said softly.

"Aye, listen to Annie, lass. You don’t know what you’re up against, “Tom added.

"No! I deserve my revenge and no one is getting in my way, not even you,” Bella lunged at Scathach with her knife.

Scathach grabbed Bella’s wrist as she lunged toward her. The knife she held vanished into thin air. She picked Bella up as though she was a rag doll and tossed her through the doorway. There was a flash of light and Bella completely vanished. She was gone.

Annie was completely shocked. She looked around the room to see if Bella had reappeared somewhere in the room. But she was nowhere to be found. Annie looked at Tom who looked as confused as her. None of them spoke for a moment as it was completely silent without Bella.

Finally, Annie looked at the dark haired woman who stood before her. "Where did Bella go?” Annie asked.

"I have seen the problems she has caused you. I pushed her through the doorway once more. While I can travel forward and backward through time, I am only able to move others backward. So I can bring you from your time here, but I cannot send you back to your own time. As for Bella, who was not meant to come through, by the way, I sent her back in time by a century. She is destined to become the selfish woman from the legends you have heard before. She can't ever cause you and yours trouble any longer."

Annie felt a weight lift off her shoulders. "Really? Thank you.”

Scathach smiled and laid her hand on Annie’s stomach. “A little bairn grows within you. It would not do to have that woman here with you.”

“I feel sorry for Bella, but I was worried about our child. I wouldn’t have been able to rest with Bella in this castle. I would have been worried about the harm she would cause our family,” Annie said.

“Aye, thank you, Scathach for bringing Annie here, blessing us with this child, and for ridding us of Bella,” Tom said. “Is there anything we can do to repay your kindness?”

"I do fancy a nice wine,” Scathach said, “You can always leave me a bottle by the door,” she added as she vanished from their sight.

The light faded and it became dark once more. Tom and Annie looked at each other in disbelief.

"Your arm, let me see,” Tom said. He moved her to stand directly underneath a torch. He unwrapped her bleeding arm and had a look.

"I need to clean this and get some herbs on there to help the healing. Come let's get you to my office, my love."

"It's over. It's really over.”

"Aye, it is. You’ll not have to worry about your cousin any longer. Come let's go."

Tom escorted Annie up the stairs to his office. He opened the door and settled her inside. He boiled some water over the open fire with some clean bandages. He cleaned the wounds on her arms gently dabbing at them.

"I should have been quicker,” he said. “These wounds on your arm are my fault."

“No they’re not. We didn't know what she was capable of. I’m fine. They hurt but they aren’t deep."

"I will take care of you always. You are mine,” he said. He gave her a kiss and then wrapped bandages around the wounds on her arm.

Once she was seen to, they returned to her chambers. Tom picked her up as soon as they were within, and laid her gently on the bed.

"I want you to make love to me, Tom,” she said.

"But you are wounded and with child. It is better if you sleep."

"I’ll sleep better after being with you,” Annie said as she reached up and kissed him putting her hands around his neck and pulling him toward her.

Annie felt it the moment Tom gave in and it made her smile. He slowly undressed her and then after disrobing himself, he joined her on the bed and made love to her. He took his time, tasting every inch of her, making her squirm beneath his touch.

When he finally entered her, their lovemaking was exquisite. Slow and languid, as though he was attempting to be careful of her and to not harm the baby. The thought made her fall even more in love with him. As her desire built, Annie felt as though she were on the precipice of paradise.

“Oh Tom, yes… just like…” she moaned and then she was diving over the edge as her orgasm hit.

Tom joined her and then wrapped her in his embrace as they fell asleep, and Annie couldn’t think of a place she wanted to be more than in his arms.