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Chapter One

DUNIMARLE CASTLE

CULROSS, SCOTLAND

I t wasn’t every day that one traveled to a beautiful medieval country estate in Scotland to rescue a knight in distress. And it certainly wasn’t a normal part of Tammie Lockhart’s life to be the heroine in a real-life fairytale.

However, needs must and all that stuff.

It didn’t seem real, even as she walked to the front door of the castle that her sisters, Gwen and Sabrina, called home since Gwen had married a real-life handsome laird. That this particular hunky laird was from the sixteen hundreds, and Gwen had rescued him, was a story she didn’t have time to delve into at the moment.

The entryway was straight out of a movie set with a high ceiling and tapestries depicting hunting scenes or people frolicking about in the outdoors hanging on the thick stone walls.

Her feet sank into the thick plush rug, and she glanced down to note the design of huge bouquets of roses seeming to be tossed haphazardly and yet creating a beautiful scene.

On her right was an archway that led to what she would call a large sitting room furnished with couches, chairs, and tables that were grouped in different areas for easy conversation.

To the left, just past the sitting room, was another archway into a dining room with a long mahogany table that could easily sit twelve.

Continuing forward, the next doorway opened to the library, where she and her sisters spent many an hour working on what had become the most important project of their lives.

Sabrina, who was engaged to a man named Gavin Campbell, would probably be in the library, Tammie considered.

She pictured Gavin again, a walking golden god that had to be the most beautiful human being in existence. Her soon-to-be brother-in-law’s good looks were no exaggeration, as wherever he was seen, people would stop mid-sentence, mid-bite, even mid-step and gawk, their conversation, food, and destination instantly forgotten.

Thankfully, the guy was an introvert, who preferred spending time at the stables in the company of the horses and an older man named Miles.

“There you are.” Sabrina poked her head out of the library doorway and grinned at her. “I think I found something. Come and read this.”

Despite the direness of the situation, Tammie considered making a run for the kitchen. The cook, chef, or whatever the man liked to be called, had baked a delicious cake the night before and she was anxious to gobble another piece.

“Can it wait until I cut myself a slice of cake?” Tammie called out.

“No,” came the abrupt answer.

Upon entering the library, she found that Gwen was there as well. The eldest sister sat on an overstuffed chair, her ebony hair twisted into a messy bun that didn’t distract from her Instagram-ready beauty. Not that Gwen had ever been on social media.

Gwen’s dark gaze lifted to Tammie as she walked through the door. “Something must be done to convince Niall to assist in his own rescue. It seems he wishes to remain behind, stuck there in that horrible place.”

Nail MacTavish had been plunged into an enchantment by an evil wizard after he and four others, including Tristan and Gavin, thwarted his plans to snatch defenseless women from a village. The men had been stuck in another realm, a place filled with peril and danger for hundreds of years.

The entire situation was beyond belief. Even after her sisters had freed two men, Tammie still had a hard time accepting that the reality of alter-worlds, other realms.

And yet, not only was it real, but now it was her turn to save someone.

Just before being trapped, a powerful enchantress had managed to cast a spell that made it possible to break each man’s curse. Figuring out how to break each of their spells was not easy, even harder in Niall’s case because he refused to cooperate, claiming he preferred to remain in the other realm until death.

As much as Tammie wanted to free him, at the same time, it was a bit frightening to find out what Niall’s particular curse was. Not only that, but she had to come up with a spell to break the curse, and somehow do this within a short time, as the possibility of the men being trapped forever came near.

Despite the looming deadline and the dilemma of what to do about the trapped men, at the moment her life could not be more perfect. She was assistant to her sister Sabrina, who was a well-known and extremely well-paid fashion photographer. Just recently she’d hooked up with Gerard, a handsome model, and if she read things right, they were on the brink of formalizing their relationship.

Not only that, but her handmade and personally designed online jewelry business was thriving. Yes, her life was definitely on the right track.

Lastly, there was the bonus of spending time with her sisters in an honest to goodness castle in a small town in the most beautiful country she’d ever visited.

Everything couldn’t be more perfect.

Well, except for the reluctant knight in distress.

“Niall has good reason to be the way he is. I can’t imagine the grief he suffered at not only losing his wife, but his children as well. All because of an act of nobility,” Gwen said interrupting Tammie’s thoughts.

“Saving that village from a wizard’s curse on that day sealed their fate,” Sabrina added.

Tammie shuddered. “Not only that but being trapped in another realm for hundreds of years is horrible.”

“I understand Niall grieves, but he needs to give himself permission to live. It’s been hundreds of years,” Sabrina quipped, plopping down on the floor and stretching like a cat.

Despite loving life at the castle, Tammie had no plans to remain longer than necessary. “We have to consider if there is another reason why he is reluctant to be rescued. Maybe the idea of coming back here to a totally different time, where everything has changed, terrifies him.”

Gwen shook her head. “I told Tristan that if Niall doesn’t wish to be rescued, then it may be impossible to do so. My poor dear refuses to accept the idea of leaving a man behind.”

“Maybe we can move on to the other guy, Padriag. He wants to be rescued,” Tammie suggested.

“Unfortunately he hasn’t felt a pull to come here. It isn’t his time yet,” Gwen replied. “It is Niall’s turn. It has to be done in order.”

Tammie crossed her arms, tapping her fingers on her upper arms with impatience. “Then he’s coming out. I will do it with or without his help.”

Her sisters exchanged a look.

She narrowed her eyes at them. “What?”

“This is going to be an interesting one,” Gwen said looking past her, not meeting her gaze.

Sure she missed something, she gave them one last piercing look before she closed her eyes, tried to picture the knight in question, and began calling for him.

She’d been told Niall MacTavish was tall, dark and a classically handsome man, According to Sabrina, who was particularly good at describing people, given her work, Niall stood at about six two, with broad shoulders, the blackest hair she’d ever seen and piercing grey eyes the color of a stormy sky. Her sister had pronounced him to be “stunning”, which was saying a lot.

Trying her best to picture him, she recalled having been told that he seemed to sport a scowl constantly. Chanting, she called to him, feeling the connection almost immediately.

The room seemed to shift; she opened her eyes and saw that someone had appeared.

Liam, a lean blonde man stood before them. Dressed in clothing more suited for medieval times, he looked around the room and nodded in greeting to her sisters. His blue eyes landed on her and studied her briefly before speaking.

“Niall refuses to come.”

Tammie shook her head. “Liam, I told you to threaten him with bringing me back to the realm if he didn’t come here. Did you?”

Her sisters looked at her with rounded eyes. Gwen spoke up first. “Tammie, you can’t go there, it’s much too dangerous.”

“If you continue to summon him, he will have to come eventually,” Liam said. “He is beginning to fade in and out as it is.” He laughed. “Of course that means he is in a rather cross mood, not liking how you affect him.”

“Angrier than usual? How can you tell?” Sabrina asked.

“In that you are correct, Niall seems to be in a continuous bad mood as of late.”

Sabrina’s anxious eyes met hers. “Tammie give him a couple days. Then, if he doesn’t come, you will probably be forced to go to the alter-world.”

Tammie raised her gaze to Liam. “How long before you go to Atlandia?” she asked, referring to a region in the alter-world ruled by two queens who were somewhat friendly.

“Could be a few days yet,” Liam replied.

“Then I think I should go today. I’ll stay until you are forced to move to Atlandia. I don’t want to go to that place. It should be named Icelandia from what I’ve heard.” Tammie headed for the door. “Somebody help me pack. Is there a weight limit to moving between realms Liam?”

Liam did not reply, and she turned to look at him. The British knight seemed to be looking to her sisters for an answer.

Gwen shook her head. “Once a Lockhart makes up her mind, there is nothing to be done. If she says she is going with you, then Tammie will.”