Page 20 of The Darkest Knight (The Cursed Kingdom #3)

“ S shh, love,” Tammie cooed at the baby, soothing the infant while digging in her bag for a bottle. The child eagerly took to it when she popped it into his mouth.

She watched from a short distance away as Niall stood looking over the large expanse of the headstones at the cemetery in a village called Dunbeg, which had been called Dunstaffnage when Niall lived there. Many of the headstones were so old the engraving was illegible, yet somewhere here his first wife and children were buried.

Peace radiated in this place, the area surrounded by trees of many types, each casting a different hue of green forming a beautiful background. Tammie swayed the now sleepy baby and kept a concerned eye on Niall. He hadn’t moved in a while, seemed to be praying so she didn’t call out to him.

Since returning to Scotland, they’d lived in the cottage on the castle lands while building a house on lands Tristan had sold to them.

The large home was to have four bedrooms, two sitting rooms, a large kitchen and dining room. Also, there would be a studio for her on the side of a hill where she could study the lush green vegetation while she painted.

They’d conceived Baby Neal in Atlanta. Tammie was sure of it, because exactly nine months almost to the day, she’d gone into labor.

Baby Neal’s arrival came with a torrent of activity, both her sisters and their partners insisting on going to the hospital with them. There was no argument that changed their minds since Tammie had the bad luck to go into labor while they celebrated Sabrina and Gavin’s small wedding.

So, along with her and Niall, John, Liam and Gwen and Tristan, the new bride and groom all caravanned to the hospital where the nurses were beside themselves, not only because of the size of the group but because the five most handsome men in the village happened to be in the same room at the same time.

One nurse was so overcome she’d fainted upon handing a cup of water to Gavin. The poor man caught her and spilled said water over both of them, which brought hysterical laugher from the others. An older nurse finally placed a surgical mask over Gavin’s face so that the younger nurses could concentrate on their patients.

It did little good. It seemed every woman in the village was suddenly sick, or visiting a patient that day.

Niall stayed alongside her the entire time. He paled when the baby appeared but made her proud by not passing out.

Unfortunately, Gavin, who insisted on also being in the room, did.

The memories made it impossible not to smile. Each time Tammie remembered the trip to the hospital and all the chaos, she grinned.

After placing the sleeping baby in the tram, Tammie pressed a kiss to his downy cheek. The baby’s black hair fluttered in the warm breeze. Love filled her and she could not tear her eyes from him.

When she turned to see about Niall, he remained where he was. But was now looking over at her. A smile spread across his face, and he walked toward her.

Tammie looked past him toward the gravestones. “You found them. I am glad.”

“As am I.”

Her eyes filled with tears at his happy smile.

“Beatrice lived to be sixty, a long life for that time. Which means, she must have had a happy life, to live so long.”

“Of course she did,” Tammie agreed.

Niall nodded. “I feel at peace. At least for myself. I still worry about Padriag. Meliot will eventually attack or harm him. I am sure.”

“We will find a way to free him. I think I know who will free him. We just have to convince her.”

“Erin,” they both said at the same time and sighed. Erin was having a hard time. She’d convinced herself going to the alter-world had been some sort of illusion, and therefore what had happened was not real. Not only did they have to bring her around to believing it really happened, but somehow persuade her to save Padriag.

“She will come around,” Tammie assured Niall, while praying it was true.

For a long moment, they stood looking over the land. It was serene.

“We best go,” Tammie said.

“Aye, I have to speak to the builder before he leaves for the day,” Niall said and peered down at their slumbering child. “I think to want more bairns.”

“Oh really,” Tammie laughed. “Well, you’re lucky you married a young lass like me, you old man.”

His chuckle was deep. When he laughed, it still caught her by surprise. Finally, Niall was truly a free man.

The three moons remained in the sky. For some reason, they lingered longer than anyone had predicted. However, Padriag didn’t pay them any mind. For almost a year he’d remained in the alter-world alone.

Liam did return to stay for a few days here and there, for which Padriag was thankful, but it wasn’t the same.

Since being the last one trapped, time had seemed to slow to a snail’s pace, each day lingering, the nights not coming soon enough.

Padriag had taken to painting, a hobby he’d not tried before. He considered photography, but after managing to bring cameras from the other realm, he found that they didn’t work there.

After a few months in Atlandia, he’d returned to the keep. For some reason, Meliot and his minions hadn’t bothered him since, but Padriag wasn’t fooled. Sooner or later the wizard would strike, and he had to be prepared.

Making his way down the stairs after sleeping in as long as possible, he was greeted by the view of Liam setting the table.

“I made a full English,” the Brit said. “The best meal ever invented.”

Padriag rolled his eyes, “I prefer a full Scottish.”

“What’s the difference?” Liam asked. “Lack of taste in the Scottish one?”

In truth the food smelled delicious, but he couldn’t keep from teasing Liam. “It’s missing tattie scones.”

While they ate, Liam informed him about the progress they’d been making in assuring his freedom. Padriag barely listened. For the past months nothing had worked. In fact, it seemed to be doing more harm than good. He was finding it harder and harder to travel between the realms.

“You must come to the other realm in a sennight. There is a plan in place that Gwen, John and Sabrina are working on. They are sure it could work.”

“Could,” Padriag said, his eyes flashing to the windows as a shadow crossed outside. “I will do my best to be there. Right now we must prepare. It seems either Meliot has sent something to spy on us, or perhaps I’ve acquired a pet dragon.”

Both men hurried to the window and peered out.

A familiar creature circled the keep, its huge wings moving with grace.

“That’s Sterling’s beast,” Liam murmured.

A parchment floated in the air landing just outside the door, then the magnificent beast flew away.

Padriag hurried to the door and opened it. After insuring there was no one about, he fetched the rolled parchment and went back inside.

He read over it and then read it again.

“What does it mean?” Liam asked scanning the words probably for a third time.

“An invitation to live in his realm until I am freed,” Padriag replied. “It means Meliot has recovered from whatever the dragon did to him and will come after me with guns blazing.”

Liam let out a long breath. “We best get packing then. Looks like we’re moving to Esland.”

“We?” Padriag scowled at the Brit.

“I’ve always wanted to see it.” Liam raced up the stairs probably to pack.

Padriag trudged up the stairs. “We don’t have horses, remember, they’re in the other realm.”

Liam turned to look at him. “Your adventure begins my friend.”