Page 28 of The Love Leap (Timeless Love Chronicles #1)
Chapter Twenty-Six
My boot slips on the uneven terrain, sending me lurching forward.
My heart thuds in my chest as I teeter precariously on the edge of a dark pit that materializes from nowhere.
I catch myself just in time, but it’s a close call.
The forest floor is littered with leaves and branches, doing a poor job of hiding the dangerous drop beneath.
“Steady on, Mills,” Cal says, his strong hand anchoring me. His eyes scan our surroundings, a furrow forming between his brows. “Looks like we’ve walked right into an unexpected ‘surprise.’”
I peer into the ominous hole at our feet, still feeling my pulse pound from the near-miss. It reeks of sabotage—probably another trick from the rival clan to slow us down on our journey to Loch Ness. Sneaky buggers .
“But how did they know we’re heading for Loch Ness?” I mutter, disbelief seeping into my voice.
Cal sighs deeply. “That’d be Gregor Campbell’s doing,” he admits. “Alistair warned me about him always being one step ahead. He and his brother Malcom took ye. They’ve probably been tracking us since we arrived.”
“Because we sound different?” I muse aloud.
Cal grins sheepishly at me. “Your English was a dead giveaway,” he confesses. “We both tried to pass our dialect off as Scots, but... well... Scots isn’t really the main language yet here. Dinna fass. It’s not yer fault, lass. Gregor and his gang are always itching for conflict.”
“But Cal,” I interject softly, plucking nervously at the edge of his MacDowell tartan kilt, “it’s not only me I’m concerned about.”
He silences me with a gentle hush and a finger against my lips. But I won’t let him downplay the gravity of our situation.
“It’s not just that I’d be devastated if anything happened to you,” I blurt out, “If something were to happen... it could mean disaster for all of Aven Valley! Without the MacDowells... what would become of the village? Who would continue your family’s legacy?”
He locks eyes with me, his gaze intense and unyielding. “So, we don’t get caught,” he says. “That’s all there is to it. ”
“Well, good thing I’ve got my rolling pin,” I pull the wooden weapon out from its snug hiding place in the back of my breeches and swing it about with a smirk, “and wore my trusty combat boots,” I tap my boot against a nearby rock. “Wouldn’t want me tripping at a crucial moment.”
Cal shakes his head in amusement. “Yer readiness is truly impressive,” he teases. “Who knew we’d face death traps tonight?” His tone is light, but his shoulders are tense as he scans our surroundings.
I shrug nonchalantly, adrenaline still pumping through my veins. “Just a hunch,” I reply coolly. “A girl needs to be prepared when she’s romping around the Scottish Highlands with a handsome rogue like you.”
His eyes sparkle with mischief as he grins at me. “Handsome rogue, huh?”
Despite the danger surrounding us, being with Cal makes everything less daunting. His presence comforts me and reminds me I’m not alone in this wild adventure.
We navigate cautiously around the trap, using our knowledge of the terrain and heightened senses to avoid further surprises. The moon peeks through overhead branches, casting an eerie glow on the forest floor below us.
Suddenly, a twig snaps, followed by rustling leaves and crunching footsteps behind us. My breathing grows uneven as fear grips me, but Cal’s reassuring hand in mine keeps me grounded.
“Almost there,” he whispers, his voice steady and comforting. “Just stay sharp, and we’ll be okay.”
As we sprint through the woods, my mind drifts back to all those times I craved adventure and yearned for something more than just ordinary life.
But here I am now, danger biting at my heels and two clans’ destinies hanging in the balance, and my efforts to emulate the daring Elektra are falling short.
“Come on, BE Elektra,” I mutter, startled by the resolve resonating in my voice.
Bounding through the shadowy labyrinth of trees, I overhear Cal, trying to suppress a chuckle. “Aye, Mills,” he whispers over his shoulder. “If ye’ve got any secret ninja moves up yer sleeve, now would be the time to reveal them.”
As I dodge low-hanging branches and leap over gnarled roots, I have to roll my eyes at his comment.
But beneath my feigned annoyance at his cheesy jokes, an unfamiliar warmth blossoms in my chest. Even in a mad dash through the forest, Cal has this uncanny ability to make me feel treasured.
It’s a sensation as foreign as it is addictive.
Feeling the reassuring warmth of his hand in mine, I swallow a surge of courage. We’re out of the deepest part of the woods and on our way to Loch Ness, our future hanging in the balance with every step we take .
Just when I think the Scottish hills can’t get any more dramatic, a chorus of distant cries echoes off their rugged slopes, sending an unexpected chill tap-dancing down my spine.
“Cal,” I hiss, giving his hand a nervous squeeze. “We’re not alone!”
His eyes flicker with determination as the chilling sound of metal scraping against leather fills the silence—he’s drawn his sword.
“Right ye are, Mills,” he replies in a low, steady voice. “Let’s pick up the pace.”
We quicken our steps, trying to leave our chasers in the dust while keeping our bearings towards the loch. The terrain is a total nightmare, uneven and littered with roots and rocks that seem hell-bent on tripping me up. My lungs feel on fire, but I keep going because stopping isn’t an option.
I glance at him just in time to catch him looking back at me, his eyes scanning our surroundings for danger.
The sounds of our pursuers grow louder behind us, their footfalls echoing ominously through the undergrowth.
But Cal’s confident strides and occasional reassuring glances keep me grounded, making every second of this wild chase feel oddly intimate and exhilarating.
Risking a look back, I catch sight of shadowy figures weaving between trees, their faces shrouded in darkness. Fear tries to choke me, but I force it down, focusing instead on Cal beside me and the path ahead.
We’re so close now, the loch and our future just within reach. All we need to do is keep running, keep fighting, and trust each other. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll live to tell this tale.