“Grace? As in Kyla’s mother?” More shock.
“Aye, and after Grace arrived at Beth’s bedside, she gave Beth her word she’d watch over her newborn babes. Grace kept her promise, even remained at the MacKenzie’s stronghold for the first three years of Coll and Duncan’s lives, until the day when war once again broke out between the clans and she was forced to return to her village or else become a pawn in the war.”
Hell, Coll and Duncan were Beth’s sons, which meant they were his cousins. Along with shock, anger and frustration coursed fiercely through him. Damn the MacKenzie. Now he understood why Coll and Duncan had never raised a hand in battle against a Matheson. They couldn’t slay one of their own fae kind any more than he could. “I wish I’d known sooner. Why did Grace keep the knowledge of their true parentage to herself? She has never spoken a word in all these years, could so easily have done so.”
“Grace had no choice, just as Coll and Duncan never have. Kyla either. Coll and Duncan only learnt the truth about their birth at the age of eight when Grace had a vision of them and returned to the MacKenzie’s keep to warn the boys, just as Beth had asked her to do should such a thing occur.”
“Mama took me with her that night. ’Twas only a few days afore the MacKenzie returned to the village and abducted me.” Solemn words, heavy and filled with such pain and heartache. “At the time Mama needed to ensure the boys understood exactly what must be done to safeguard their future. She told them to never raise a hand against a Matheson, for to do so would be to harm their own kind. Only a handful of people have ever known the truth about their fae heritage, and you now are amongst that small number.”
“They are my aunt’s sons, close kin through and through.” To Hamish, he gritted out, “Do Coll and Duncan hold a fae skill?”
“Aye, the battle skill, just as you and your father do.”
“Why did the MacKenzie keep this all a secret?”
“If he’d allowed the truth to be known, then he’d have lost not only the lucrative lands he came by with his marriage to Cait MacLennan, but also would have incurred the wrath of the MacLennan chief himself. They are close allies and that bond would’ve been severed once he’d learnt the truth of the MacKenzie’s deceit.”
“I’m sorry you’ve had to keep this secret as well, Kyla. That cannae have been easy.”
“Coll and Duncan might be the Chief of MacKenzie’s sons, but they are naught like him and never have been. Their hearts are loyal to their fae kind.”
“There is more,” Hamish added. “Grace has never spoken the truth for fear of Colin’s reprisal. He threatened her, said should she ever disclose the truth then he’d attack her village and slaughter one and all. Through her death-warning skill, she saw that he would do so, and through my seer ability, so have I.”
“My mama continues to remain quiet because that threat remains in place. She would have spoken up otherwise.”
“I agree. She’s a nurturer and protector, would never have allowed the death of another to occur at her hand.” Another new fierce level of respect and admiration for his mate roared through him, for Grace too. These two women had done what was best for their clan for the past two decades, and regardless of the pain it had caused them both, they’d accepted their fate. He rode on in silence, Hamish right at his side, the skies darkening further as night loomed, his own heart heaving at the loss they’d all suffered because of one man. Colin MacKenzie. In time, he’d make certain the man paid for all he’d done. He’d ensure it.
Chapter 4
Sitting in the corner blue padded chair next to the crackling fire with its bubbling pot of water, Kyla opened her eyes, her mind still deeply entrenched within Ronan’s. “I truly wish I could be there when you speak to Duncan.”
“You will be, through our connection. It still holds, even across the miles I’ve now ridden.” His deep and husky words shimmered through her mind. “Because of your skill, we’ll never be far apart.”
“Aye, you’re right. I love my skill, more so now than ever afore.” Beyond the window, an owl hooted as the dark of the night rolled in. This morning she’d begun the day so lost and alone out on the cliffs, and now she’d not only been reunited with her chosen one, but her entire future had changed, or at least she would hold the firm hope that it had.
She pushed up and plucked another log from the wood pile next to the hearth and tossed it on the fire. The flames sizzled and spread a golden-red glow throughout the chamber. She closed the shutters over the window and crossed to Gordon.