“Shall do.”
“My thanks.” He entered the lion’s den. ’Twas a small dining room with a narrow window overlooking the inner courtyard. Outside two-score of MacLeod warriors, outfitted for training, had assembled. Another score watched from the sidelines.
MacLeod stoked the fire. “Take a seat, MacDonald.” He tossed the stick into the flames and rose. “We need to talk.”
On the table, a rolled parchment tied with black ribbon looked all too familiar. ’Twas his agreement. He had an exact copy at Dunscaith. “I’m aware of what that says.”
“Read it again. You need a reminder of the wording.” MacLeod scraped out a chair and sat. “Go ahead, open it.”
“There is naught I’ve forgotten.” He took the seat opposite, unfurled the paper and scanned it. He and Anne had spoken their vows before the designated date. “What in particular would you like me to take note of?”
“’Tis a handfast, a temporary union should the marriage vows no’ be spoken, which they haven’t. And willnae.” MacLeod’s eyes glinted. “Why do you insist on having her back?”
“My vow still stands, and Anne never intended to break hers. Had you no’ come, she wouldnae have.”
“My cousin had no say over the original agreement, and she has none now it’s ended.”
“I want her back.”
“You cannae have her.”
“She carries my—” Nay, ’twas too soon for any such news in this time. “She may carry my bairn.”
“If she does, ’tis hers and will be raised here. That was agreed upon in the contract should a babe be conceived. Perhaps you should take another look at what you hold.”
Aye, he’d agreed to such, but then he’d never intended such intimacies between him and Anne. He wouldn’t stand down on his decision. “The short time I’ve been with Anne has no’ been long enough for tensions between our clans to diffuse.”
“Those tensions arose because of your chief. He’s no longer around, nor will he be for some time to come.”
“Having her at Dunscaith is a solid reminder we no longer fight.”
“We fight now. A better reminder would be if you left.”
“I will, with her by my side.”
“She stays.”
“We will speak our vows again. I demand it.”
MacLeod shoved his chair back and marched to the door. “There will be no vows spoken. I willnae sway from my decision.” He instructed his men to remain on guard.
The warning was clear. Anne wouldn’t be permitted to leave Dunvegan.
Chapter 9
Anne clutched the back of the padded chair to regain her balance after the jump through time. The rich burgundy fabric, highlighted by the moonlight streaming through the window was all too familiar. She patted her scratched up desktop. Solid wood. In the corner her childhood bed sat. Nothing had been destroyed. She flicked on the light. The ashes of her home hadn’t fluttered away in the breeze. “I’m home. I’m really home.”
Footsteps pounded down the hallway. Annie raced into the room, her white-gold hair breezing over her shoulders. “Oh my goodness. You’re here.”
“This is where you ended up?”
“Aye, welcome home.” Dressed in yellow brushed cotton pajamas, she crossed the room and grasped her hands. “I’m sorry we parted last time so quickly.”
“Me too. What year have I arrived in?”
“Two-thousand and fourteen. After I left you at Dunscaith, I came through the portal and landed in your apartment a few streets over. The strangest thing happened. Your parents arrived on your doorstep after receiving your new address from the police, only instead of you, they got me. They told me as soon as they’d disposed of the heater, it was suddenly two-thousand and fourteen. Three years had passed and the letter you’d sent them was still on the table, opened as they’d left it. I believe my arrival here triggered whatever was needed to move them back fully into time.”
“What happened next?”
“They brought me here and together we tried to sort out what to do. Though we didnae speak again to the police. Fairy magic was clearly at work.” She wrung her hands together. “I’m so sorry. For days we considered every single angle and ’twas only once we received a call from Scotland that we had something to work on. Your parents left immediately.”
“What call?”
“One from Donald and William MacDonald. They told us they knew where you were, or at least they did. You’d just been sucked back through a portal afore their eyes. Your parents have gone to Scotland.”
“But I only left Donald and William a few hours—” Oh, stupid damn time travel. “When did Donald and William call?”