Highlander's Charm (Highlander Heat #3)

“I think you have some serious explaining to do first. The Laird of Mingary surely can’t be your son.”


“Yes, he is. I’m sorry, Lila, but I had my reasons for never speaking of who your true parents were. Time travel is in a realm all unto itself, and you were just a baby when we were first pulled through a portal into the future. I feared speaking of what had occurred because a woman would be called a witch and burnt at the stake for such talk. I had to protect us both, at all costs.”

Holy moly, Nanna really was the laird’s mother. A hundred questions tumbled through her mind. Swaying, she gripped the wall. “Tell me everything.”

“Honey, you were born in this time, to John’s first wife who passed away in childbirth. Marybelle had a difficult pregnancy and I’ve always told you the truth about that. Just not what year that actually happened.”

“Or exactly where.” Her legs wobbled and Nanna hauled out a chair from the side table and eased her into it. She grasped Nanna’s hand, needing to keep her close as conflicting emotions tumbled inside her. Had she been in Nanna’s position, she’d want to protect any child in her care too, but would she have made the same decision and withheld that information for twenty-one years? Nanna certainly must have been scared. She’d traveled through time, and with a premature baby. That couldn’t have been easy. Sydney too was a bustling city, and nothing like Nanna would’ve ever experienced here. She must have been terrified, so lost and unsure. “I’m so sorry you had to go through all of that alone. If only you’d told me.”

“I adapted to the future, and to the country we’d arrived in. I would have preferred to return to Scotland, but I didn’t have the means nor could I move you from your specialized care. I was without a birth certificate or passport, and I had to claim refugee status. In those first few years, I formed friendships and accepted aid where I could. I was most grateful to have a roof over our heads and food on the table. I even attended evening classes and learnt to speak without the brogue. By the time you were at preschool, I’d finally secured a job and no longer needed any benefits.”

“You should have said something once I was old enough. I’m sure I would have listened.” She dragged in a steadying breath. “Is John MacIan really my father? He never perished at sea?” She needed to hear it again.

“He’s really your father. Before your birth, he sailed to Skye to aid our MacDonald kin. He didn’t care to leave Marybelle, but I promised him I’d look after her. Soon after he left, Marybelle began bleeding, and then her labor pains started and the healer could do nothing to stop them. After two grueling days, she gave birth to you then slipped away from us. You were more than two months premature, and so small I was able to hold you in palms of my hands. I knew death would come for you too, and my heart broke. I fell to my knees, desperate not to lose you as well. With all my heart and soul, I pleaded and wished for you to live.”

“That’s what started it? A wish?” She rubbed Nanna’s shaky hands. “No more secrets now. We share everything.”

“Yes, and my cries were heard and a portal opened.” She hooked her gold necklace out from under the silk edging of her bodice. The engraved disk held the image of the unicorn as Margaret’s did. “Margaret and I spoke of this, and I told you the tales as a child. There truly is folklore surrounding those born under a falling star, that they hold strong magic in their blood. That magic though will only rise when their desperation is great. With your silver eyes, you too were born under a falling star, and that night when I made my wish your eyes sparkled, as if you too understood the need to live. Then everything darkened and stars burst around us. We were transported to Sydney’s hospital where technology abounded and babies born as early as you were could be saved. You lived because of my wish, and I would never take that back.”