“Mother!” Sorcha hurried through the gate in the high stone wall surrounding the village, her hands clasped in her thick blue woolen skirts. Behind her, the houses of stone and clay, cloistered so tightly together, would soon be naught but dust if she couldn’t convince all within to defy the leaders and seek the safety that awaited them within Gilleoin’s walls.
Sorcha joined her on the beach, a little breathless. “What are you doing out here in the cold?”
“Julia is on her way.” A vision had shown her Arabel’s latest flare and their conversation about the four elements.
“’Tis late. Why does she come?” Sorcha wrapped her plaid tighter about her shoulders.
“She worries for Arabel and with very good reason. There is now cold-fire present within her aura.”
“Oh dear.” Sorcha clasped a hand to her mouth and glanced out at sea.
A skiff came into view with Julia seated at the bow, her golden locks whipping about her in the brisk breeze and the boat’s white sail pulled taut.
It cruised across the sea, and as a large wave rolled in, the warrior in command of it lowered the sail, gripped the boat’s rudder and skimmed toward the land. As he neared, he jumped into the waist-deep water, seized the bow and hauled the skiff in between two half-beached birlinns. With his white tunic fluttering over his black trews, the warrior swung her granddaughter onto the beach.
Julia hurried toward her, her forest-green skirts bunched in her white-knuckled hands.
“I’m here, my dear.” Nessa opened her arms and Julia ran into them.
“Arabel’s cold-fire rises, Grandmother. I’m so worried.”
“Aye, I saw all that happened at the pool as well as your conversation. ’Tis well and truly possible that the newcomers’ arrival has upset the balance of the elements. I wouldnae be surprised if that is the case at all.”
“Then how do we fix the imbalance?”
“Through a realignment. Fire, water, air and earth must once again join together as one and until that happens, something only nature can provide, you must keep your sister close. Her cold-fire could easily rise again and she will need all of us in the coming days, more so than ever afore.”
“Aye. I’ll remain close by her side. That I promise you.”
“Good.” And she’d continue to remain alert until the realignment occurred. Arabel’s life was at stake, as well as her people’s lives here at the village. There was nothing she wouldn’t do, not for any of them.
Chapter 3
“You and your bear are clearly confused. We arena mated.” Arabel opened her chamber door and motioned for Finlay to leave. She couldn’t be his chosen one, no matter the soul deep ache in her chest had finally eased for the first time in days.
“I’m not leaving you, Arabel. Doing so is no longer possible, and I don’t mean to be difficult, I’m just stating the facts.” He removed his belted sword and daggers, placed them on top of the side table and bolted her door.
“I didnae say you could stay.” Yet deep inside, a part of her rejoiced he was. Goodness. What had the man done to her? Her thoughts were completely out of order, which was so unlike her.
“It’s late and I’m tired. I’ll take the chair for the night. May I borrow a pillow?”
“You cannae sleep in my chamber, no matter what you believe.”
“No one will know I’ve remained, apart from you and me.” He strode to her bed, snatched one of the pillows then dropped into the corner navy padded chair. Pillow plumped, he tucked it behind his head then leaned back and crossed his booted feet at the ankle, his gaze on hers. “Seek your sleep, my mate. I’ll not disturb you.”
“Now you think to call me your mate?”
“Because you are.”
“Are you always this annoying?” Arms crossed, she tapped one foot, her nightrail swishing about her ankles.
“Only around those who are the most important to me, and you right now you are at the very top of that list.” He motioned toward the candle in the corner stand. “Don’t forget to blow that out before you close your eyes.”
“I’m a fire-wielder. Being mated to me would ensure your death, and no’ just a pleasant one either. There would be a raging fire and scorching involved.”
“Then hopefully we’ll both learn how to keep your fire under control.”
“When a fire-wielder lies with a man, he dies.” She tapped her other foot. “My skill is one of the rarest amongst the villagers, and the six fire-wielders who’ve come afore me have all passed, right after they wed and allowed an intimacy their skill forbid them. In the moment when they’d joined with their loved one, they killed them with their loss of control. Then in their grief, they allowed their cold-fire to consume them, to ice their blood and cease their heart from beating. After the passing of the last fire-wielder, the village leaders decreed that none with my skill could ever be allowed such an intimacy again, a decree I will gladly uphold.”