Longing to be done with her damp gown still chaffing her skin, she shed it and her sark then sank into the glorious water. ’Twas wonderful and warmed her through. She dunked her head and when she came back up, Julia stood inside her chamber, her golden locks coiled high on her head with two loose spiral curls bouncing free at each side.
“You asked for me, and I’m glad you did.” Her sister crossed to her in a swish of her emerald skirts. “I was so worried when Finlay set out after you. Where have you been all night?”
“I ran to the cove and spent the night in the cavern with him. I have so much to tell you.” She built up a lather with the bar of soap and scrubbed her hair with the mass of bubbles. “I exhausted my fire.”
“What?” In a flurry of skirts, Julia knelt at the tub’s edge. “But ’tis impossible. I’ve never heard of a fire-wielder doing so afore.”
“Neither have I, but ’tis the truth. I couldnae even bring forth a flicker of heat until this morn. My fire still has yet to fully return.” Hands raised, she wriggled her fingertips and two fingers caught alight. Her fire was reigniting. She dragged more of her heat from the well deep within her and lit another three fingers. The moment she did, the last five flared to life with ease.
“Well, it appears you now have your fire back.”
“With no fire, there was no way I could harm Finlay.” She slid under the water, rinsed her hair and popped back up with a grin.
“You joined as one?” Excitement shimmered in Julia’s voice. “Tell me you did.”
“We did. We also spoke handfast vows then completed the bond and created a merged link of the mind.”
“But you are here now, and without him. Where is he?”
“After I awoke, I snuck out. He’s still under Isla’s compulsion and of course willnae remember me since we’ve parted ways. I must remedy all I’ve done, as soon as I can.” She grasped her sister’s hand where it rested on the rim. “The four elements came together last eve in a perfect storm. Fire came in the form of lightning, water in the form of the rain, air in the form of the fierce wind that rose, and with the earth, we were deep inside the cavern when the storm unleashed itself.”
“Incredible.” Julia clutched a hand to her chest. “This is wonderful news, that your fire can be exhausted, and in that time it’s gone allow a joining with your mate. I wonder if such a merging of the elements again will exhaust your fire.”
“I have to hold onto the hope that it will. Surely it could no’ have been just a one-time occurrence. Although I need to need to test that theory to know for sure, which means I’ll need a mate who remembers me.” She lit her fingers and blew on the tips until the flames lengthened. With only one thought, she snuffed them back out. “The one thing I certainly learnt last eve was that I cannae continue to hide from him, no’ now we’ve created the merged link of the mind.”
“Then we need to speak to Isla. She will be ecstatic to hear of the storm and that you completed the bond. If you exhausted your fire once, then there is hope you’ll be able to do so again. Allow me fix your hair afore we leave. It’s been knotted into an awful mess by whatever you’ve gotten up to.” Giggling, Julia gently detangled her hair. She separated it into sections then ran the comb through it before drying it with a cloth. “All done.”
“Aye, finding Isla is imperative.” She hopped out of the water and dried herself. Quickly, she donned a clean sark from her trunk, picked up the silvery-blue gown the maid had left and eased it over her head. The soft satin folds shimmered over her hips and swished to her ankles.
“I am so excited for you.” Julia shuffled in behind her and laced her stays with jittery fingers. “You are each other’s match in every way. ’Tis wonderful to know that is the case.”
“You dinnae believe I hope too highly? What if I’m wrong about the storm and the combining of the elements? What if my fire never extinguishes itself again even when another perfect storm strikes?”
“You are soul bound, and there is no hope greater than that of the mated bond. I have faith you will find a way to extinguish your fire again since you’ve already done so.” She turned her by the shoulders and pinched her cheeks. “Which means you must. Now, ’tis time to live your life to the fullest, no matter where that journey might take you. Let’s be away.”
“Thank you, Julia. I love you.” Her heart full, she slid her matching slippers on and followed her sister out the door. They walked down the winding stairs and entered the great hall abuzz with warriors attired in their clan plaids. Kenneth sat at the dais, although Gilleoin, Aunt Sorcha and Nessa still remained at the village and would until they’d convinced the leaders of the need for all within the village to seek refuge during the coming battle, one that would rise in mere days. June the eleventh approached with speed.