encircling her back. “I’m glad I met ye, Abigail Cross,” he whispered against her ear, kissing her lobe quickly. “Time may separate us, but you’re my soul mate without doubt, and I’ll love ye forever and we will meet again. Maybe not in this time, but another.”
A sob broke free, and she swiped at her cheek. “As you are mine.” Abby pulled away to meet his gaze. “I love you, Aedan MacLeod. I think the moment I ran into you at this very cottage, my heart was lost.”
He grinned. “It warms my heart to know that what we had was true.”
“It’s as true as I’m standing here.” She paused, knowing he had to go and her as well. “Please be safe. Please don’t die this night.”
“I’ll do my best not to displease ye. I promise ye that.”
As the roof creaked, Abby stood, strode quickly toward the trap door, and looked one last time at the love of her life. “Bye.”
“Bye, lass,” he said, leaving the same way he came.
Gwen grabbed her hand and pulled her down the stairs. They slid the stone trapdoor back in place and went to stand away from the opening. Abby looked about the empty room as a loud crash sounded upstairs. “Hold my hand, Abigail. ’Tis time we left.”
Abby met her gaze and frowned. “We? What do you mean?”
Gwen shrugged. “I’m coming with ye. I doubt I’d survive tonight should I stay, and I refuse to give up my future with Braxton because of the bastard O’Cain. I’m going to have bairns with my man, maybe not in the near future, but one day.”
Tears pooled in Gwen’s eyes, and Abby pulled her into a hug. “I think that’s a fantastic idea and one I want to see happen. Let’s go.”
Gwen started chanting words that sounded Gaelic, or perhaps Latin, she wasn’t sure. The room didn’t change, just became quiet, before Gwen swore, stopping the chant.
“What’s the matter?”
Gwen ran a hand through her hair, her gaze darting back to the trapdoor where a slither of smoke started to filter through. “It’s not working. I have enough power to send you home, but I can’t accompany ye, Abigail. You’ll have to go without me.”
“But what will happen if you stay? There’s smoke coming in already.” Abby wanted to vomit at the thought of going home and never knowing if her friend survived or not. “I’m not going without you. If you have to stay then so do I. I’d rather die with you, than live knowing I left you to die alone.”
“I won’t die, lass. Like I said, I have plans with Braxton that I’ll not allow even a measly fire to get in the way of. Now ye will go, and that’ll be the end of it. My brother would never forgive me if ye stayed.”
Abby coughed. “I refuse to go.” She crossed her arms over her chest and glared.
Gwen shrugged. “I didn’t want to have to do this, but ye leave me no choice.”
Again strange and ancient chants started and Abby swore. Gwen was going to send her anyway. “No. Please don’t send me away. How will I return? How can I live knowing you may die?” Her voice rose in panic and she hugged Gwen to her, and yet her friend continued, unheeded by her touch, the words continuing on without a stutter.
Shit.
The sounds from outside dimmed until there was no sound at all but the pitter-patter of a passing shower. Abby shut her eyes as her stomach churned before everything went black. When she opened them and looked about, the room was empty, devoid of Gwen and smoke, and the stone trapdoor was open, allowing her to leave with ease.
Abby walked up the stairs and climbed out. The cottage was as she’d found it that day before she’d been pulled back in time. It was daylight as well, and the war that had been battling on outside was forever lost in the sands of time.
Abby walked outside and noted some people walking toward Druiminn Castle, smart phones in full use, taking images of the medieval estate, people posing in front of the great castle in the distance, taking selfies to tweet to their friends. “So, I’m back.” Saying the words out loud left an ache in her chest. Abby bent down and scooped up the soil at her feet, letting it drift through her fingers.
It floated off into the wind, and she bit back a hysterical sob. Aedan was gone, perhaps forever. She