Her friend. Her wise companion. Her confidant. He’d seen everything that had happened since her mother’s death.
Grisel MacDonnell’s spiteful attacks.
The vicious gossip amongst the lasses of the village.
The loneliness. God, the loneliness.
Dinnae touch Mad Annie, or ye’ll go mad, too!
Finlay had witnessed it all, holding her hand and lending her courage. Without him, she was truly alone.
His hand stroked her cheek again, small and warm. “There isnae much time,” he said gently. “I must tell ye …”
“No, Finlay. Dinnae leave again.” She squeezed him harder. “Please.”
He shook his head. “I want to stay. But I …” He grew breathless, as though he’d been running uphill. “Too weak. Cannae remain with ye the same way as before. Crossin’ betwixt one world and the other … takes great power. Even here in Glendasheen.”
She stroked his beloved cheek, which had begun to pale. “What must I do?”
He held her gaze. Brushed away the tears she couldn’t stop. “I stayed with ye, Annie. Long as I could.”
“Stay longer,” she gritted. “What must I do to keep ye with me? I’ll build a thousand bluidy circles. I’ll recite silly rhymes ‘til my voice runs raw. I’ll—”
“Ye must marry.”
The odd floaty feeling she usually experienced in dreams whipped away, replaced by the distinct sensation of being kicked in the stomach. “M-marry? I dinnae want a husband. I’ve a houseful of MacPhersons to take care of. Besides, a husband will want to … do things. Perhaps pleasant. Perhaps not. But he’ll nae like … well, ye wouldnae understand, wee laddie that ye are. Trust me. In the eyes of most men, I’m—”
“Must marry a lord.”
Another kick. Another moment to catch her breath. “Wha … Fin. What the devil are ye …? Nah. That’s pure rubbish. The only laird I know is Gilbert MacDonnell. He already has a wife. A bit puny for birthin’, aye, but they’re wed, right enough. Besides, his title is naught but ceremonial. No land to speak of. He’ll be lucky to have a lad to muck out the stables after his debts are paid.”
“Annie.”
“I cannae marry a short, daft laird who isnae a laird at all but a wee tartan peacock.”
“A lord, not a laird. Not … MacDonnell.”
“Lords marry ladies, Fin. The silk-wearin’ sort. Not madwomen from the arse crease of Scotland.”
“Must marry a lord. Must bear a son. Destiny.”
Her breath left her chest in rapid pants. “A son. Are ye … are ye sayin’ …” She swallowed, her mind reeling. “Ye were meant to be laird, aye? Ye were killed before ye’d completed yer destiny. Is that what ye mean?”
He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against her shoulder. “Wish I could be with ye, Annie.”
Even within the dream, she felt her heart pounding. “Ah, God, Fin. Ye wish to be reborn to—to me?”
He didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Didn’t correct her.
“Finlay.” She drew back to look into his sweet eyes. Heavens, he was pale. “Ye need me to marry a lord so ye can be reborn and take yer rightful place. Is that what ye’re sayin’, laddie?”
It had to be. Why else would he make such a bizarre demand? Why else would he speak about destiny?
He closed his eyes again. “Cannae wait long, Annie. Will sleep now. Gather strength.”
“No. Please—”
“I leave because I must.”
She sensed him fading, and her heart howled its desperation as she tried to gather him close. Her hands moved through air.
“Marry a lord, Annie.” His voice had faded to a whisper, yet it thrummed with odd power. “Destiny waiting.”
Her Fin had fought to stay with her, and the effort to remain tethered these many years had worn him out. Now, it was her turn to fight for him.
And she was a quivering coward. In her past battles, she’d known how to fight because her best weapons had been the ones used against her. When the battles went badly, she’d had the MacPhersons at her back and Fin by her side.
This was something else altogether.
In the dream, she couldn’t hold him any longer, for he’d faded into light and mist. She felt only a bit of coolness against her cheek. And inside her hand, where he’d always offered her comfort, she felt his absence.
But this time, he left her a gift. A reminder.
When she awakened to darkness, her face wet and