away from everyone, except for Wallace, it seems. The lad was just as enamored with Bonnie as I was and sat at her feet, silently watchin’ everythin’. After she passed away, God rest her soul, Wallace showed me the books. And I kent she’d want me ta keep them safe.”
“These books were Fiona’s?”
“Oh, of course.” Seamus continued. “Traditionally, the prophecies were always kept with the seer. But Bonnie felt Fiona had misled the coven, and so she absconded with them.” He smiled wistfully. “She was pretty and soft as flower petals, but my Bonnie had a spine of steel and an innate sense of right and wrong. She dinna believe Fiona could be trusted with the relics any longer. After ye marry Sorcha, I’ll return them ta Cait. The lass has proven herself worthy in my estimation, and I think Bonnie would agree.”
Alec didn’t necessarily care who kept the books; only their contents mattered. “It’s a little hard to come to terms with the fact that my life is on a path over which I have no say. That one way or the other, the future will right itself, as you said. That I was supposed to be this way.”
“I ken it’s difficult.” Seamus Ferguson turned his back on Alec to reach up onto a high shelf in the room and retrieve a long wooden object. Alec watched closely until he realized what it was.
“Don’t make me disarm you, Mr. Ferguson,” Alec warned as his teeth descended.
“Ye mean take this little thing from me?” the old man teased as he tossed a wooden stake from one hand to another. “Sorcha made this little instrument. Well, so ta speak anyway.”
She had? Alec was certain he looked like a dolt with his mouth hanging open. The lass he was to marry had fashioned a wooden stake? That seemed like something a vampyre should be made aware of.
“It was for that vampyre, the one who showed up last winter tryin’ ta finish Kettering off,” Ferguson explained.
“Needless ta say, a slight battle ensured. In the midst of the brawl, Sorcha asked a nearby elm ta create this weapon for her.”
Alec hadn’t been present for that battle, but Rhiannon had told him enough about it that he felt as though he’d seen it with his own eyes. He hated that Sorcha had had to witness such a horrible event. After her close call with that malevolent vampyre, the same one who was partially responsible for Alec’s own death, it was still hard to believe Sorcha could accept him as he was.
“As I ken what yer kind is capable of, MacQuarrie, it seems hard ta believe that a little piece of wood can fell ye.”Except that the stake in Ferguson’s hand couldn’t really be described as little. “I’d rather not put it to the test, sir,” Alec replied, trying to maintain a casual air.
Mr. Ferguson tossed the stake to him, and Alec caught it in the air. “That was all that was left after the fellow burst inta flames.”
Just the thought of such an occurrence made Alec queasy. “Are you warning me, sir?” He tucked the stake high on a shelf behind him.
“If ye hurt my daughter, MacQuarrie, I’ll no’ have ta worry about buryin’ yer carcass. The Còig will do it for me.”
“They like me,” Alec muttered and was glad for the truth of it.
“Keep it that way. And put yer teeth away, damn it,” the old man growled. “They make me a little nervous.”
“Thank God for small favors.”
“Speakin’ of God, ye’ll marry my daughter properly in a ceremony. No declarations. No anvil wedding. Her mother would be furious if I allowed such a thing. It willna be in a church, but it’ll be legal and binding and holy. Do ye understand?”
“I’m still surprised you’ll let me marry her at all, considering my circumstances.”
“I’d be a fool ta stand in the way of destiny. Besides, ye are an honorable gentleman. Ye always have been. And that is why ye will marry my Sorcha.” His eyes bored directly into Alec. “And make her yer Sorcha.” He coughed as though trying to dislodge a lump in his throat.
“Aye, sir,” was all Alec could get out, because instead of a lump of emotion in his throat, he had a pain nagging in the center of his chest.
Then Seamus pulled an envelope from his jacket pocket.
“Special license with yer name on it. And Sorcha’s.”
A special license? Alec reached for the letter, and Mr. Ferguson handed it to him without