Highland Defiance (The MacLomain Series- Early Years) (26 page)

“No,” she croaked and tried to blink the tiredness from her eyes. “Save him.”

The man cocked his head. “Save who?”

“Adlin,” she whispered. When she closed her eyes she could still see his lifeless body slamming against the rock wall.

“Adlin?”
He frowned confused, before he understood. “Ah, you mean the other laird.”

With a hearty burst of laughter, he stood and called out. “She’s wondering about the MacLomain.”

Before she knew it three MacLeod’s stood over her. A different man looked down and said, “Three days out, lassie.” He spread his arms in the air and grinned. “They’ve been burning the burial torches over the whole of Scotland to mourn the passing of the great MacLomain chieftain.” With a wink he said, “Guess yer no bride of his now, aye?”

Extreme heat then nausea rolled through her but Mildred tempered it and stared right back. “Then I’m afraid very bad things are ahead for you.”

One man arched a brow. Another shrugged. The third said, “I think the worst is behind.” His lusty eyes traveled over her. “But is it for you?”

Instead of feeding into the fear she eyed her surroundings. “Where is Bruce?”

“Laird Bruce, to you,” one shot.

Mildred nodded, “Sorry, yes, laird Bruce.”

“Not here,” a clansman nearby offered.

“Nay,” the clansman who’d been there when she awoke agreed. “But he’s waiting for
ye
.”

“Where?”
She frowned, pretending to look confused.

In reality, Mildred had a very good idea where she was.

But did they?

Even if the situation felt surreal, she’d never felt more alive. With a nod, she got to her feet. Unsteady, she stumbled a few steps. The men chuckled. After she looked left then right, she asked, “Which way?”

“To the MacLeod keep, lass, where you’ll spend your days being second best.”

Again they chuckled.

Mildred nodded and fell into to rank. A few led, a few were behind. That didn’t matter. What
did
matter was that they walked along a craggy cliff with the ocean on their right. If they were heading for Bruce’s castle the ocean would be on their left.

How did these men not realize they were traveling north and not south?

A small smile buried deep down inside, Mildred knew. She’d known the minute she’d looked around. They were walking along the very cliff she’d dreamt about for so long…which meant that Adlin was coming.

He wasn’t dead at all.

Not yet anyways.

As they trudged along she thought about the conversation they’d had just a few days past. How he’d wondered how well she truly understood the outcome of her dream. Elation started to blossom inside her as the winds gusted over the cliff wall. How well
had
she truly understood her dream?

Not well at all apparently.

With a deep cleansing breath, she looked at the ocean as she walked. Would her dream become reality? Yet even as she contemplated it her thoughts became all too familiar.

“Let’s go. No time!”

Mildred ignored the sharp bark from the man leading them and kept a keen eye to the ocean.

“Now!”
He roared.

A hand shoved her lower back. Instead of stumbling, she leapt forward with her head held high. They’d not for a second see her appear weak. Chuckles rose behind her. So be it. She’d walked this path a million times. She’d do so again.

“Cocky lass, aye?”

“Seems it.”

“Laird’ll give her a good run over and that’ll be the last of that.”

“It’ll be a sight to see.”

“Think he’ll do it in front of us?”

“Aye!”

Eyes glued to the sea as she walked, Mildred no longer prayed to wake up because this was no nightmare.  

Soon.

Very soon.

Suddenly, the man in front of her stopped.

She knew why without a doubt now.

The man behind wrapped an arm around her waist and dragged her down. Mildred said nothing. It was the same as it had always been.
The way she landed half on the rock and half on him.
The way her elbow caught the stone.
No need to look down. She knew that it bled.

“Every last one of you will die if you dinnae release her now.”

His voice, always his voice, deep, dark and unforgiving.

His voice.
Beautiful, wonderful and all hers.

Even with five men ahead of her, their eyes locked. Icy blue, Adlin wore a determined look.

Rage seemed to sizzle around him.

Mildred covered her ears.

She knew what was coming.

Even with her ears covered, the loud boom of thunder slammed into her. Dark clouds rolled overhead. The air chilled.

Through it all, his eyes never left hers.

As always, she felt no fear.

One by one, the men crumpled, caught in his strange magic, in his pure power.

As always, they were left alone on the cliff watching one another.

She stood and once more looked to the sea, forlorn and sad.

As he jumped.

Except this time she glanced around to make sure all the MacLeod’s were down. Assured they were she stood and smiled. Without a moment of hesitation she ran with all her might and jumped over the cliff after Adlin.

Swoosh
. Air rushed by her. Mildred looked down and saw just what she expected, a massive white eagle. It swooped around below then vanished. With a whisper of prayer she closed her eyes and held out her hand.

Everything seemed to slow and suddenly she was dangling off the cliff, held fast by a strong hand. “I’ve got you.”

Before she could respond she was lifted.

“I’ve got you,” he whispered over and over, pulling her into his arms.

The dream had not been the end but the beginning.

When at last she pulled back, Mildred wiped away tears and looked around. “We’re in the original Defiance.” She shook her head. “Somehow I knew this was the area.”

Before he could respond she said, “Adlin, I love you so much. You need to know that.”

He wiped away her last tear and nodded. “I know.”

“How are you alive?”

Adlin tucked her hair behind her ear. “Apparently you don’t know my sister that well.”

“Oh,” she smiled.
“Iosbail, really?”

“Of course,” he murmured.

“Of course,” she murmured.

A flicker of anger flashed over his face then vanished as he slid his hand over her elbow. “This should never have happened to you.
None of this.”

Mildred looked down only to realize that he’d healed her small wound. She shook her head. “I’m glad it did or I would’ve never known you beyond my dreams.”

Before she could say another word, he cupped her cheeks, his eyes intense, determined. “I love you, Mildred. One way or another we will always be together.”

She frowned but allowed him to cherish her. “You make it all sound so unsure.”

“Well, nothing’s ever for sure, lass.” He kissed her softly. “But some things are forever.”

“Are we?” she whispered.

“Without a doubt, my lass, without a doubt.
I will never leave you. You are mine forever. You are my one true love, in this life and beyond. I will follow you until the very end.”

Caught in the window between times, the Highland Defiance, Adlin kissed her until all thought fled… kissed her until she knew that he spoke the truth.

Their love would indeed last forever.

The End

 
Author’s Narrative

The love story between Mildred and Adlin is one that rules and spans the original,
MacLomain Series
. After all, theirs is a
 
romance that withstands time and proves to be an example for generations to come.

Adlin is immortal until the day he meets Mildred. The true love he finds with her slowly begins his aging process which he welcomes. Meeting her also begins what will eventually unleash the great romance stories to come. Powerful, and uniquely memorable, the old gods and new God interweave throughout their tales to unite a new Scotland.

As implied in the series, Jim Seavey plays an important part. After all, he becomes Mildred’s husband for many years. But true love is always at the heart of everything and Adlin only wants what’s best for she who is his deepest and one true love, Mildred.

That means absolute sacrifice.

Follow the rest of Mildred and Adlin’s story not only in future tales from
The MacLomain Series- Early Years
, but in
The MacLomain Series
.

As promised, their love is unending and has an ultimate conclusion that many have described as
‘Truly tear-jerking. How real love should be.”

Their romance travels well beyond life into the afterlife.

As all true loves do.

Best Regards,

Sky

About the Author

Sky is the best-selling author of seven novels and several novellas.
 
A New Englander born and bred, Sky was raised hearing stories of folklore, myth and legend. When combined with a love for nature, romance and time-travel, elements from the stories of her youth found release in her books. Readers have described her work as "Refreshing" and "Unforgettable."

Purington loves to hear from readers and can be contacted at [email protected]. Interested in keeping up with Sky's latest news and releases? Visit Sky's Website, www.skypurington.com to download her free App on iTunes and Android.