Authors: Mickee Madden

Tags: #romance, #scotland fantasy paranormal supernatural fairies

Time Everlastin' Book 5 (41 page)

"I think you would look
adorable with—"

Broc kissed her long and
hard. Kissed her until her knees grew weak.

"Do ye understand why we
canna have a child, Taryn?" he asked breathlessly. "Do
ye?"

"No, I don't," she said,
dreamy-eyed. Hands flattened to his chest, she edged him toward the
bed. "But you know what, my big barbarian?"

"Wha'?"

"We can debate this
subject...later."

"Later?"

"Much...later," she crooned,
and fell atop him on the bed.

* * *

A weighty sadness woke Reith
in the middle of the night. At first, he resisted leaving the
bedroom Lachlan had fashioned for him in the carriage house.
Resisted leaving the warmth of his bed, but leave it he did, and
stepped into the cold night, and filled his lungs with the reviving
air.

Momentarily, he homed in on
the unintentionally sender, and headed for the field behind the
manor, where he spied Lachlan sitting beneath the oak, where his
and Beth's headstones had once been. Lachlan's eyes were closed,
and opened with a start when Reith settled beside him, his back
also braced against the trunk.

"Canna sleep?" Lachlan
asked.

"Ye woke me."

"Me, you say?"

"Wha' saddens ye?" Reith
asked, studying Lachlan's strong profile.

"Wasna aware I was sad, ma
lad. Just goin' over things in ma mind."

Reith stared across the
moon-dappled field. "The rain finally stopped. Can see
stars."

"Aye. Tis peaceful ou'
here."

Reith nodded. "Sir, may I
ask ye somethin' personal?"

"You can ask me anythin',"
Lachlan said with a tired smile.

"Are ye...disappointed wi'
yer fairy lineage?"

"Fegs, no," Lachlan
chuckled.

Moments of silence
passed.

"Beth heard yer declaration,
earlier. At the twisted oak."

"Ah. Twas time to let go,"
Reith murmured.

"You love her, laddie. Dinna
give up."

"I have no say in this
matter. Sir? Wha' brought ye here? To this land?"

Lachlan frowned through a
smile as he eyed Reith. "Was in the area and felt...drawn by it.
Why?"

"I was thinkin', sir, it be
strange tha' a highlander comes here, and o' all the places he
could settle, he chooses a land once occupied by a fairy
kingdom—especially a highlander wi' yer lineage."

"Hmm. I'm no' sure, Reith.
How many kingdoms exist in the lowlands?"

"Three. Six in the
highlands."

"Only nine in all o'
Scotland?" Lachlan asked, surprised.

"Aye. England, Wales and
Ireland have hundreds."

"Why so few
here?"

"The Sutherland," Reith
said, his tone flat.

"He was a
warlock?"

"Aye."

Lachlan sighed. "He canna
hurt anyone now."

Reith's lips thinned.
Ask me, Lachlan!
When it
became apparent that Lachlan would not continue that line of
conversation, Reith said, "Be yer faither settlin' in?"

"I think so."

"I like him."

Lachlan grinned. "He reminds
me o' maself."

"Wonder why," Reith
quipped.

"Funny how someone can go
through life believin' one thing and discover the truth lies miles
in an opposite direction."

"Tis life, sir.
Sometimes...the truth be there for the askin'."
Ask me!

"No' always," Lachlan said,
his tone laced with sorrow. "Weel, laddie, I'm sure ma Beth is
wonderin' where I am." He stood and brushed off his pants. "Get
some rest. You look tired."

"Aye, sir." Reith stood, and
managed to swallow past the tightness in his throat. "If ever ye
need to talk...or
ask
me anythin'...."

With a fond smile, Lachlan
patted Reith on the back then draped an arm over his shoulders and
headed across the field with him.

"Actually, ma-lad, there is
somethin' I would like to ask," said Lachlan, his tone
jovial.

Reith's heart somersaulted.
"Wha', sir?"

"I willna sprout wings, will
I?"

Despite his dismay that this
was not one of the questions he'd hoped for, Reith chuckled. "No,
sir. You dinna have tha' privilege, sorry to say."

"Fine by me." Lachlan worked
the muscles in his back. "Just tha' I keep gettin' these tingly
sensations in ma shoulder blades. Had me frettin' a
wee."

Reith laughed, its warm
tones echoing in the night. "Fret no', sir."

The End

Mickee’s titles available in
e-books

* * *

Midnight Sun — Science
Fiction

Katiah Trilogy:

One Bright Star — Science
Fiction Romance

Written In The Stars —
Science Fiction Romance

Nova — Science Fiction
Romance

Haunting Rose — Historical
Time-Travel Romance

Everlasting Book 1 —
Supernatural Romance

Dawns Everlasting Book 2
(formerly Dusk Before Dawn) — Supernatural Romance