Page 31 of The Best of Brenna Grant

“I hated him, so it ate at my insides…but…” So much had returned, but it still didn’t all fit together. “I wanted a new name. You told me tales of the Norse gods and goddesses, and I wanted to be just like Loki.”

“Aye, you wished to be the wee trickster, and you vowed you’d become one of the largest and fiercest warriors in all the land so that you could return one day to kill Blackett and Hamish. According to your true sire, you did just that.”

“I did. Blackett tricked me first, but good triumphed over evil that day. I hated those rat bastards.”

“Did you defeat them alone?”

Loki settled back on the stump. “Nay, only with the help of my adoptive family, Clan Grant, and our allies, the Ramsays.”

“I doubt the Grants and Ramsays come together for just anyone, do they?”

He dipped his head, thinking of how fortunate he’d been to run into Brodie Grant and Fergus’s sire, Nicol. “Nay, they do not. But how did you know my true sire?”

“I met him not long ago. There are not many men who have one blue eye and one green. I asked him about you, and sure enough, he was your sire. He thanked me for picking you up from the ground where I found you.”

“I remember everything, but why couldn’t I recall it before? I don’t understand.” He rested his head in his hands, trying to work this new information into the tapestry of his life.

“Because the last day you were out here swinging, you lost your balance and hit your head on a rock. It knocked you out. When you awakened, you would only answer to Loki, and you left for Ayr the next day. That’s all I can tell you. As you said to Kenzie, the mind protects itself when it must.”

“I had several dreams about you recently…as did my son. Why? You are the caretaker of lost children. Why would I start dreaming about you now?”

Bor grinned. “Och, I can only thank the angels for that. I’m not sure I believe in them, but I was desperate to contact you, and I prayed for them to bring you to me.”

“Why?” Loki stood up to face the old man, just now noticing how tired his eyes were, how the color of his skin had a slight yellowish cast.

Bor took a deep breath and let it out slowly, shifting his gaze from his feet back up to Loki’s eyes. “Because I’ll not be of this world much longer. I seek to find someone to take on my work, to keep searching for the lost souls, the weak bairns, the orphaned. Your sire told me you had your own castle, and I’d hoped you could help me.”

“You want me to take all the bairns home with me now?” Loki was in shock, not sure if he could do this without first talking with his sweet Bella.

“Nay, please do not take them from me now. Bestla would be devastated. I’m not leaving yet, and you still have a challenge or two ahead of you, but I was hoping I could send a messenger to you when my time was near. And I would ask that you travel to Ayr and Edinburgh once or twice a year to find the newest lost souls, bring them to a warm home.”

Loki nodded, thinking about his proposition. He knew there were many generous souls at Grant land who would gladly help him. His mother, Gracie, Kyla, Ashlyn and Magnus, Aline, and so many more. He had plenty of room in his keep, and needed to build his own people to add to the might of Clan Grant. “I’d be happy to, if you’ll allow us to take Ami with us. ‘Twould break Kenzie’s heart to leave without her. We’ll wait to leave until she’s well enough to make the journey, of course.”

“I can agree to that. I do not wish to lose another bairn.” His sadness changed as the ends of his lips curved up ever so slightly. “So you’ll come when I send a message?”

He nodded…

Chapter Ten

Loki returns home to devastating news.

They were almost home. The Grant guards surrounded them, assisting their travel through the more treacherous areas. Once they arrived at Castle Curanta, he hopped off his horse. “Forgive me,” he announced to all of them, “but Jamie and Fergus will assist you from here. I must go to Bella. Jamie—” he handed Ami over to him, “—please bring her inside but ‘tis verra important that you keep her warm.”

With that, he raced across his courtyard and up the steps to his hall. There were few people inside, he noticed, but all were somber, including his mother. He waved at them as soon as he was inside the door and asked, “Bella?”

“Upstairs, Loki.” His mother pointed to the staircase, and he chose not to focus on the sad expression on her face. Surely it just meant that Bella hadn’t delivered yet, that they were overanxious waiting for the bairn to come.

He took the steps three at a time and arrived at his chamber, opening it with a knock so as not to startle his wee wife. He stepped inside, surprised to see Gracie, Aunt Caralyn, and Aunt Maddie at Bella’s bedside.

He could hear her sobs under the covers, and all he could think was the worst. Their bairn. What had happened to their bairn?

“Aunt Maddie?” he whispered.

She strode over to his side and took his hands in hers. Caralyn grasped his shoulders. “Loki,” she said, “Bella lost the bairn. I’m so sorry.”

Gracie came over and gave him a quick hug, mumbling some kind words, but he didn’t hear them. His gaze was focused on Bella’s shape under the covers.

He heard the door close behind him as the women left, so he moved over and sat on the edge of the bed. “Bella?”