Page 58 of Rory

“No more talking like we’re dying,” Esme demanded, scowling. “I’m going to live, and I’m not leaving Darro.” She looked up at the ceiling. “You hear me, enchanted castle? I stay with him. We live forever. So does everyone else. Make it happen.”

On impulse Harper took hold of Ava’s hand, and the dark green of the other woman’s power entwined like tendrils with her own fiery glow. “Looks like your mojo is up and running. How about we protect our people if we can?”

Without hesitation Ava faced her, lifting her hands palm-out. Harper did the same, and their energy coronas began to expand, first encompassing the other women, then Kelso and his lover, and finally the entire great hall. For a few moments it seemed to transform the enormous room into a garden of light.

“You’re a wonderful person,” Ava told her. “I’m sorry I gave you such a hard time.”

“Oh, shut up,” Harper said, laughing.

When the end came, it didn’t tear apart the castle or make it collapse on them. There was simply a blurring of everything, and then a sound like a long, low, weary sigh.

The entire stronghold suddenly shook as if some giant being had picked it up and rattled it, and everyone in the hall fell to the floor. Harper shoved the other women under one of the trestle tables and looked up, expecting the ceiling to fall on her head. She lifted her hands and for the first time took hold of the power inside her, projecting it outward like an enormous shield.

A million white lights showered down over her, filling her eyes with an opalescent brilliance so intense for a moment she thought she might have gone blind.

Harper. Somewhere in her head the image of an older woman who looked like a shorter, slender version of Rory appeared. Do you love my son?

Although it was probably just a hallucination, she didn’t even hesitate to answer. With all my heart, my lady.

’Tis all I’ve ever hoped. Chomha smiled. I give him to you now.

An endless black void enveloped Harper, but she’d never been afraid of the dark. If this was her end, then she would wait for her lover to join her, even if that meant an eternity. Slowly she became aware of her body again, and a growing chilliness. She opened her eyes to see everything in the hall covered with snow, and her four friends brushing it off as they helped each other to their feet.

Ava appeared over her and smiled. “Are you okay, big girl?”

“I’m cold.” She got up and shook herself like a wet pup, and then glanced around them. “Why is there snow?”

“There’s none outside,” Olivia said as she peered out of one of the window slits. “Everything looks normal out there. Oh. Em. Gee.” She glanced at Ava. “Tasgall’s back. He’s not hurt at all. Not a scratch.”

The laird’s wife ran out of the hall, nearly plowing into Farlan, who stepped out of her way at the last minute before striding in and looking around them. Grace shrieked and threw herself at her husband, clutching him and sobbing into his chest. Then Darro and Alec hurried in, each embracing their ladies.

Harper didn’t expect to see Rory, but it still hurt a little to be left standing alone. Then she found herself being grabbed and hugged by Tasgall himself, who kissed her brow for good measure before he drew back.

“’Twas exactly as you predicted, lass,” the laird told her. “The moment we passed through the outer gate the MacBren vanished, and the forest illusion became real around me.”

Everyone wanted to hug her and talk to her, and while she wasn’t crazy about all the touching, Harper let it happen. These were her people, and wherever they’d landed, she wasn’t leaving them. It was time to start being part of a real family, one she’d always wanted and never thought she could have.

“Has anyone seen my guy?” Harper asked as she kept smiling and hugging.

“Enough.” Darro stepped in front of her, using his bulk like a body shield to keep everyone at bay. “I vow, you shall crack her bones.” To her he said, “The last time I spied Rory, he stood where the wall fell and buried the goblin.”