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“Aye.” Twas verra hard tae keep my voice steady. “I tried tae save her.”

Emma’s voice came from the phone. “Magnus, what happened?”

“She has died Emma, twas soldiers that came and they...”

“Oh no, oh, we’re in the car, we’re on our way, are you — stay there, hold on, we’re on our way. I’m going to stay on the phone, okay? Just talk if you need to, we’re right here.”

I nodded and dropped my phone to the side and sat holding my Kaitlyn, nae longer livin’, in my arms.

PROLOGUE - MAGNUS

It takes two hours tae get between the two places. I held her for most of the time. I rocked her and comforted her and for a verra long time I prayed. I asked God tae forgive me for it. For nae protectin’ her and keepin’ her safe, and then for strugglin’ against it, for tryin’ tae change what he had willed.

She died once at the hands of those men, but then by my hands, by my interference, she died again and again. Twas nae changin’ the course of it and what had I done tae her soul that I pulled her back tae living only tae have her depart again?

There was nae peace in it. I had been playin’ as God and each time had made it worse. The death had become more brutal. Her final breath more sure.

There was nae devotion in it tae do that tae someone I loved so much.

“I love ye, mo reul-iuil, without ye there will be nae peace, nae guidance, I daena…”

There were pains in my chest, and all I could do was try tae breathe.

Emma’s hands were on my shoulder. “Magnus? Oh no, oh, Magnus, this is— ” She clapped a hand over her mouth and stared around in horror. “Katie, oh no, not Katie.” She started tae drop tae the ground beside me.

I shook out of my daze. “Och nae, Emma, daena touch me. I daena want ye tae have the blood on ye. Please.”

She began tae cry, standin’ near me, wringing her hands.

Zach had his hands on his head lookin’ over the carnage. “Fuck, there are like — so many — Magnus, what the hell?” Emma reached up for him and he pulled her intae his arms while she cried. “You’re here and also over there, Magnus, what happened?”

“There were three men. I wasna armed. I left her unprotected and they killed her on the dock. I dinna ken what tae do… I traveled back a day and tried tae save her but it happened again.”

Zach groaned. “Twice?”

“Three times. Each time the storm grew in size, and twas hard tae find the center of it. There were more men and her death was more brutal and I am dead now… I canna—” I broke down again rockin’ Kaitlyn in my arms.

Zach asked, “Do you think if you just changed it, tried again?”

“Nae.” I gently shifted her from my lap tae the grass. I took a deep breath and stood. “Nae. I canna change it and forcing my will on it has made it worse. Ye were right on it when we discussed it the other day.”

“But I didn’t really know. I was just quoting Doctor Who. Maybe I was wrong. I can be wrong a lot, tell him, Emma. I fucking don’t know what I’m talking about most of the time...”

Emma’s face was covered in tears. “What is your heart telling you, Magnus?”

“That I canna change it. I prayed tae God and I ken it, she is lost tae me.”

“Oh, Magnus.” She reached out for me, but I shook my head.

“I daena want ye tae have it on ye. Twill bring trouble on ye tae have it. Tis the blood of my own tae bear.”

She burst into tears again, hiding her face against Zach’s chest.

He ran his fingers through his hair. “What are you going to do now?”

I surveyed the carnage. There were bodies everywhere. Horses cantering around. “I will take it all with me. Tis too much trouble for ye tae deal with…”

“You have to get out of here fast. Emma and I will call the police. We can tell them we found your car and report you missing.”